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Why should new spring trends be just for fashion and home decor?  Trophies and awards have exciting new trends as well, and a month ago I attended our annual trade show in Las Vegas and scoped out the hottest new awards for 2015! So what are the top award trends for spring?

Trend #1:  Color

Our new pearl line of acrylic awards are an example of new color trends in awards.

Just as in fashion, color is huge in awards.  New colorful resin designs, colored crystal awards, and sublimated colored gift items continue to be hot this year. Our new "pearl" line of acrylic awards showcases this trend; we will also be adding many new sublimated products this spring.  This allows customers to personalize items with colored photos, colored logos, and bright customized designs!

Trend #2:  High Shine Metallics

Coming in many precious tones and with various finishes, the metallics appear to be stronger than ever, both in fashion and in awards.  Metallic designs are popular in corporate crystal awards and new chalice cup trophies.  Watch for new designs coming this spring!

Trend #3:  Wine

When you are invited to a friend's house for dinner, what do you bring?  A bottle of wine, of course!  Personalized wine products, such as engraved wine bottles, wine storage boxes, and personalized wine tools, continue to be a 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.  We now offer a Special Order section on our website, where you can design your own awards...check it out here to find out more!

Trend #5: Fantasy Sports

Get ready for the upcoming fantasy baseball season with a Tower Baseball Trophy!

Trophies2Go is ahead of the trend, as we are the leader of Fantasy Sports trophies!  Not only do we offer fantasy football awards, but also fantasy baseball, fantasy basketball, fantasy hockey and fantasy NASCAR!  We are adding many new perpetual trophy cups, especially popular for our fantasy customers.  Check out our huge selection of Fantasy Sports Awards here!

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

Jeff on stage accepting the 2015 Best Retailer Web Site Award in Las Vegas.

We are pleased to announce our award for '2015 Best Retailer Web Site" from the Awards and Recognition Association (ARA) a week ago in Las Vegas.

After a year of planning and building, our new website launched in October of 2014.  Through the struggles of learning and using a new system, this new platform improves our customers' experience with better product photographs and a faster one page checkout.

We couldn't have created our web site without the hard work and commitment of our developer, David Ward of Meticulosity.com.  Dave helped up plan from the beginning and he, along with his team, created a state-of-the-art, world class website, now officially THE BEST in the awards industry!

Jeff and I with our new award!

Thank you to our staff for being flexible with the changes, bearing with all of the bugs, and for helping our customers navigate through the new system.

Thank you customers for your support and understanding through our transition.

Finally, thank you ARA for the award!  We appreciate the recognition!

Cheers,
Jessica

International Awards Market, January 27-30, 2015, Las Vegas, NV

It's that time of year again...time for our annual trade show!

ARA Show in Vegas

Trophies2Go is an active member of the Awards and Recognition Association, also known as the ARA.  This niche association includes over 1800 awards companies and suppliers. Trophies2Go President Jeff Anderson serves on the ARA Board of Directors as the Chair of the Membership and Technology Committees.

At this week's International Awards Market, wholesale award suppliers introduce new products and display samples of their hottest sellers. Certification classes and seminars offer educational opportunities to attendees. Located at the Rio Hotel in Las Vegas, I'm choosing my party dresses for 3 days and 2 nights of learning and camaraderie with our friends in the trophy industry!

ARA Benefits

There are many valuable benefits to being an ARA member. They include:

1.  International Awards Market:  At this annual event we meet face to face with our suppliers, touch and feel new products, network with others in the industry, and attend many educational classes.  The event is free to ARA members and staff.

2. Member to Member Forum:  This free online resource allows ARA members across the country to network with one another.  The forum allows members ask questions about products, discuss marketing ideas, or share industry news.  Just this week I used the forum to locate a product for a customer, resulting in a sale and a happy customer!

Wholesale award vendors exhibiting at the ARA trade show in Las Vegas, NV.

3.  Recognition Review Magazine:  Each month we receive the ARA magazine, Recognition Review.  I always read through the latest edition to find out what is trending in our industry.

4.  ARA Members:  Because of the positive nature of the business we are in, my experience with the ARA is that members tend to be outgoing, friendly, and generous people.  Our industry is unique in that most of the members, who happen to be competitors, help each other out - whether it's finding a product needed for an order, sharing better ways to do business, or being a supportive during hard times.  We find that by working together we make the industry as a whole stronger.  The motto "the rising tide floats all boats" fits well for our industry.

If you are in the awards industry, consider joining the ARA.  You will be glad you did - I'm very grateful for the friends we've made over the years.  See you in Vegas for another great show!

Cheers,
Jessica

Superbowl 2015 - Seattle Seahawks vs. New England Patriots

Cheering the Hawks on to victory!

The countdown is on!  The game of the year, Superbowl XLIX, is a little over a week away!

Our beloved Seattle Seahawks will face the New England Patriots on Sunday, February 1st in Phoenix, AZ.  Back to back Super Bowls = History in the making!

It's been another amazing NFL football season and our city and fans have responded.  After an extremely stressful and epic playoff game against Green Bay this past Sunday to clench the NFC title, everyone in the Pacific Northwest is recovering from the adrenaline.  We are ready and hyped for the Super Bowl! Facebook is blowing up, travel plans are being made, 12 man jerseys are everywhere, and this Friday Issaquah, our lovely suburb of Seattle, is hosting a Seahawks rally!

Not only are the Seahawks players local heroes, but the Pacific Northwest is seriously sick with 12^th Man Fever!!!!  12^th Man signs, flags, and jerseys are everywhere you look.  It's super exciting!

Awesome awards for your Super Bowl party!

Do you have Super Bowl Fever too?  Host a Super Bowl Party!  Consider one of our Lombardi Replica Trophies as part of your décor.  Have a pool and the winner can take home the hardware!

My family will be spending next Sunday with many friends, plenty of food and beverages, and a big screen TV, all dressed in our Blue and Green 12th Man finery.   Jeff is still scheming to try to get a ticket to the game...we'll see if

We are thrilled to be living in the PNW, cheering our team on to victory!  Enjoy the game and GO SEAHAWKS!

Cheers,
Jessica

Unique, Pretty, and A Good Value.  That's what sets this award apart from all the others.

Our 2014 Product of the Year - Swirl Egg Art Glass.

The Swirl Egg Art Glass Award by Tropar Manufacturing wins the Trophies2Go 2014 Product of the Year.  Nominated by our Production Manager Tom, he chose this award because of the high quality and very affordable price.

Tom also likes how Tropar keeps our local warehouse well-stocked with this award, which is a good thing, as it's a hot seller!

This beautiful hand-blown award features swirls of purple, blue, green, and yellow suspended in clear glass, attached to a black crystal base  with a personalized aluminum plate on the front.  At $39.00, it's a great value for such an impressive and artistic award!

Here's what a customer had to say: "This item was ordered to present to three community members for their efforts contributing to the health of the community-at-large. The presentations were made at a large public event and photos of these awards showed up in the newspaper."

"I was thrilled with the quality of these awards! You would think these awards were much more expensive than they are and I believe they are worth more".

I'm modeling our winning Egg!

Thank you to our vendor Tropar, who not only creates this art glass award, but also supplies us with many of our top selling acrylic awards and premium plaques.  They are a great company with excellent leadership, outstanding customer service, and many 'Made in the USA' products.

We are proud to carry Tropar's high quality and beautiful awards in our online catalog and especially proud to feature the Swirl Egg Art Glass award as our 2014 Product of the Year!

For past Product of the Year winners, check out our 2012 Monster Trophies and 2013 Honey Badger Trophy.

Cheers!
Jessica