Frequently Asked Questions
There are a lot of details that go into crafting beautiful awards, professional signage, and unique engraved gifts. We’ve created this guide to help answer some of the most common questions that arise before and during the production process.
How long does it take to get my order?
The short answer: most orders can be turned around in about a week.
The long answer: it depends on a number of things, including order size, product availability, and production process. We’ll consider all of these when working with you to make sure we can get you something great in time for your event.
What is the order process?
Our customers love the attention and care we provide. In most cases, we work with you (in person or remotely) to make sure we provide the best solution for your needs. If you prefer a more passive experience, that’s okay, too. Either way, there are three phases to our process: discovery, design, and production.
In the discovery phase, we help you determine the best product(s) to suit your needs. Sometimes this is simple (basketball trophies, for example) and sometimes it requires more consideration (a bespoke lifetime achievement award for a unique individual). We’ll help you consider a variety of factors, including industry standards, current trends, available customizations, budget, and timeline. If you choose, you can do most of this on your own via our website (though our selection there is limited but growing).
In the design phase, we’ll create a mockup of the final product. Our in-house team creates beautiful designs for a variety of scenarios and occasions. Of course, if you’ve already prepared a design, our team can incorporate it and apply it to the process/machinery needed. This phase culminates with your approval of the final design, at which point we can move into production.
In the production phase, the magic happens! We specialize in a variety of processes, including rotary engraving, laser engraving, sand etching, and sublimation. We work diligently to get all the details right the first time, no matter the scale of the order or method used. As soon as it’s ready, we let you know. We offer in-store pick-up, delivery (in certain circumstances), or shipping via a major carrier if necessary.
How can I use my logo/artwork?
We encourage all our customers to make each product their own — and one of the best ways to do that is to use your logo. Due to the diverse nature of our processes and machinery, it’s important that we start with the highest quality artwork to ensure a delightful result.
In general, we require vectored, or resolution-independent, files. Typically, these files are created using industry standard drawing applications such as Adobe Illustrator, Affinity Designer, or something similar. Image files ending with .ai, .eps, or .pdf will usually do the trick, though this is not always the case. It is important to note that you may have access to the correct file but not be able to “see” it if you do not have the necessary application installed.
If you do not have the necessary image format, we can create it for you using whatever you are able to provide. In most cases, this one-time charge is $49 and may add a day or two to your production time. Once created, we’ll provide you with the files (so you can use them for anything else you desire), and we’ll keep it on file for future use at no additional charge.
Do you recycle old trophies and awards?
In short, no. It is difficult re-use components from aged awards, and it is not a cost-effective process.
We receive this question a lot from folks whose children have moved away from home and left behind years worth of athletic and academic hardware. Some have found joy in removing the plates from various awards and crafting their own display case to show the history of achievements over the years. This fun alternative to bulky awards can be a great keepsake or a thoughtful gift!
