Customers

We've been helping Yvette with recogntion since 2008.

Congratulations to Yvette Smith with T-Mobile, our Customer-of-the-Year for 2012!

At Issaquah Trophy & Awards / Trophies2Go we value our customers.

We especially value customers who are positive, friendly, and fun to work with.  Each of us at Issaquah Trophy & Awards and Trophies2Go believes in the Power of Recognition and we love customers who understand the importance of recognition.

We have been helping Yvette with her recognition needs at T-Mobile since early 2008.  As a company, T-Mobile believes strongly in recognition.  Here is an excerpt from their website:

T-Mobile’s Award-Winning Culture

“We're proud to be a company where shared values, teamwork, and dedication give every individual the opportunity to make a difference. We're also proud of our many “Best Place To Work” and “Top Employer” awards. These awards are made possible by the individual commitments of countless team members, working together to create a great work environment. Our employees deserve the recognition that comes with these awards, and we’re thrilled to have the opportunity to thank them and share these successes.”

With this culture, it’s no wonder that they consistently earn Best Places to Work awards and World’s Most Ethical Companies awards.

A big criterion for us in choosing our Customer-of-the-year is the fact that we look forward to working with them again.  We definitely look forward to working with Yvette, and chocolate helps!

Congrats again to Yvette!

Blessings, Anne

I have noticed that my purchasing strategies have changed over the last several years.  Maybe yours have too.  Not necessarily what I purchase, but how.  I've always believed in the power of a good review (or a bad one).  Bad reviews can be like wildfire...spreading and causing damage before you even know they exist.  But if someone goes out of their way to tell me about a good experience they had, I want to see for myself what it's all about.  The fact that all this is done so publicly now on the Internet and social media makes it even more powerful.

Online reviews help me shop faster and smarter.

Here's what I see:

1)  I spend time researching a product or service online before I engage with a company who can provide that product or service.  I'm sure you do this too.  It helps me to have a better conversation with the provider.  And it helps me to decide that I am, in fact, talking with the right/best provider.

2)  I say I spend time researching, but in reality, I don't have the time to do the research thoroughly.  So I depend on the opinions of others.  This alone isn't new. What's new is that I depend on the opinions of strangers.  If you've checked on those cool little gold stars on a product review then you are helping me with my research.  Thank you.  If I see more than one option for what I'm looking for, and they are very similar, I'm going with the one with more stars.  Pretty simple.

3)  I find that I am more likely to read the comments and reviews first.  Then if those sound pretty good I'll go back and read the detailed product descriptions.  As an example, I like to read, but I don't like to pick out my next book.  I use my friends on Goodreads or Facebook to tell me what to read next.  If they've read it and given it a good review, then I'll probably like it to.  And if others have checked that they thought the review was 'helpful' then even better.

4)  On the other hand, if I find something that looks good but I don't see any comments or reviews entered for it, I will probably just keep looking.

5)  I love the social aspect of shopping online.  I see my friends putting a question out to all their Social Media friends.  Something like, 'I'm looking for a new roof.  Are you happy with your roof company?'  Again, this isn't new.  We have always asked our friends for suggestions like this.  The difference is that now you can have 5 answers in just a few minutes without even picking up the phone.

So, after thinking about all this I decided to re-read some of the comments we have received and share them with you.  We send an email to all our customers a few weeks after their order to give them a chance to review our products and our service.  Here's a few of my recent favorites:

This trophy turned out fabulous! The online ordering process was easy and the delivery time was fast! Trophy looks great!!! Very pleased and will be definitely use Trophies2Go in the future!

I have been ordering this trophy for several years as the prize in a competition. Each year the winners are so impressed by the beauty and quality of the trophy, as am I. Excellent service!

I have purchased awards related to my work several times from Trophies2Go. I am always pleased, but this glass award exceeded my expectations. It is very beautiful.

I was surprised and very pleased with the ease of online ordering and quick turnaround time of both responses and shipping of finished product which turned out to be a well-crafted and beautiful parting gift for a well-respected fellow professional from all of us…Arrived intact, well insulated, and in excellent condition sooner than expected!

These reviews would make me more interested in the products.  How about you?  Bottom line, keep the reviews coming.  Thanks for helping me shop!!

Blessings,

Anne

Ever consider having your fantasy football trophy travel from winner to winner each year?  Well this league takes their traveling trophy to the extreme!  Check out our customer Khadir's Fantasy Football Trophy story.  This gave Anne and I a really good laugh!  I hope you enjoy it and get ideas for your league.  Thanks for sharing Khadir!

Khadir's Story:

Hello Anne,

"I saw the note about sharing our trophy story with you and so I decided to take you up on the offer since we love Trophies2Go.  I run a fantasy football league and about five years ago, I decided that our champion needed a trophy and that each year the champion's name should be engraved.  But for a little added flavor, I thought one of the "responsibilities" of being league champion should be to take a humorous picture with our trophy and share it with the league before turning the trophy over to the next winner.  We have had some great "pictures" over the years and it seems our league loves to take things over the top."

Joel in his "old man" attire with the Fantasy Football Trophy.

"2006 - Our League Winner Joel decided that he was going to wear his "old man uniform" and take a picture with the young ladies at Hooters. (picture right)"

"2007 - I (Khadir) won the league in 2007 and decided to step things up by making a short video showing all the fun the trophy and I had together. Here's the link "(And it's hilarious - from Jessica)

"2008 -  Our league winner Malaki also decided to make a youtube video stating how the trophy doesn't travel too well and the winner of the trophy is actually cursed. True fact, in our league the winner of each year has always failed to make the playoffs the following year. Here is the video."

Guy, the champion, stuck it to Joel, who hates the Texas Longhorns. Joel's daughters  are also pictured in Longhorn attire.

"2009 - Guy was our winner, and his picture was actually the most "over the top" picture of all.  One of our members (Joel) is an avid hater of the Texas Longhorns football team while most of the league members are actually UT graduates.  After being frustrated by all of the continual griping about the Longhorns, Guy gets his revenge by flying across the country while Joel is out of town and taking a picture with the trophy and Joel's daughters dressed out in Longhorn paraphernalia. (picture right)"

"Thank you for all of your excellent service and the great trophies!"
Khadir R

Thanks again Khadir! We love your sense of humor and the creativity in your league!  What a fun group.

If you want to share the story of your trophy, we'd love to feature you on our blog and Facebook page.  Just email me at [email protected] or Anne at [email protected] and then either of us will take it from there!

Cheers! Jessica

 Outstanding Teachers Deserve The Awards!

Mr. Meisner and Ms. Jensen pose with their awards.

Our 100,000^th order, for Emily Dickinson Elementary in Redmond, WA, went to 2 amazing teachers.  These educators received fun, personalized awards to honor their successes in the classroom and wish them well as they move on to new schools next year.

The “Dynamic Dragon Award” was given to "Professor" David Meisner for 10 years of dedication to the education of Emily Dickinson Elementary's 6th graders.

His co-workers tease him about being a professor because of his multiple degrees, huge vocabulary, and the manner in which he conducts his classroom. Mr. Meisner was given the plaque to recognize his years of service, his loyalty to the school, and to honor him as he moves on to teach at the local middle school.

The “Microphone Award” was given to Hadley Jensen in honor of her 5 years of dedication to teaching 6th graders at Emily Dickinson Elementary.

The microphone was selected for Ms. Jensen because she loves the spotlight! She ran the 6th grade camp, was the DJ at all of the school dances, and MC-ed at assemblies. Ms. Jensen is leaving to teach in her home town of Olympia, WA. Their school community will greatly miss her, as her enthusiasm is contagious!   Ms. Jensen’s students know that learning is fun and they leave her classroom as stewards of our Earth, well read, and as talented mathematicians.

What a legacy both of these amazing teachers leave at Dickinson Elem!  We’re so honored to create these meaningful awards for two individuals who make a difference in so many lives.  Way to go teachers!

Cheers, Jessica