It’s time for Spring! Daffodils are blooming, birdsong fills the air, and longer days are ahead. Springtime not only brings new trends in fashion and home décor, but also in the awards industry. Three weeks ago, I attended our annual trade show in Las Vegas and scoped out the hottest new awards for 2014. So what are the must-have top trends for spring?
Trend #1: Bamboo
It’s the hottest wood in awards! Sustainable and renewable, bamboo's hard surface and pretty honey color make the perfect material for plaques, picture frames, cutting boards, and even travel mugs! Beautiful when laser engraved, bamboo awards and gifts are easily personalized. Great to look at and good for the earth, these awards are a win-win!
Trend #2: Mixed Media Pieces
Many new awards combine more than one type of material together in exciting new combinations. One of our suppliers, Victory, combines acrylic with sustainable bamboo (See Trend #1), displayed in an iron stand.
Trend #3: Wine
When you are invited to a friend's house for dinner, what do you bring? A bottle of wine, of course! According to the Wine Institute, in 2012, the total wine consumed per resident in the US was 2.73 gallons. Personalized wine products , such as engraved wine bottles, wine storage boxes, and wine tools, are a current trend this year. With the popularity of wine, it's no surprise.
Trend #4: Custom, Custom, Custom
Just like last year, unique, personalized pieces were everywhere in Vegas. Awards with full color photos, 3-dimensional acrylic awards made out of logos, and crystal awards filled with custom designs were hot at the show. Nothing says "wow" like one-of-a-kind!
Trend #5: Olympic Style Medals
With the recent Winter Olympics in Sochi, a new style of medal has come on the scene. The neck drape remains flat, threading through the medal, instead of being clipped on with a ring. This more modern look was available for marathon racing medals and 1st, 2nd, and 3rd place winners.
Medals with a one-of-a-kind design and printed neck drapes are also all the rage (see Trend #3). Create your own personalized Olympic medals; if your group has a design in mind, we can make it a reality.
Mix things up with your awards this spring by picking a trendy piece! Just like with your wardrobe, adding one fun new item can really jazz up your awards program!
Cheers,
Jessica