WHAT BUDGET?
How many dollars are allocated to the project?
A maximum budget, or price per item is a very helpful starting point.  We can offer suggestions is all price ranges from less than $5 for a small acrylic item to over $500 for a large optical crystal tower.  Prices include engraving and usually personalization
We can often meet budget by adjusting size, (many items are available in several sizes), and thickness.
Your "in hands" cost is all that is important We can estimate transport costs for you .  Next day air freight is expensive
Watch for high set up charges, packing and freight surcharges applied by many vendors

HOW MANY ITEMS?
If a small number under two or three you will have more flexibility, particularly if we show the item as "in stock" with a "one day" circle.
Large quantities will require a lead time of one to five days.
We can ship over fifty of several items within just days

WHICH ITEMS DO YOU LIKE?
Browse our "catalog" to get an idea of the range of items available.
Military awards provides  a good overview of the many products available.
Ignore price for a moment.  Many items are available in multiple sizes at different prices.
What you like will guide us to make suggestions within your price range.
Email us details of what you like from any other sites worldwide.  We all buy from substantially the same sources and can usually source the item or something very similar.

RELATIVE VALUE BETWEEN AWARDS
Should all awards be of similar value?  If a "best" award or prize is worth say 100, should 2nd place be 80 or 40?
Be very careful planning tenure awards for say 5/10/20 years.  Also precedent; does the relative size make sense?  Can you repeat it year after year?

IS A FUNCTIONAL ITEM OR AN AWARD OR PLAQUE APPROPRIATE
Perhaps a personalized candy dish,  flower vase or desk name plate may be more appropriate than an award meant only for display.

DIRECT CONTACT WITH THE FACTORY
Are you in direct contact with the engraver?. An agent with a fancy catalog and NO direct contact is likely to slow down your project. Speaking direct will give you much faster service, better control and the ability to make last minute changes.

PAPER PROOFS
A prompt layout proof by email is essential.  You should receive it in no more than one working day from your date of order

PERCEIVED VALUE OF THE AWARD YOU ARE SELECTING  IS IMPORTANT
Will management or the recipient appreciate that small, but exquisite high quality award, or do you need a large, impressive award which can be appreciated from thirty feet away?
Optical crystal items are mostly small but very high quality
Jade, starphire and marble awards are generally large and impressive

A PERSONALIZED OR GENERIC AWARD?
It is always better to put a persons name on the award!  This makes it much more valuable to the recipient.
Watch for line change charges. Many vendors charge up to $8 per line changed

MANAGEMENT OR COMMITTEE DECISIONS?
What does management or the committee expect?
Allow time for the committee to meet and discuss your suggestions
You are free to copy and paste sections of the web pages into a new document or email to circulate to others.
Choose a vendor who will work with you to produce artwork promptly for circulation to the committee.

DOES THE VENDOR ONLY OFFER WHAT IS IN THE CATALOGUE?
Flexibility is always an advantage How long will it take your vendor to produce artwork and make changes?

PRECEDENT
What similar awards have been given in the past?

ARE SET UP AND OTHER CHARGES REASONABLE?
Compare the set up charges from different vendors.  Some catalogue companies charge up to $90 up front before you buy even one award

EXPERIENCE
How long has the vendor been in business.  How large is the staff? Large companies may not give the best service

HELP AND ASSISTANCE
Does your vendor offer personal help with the decision, and design process, or are you expected to make all decisions off a mechanized web site?