What Makes a Great Trophy?

For those of you who still think that trophies are things handed out to kids at the end of football season, think again. Whilst trophies have never been out of favour when it comes to children’s sports you might be surprised to learn that they are highly prized by adults too and not just in the sports arena.
These days corporate events are being built around trophy presentations and these events are used not simply to present awards but to highlight corporate endorsements. It’s a well-known fact that companies compete to sponsor large scale, well-publicised events such as the Brownlow medal, but it is becoming increasingly common for even small businesses to get involved in their local communities by sponsoring local events, and what better way to do this then with the presentation of a trophy?
There is no doubt that corporate sponsorship is a very effective method of reaching a target audience or, on a broader scale, establishing a brand name.
While many companies simply dream about having their business or product name become a household phrase, many do not realise that this may not be as difficult as it seems. When you think about it, every well-known trophy in the land had to start somewhere and although well-known sporting personalities have tended to dominate, it is not beyond the realms of possibility that a local business could establish itself as a household name simply by sponsoring a popular local event.
This need not be limited to local sporting clubs but can stretch much further afield into things like cultural events, locality awards for community service, or hosting a park event were trophies can be presented for achievements in a wide variety of fields. Great trophies have emerged out of great sporting performances but there is no reason why this cannot be repeated at a local, community level.
We all know the value of trophies when we witness the reactions of our children when they are fortunate enough to win something. Just about every business in the land also rewards their best performing staff with a trophy or some form of perpetual recognition. This stems from the long held belief that all human beings cherish the recognition of their peers and will seek this by delivering a performance that is needed to achieve the esteemed result.
Smaller businesses would do well to emulate the actions of large corporations in this respect especially when you consider that if they have a good name in their local community, their business success is similarly assured. No amount of media advertising can equal the free publicity that stems from being associated with their local communities in a positive way.
It is far cheaper and far more rewarding to endorse a number of trophies which can be awarded to local heroes or champions in any field, not just sport. Schools are a prime example especially when you consider that children are rewarded not only for their sporting achievements but also for community service and leadership. Local businesses could not ask for a better opportunity than to sponsor trophies at their local school.