Award Buying Guide: Choosing the Right Award for Every Occasion

When it comes to choosing the right award for your recognition program, the options can seem endless. Whether you’re celebrating a corporate achievement, a sports victory, or a significant milestone, selecting the perfect award is essential for making the recognition memorable. At Olive Branch Awards, we make the process easy by offering a range of custom awards that can be tailored to suit any occasion, from corporate recognition awards to sports trophies and academic plaques.

This guide will walk you through the key considerations for choosing the ideal award, ensuring that each recognition reflects the significance of the achievement.

Why Choosing the Right Award Matters: Recognition is more than just giving a trophy or plaque—it’s about honoring the hard work, dedication, and success of individuals or teams. The award you choose should reflect the importance of the achievement and make the recipient feel truly appreciated. A well-chosen award not only enhances the moment but also serves as a lasting reminder of the accomplishment.

Step 1: Understand the Occasion The first step in selecting the right award is to clearly define the occasion or achievement you’re recognizing. Is it a corporate milestone, a sales achievement, a sports victory, or an academic success? Different occasions call for different types of awards. For example:

• Corporate Awards: Engraved crystal or acrylic awards are ideal for recognizing top performers, employee milestones, or company achievements.
• Sports Trophies: Custom sports medals or trophies featuring sport-specific designs are perfect for recognizing team victories or individual athletic achievements.
• Academic Awards: Plaques, certificates, and academic trophies can be used to recognize students for academic excellence, attendance, or extracurricular activities.

Step 2: Consider the Material and Design The material and design of the award play a significant role in how it will be perceived. At Olive Branch, we offer a range of materials to suit different budgets and styles, including:

• Crystal: Elegant and timeless, crystal awards are often used for high-level corporate recognition or formal events.
• Acrylic: Versatile and modern, acrylic awards are ideal for both corporate and casual events. They can be customized with various colors and shapes.
• Metal and Wood: These materials are durable and give a more traditional feel, making them perfect for sports and academic awards.

Choosing the right material depends on both the occasion and the budget. Crystal awards tend to be more formal and prestigious, while acrylic awards offer flexibility in design and customization at a more affordable price point.

Step 3: Personalize for Maximum Impact Customization is the key to making any award feel special. Personalizing an award with the recipient’s name, the achievement, and a message of congratulations adds a meaningful touch that resonates with the recipient. At Olive Branch, our easy-to-use customization tools allow you to add:

• The recipient’s name and title.
• The specific achievement (e.g., “Top Salesperson of 2024” or “MVP”).
• Your company’s logo or event branding.
• A personalized message or quote.

Personalization makes the award unique and increases its sentimental value. It turns the award into a keepsake that will be cherished for years.

Step 4: Determine the Size and Shape The size and shape of the award should reflect the significance of the recognition. For example, a sales achievement award might be a sleek, tall trophy to symbolize reaching new heights, while a team-based sports trophy could be wider and more substantial to accommodate multiple names or team members.

At Olive Branch, we offer a wide variety of shapes and sizes, including:

• Tall towers for sales or leadership awards.
• Rounded plaques for academic or artistic achievements.
• Sport-specific shapes for athletics (e.g., soccer balls, basketballs).

Choosing the right size and shape not only enhances the aesthetic appeal but also ensures that the award is appropriate for the setting, whether it’s an office display or a sports team trophy room.

Step 5: Work Within Your Budget It’s important to set a budget for your award program. At Olive Branch, we offer awards at various price points, from high-end crystal trophies to more affordable acrylic and metal options. By defining your budget upfront, you can narrow down your choices and find the perfect award without overspending.

For businesses that are placing custom orders, it’s important to note that due to high demand, we require a credit check and have a minimum order budget of $5,000, with a required minimum order quantity. This ensures that we can deliver the highest quality products while meeting the needs of larger recognition programs.

Conclusion: Choosing the right award for your recognition program doesn’t have to be overwhelming. By considering the occasion, material, personalization options, and budget, you can select an award that not only honors the recipient but also reflects the significance of their achievement. At Olive Branch Awards, we offer a wide range of customizable awards to suit every occasion, ensuring that each recognition is meaningful, memorable, and personalized.

Explore our collection of custom awards today and find the perfect way to celebrate the successes that matter most to your organization.