What Are the Different Types of Awards and Trophies?

The right trophy or award is about more than just appearance. The type of trophy can reflect the significance of the event, from a junior league competition to an executive milestone. There are various materials, forms and customisation options for trophies, so knowing the differences makes it easier to select an appropriate option. 

This article discusses a wide variety of awards and trophies, including those featuring a crystal or a glass design, wooden base trophies, plaques and perpetual awards. It also covers considerations such as budget, recipient, personalisation and order volume to help you make your next event or recognition program selection.

Why Trophy Type and Material Matter

Different trophy materials and designs can convey different meanings. If you're looking for something higher-end, crystal and glass may give your design a more refined look, whereas when it comes to wood, you can stick with a traditional and natural style.

The practicality and durability is also affected by the material. Some designs may be easier to move or bulk distribute, some more fragile will need more care by moving and handling.

The trophy format can also help convey the purpose of the award. For a community gathering, a simple participation trophy might be appropriate, but if the event is one of good effort or a significant achievement, a more elaborate crystal or glass might give it more recognition.

These types of trophies can be classified by their materials:

Crystal Trophies & Awards

Crystal trophies offer a distinctive and refined visual appeal; they can be made to incorporate optical crystal, laser engraving or a blend of both. They tend to fall into the higher price range and are appropriate for corporate recognition events, executive competitions of prestige.

Glass Trophies

Glass trophies are usually lighter and less expensive than crystal designs and they have an elegant look too. They are usually in the middle price band and are suitable for sporting achievements, school awards, academic recognition and other formal awards.

Suggesting a product: Glass achievement trophy, engraved glass award.

Wooden Base Trophies

The wooden-base trophies feature a metal or crystal figure and a wooden base, giving the trophy a familiar look that will serve for various occasions. They are generally one of the more affordable choices and are frequently ideal for school gatherings, neighbourhood clubs and bigger bulk orders.

Corporate Awards & Gifts

Corporate awards and gifts can combine materials such as crystal, glass and wood, with engraved text, names or other personalised details incorporated into the design. Depending on the design and customisation options, they are available across a range of price points, from mid-tier to premium, making them appropriate for business milestones, employee recognition, sponsorships and corporate events.

Types of Awards by Format

Plaques (Award Plaques)

Plagues can be an effective means of recognising achievement in a tangible way often including names, dates, achievements or messages. They can be suitable for service awards, sponsorship recognition, corporate milestones and other instances when the words are a critical component of the presentation.

Perpetual/Cup-Style Trophies

Perpetual and cup-style trophies are well suited to competitions that run over a number of years. They are especially well suited to events that take place annually such as an annual sporting competition, or for club championships and other events where the names of past winners are inscribed on the trophy or recorded on an associated honour board.

Sports Trophies

Sports trophies are put together to acknowledge performance within clubs, complements, groups and season competitions. They can be given for overall achievement, individual achievement, team success or team participation depending on the event.

Service Awards

Service awards recognise an individual's service or participation in an organisation over a period of employment. They are routinely given as recognition for long-service, staff milestones, and any other reason attention should be given to the commitment and ongoing contribution of employees.

When it comes to selecting the right trophy or award, there is a lot to be considered.

Occasion

First think about the achievement or the event being recognised. Different styles and level of presentation may be required for each of sports competitions, corporate milestones, community events and academic achievements.

Budget Tier

Another practical factor to consider when choosing an award is the budget. Generally, timber trophies are among the more affordable options, while glass and crystal designs can fall into higher price ranges.

Who's Receiving It

The recipient may have an impact on the right style and level of presentation. An executive recognition award might be in the form of a more high quality crystal design while a child's sports award may be a simple trophy or medal.

Personalisation/Engraving Turnaround

The engraving and personalisation process can affect the production time of an award, so allowing enough time can be important when ordering personalised awards. If a company decides to engrave a simple design, it will likely take less time to prepare, but if the company wants to add a company logo or something more intricate, it may need additional time.

Order Volume

When selecting a design, keep in mind how many awards should be included. For a one-off recognition gift, you may choose a more individual design, while clubs, schools and retailers ordering multiple items may benefit from a practical, established design that can be customised as needed.

It is helpful to find a trophy supplier able to offer a variety of designs and award materials when ordering trophies and awards. A supplier's capacity to handle different order quantities and customisation requirements can also be an important consideration.

Melbourne-based Rikaro is a wholesale supplier specialising in trophies and awards made from timber, glass and crystal. It is going to be a great selection for businesses, sporting institutions, schools, clubs and retailers seeking a reward for Australia, whether that can be in search of retail trophies Australia or wholesale trophies Australia.

A collection you may want to look at if your business/organisation has an upcoming event that they would like to present an award for, is the Rikaro Trophies & Awards collection where they can from different styles of awards find one that they could use for the event, recipient and price range.

FAQs

What's the difference between an award and a trophy?

An award is a broad term for any formal recognition of merit or achievement, while a trophy is a specific type of tangible, three-dimensional physical object usually given for winning a competition.

What is the longest lasting trophy material?

The durability of a design is a function of the design and how it is used. Proper care and maintenance will help keep the crystal and glass trophies around forever; and Wooden-base trophies can also remain in good condition with proper care and storage.

Can trophies be custom branded for a business or club?

Yes, many trophies and awards can be personalised with names, logos, dates and messages, depending on the available designs and customisation options depending on what kind of designs and customisations are available.

How many days does it take for engraved trophies?

The turnaround time depends on the trophy type, engraving and order size and customisation level. In case te supplier places an order, it is wise to double check with them regarding the production time frame.

Final Thoughts

The right trophy or award should be suitable for the occasion, budget and recipient of the gift, and be taken into consideration factors such as order volume and personalisation. There are a variety of trophies and awards available in Rikaro's collection which should have something for everyone from across Australia for various recognition needs.