Employee recognition is increasingly becoming a critical part of business management strategies. Not only does recognition have financial benefits, but it also aids in the creation of a healthy and positive work environment. Oftentimes, companies know that they should have a system for employee recognition, but don’t know where to start. Let’s start with the basics.

It’s Multifaceted

Appreciation and praise are integral parts of human motivation. Everyone enjoys feeling valued and knowing their efforts were worthwhile. However, the action of giving recognition requires a nuanced approach. Both short-term and long-term motivational needs should be considered when creating a recognition program. This makes recognition a 365 day activity. Expressions of appreciation will vary widely depending on the occasion, so there is no one-size-fits-all approach. Companies should decide what instances, both big and small, they want to celebrate and build a plan from there.

Structured Recognition

A good recognition program will employ both structured and unstructured recognition. Structured recognition is the more formal method of employee appreciation. The awards are expected by the employees and given at predictable times.

Examples of structured recognition include:

• Years of service awards
• Sales awards
• Certification program awards
• Employee of the month
• Retirement

Structured recognition allows a company to build a strong foundation for a culture of recognition. These accolades are ceremonial and driven by the organization itself, creating a sense of belonging. These types of awards also tend to include all employees, so everyone has an opportunity to be recognized.

Unstructured Recognition

While structured recognition works to encourage long-term motivation, its inherent formality means it is done less frequently. Unstructured recognition fills in the gaps with spontaneous gestures of appreciation. This type of recognition can come from both managers and peers.

Examples of unstructured recognition include:

• An emailed shout out of top performers
• Verbal praise in a meeting
• Celebrating personal milestones
• Continuous recognition (such as a points-based system)

Unstructured recognition is the day-to-day beating heart of a recognition-based company culture. These gestures are genuine, immediate, and frequent, allowing employees to feel appreciated year-round.

As businesses look ahead to 2024, it’s the perfect time for them to take a critical look at their recognition programs. By addressing the balance of structured and unstructured recognition, companies can find the combination that works best for them. For more information on creating and maintaining recognition programs, see our other blogs such as:
The 5 Key Pillars of a Successful Recognition Program
and Where to Start When Creating an Employe Recognition Program

With over 50 years of experience, Dion can create the perfect custom awards for any occasion. Get inspired by browsing our gallery of past products, or send us an email, give us a call, or message us to get started!

As an award and recognition company, we often champion the many benefits of implementing employee recognition. For example, companies with recognition programs experience financial savings from increased productivity, lower turnover, and other factors related to boosting employee morale. A recent Gallup report has neatly summarized just how profound this financial benefit can be. The report was done in partnership with Workhuman and is entitled “From Praise to Profits: The Business Case for Strategic Recognition.”

Gallup, a renowned authority in organizational research, embarked on a comprehensive study, analyzing hundreds of companies and thousands of teams across a variety of industries. Their findings conclude that employee recognition can actually improve an organization’s financial success. Currently, employee disengagement is at a decade-high, and they’re looking to feel valued at their places of work. By implementing a strong employee recognition program, Gallup found that a 10,000 person company can save up to $16.1 million a year due to reduced employee turnover.

Helping employees feel valued through recognition is proven to boost productivity, engagement, morale, and positive customer experiences while reducing safety incidents, absences, and turnover. In fact, a 10,000 person company can save:

• $92 million in gained employee productivity - Recognized employees tend to be more engaged and productive, leading to significant financial gains for an organization.
• $2.8 million due to decreased injuries - Recognition programs contribute to safer working conditions, resulting in lower incidents of workplace injuries and the associated costs.
• $3.8 million due to fewer unscheduled absences - Recognized and motivated employees are less likely to take unplanned time off, reducing the financial burden of unscheduled absences on the company.

We strongly recommend delving into Gallup's full report on employee recognition, as well as exploring their other resources on this topic. It's easy to perceive recognition as a kind gesture towards employees, but as the data suggests, its impact is far more powerful. As more businesses come to realize the tangible ROI associated with recognizing their employees, these programs are evolving from a nice-to-have to an absolute must-have in the modern workplace. By adopting a proactive approach to employee recognition, organizations can not only bolster their financial bottom line but also cultivate a workforce that is inspired, engaged, and committed to achieving shared goals.

As businesses look forward to 2024, creating a robust recognition program should be on their New Year’s resolution list! Dion has a dedicated team ready to help you create dazzling, unique, and meaningful custom jewelry awards. Get inspired by browsing our gallery of past products, or send us an email, give us a call, or message us to get started!

In our previous blog we covered important employee milestones that businesses should be celebrating - now we delve into how. A recent Gallup report has identified the five key elements to ensure a robust employee recognition program.

Fulfilling

Gallup defines this first pillar as the fulfillment of the occasion. First you’ll have to ask yourself, is the award appropriate for the accomplishment? A simple shout-out or a card can be great ways to show appreciation, but they won’t be enough for the bigger milestones. Businesses should uplift their employees with awards that match the value of the achievement. If the award is lacking, it could leave the employee feeling undervalued. At Dion, we recognize our employees through our custom-made jewelry when they’re hired, at year one, three, five, ten, fifteen years and so forth. However, we send an anniversary card to our employees at every anniversary date. So for the employees who are not hitting a major milestone in which they will receive a custom jewelry award, they will still be acknowledged and thanked for their service.

Authentic

Recognition should feel genuine, not obligatory. While this is harder to standardize or quantify, companies should be mindful not to let their recognition programs become cold and empty. When presenting awards, share funny or inspiring anecdotes about the recipient or add other warm personal touches. It may become repetitive, but companies should often express why the award is important and how appreciative they are of the employee. Whenever possible, companies should recognize employees in person, eliminating any digital barriers.

Personalized

Different people will have different preferences to how they want to receive recognition. For example, one employee may love celebrating their birthday while another may dread it. For some, a pat on the back and a quiet word is enough to make their day. For others, public recognition is more validating. By taking the time to learn their employees’ preferences, companies can form better connections and demonstrate their care for each individual. For more formal recognition, having a personalized award can add a special touch. When working with Dion, engraving the employee’s name, a significant date, or even a significant quote into one of our custom jewelry awards is an easy way to achieve this.

Equitable

While the award messaging may be personalized, employees should be awarded in a fair and consistent way. Recognition programs are meant to celebrate employee achievements, not play favorites. Having clear criteria for the awards and a timely delivery schedule should keep the program running smoothly.

Embedded

A culture of recognition should be embedded into the company’s values and daily practices. Creating an environment where people not only appreciate one another, but communicate that appreciation is a sign of a thriving business. There are many ways to integrate appreciation into everyday activities. At Dion, every department has a morning meeting where managers often express gratitude for specific actions. We also have our peer recognition award, the Diamond Award. Anyone can nominate a coworker who they saw going above and beyond. That person then receives a shout out in our internal newsletter, a post on our Diamond Award board, and of course the award itself: a custom sterling silver pin.

Recognition is a crucial element to a successful business. Not only does it boost engagement, lower turnover, and increase productivity, but it creates a more enjoyable work experience for everyone. By adhering to these five pillars, businesses can ensure their recognition programs start strong and stay strong.

With over 50 years of experience, Dion can create the perfect custom awards for any occasion. Get inspired by browsing our gallery of past products, or send us an email, give us a call, or message us to get started!

Over the course of an employee’s time at a company, they’re bound to experience major professional and personal life events. These milestones provide an opportunity to pause, reflect, and celebrate one’s growth and accomplishments. By celebrating employee milestones, companies demonstrate their care for the employee, create a culture of recognition, and increase employee engagement.

Professional Milestones

Work Anniversary

The most common corporately recognized milestone is years-of-service. Anniversaries are easy to track and plan awards for. They’re a great way to show appreciation for an employee’s dedication, and reflect on their accomplishments over the years. Usually awarded in 5 year increments, these awards are infrequent, prompting some businesses to award their employees for each year of service instead.

Stellar Performance

Businesses should never miss an opportunity to celebrate an employee achieving a major performance goal. This could be a significant sales goal, a lofty safety target, an important customer satisfaction rating, or any performance objective. Celebrating a job well done is a great way to boost morale and encourage everyone to achieve their goals.

Promotion

A promotion is a major step in one’s career development, and definitely one worth celebrating. When a company celebrates promotions, it underscores its dedication to acknowledging talent and offering avenues for progress. This not only rewards and motivates the employee being promoted, but also encourages others to strive for comparable accomplishments.

Onboarding

People shouldn’t have to wait to feel valued by their employer, they should know from the very start. By celebrating newest members of the team, the company is setting the tone for a positive and welcoming work experience. Here at Dion, every new employee receives our signature custom “new hire” pin as part of their onboarding experience. It’s a way of demonstrating that we’re proud of both our products and our people.

Training Completion

Employees who take time to develop their skills and complete certification courses definitely deserve a nod. Not only are they bettering themselves, but they’re gaining skills and knowledge to help the company excel.

Retirement

One of the most significant moments in a person’s career is their retirement. It marks a huge shift in the person’s life and is a bittersweet moment for many. Companies should take the time to thoughtfully honor the hard work and contributions of their retiring employees.

Personal Milestones

Birthday

Celebrating employee birthdays is an easy way to express that the person is valued for more than their job performance. Birthdays are easy to track and schedule lunches, gifts, or the delivery of a hand-written note. Here at Dion, we have a tradition of bringing in pastries on the last day of the month in honor of that month’s birthdays. Each employee also receives a birthday card from our President as well.

Parenthood

Every parent knows: becoming a parent changed them forever. It’s an exciting, joyous, and slightly nerve-wracking time. Companies can offer their support and congratulations by hosting a mini baby shower or sending a thoughtful gift. If possible, companies should also offer new parents ways to ease their work-life balance. This could be through flexible hours, remote work, and parental leave. These helpful accommodations demonstrate the company’s commitment to their employees’ wellbeing.

Engagement or Marriage

Another exciting personal milestone is marriage. Companies can celebrate their employee’s nuptials by sending flowers, a gift, a card, or even organizing a mini bridal shower. During this celebratory time, the couple receives lots of love from their family and friends. This is a great opportunity for their “work family” to show some love too.

School Acceptance or Graduation

Although it may signal their departure from the company, being supportive of employees who get accepted into, or graduate from, major scholastic programs is another way to show support. It’s a significant moment, setting them on the path to professional success and fulfillment. A thoughtful note expressing well wishes can be enough in this case.

As employees hit their milestone moments, it’s important to celebrate both their professional and personal landmarks. Employees want to feel valued as people, not just assets to the company. By celebrating their employees’ milestones, companies can create a positive work culture with an emphasis on recognition. This leads to happier, more engaged, and more productive employees.

Celebrating any milestone is easy with E.A. Dion. We’ve been creating high quality custom award jewelry for over 50 years - and we’d love to create yours! Get inspired by browsing our gallery of past products, or send us an email, give us a call, or message us to get started!

Safety recognition programs are an essential part of a healthy and safe work environment. Not only do they help keep everyone safe, but these programs promote employee engagement and reduce the costs associated with workplace accidents. In fact, one of our biggest custom award categories is safe driver awards for trucking companies! Our awards have been used to celebrate years of safe driving, safe miles driven, safe winter driving, and other unique safety achievements.

As with any initiative, careful planning is key. Here are our “dos and don’ts” to avoid the pitfalls, and maximize the effectiveness of a safety award program.

Safety Metrics

Don’t - Focus on injury reporting when creating the criteria for the program. Many companies have made this mistake, resulting in employees underreporting their injuries in order to receive their incentive.

Do - Use behavior-based metrics. Recognize and reward employees for actively participating in safety practices. This could be participating in meetings or committees, making safety suggestions, or carrying out improvements.

Don’t - Use contests or group rewards in the program unless teamwork is a strong part of the company’s culture. This has the potential to create negative peer pressure.

Buy In

Do - Get management support before launching the program. Managers are key to ensuring the program runs smoothly. Without their buy-in, the program is prone to inconsistencies in reporting and ultimately, failure.

Don’t - Expect employees to participate enthusiastically if they see management isn’t.

Do - Involve employees in the process. No one is more attune to relevant safety concerns than the people in the field. Create opportunities for employees to participate in committees, safety tours, investigations, demonstrations, and other initiatives. This helps engage employees and creates an open dialogue about workplace safety.

Layout

Do - Keep it simple. The safety award program should be easy for everyone to understand and follow along.

Don’t - Make it complicated; especially when launching a brand new program. Companies should pick the metrics that matter most and concentrate on those. Other awards can be added as the program grows.

Do - Have a kick-off event where the criteria is clearly explained. This will help mark the start of the program and allow people to ask any questions.

Do - Make sure the criteria is always available for all employees to reference. If the company uses a point-based recognition system, employees should be able to easily check their progress.

Don’t - Make frequent changes to the program. Constant adjustments will squash morale as employees won’t be sure what’s expected of them or how to achieve their goals.

Integration

Do - Make sure safety is a core value in the company’s culture if it’s not already. This will help drive the program’s long-term success.

Do - Use the safety award program to create a positive experience with safety compliance. By recognizing desired behaviors, the program avoids negative reinforcement that results in reduced morale, communication, engagement, and safety.

Do - Keep the program in the forefront of people’s minds. This can be done through spotlights on specific employee performance, updates on how the company is progressing toward it’s safety goals, personal thank-yous to team members, and more.

Don’t - Replace a full safety program with the award program. The award program is meant to complement and strengthen an existing safety program. It is not a substitute for corporate safety compliance measures.

Awards

Do - Award people often. Managers shouldn’t wait for formal award ceremonies to celebrate their team member’s success. Combining timely frequent recognition with formal awards is a great way to keep the program fresh and relevant.

Don’t - Let awards become inconsistent. It’s important that the criteria, qualifications, and awards are evenly enforced across the company. Irregularities will chip away at the structure of the program and may invite accusations of favoritism.

Do - Make sure the awards are meaningful, valuable, and desirable. Safety is a critical value for many companies, and that value must be felt when recognizing employees. As custom award experts, we’ve spent the last 54 years creating unique and treasured awards for a wide variety of industries. Jewelry awards can be proudly worn by their recipients and can even be upgraded as they continue to achieve their goals.

Ordering custom safety awards is a breeze with E.A. Dion. Browse our gallery of past products to get inspired, or send us an email, give us a call, or message us to get started!

Across all industries, workplace safety is set as the top priority. Compromising the well-being of one’s employees is simply not an option and can result in a ripple effect of negative consequences. In order to strengthen workplace safety and compliance, many businesses implement safety award programs. These programs come with numerous advantages.

Morale

In a study conducted by Alert Media, 81% of surveyed employees said their physical safety is important to them. Only 58% said they thought it was important to their employers! This perception can be incredibly demoralizing. By creating a robust safety award program, businesses can demonstrate how seriously they value safety. When employees know their safety is a top priority, it’s easier for them to have trust and appreciation for the company. They are more likely to be content and motivated when they know their employer cares about their well-being. This improved morale leads to a more positive work environment and better overall job satisfaction.

Safety Standard Awareness

Safety award programs have the advantage of being continually relevant since they serve as a constant reminder of the importance of adhering to safety standards. Specific behaviors and protocols are highlighted in a positive light by rewarding those who uphold them. This makes it easier for everyone to be aware of the company’s safety standards, and know what is expected of them to keep everyone safe.

Engagement

A well-designed safety award program actively involves employees in the safety process. By incentivizing them to follow safety protocols, report hazards, and suggest improvements, employees become more engaged in the workplace. When employees feel that their input is valued and rewarded, they are more likely to be committed to the company's safety goals.

Employee Health

One of the most apparent benefits of a safety incentive program is the reduction in workplace injuries and accidents. When the entire company is committed to specific and positive safety goals, mishaps are less likely to occur. Employees spend less time in pain, and stress less over medical bills and other complications. Healthy employees are also more productive, both in the short and long term, leading to enhanced job satisfaction and reduced turnover rates.

Worker’s Comp

Fewer workplace injuries mean less worker’s compensation claims. In 2021, the Liberty Mutual Workplace Safety Index Report revealed that U.S. businesses spent more than one billion dollars a week on serious, nonfatal workplace injuries. While safety award programs cost money to establish and run, it is an investment rather than an expense. Businesses save money overall by preventing serious accidents. The costs associated with workplace accidents are not just limited to worker’s compensation. They can include legal fees, repairs, lost productivity, and more. Less accidents mean less headaches and fewer payouts.

Safety Culture

Perhaps the most significant advantage of a safety award program is its ability to cultivate a robust safety culture within the organization. A safety culture is a shared set of beliefs, values, and attitudes that prioritize safety at all levels of the organization. When employees are actively engaged in safety initiatives, they become safety advocates and encourage their colleagues to do the same. Over time, this leads to a culture where safety is ingrained in every aspect of the workplace. This transformation is the hallmark of a well-run safety program.

An industry with a strong safety culture is the trucking industry. Using data logs from their fleets, trucking companies can easily see who their safety champions are. Oftentimes drivers are awarded custom rings or other high-value items for driving safely. Safety is integrated into every aspect of trucking, since it’s a crucial component in the industry’s success.

Conclusion

Implementing a safety award program in the workplace offers a multitude of benefits for both employees and employers. By championing safety through positive reinforcement, businesses can create an environment of happier, healthier, and safety conscious people. Excellent safety practices deserve to be rewarded.

Ready to jumpstart your safety award program with custom awards? With over 50 years of experience, EA Dion has you covered. Get inspired by browsing our gallery of past products, or send us an email, give us a call, or message us to get started!

Salespeople play a crucial role in any company’s success. Their drive and dedication helps generate revenue, build customer relationships, and propel the business forward. While many companies incentivize their salespeople, most forget a powerful and necessary ingredient: employee recognition.

Beyond Bonuses

Salespeople receive commissions and bonuses based on their performance, so why would they need formal recognition on top of that? While commissions and bonuses are great and necessary for salespeople, they’re also expected. Being paid for their work doesn’t show that the company cares or is even paying attention to the salesperson. It’s simply part of their salary. The intention of employee recognition is to single out a person or team, spotlight their success, and thank them for their efforts. It’s a conscious decision the company makes to help their employees feel seen and valued.

The Power of Recognition

According to a recentGallup report, only 23% of employees strongly agree that they receive the right amount of recognition for the work they do. This isn’t surprising considering most business leaders (81%!) say that recognition is not a major strategic priority in their organization. When we’re not recognized for our hard work and contributions, it affects our well-being and morale. An unappreciated worker is more likely to be frustrated, contribute less, and ultimately seek employment elsewhere. The Gallup report concludes that properly recognizing employees could save a company of 10,000 about $16.1 million annually due to reduced employee turnover!

Boosting Engagement

Lowering turnover is just one benefit of practicing employee recognition. Continuing with the Gallup report’s findings, employees who receive proper recognition are 73% less likely to “always” or “very often” feel burned out. They’re also 4 times as likely to be engaged with the company. Engaged employees feel fulfilled with the work they do, which reflects in their performance. reflects in their performance. Salespeople can sometimes feel like a one-man-band as they attend to clients and chase deals. By implementing employee recognition, companies can reconnect and strengthen the relationship with their sales teams.

Celebrating - Not Dwelling

Salespeople have a more emotional job than most office workers. They’re constantly customer facing, and their days are filled with wins, losses, and nearly-had-ems. It can be easy to dwell on the disappointments and lose morale. It can become even worse if these failings are pointed out by others or even punished by the company. Employee recognition reverses this effect by celebrating the positive. Whether it’s a milestone achievement or a daily word of appreciation, companies can use these moments to build a culture of appreciation, respect, and positivity.

Bragging Rights

What sales team doesn’t love a little healthy competition? By setting clear targets and corresponding awards, salespeople have something definitive to drive towards. Friendly competition can be a powerful catalyst for increased sales performance. There are many sales award categories beyond highest earner, so companies can highlight what is most important to their mission and values. Having a shared goal can unite a sales team as they compete for the top spot.

Setting The Tone

When companies implement meaningful employee recognition, they create an environment where people feel valued and supported. This in turn leads to better engagement, a stronger work culture, higher morale, and lower turnover. Salespeople especially benefit as their job involves emotional fortitude and drive. Knowing the company is cheering them on can make all the difference.

Looking for the perfect award for your sales team? We’ve got you covered. At Dion, we have over 50 years of experience creating unique, high-end, custom jewelry awards for a variety of industries. Get inspired by browsing our gallery of past products, or send us an email, give us a call, or message us to get started!

Sales teams are a dynamic driving force that fuel a business's growth. They forge vital connections, seal deals, and translate products and services into real-world value for customers.

Incentivizing your sales teams by rewarding their efforts and celebrating their successes is an absolute must. Although sales representatives are often incentivized through their commissions, adding an extra layer of reward often helps fuel that drive to keep pushing the envelope. While some achievements are easy to recognize, such as most products sold or most sales completed, there are many ways to award a sales team that go beyond the obvious. Here are some award categories that celebrate more than the bottom line.

Most Growth Award

A growth award is given to the salesperson who sees the largest jump in sales compared to the previous period. While they may not have the top sales (yet), it’s important to recognize when someone has stepped up their game. It may also encourage others to get their sales numbers up as they see their efforts will not go unrecognized.

Goal-Getter Award

In addition to company-defined targets and milestones, many salespeople set their own personal goal at the beginning of the year. Usually these goals are shared with a team leader who can hold them accountable and offer encouragement. Recognizing these individual achievements not only boosts morale but also reinforces the value of goal-setting.

Best Customer Retention Award

This award would be presented to the sales rep who has the most recurring sales. They know their client well and bring in consistent steady orders. The award celebrates those who build solid relationships with customers and maintain them over time.

Customer Champion Award

The Customer Champion is the salesperson who receives the most positive customer feedback. This is easy to quantify if the company sends out customer surveys, but it can also be based on exceptional feedback received from clients. Along with the Customer Retention Award, it emphasizes the importance of fostering good customer relationships.

The Innovator Award

Salespeople can get pretty creative when closing a deal. This award would go to the person who thought outside the box in order to overcome a challenge. Celebrating this attribute encourages everyone to think creatively and share their discoveries.

Above and Beyond Award

This award is given to the salesperson who does something outside their job role to help a team member or client. This could be assisting a colleague with a complicated problem, staying extra hours to complete an urgent task, or even a good deed outside of office hours. It’s important that these extra deeds are not taken for granted and are awarded properly. This encourages a culture of teamwork, dedication, and kindness.

Unique Awards for Unique Occasions

Every company is different, and there’s no one-size-fits-all solution when it comes to rewarding top performers. At Dion, our mission is to create the perfect custom award for any occasion. No matter how you award your team, we can design and create an award to match. Getting started with Dion is easy. Get inspired by browsing our gallery of past products, or send us an email, give us a call, or message us to get started!

Recognizing employees for their contributions and accomplishments is a necessary part of creating a positive work environment. Proper recognition boosts employee morale, engagement, retention, and productivity. In fact, in a recent survey by Zippia, 69% of employees who were planning to quit their jobs said that receiving recognition and rewards would cause them to choose to stay at their current positions. While recognition can come in many forms, here’s why high-value items are a great choice for major awards.

Making the Intangible Tangible

How do you physically represent a concept? Here at Dion, our vision is “to make the intangible tangible.” It means that our products represent a host of different meanings. Each award encapsulates all of the hard work, dedication, and ambition of the employee as well as the appreciation, gratitude, and pride of the company. Having all of these concepts represented by a single item means the item must be something that can match that prestige. The product must speak to the value of the employee and the significance of their accomplishment. When choosing award items, companies should make sure they’re matching the value of the item to the merit of the award.

Show-Stopping Inspiration

Oftentimes people think they have to be a famous athlete or actor in order to receive a stunning high-end award. It may seem like a far off dream, or not applicable to their industry. That’s what makes high value awards so special. Not only do they motivate the recipient, but they inspire other employees to achieve the required goal to receive the award. When a company hosts a formal award ceremony, they unite the company, reinforce its values, celebrate its successes, and raise excitement for the future. Presenting high-value awards at these events demonstrates the possibility of achievement and prestigious recognition for the rest of the company.

External Validation

When employee awards are high-value, even people outside the company will be able to recognize their significance. The item can be a conversation piece, or simply speak for itself. Just the presence of the award in the room boosts the employee’s professional reputation and credibility. High-end awards may also help with networking and industry relationships as they signify the importance and success of their recipient.

The Company’s Investment

Lastly, high-end awards show that the company is fully invested in their employees’ success. Companies who make a financial commitment to recognizing their employees demonstrate that they truly value their workforce. With high-end awards, that value is represented in an exciting and lasting way. Employees will know that they work for a company that takes recognition seriously. The awards reinforce the perception of value in the company.

In Conclusion

High-end awards create an impact long after the ceremony ends. Not only do they motivate and inspire, they elevate the company’s image and boost the recipient’s status and credibility. Their value matches the significance of the employee’s achievement and the company’s gratitude. They are truly a worthwhile investment.

At Dion, we have over 50 years of experience creating unique, high-end, custom jewelry awards for a variety of industries. Consider elevating your award program with precious metal pieces designed and crafted just for your company. Getting started with Dion is easy. Get inspired by browsing our gallery of past products, or send us an email, give us a call, or message us to get started!

Custom products are a fantastic way to elevate an event, create buzz, or make someone feel special. As experts in the custom jewelry award industry, here are our top tips for getting the most out of your custom product suppliers.

It’s Okay to Not Know What You Want

The world of custom products is full of endless possibilities. If a client comes in with a specific idea in mind, any supplier will be happy to make it a reality. However, having a concrete vision isn’t required, and sometimes it can even keep the product from being the best it can be by limiting the collaborative process. Suppliers who make custom products are used to collaborating and guiding clients towards the best option for them. If a client doesn’t know exactly what they want, providing their ideal budget range and sharing design-inspiration photos is a great place to start.

Set The Scene

When a business chooses to order a custom product, they’ve decided to put the extra time and money into getting something special. Whether it’s a promotional giveaway or a prestigious award, sharing the context is a great way to extract knowledge and expertise from a supplier. What event are these custom items being ordered for? Who are they for? What is their purpose? By sharing the story behind the order, businesses can get the best recommendations and informed designs to suit their needs.

Budget for Time

Custom products take a bit longer to order. When making the decision to order something custom, a good first step is to find out the supplier’s lead time. Here at Dion, our lead time is about 6-8 weeks for a new design to be engineered, manufactured, packed, and shipped. When businesses give themselves plenty of time, they reduce stress on themselves as well as the supplier, enabling a more enjoyable process.

Have Image Files Ready

More often than not, companies want their logo to be featured on their custom products. When communicating with a supplier, having a high-resolution vector file of the logo ready to send helps to keep the ball rolling. A vector file is an image that can be scaled up or down without losing quality, and it’s essential to the product’s design. The most popular vector image formats are Adobe Illustrator (.ai), encapsulated postscript (.eps), portable document format (.pdf), and scalable vector graphics (.svg). By having a vector logo file ready to go, businesses can save time and get their design started sooner.

Work With The Best

With over 50 years of experience, EA Dion has become a leader in creating memorable, high-quality custom jewelry awards that motivate and inspire.. Our knowledgeable Account Managers and talented Design Team are dedicated to providing the perfect fit for each client. Our caring and skilled Production Team takes pride in crafting awards that will be worn and loved for years to come.

Getting started with Dion is easy. Get inspired by browsing our gallery of past products, or send us an email, give us a call, or message us to get started!

When working with suppliers, it’s common to have a cost-based way of thinking: the buyer needs a product, the supplier makes the product, and the buyer buys it. While straightforward and simple, it omits the benefits of collaboration. By using a value-based mindset, companies can unlock the hidden potential of their supplier relationships.

The Barriers

An in-depth survey of over 100 companies performed by Mckinsey & Company revealed that companies who regularly collaborated with suppliers demonstrated higher growth, lower operating costs, and greater profitability than their industry peers. Despite these rich benefits, many businesses struggle to integrate collaboration into their established processes. This is largely due to the increase in time and effort needed. It is much more instantly gratifying to focus on simpler and quicker initiatives, despite them yielding less value in the end. This is a common barrier, which means businesses can get a serious leg up on their competition by overcoming it.

Tap In

Collaborating with a supplier allows a business to tap deeper into the supplier’s expertise. The supplier is an expert at providing their specific product or service, and can provide specialized insight to meet specific needs. By developing a product together, the supplier is allowed to offer helpful feedback and suggestions to make production run smoothly. This can greatly reduce headaches in the development process, keep morale up, and increase efficiency. Suppliers have seen countless examples of successful (and not so successful) clients. Tapping into that knowledge and experience can reveal a goldmine of insight.

At Dion, every product we make is a collaboration. Our custom jewelry awards are designed to fit our client’s vision and budget, with endless possibilities to choose from. Our Account Managers help guide the process, making it easy to understand how jewelry is made, and what its functionalities can be. This is how we ensure a perfect, high quality fit for every customer.

Explore All Services

If a company is used to ordering the same thing from a supplier, they may not be aware of other available services. This lack of knowledge can cause redundant work, unnecessary strain on certain departments, and even cost more money if the company is paying another third party to fulfill the need. These pitfalls can be avoided by fully and openly communicating the needs of the project. The collaborating business/supplier team can also go over a menu of services available when starting the project. This helps everyone stay on the same page and know what resources are available.

Menus of our administrative and product services can be found under the “Services” tab of our website. The purpose of our services is to help distributors, both large and small, feel confident when handling the organizational needs of their clients. Whether its product design, drop shipping, program administration, or even marketing support, we want our clients to be fully supported whenever they interact with us.

A Win Win

Businesses should never hesitate to form a collaborative relationship with their suppliers. Suppliers are usually willing and eager to help - after all, they do well when their clients do well! For more tips on how to nurture vendor relationships, check out our blog "5 Ways to Strengthen Your Vendor Relationships." By working together, companies and their suppliers can better design and execute their vision.

Getting started on a custom branded jewelry item is easy! Our custom awards help to elevate and celebrate organizations with designs tailored to their needs. Start by browsing our gallery of past products, or send us an email, give us a call, or message us to get started!

Depending on the size of a business’ award program, a website can be a smooth and efficient way to manage award fulfillment. Websites are easily accessible and ensure accuracy when distributing awards. Employees can participate in their own recognition by logging into the site, seeing all their award options, and providing important information such as sizing or text for an engraving. When done right, award websites can be a powerful tool that keeps award programs on track.

Keep it Simple

As with any good website, a clear and streamlined design will help visitors quickly find what they’re looking for and input accurate information. If the website is too cluttered, or there is no clear avenue to order an award, visitors can get lost - possibly preventing them from receiving their hard-earned award! Simple doesn’t have to mean boring, however. Sleek and modern-looking websites are a big trend, offering sophistication and refinement to the brand.

Call to Action

The best way to simplify an award website is to concentrate on what its main function is: employees choosing and ordering their awards. When an employee logs in, the first thing they should see is a welcome banner and a “call to action” button. This button can say something like “Get Your Award!” or “Get Started Here,” and it’ll take the user immediately into the award ordering process. By placing a “call to action” front and center, the user spends less time looking for direction and is more likely to provide complete and accurate information.

Have Options

A great advantage of having an award program website is the ability to easily showcase and offer award options. Employees are more likely to cherish their award if they choose it themselves. The website’s data can also show how popular each option is, helping the company refine their rewards program in the future. At Dion, we’ve created entire jewelry collections to offer a range of award options from pins and rings to earrings and belt buckles!

Show All Levels

Different levels of performance earn different awards. Companies can encourage and motivate employees by dedicating a page to showcasing all the awards available at each level of achievement. For newer employees, it displays the accomplishments that lie ahead, and for seasoned employees, it shows how far they’ve come. Together, it indicates the success of the whole company and the outstanding performance of all its employees. Even more exciting is when new levels have to be added when performance records are shattered!

Have Your Supplier Take Care of It

When managing a large employee recognition program, accuracy is paramount. The right award, in the right size, with the right customization, needs to go to the right person, at the right time, at the right address. That’s a lot to get right! When employee information is entered into the award website, the fewer hoops it goes through, the better. At Dion, we’ve designed and created custom websites for our clients, ensuring accuracy and simplicity. Award choices and sizing information comes directly to us, minimizing delays and allowing us to begin manufacturing sooner. Check out all of our administrative services to see how we can help make your award programs the best they can be!

With over 50 years in business, EA Dion is a leading expert on custom award jewelry. Our custom awards help celebrate success with designs tailored to our clients’ needs, and our top-notch customer service is there for you every step of the way. Start by browsing our gallery of past products, checking out our administration services, or send us an email, give us a call, or message us to get started!

Award and recognition programs are a great way to boost employee engagement and retention. They help to create a positive work environment where people feel appreciated and valued. However, if the award program is clunky, slow, and inefficient, it can have the opposite effect. Here are some best practices for employee award program fulfillment.

Be Punctual

Part of the award experience is the excitement and revelry in a job well done. If too much time passes between the employee’s achievement and their recognition, that excitement diminishes greatly. The employee may even forget about their achievement altogether! By rewarding employees in a timely manner, businesses can keep their recognition relevant and fresh. Gratitude shouldn’t feel like an afterthought.

Make a Plan

As we’ve discussed in previous blogs, it’s important to lay some firm groundwork when building a recognition program. One of the key elements in this plan is scheduling. When will employees receive their awards? Will it be monthly, quarterly, or even immediately? When companies consider what schedule suits their needs best, they also need to consider how quickly they can order their awards.

At Dion, we specialize in custom awards, which take longer to create than standard logoed products. This extra time allows us to design and create something truly special that can’t be found anywhere else. We’ve also made immediate add-ons for some of our clients, so they can stock up on awards and have them ready to go. When planning out an award program, businesses should take note of their award timelines. By building in the time before their award ceremonies or company meetings, they can ensure that no awardee will be left holding an IOU.

Make it Personal

If at all possible, awards should be given in person and in front of the recipient’s peers. Not only does this allow for personal connection and instant feedback, but it emphasizes the pride of the company in the individual. It’s a great moment to highlight the achievement, why the company celebrates it, and how appreciated the recipient’s hard work is.

If a personal exchange is off the table and the award must be shipped, businesses should strive to make the package as personal as possible. Special branded packaging can help separate the award from an ordinary parcel. A personal handwritten note can also go a long way to help establish a genuine connection. Even adding the employee’s favorite snack or brand of coffee into the package can help them feel cared for.

Have Options

Whenever possible, companies should give a few options for employees to pick from. Everyone has different tastes, and it can be a motivating factor to receive an award that was personally chosen. At Dion, we’ve made entire custom jewelry collections for this very purpose. While some employees may choose a pendant or bracelet, others may prefer a money clip or cufflinks.

Pick a Good Award Company

Nothing is more frustrating or disappointing than building and hyping up an amazing award program - only to have your award company fumble the ball. When choosing who to work with, it’s always wise to read reviews, ask questions, and assess the award company’s reliability. Sticking to a budget is important, but finding the cheapest deal possible shouldn’t eclipse quality, service, or reliability. If specific services, such as data management and reporting, drop shipping, or custom order websites are needed, they should be part of the company’s research as well.

With over 50 years in business, EA Dion is a leading expert on custom award jewelry. Our custom awards help celebrate success with designs tailored to our clients’ needs, and our top-notch customer service is there for you every step of the way. Start by browsing our gallery of past products, checking out our administration services, or send us an email, give us a call, or message us to get started!

Branding is an important component for any successful business, but even more so for nonprofits. Much of their missions and goals rely heavily on public engagement and support. For nonprofits, employing strong branding techniques helps to establish trust and familiarity, which turns into community buy-in. Nonprofit branding techniques can easily translate to the for-profit sector as well.

State Your Mission

Every nonprofit was created with a specific mission in mind. The first step towards creating a clear and consistent brand is to identify a concise mission statement. This mission statement is the cornerstone of all activity within the organization. All events, communications, and even the structure of the organization itself should reflect a commitment to the mission statement. Likewise, for-profit businesses should have a defined mission statement that guides their brand. When creating a mission statement, try to answer these questions:

1. Who are we?
2. Who do we serve?
3. What do we do that makes us different?
4. Why do we matter?

Part of Dion’s mission statement is:
“We are E A Dion, a company that creates fashionable identity jewelry for organizations, which we customize to their organizational identities in beautiful styles that appeal to their membership.”

Create a Visual Identity

Once the mission statement is established, it’s time to think outward. What does the organization want to be known for? What is its legacy? The answer to these questions will help set the tone for creating visual elements. For example, the warm tone of a child care association will differ greatly from the matter-of-fact voice of a human rights advocacy group. The tone of the organization determines what logo, colors, and font to use. This keeps communications consistent and helps people better recognize the brand.

During this stage, some organizations will create uniform elements for their members. Drawing from the nonprofit’s mission, history, and tone, uniform items could be as simple as t-shirts, or as iconic as the fez hats of Shriners International. Oftentimes, associations opt for a logoed pin. At Dion, we design and manufacture custom pins, money clips, keytags, cufflinks, and other forms of custom jewelry for organizations. Whether it’s a new member pin, donor gift, or officer rank badge, having wearable branded items is a great way to boost brand awareness and legitimacy.

Tell A Story

Behind every nonprofit there is usually a personal and compelling story of why it was founded. Telling this story is a fantastic way to earn empathy and trust from the community. As the organization grows, it’s important to prevent the story from getting buried. Whenever possible, nonprofits tell their founding story, and subsequent stories of how they have made an impact. Though it may take some digging, these compelling narratives can also be found in for-profit businesses. The more personal the stories, the more effective they’ll be in driving engagement. Both nonprofits and businesses alike should keep their mission statement and tone in mind when telling these stories.

Find Your Audience

Nonprofits tend to be more embedded in, and connected to, their audiences. However, marketing research is still a valuable tool to help them pinpoint the demographics of their most engaged people. Once a target audience has been identified, organizations can more strategically choose their methods of communicating. Nonprofits are often skilled at utilizing social media due to its low-cost and wide reach. Social media is a great way to communicate stories, keep people up to date on projects and events, and establish a line of communication with the general public. Social posts make it easy for people to share content instantly and follow links back to the organization’s website.

Collaborate

Due to their frequent community outreach and charity work, nonprofits often collaborate with each other. By joining forces with like-minded organizations, they can raise more awareness for their cause and boost each other’s brand. For-profit businesses can do this as well. Whether it’s two neighboring businesses offering coupons for each other, or a big-budget combined advertisement campaign, there are many ways businesses can help each other out.

While nonprofits may not seem like branding experts, their unique perspective offers some valuable branding ideas. Having a close tie to their mission, values, and tone helps them better communicate their stories and connect with their audience more directly. Collaborating with other nonprofits helps to amplify their branding further. Businesses may benefit from taking note!

Looking to boost brand awareness? Getting started on a custom branded jewelry item is easy! Our custom awards help to elevate and celebrate organizations with designs tailored to their needs. Start by browsing our gallery of past products, or send us an email, give us a call, or message us to get started!

Starting something new can often be a daunting task. Whether it be a new job, school, or club, it can be hard to gain one’s footing and find a sense of belonging right away. This makes orientation a crucial step to make a new person feel welcome. Clubs and associations often excel at this step by utilizing their member-centric culture, and offer a great example for businesses to follow.

Why is Orientation Important?

When a new person signs up, the association has the chance to confirm that this was a great decision and make a warm first impression. Orientation keeps the initial energy and enthusiasm high, while answering any lingering questions the new member may have. It connects the new member with fellow club members and introduces opportunities to get involved. Without an effective orientation, the new member may feel isolated and have a hard time breaking the ice. They may also become confused or frustrated when trying to navigate the association’s rules and policies. Any enthusiasm they had can quickly disappear, and they may leave altogether.

Have a Welcome Packet

New club members inevitably have to take in a lot of information. To eliminate the stress of memorizing it all, a well-organized welcome packet should always be given out. This should be branded with the association’s logo and contain any information new recruits may need. Whenever possible, the contents should be personalized with the person’s name. Items in the packet could include:

• A personal welcome letter expressing appreciation and excitement for the new member
• Important contact information.
• An event calendar
• Any instructions for online registration or other setup requirements.

Give a Gift

Along with their welcome packet, many associations will offer a “swag bag” full of branded items and small gifts. These gift should have some sort of tie-in with the association. For example, if health and wellness is the central focus, some healthy snacks, a branded water bottle, and fitness gear are all fitting options to include. If the association has any “uniform” items, such as the association’s lapel pin, patch, hat, shirt, or other worn item, they could be included as well.

Take a Tour

If applicable, new recruits can greatly benefit from a personal tour around the club’s facilities. This gets them more comfortable in the space, and gives them the chance to ask questions and meet new people. It also prevents them from getting lost, or wandering aimlessly trying to find the bathroom.

Make an Announcement

Acquiring new members is always a cause for celebration. New members can be announced via an internal newsletter, social media post, or mass email. Including a few fun details about each new person can help provide conversation starters as well.

Make it an Event

If applicable, having a welcome event is a great way to celebrate new members, highlight the benefits of membership, and get everyone acquainted in a fun setting. This could be a brunch, party, or formal induction ceremony. New members could receive their swag bag here, if they haven’t already. Many associations have symbolic activity to publicly and officially welcome new members. These could be a pinning ceremony, candle lighting, pledge, or other meaningful gesture.

No matter the industry, it’s important to make new arrivals feel welcomed and confident. By providing an organized and celebratory orientation, those new people will be excited to dive in, and stay in their organization for a long time. If you’re looking for a unique way to excite your organization members, a custom pin, belt buckle, money clip, or other piece of jewelry may be a great fit. Our custom awards help to elevate and celebrate organizations with designs tailored to their needs. Start by browsing our gallery of past products, or send us an email, give us a call, or message us to get started!

The events of the past few years have reshaped the global workforce, with many leaving, or losing, their jobs. Despite a relatively steady recovery from the chaos of 2020, businesses continue to struggle with retention. The latest report released by the US Bureau of Labor Statistics shows that “separations” which it defines as “quits, layoffs, discharges, and other separations” increased by 3.2 million in 2022 from 2021. “Quits” accounted for 70% of all separations in 2022, the highest annual level in the survey’s 21-year history.

An Industry to Watch

While 2022 saw an increase in new hires, the growing challenge of retaining employees remains at the forefront of many business leaders’ minds. The healthcare industry in particular has drawn public scrutiny for its struggle with this issue. In 2021, voluntary terminations accounted for 95.5% of all hospital terminations, which were at their highest rate in recent years at 25.9%. Facing critical staffing shortages, and the industry’s failure to meet their turnover reduction goals, health care providers are putting even more focus on employee retention strategies. Their research and subsequent application will serve as an outstanding case study for other businesses struggling with the same obstacle.

What Makes People Stay?

While many organizations have invested in well-being initiatives, competitive pay, bonuses, and better technology, it’s still not enough to quell the turnover crisis. These are all essential strategies for recruitment, however, their existence in a setting devoid of a strong work culture limits their effectiveness to retain those new hires. As a visual, imagine planting beautiful, expensive orchids in a gravel parking lot. There’s nothing wrong with the orchids; they’re beautiful and appreciated, but without a proper environment, they can’t function at their fullest. In a survey spanning hundreds of thousands of healthcare workers, The Harvard Business Review found a resounding answer to what makes people stay: pride in their work and loyalty to their colleagues. An organizational culture with a commitment to excellence is the key factor in solving the turnover problem.

A Leadership Challenge

Building a strong workplace culture takes time, strategy, and dedication from all levels of management. A unified effort to embody the organization’s mission and values is imperative to prevent any new initiatives from falling flat. Once the core values are identified, it’s time to focus on definitions of excellence and point of pride. While healthcare workers can take pride in providing excellent care to their patients, other businesses can reflect on what they’re proud of. From there, they can brainstorm metrics for stellar performance. These could be anything from sales goals to positive feedback from customers.

Recognize A Job Well Done

Once businesses have established the performance metrics that work for them, they need to commit to consistently recognizing their employees. Keeping recognition fair and timely will help build momentum, keep up morale, and establish clear expectations. As recognition experts for over 50 years, we at Dion highly recommend a mix of personal, informal thank yous and more formal public recognition. This way, a culture of appreciation can flourish and employees feel celebrated in multiple ways. Peer-to-peer recognition is a great way to involve the entire company and create a positive and encouraging environment. Here at Dion, our peer-to-peer recognition involves our custom jewelry in the form of our Diamond Award. Members of Team Dion nominate their peers when they see someone going out of their way to help a coworker. The nominee receives a silver award pin, an internal newsletter shoutout, and their good deed posted on our Diamond Award board. Not only does the nominee feel recognized, the nominator feels like they have a strong and meaningful way to say “thank you.”

At Dion, we design and manufacture many unique and treasured healthcare pins, brooches, and badge holders. However, we take pride in creating valuable, specialized, and wearable awards to honor high achievers in all industries. If you’re looking for a unique way to boost retention, celebrate excellence, and engage employees, we’re here to help. Browse our gallery of past products, or send us an email, give us a call, or message us to get started!

Nurses are an integral part of the healthcare system. As patient advocates and skilled care providers, they have the unique ability to combine their medical knowledge with compassion to ensure that each patient receives the best possible care. Schools often celebrate their nurses through pinning ceremonies.

The Ceremony

Pinning ceremonies are held separately from graduation, making them more intimate and meaningful for the graduates and their families. Like graduation, it is an opportunity to celebrate the accomplishment of becoming a nurse, but while graduation highlights the completion of academic study, the pinning ceremony marks the important transition from student to nurse. Each graduate selects a person to dedicate their pin to; usually a friend, faculty, or family member. That person will come up on stage to secure the nursing pin to the graduate’s lapel. Speeches and stories are shared, and a ceremonial candle lighting is also typically held. It is often described as an emotional and beautiful ceremony.

The Pin

The history of nursing pins dates back to the 12th century. During the Crusades, those who were devoted to caring for the injured and ill were given large Maltese crosses to wear on the battlefields. Symbols like the Maltese cross remained an important way to signal one’s service to a particular cause. In the 1800’s Florence Nightingale, widely regarded as the founder of modern nursing, received the Red Cross of St. George for her incredible contributions during the Crimean War. Nightingale knew that recognizing stellar performance was an important part of improving nursing standards. When she started her own nurse training program, Nightingale gave medals of excellence to her brightest graduates. Eventually, her nursing school in London designed and awarded a badge with a Maltese Cross to all nurses as they completed their program.

The Value

Today, nursing pins are highly customized to represent the pride and values of their respective school. Nurses will often wear them on their hospital badges, display them in keepsake shadow boxes, or keep them in a jewelry box where they’ll be seen often. The pin’s history, significance, and symbolism make it an important part of every nurse’s journey. At Dion, we take pride in creating these important pins, and know that nursing graduates deserve something truly special. We’re also proud to offer custom badge holders that ensure recognition is always on display.

No matter the occupation or organization, recognition ceremonies help motivate honorees to keep succeeding. Having a custom award item ensures that they’ll always have a tangible reminder of their accomplishments. If you’d like to honor your members, employees, or team members with something custom, getting started with Dion is easy! Simply send us an email, give us a call, or message us to get started.

As the clock counted down and the confetti started to fly at Super Bowl 57, the excitement was palpable. The Chiefs were screaming, smiling, and hugging. The entire stadium roared in celebration. This was the payoff; the ultimate achievement they’ve been working towards. They were the champions.

Of course, you don’t have to be a professional athlete to be a champion. People work hard, achieve their goals, and make positive change in countless occupations. Becoming a champion in any field starts with the right mindset.

Establish Goals

First and foremost, you’ll need to establish a clear goal that you want to achieve. Without a clear directive, it’s easy to become complacent and aimless. At Dion, we like to stick to the SMART method when setting goals. That means our goals are specific, measurable, attainable, relevant, and time-bound. By clearly identifying your desired state, you can take conscious steps to reach it.

Believe in Yourself

The whole point in setting goals is that you believe you can achieve them in the first place. Without that self confidence, your mission has ended before it began. Having trust in yourself and your abilities to achieve are crucial to having a champion mindset. One way to build this confidence is to adjust the way you speak to yourself. It’s very easy to tear ourselves down and pick out every little mistake made. Changing this takes time, and may feel silly at first, but the more you repeat something to yourself, the more likely you are to believe it. Try picking out a mantra for yourself and repeat it throughout your day. A mantra can be something like:

• “I am strong and resilient in the face of any challenge.”
• “Every day is an opportunity to get closer to my goals.”
• “I will not let fear or doubt stand in the way of my success.”
• “I am capable of achieving anything I set my mind to.”

Take Action

Now that you’ve set your goals and are brimming with confidence, it’s time to take action! Identify the steps needed to reach your goal, then concentrate on the first step. Take each action one at a time so they don’t become overwhelming. This is where your commitment will begin to be tested. Some days you might not feel like putting the work in. You won’t be as revved up as you were when you set your goal. It may be tempting to quit or become complacent, but you had a reason for setting this goal in the first place. Remind yourself why you wanted to achieve this goal. The only person who can move you forward is you.

Keep Good Company

Every champion has a great team, coach, or support group around them. When embarking on your own goals, surround yourself with people who will encourage and challenge you. Perhaps those around you have similar goals that you can work towards together. Having a great coach or mentor will also help keep you on track. These people will help keep you accountable as you climb the steps to your goal.

Celebrate Your Achievements

On the journey to your supreme goal, you’ll undoubtedly have many smaller achievements. Maybe you learned a new skill, completed a course, or made a new connection. Make sure to acknowledge these moments as they happen. Not only does it help build confidence, but it also helps reorient you on your pathway.

Of course, you’ll definitely want to celebrate when you achieve that ultimate goal - that’s your champion moment! Here at Dion, we love helping people commemorate their achievements. Having a unique and high quality award is a constant reminder of all one’s hard work, dedication, and skill. No matter the field, we want all recipients of our awards to feel like champions. If you’re looking for awards for your business or organization, we’re here for you. Browse our gallery of past products, then send us an email, give us a call, or message us to get started!

Super Bowl 57 is just days away, and it’s safe to assume the Chiefs and Eagles players have one thing on their mind - a big sparkly ring. Super Bowl rings are a time-honored tradition that have captivated sports fans for decades. Much more than a flashy piece of jewelry, the meaning and legacy behind these rings cannot be understated. Here are some lesser-known facts behind football’s favorite ring.

Who Makes Them?

Although Tiffany & Co. is the exclusive provider of the Vince Lombardi Trophy, they don’t always get the chance to produce the rings. In fact, every year companies will bid for the opportunity to create them. Jostens, the creator of the very first Super Bowl ring, usually wins this bidding war and has created 36 of the 56 rings. However, competitors like Tiffany & Co., Balfour, and Jason of Beverly Hills have also had their turn. Jason of Beverly Hills has won the bidding war for the last two years thanks to their innovative designs.

How Much Are They?

Each ring design is vastly different from the previous year’s, so pinning a number on them is hard. The NFL officially gives the winning team between $5,000 and $7,000 per ring for up to 150 rings. The rings usually end up costing anywhere from $30,000 to $50,000 each with the difference in cost paid by the team’s owners. Last year’s winning team, The LA Rams, have said that their design has the most diamond carat weight in NFL history, with approximately 20 carats of white diamonds set on top of white and yellow gold. It’s safe to assume their ring was closer to the $50k mark.

Of course, some players and staff have sold their rings for various prices. The history behind the ring, who it belonged to, and other variables all contribute to its value. The highest price ever paid for a Super Bowl ring is $230,401 in 2012. The ring was from Super Bowl 25 and previously belonged to New York Giants linebacker Lawrence Taylor.

Who Gets One?

As mentioned earlier, the most rings a team can request is 150. That’s almost enough for all active, reserve, and practice squad players to get two! So who are the extra ones for? While there are no official rules about who does or doesn’t receive a ring, typically both active and inactive players do receive them. Coaches, owners, and high-ranking employees also usually take a ring home. If an owner really wants to, they can order more than 150 rings, but they have to pay the full cost themselves.

Even the losing team gets their own ring! The NFL still gives them $5,000 for up to 150 rings for their players and staff. They may not be as flashy or grab as much attention, but they celebrate the team’s success in getting to the Super Bowl. Popular details on these rings are nods to their conference wins or the final score of the Super Bowl if it was a close game.

Who Has the Most?

If you’re a sports fan, you may be tempted to answer Tom Brady. While Brady has a total of seven Super Bowl rings, there’s still someone who has more: Bill Belichick. As the head coach of the New England Patriots, Belichick led his team to six Super Bowl wins. He also has two other rings from his previous position as the defensive coordinator for the New York Giants. This brings his grand total to eight rings. Brady’s recent retirement announcement means Belichick will likely remain in the number one spot for some time.

What Makes Them Special?

Super Bowl rings are designed to embody the personality of the winning team and outdo the previous year’s design. Each ring is filled with symbolism and meaning in the form of engravings, stone count, carat weight, colors, images, and more. Take for example the LA RAms ring from last year’s Super Bowl. Their ring design was inspired by their home field, SoFi Stadium, where they won the championship. Not only does it have the stadium’s columns around the bezel of the ring, the entire top can be removed to view a tiny football field inside. The underside of the top piece also houses a piece of stadium turf and a piece of the game ball. As mentioned earlier, the total diamond weight of the ring is 20 carats. This was chosen to signify SoFi Stadium’s opening in 2020. There are many more details hidden in the ring as well.

Championship rings are unique pieces of jewelry that symbolize hard work, dedication, teamwork, brotherhood, and the prideful roar of victory. Their creative designs entrance fans and non-fans alike. With endless ways to customize, they’re sure to create a meaningful impact on anyone who’s earned one. If you’re looking for a custom, high-end award ring for your team, we’ve got you covered. Check out our gallery for examples of our past championship ring designs. Then just send us an email, give us a call, or message us to get started!

In last week’s blog, we talked about how event commemoratives boost engagement. Let’s dive a little deeper into how they “get people talking” and “create buzz.” Unique event keepsakes can help foster employee and client relationships through the conversations they inspire.

Positive Reinforcement

Many of us have heard the saying, “If it’s free, it’s for me!” Most people like receiving free things, especially when they weren’t expecting to. Receiving an event keepsake creates a positive moment between the company and recipient. A commemorative has the most positive effect on the recipient when it:

• ties in with the theme of the event
• is unique
• lasts a long time
• is useful OR has a perceived value

If a company can manage to check all four boxes, they can create countless positive impressions and associations with their brand. At internal events, employee recipients are more likely to feel appreciated and proud of their company. At public events, potential clients will be more familiar with the company and have a tangible reminder of it.

Close-Up

Event Commemoratives are a fantastic way to place marketing material directly into the hands of attendees. They make contact with the company virtually unavoidable, which is especially useful at conventions and tradeshows. If the commemorative item is worn, such as a hat or pin, the company’s brand will get in front of even more eyes. A unique or particularly useful item may spark conversation, creating buzz for the brand. These personal experiences and connections drive engagement with the company in a meaningful way.

After The Event

Commemorative items should serve as reminders long after the event ends. Whether it was a special award event for the company’s top earners, or a whirlwind conference full of potential new leads, the goal is to have attendees look back with fondness. The more the recipient is reminded of the event, the more mileage the company gets from its marketing. If the commemorative is put on display, it can generate even more brand impact. It’s impossible to measure the full extent of an item’s effect, but one with the four criteria mentioned earlier is going to go a long way.

Custom event commemoratives are an excellent tool for companies looking to market themselves and create buzz around their brand. These items can be used to show appreciation to customers and clients alike, and put the marketing material right in their hands. Commemoratives also create lasting positive impressions and can serve as conversation starters, allowing companies to build relationships and increase visibility.

Wanted to get started on your unique event commemorative? An E.A. Dion rep can help you create lasting impressions with our custom jewelry keepsakes. Send us an email, give us a call, or message us to get started!