If you’re like many people, your home or office features one or more personalized trophies in Santa Clara or San Jose. After sitting on your shelf for some years, it’s not unusual for items like sports awards to become dusty and dirty. To help keep your corporate awards and cup trophies shiny and like-new, watch this video for some helpful cleaning tips.

When it comes to trophy cleaning, there are a couple of things to avoid. Do not use cleaners that contain alcohol or solvent and instead, choose a cleaning solution that is designed for windows or glass. Next, take a paper towel or non-abrasive cloth, spray the cleaner onto the towel, and then gently wipe away the dust and debris.

Adding engraving to a trophy or award is one of the best ways to personalize someone’s achievements and to create a memento that lasts. If you’re looking into your options for trophy engraving in Santa Clara and San Jose, then use this guide to understand several popular engraving types:

Embedment

If the award that you’re having engraved is made from Lucite, a clear plastic that is a widely-used alternative to glass, then you can opt for embedment as part of the engraving. This style is an ideal choice for those who want to memorialize a special document, a badge or emblem, or a company logo. After the embedment, additional engraving can be added to the trophy. It should be noted that this option is not recommended for one-of-a-kind heirlooms or objects.

Photo Etching

When you visit a custom gift store to see examples of their engraving choices, you’ll find that some of the awards on display will feature photo etchings. This engraving type offers you an incredible amount of versatility, allowing you to customize the trophy with an image of your choosing. To determine if a photo that you have in mind is suitable for the etching process, show it to a custom engraving provider and discuss your options.

Acid Etching

Utilizing an acidic solution to roughen or mark a variety of surfaces, acid etching is an engraving method that’s used for everything from medical and industrial processes to trophy engraving and artistic purposes. While acid etching can be performed on teeth to prepare them for dental procedures, or on cement to ready it for refinishing, it can also be employed to create unique and detailed depictions on items like jewelry and sports award plates.

Sandblasting

Using sand to etch images onto glass, some metals, and some plastics, sandblasting is a form of engraving that is popular for use on everything from champagne flutes and wine bottles to crystal plaques and glass awards.

If you’re looking for a great way to reward your employees, little leaguers, or anyone else who deserves recognition, consider ordering custom trophies in San Jose . You’ll find that there are many different kinds of personalized awards to choose from—including classic figurine trophies, bronze plaques, crystal awards, glass awards, and bowl trophies.

As the name suggests, bowl trophies are essentially ornate bowls made to look like trophies. You often see bowl and cup trophies awarded to professional athletes—particularly tennis players, golfers, and racecar drivers. However, you can give a custom-made bowl trophy to anyone—including your coworkers, your kids, or someone who has really come through for you recently. Since you’re the one ordering the bowl trophy, you can engrave it however you see fit. You could include a serious inscription or take the opportunity to make a light-hearted joke. Depending on what kind of bowl or cup trophy you order, it could even be a practical gift—for example, a bowl trophy could serve as a fancy vessel for one’s keys.

Team sports can be fun and valuable at any age. In addition to helping kids stay active, team sports teach them the value of working together. It doesn’t matter whether you have a good season or a lousy one, it’s always a good idea to celebrate your team with an awards ceremony. By enlisting the help of a sports award company serving San Jose and Santa Clara, you can be sure to make your team’s awards ceremony extra special.

Choose a Fun Venue

When planning an awards ceremony, the venue is one of the first decisions you’ll make. If you’re coaching a team of kids or teenagers, you might consider a bowling alley, pizza parlor, or arcade. If you’re planning an awards ceremony for an adult sports team, a restaurant or bar may be more appropriate. If you’re having trouble deciding on a suitable venue, consider having the team members vote for their favorites.

Design an Appropriate Trophy

Though compliments are great, it’s important to present each athlete with a tangible acknowledgement of their achievement. Trophies are especially coveted by youngsters, who respond to the prestige and sense of accomplishment that a trophy represents. When designing a custom award, you should take both the sport and participants into account. For instance, a classic column trophy with a basketball figurine is always appropriate for a youth basketball team. A team of adults might enjoy engraved cup or bowl trophies.

Acknowledge Each Athlete’s Contribution

At the end of a sports season, it’s traditional to provide each athlete with the same trophy. However, you should also make an effort to customize each award. If you don’t have the budget to custom engrave each trophy, you should at least think long and hard about each athlete’s contribution and make the appropriate acknowledgements as you present each award. For example, you could personalize the awards by designating trophies for most improved player, best hustle, and team leader.