Small sports trophies - Engraving Etc. Forum

From:	Mike (SPACE_ENGRAVERS)	12 Mar 2006
To:	ALL	1 of 8

3157.1

Well, I really didn't want to get into trophies too much but it looks like there is pretty big demand for them around here for the little kids sports programs. So...can anyone tell me where I can get really good deals on small sports trophies? Most of the programs I'm involved in around here are with the YMCA and most parents pay between $5-$8 for the trophies for thier kids...so I need to find a supplier that I can get trophies cheap enough to still make it worth it to charge those prices. Any suggestions would be great!

Thanks,

Mike

Space Engravers
New Start up
25W Epilog Profile

From:	Stunt Engraver (DGL)	12 Mar 2006
To:	Mike (SPACE_ENGRAVERS)	2 of 8

3157.2 In reply to 3157.1
Mike, What you'll probably run into, in trying to deal in inexpensive trophies, is that internet companies, such as Dinn Brothers, have, in some cases caused trophy shops to attempt to compete with their prices, which, while not impossible, is foolish. I know of some shops who've decided to let Dinn Brothers do the work and become resellers. The downside, from what I've heard, is that spelling mistakes are common and having to request redoes, or having to re-engrave plates yourself, may become a frustrating element, in working with the Bros. David "The Stunt Engraver" Lavaneri DGL Engraving Port Hueneme, CA

From:	Engravin' Dave (DATAKES)	12 Mar 2006
To:	Mike (SPACE_ENGRAVERS)	3 of 8

3157.3 In reply to 3157.1

Mike,

If you are going to dive into the economical trophy business you need to have the space to inventory cases of figures, bases and columns. You will not be able to offer a competitive price unless you purchase in case quantities and have the volume of business to justify buying in case quantities.

A different approach might be to change the habits of your prospective customers by wowing them with unique alternative awards that don't cost you any more, but could draw a higher price tag.

From:	logojohn	12 Mar 2006
To:	Mike (SPACE_ENGRAVERS)	4 of 8

3157.4 In reply to 3157.1
We do hundres of small and large trophies per week. There is always someone on line or locally willing to do them cheap so you will not be able to make the markup you can on acrylics, plaques and other items. You can still at least double your cost and sell them competively most of the time. If you are doing the work yourself, you have to decide if is worth the time on a small margin product as opposed to developing more profitable things. But sometimes the low margin products may attract people who will buy other things from you. The resin trophies are a quick and easy way to offer trophies without doing assembly or making columns. Just add a plate. We do enough column trophies that there are full time assemblers so the owner isn't wasting time on them and they help even out the slow times. We have always used pdu bases and figures and haven't switched to lower cost suppliers like JDS since they have a qood selection and offer silver figures which many people buy. .

From:	Mike (SPACE_ENGRAVERS)	12 Mar 2006
To:	logojohn	5 of 8

3157.5 In reply to 3157.4
Thanks for the recommendations...The resin and bobble-head trophies seem to be popular around my area...an recommendations on distributors for those types? Space Engravers New Start up 25W Epilog Profile

From:	Cody (BOBTNAILER)	12 Mar 2006
To:	Mike (SPACE_ENGRAVERS)	7 of 8

3157.7 In reply to 3157.5

Mike,

JDS also carries the new Insta-Trophy. These are mostly pre-assembled...all you do is add the snap-in figure.

Depending on the size, you can buy these between about $2.25 to $4.00 each.

They're on pages 121 & 122 of the new JDS catalog.

We didn't want to get into the trophy side of the business, either. However, it turned out that several of my customers wanted to buy all of their stuff at one shop (including their trophies), and I wanted ALL of their business. So...we started doing trophies.

We don't do a big volume of them, but enough to justify buying case lots of what we need.

Cody

From:	basehorawards	13 Mar 2006
To:	Mike (SPACE_ENGRAVERS)	8 of 8

3157.8 In reply to 3157.5
Another good source for resins and bobbleheads is Continental James Smith Basehor Awards & Trophies