Corporate trophies and recognition awards tell your people, in a way they can hold, that their work mattered. The right award depends on what you are recognizing, how often you give it, and where it will be displayed. This guide covers the main types of corporate awards, how to budget across tiers, and how to order dozens of personalized awards without retyping a single name.
Quick answer: For most companies, acrylic awards and plaques work well for recurring recognition such as monthly or quarterly awards, while glass and crystal awards are best saved for top honors like Employee of the Year or President's Club. Add your company logo, keep the wording short, and order everything at once using a spreadsheet of names so every award is consistent.
Why physical awards still matter
A thank-you email gets buried in an inbox. An award sits on a desk or hangs on a wall, where the recipient and everyone around them sees it every day. Physical recognition also signals that leadership took the time to plan something, not just click "send."
The main types of corporate awards
Acrylic awards
Acrylic is lightweight, modern and very versatile. It shows off a company logo well and comes in a variety of shapes and sizes. It is a strong choice for sales awards, team milestones and any program where you give awards often. Browse our corporate acrylics.
Glass and crystal awards
Glass and crystal feel substantial and formal. They catch the light on a shelf and read as a top-level honor. Use them for leadership awards, retirement, Employee of the Year and major client appreciation. See our glass and crystal awards.
Plaques
Plaques are the classic wall award. They hold more lines of text than most trophies, so they suit years-of-service awards, certificates of achievement and awards with a longer message. Shop corporate plaques, or consider perpetual plaques that list a new winner each month or year.
Trophies
Traditional trophies still have a place at work, especially for friendly competition: sales contests, company sports days, golf outings and team challenges. Our corporate awards collection brings these styles together.
Awards by occasion
Sales awards
- Top Sales Producer (monthly, quarterly or annual)
- President's Club or Circle of Excellence
- Rookie Salesperson of the Year
- Largest Deal of the Quarter
- Most New Accounts
Sales teams respond well to visible, frequent recognition. A tiered approach, with acrylic for monthly winners and crystal for the annual top performer, gives everyone something to aim for.
Safety awards
- Safety Leadership Award
- Safe Crew of the Quarter
- Days Without Incident milestone
- Safety Champion
Safety awards work best when they recognize a team or crew, not just one person. A plaque in the break room or on the shop floor keeps the goal in front of everyone.
Service and milestone awards
Anniversaries at 5, 10, 20 and 25 years deserve something that scales with the milestone. A simple rule: acrylic or plaques for the earlier milestones, glass or crystal for the longest tenures.
Culture and values awards
- Employee of the Month or Year
- Customer Service Excellence
- Innovation Award
- Team Player Award
- Living Our Values Award
Company logo awards
Adding your logo turns a generic award into a company award. Many of our products allow logo upload directly on the product page, including plaques, acrylics, glass and crystal, mugs and custom inserts. A few tips:
- Send the highest-quality version of your logo you have. A vector version usually gives the cleanest result.
- For engraved glass and crystal, a simple one-color version of your logo usually works best.
- Our custom design services are free. If your logo needs cleanup, or you want a layout mocked up, just ask.
Budgeting by tier
You don't need to spend the same on every award. A tiered program keeps costs predictable and makes top honors feel special.
| Tier | Typical use | Good materials |
|---|---|---|
| Everyday recognition | Monthly awards, team shout-outs, event participation | Certificates, small acrylics, medals, mugs |
| Achievement | Quarterly winners, sales targets, 5 and 10 year milestones | Acrylic awards, plaques |
| Top honor | Employee of the Year, President's Club, 20+ year milestones, retirement | Glass and crystal awards, premium plaques |
Plan the full year at once. When you know how many monthly, quarterly and annual awards you'll need, you can pick matching styles across tiers and order in fewer batches.
Ordering many names with the spreadsheet tool
This is where most corporate orders get stuck: 40 names, 40 titles, and someone retyping them into a form. You can skip that.
- Open the product you want and choose "Different on each item."
- Type names and lines into the spreadsheet-style grid, or paste them straight from Excel or Google Sheets.
- For larger lists, download the CSV template, fill it in, and upload it.
- The quantity updates automatically to match your rows.
- Upload your logo if the product allows it.
If your company needs approval before paying, use "Send order to MigAwards" on the cart page. It sends us the order as a request instead of charging a card online.
Wording tips for corporate awards
- Lead with the award title, then the name, then the company and year.
- Keep thank-you phrases short: "With Gratitude for Your Leadership" reads better than a full paragraph.
- Use consistent job titles and name formats across the whole order.
- Have one person proofread the full list before you submit. We also confirm details before production.
Need more ideas? Our list of 60+ engraving ideas includes a full corporate section.
FAQ
What is the best award for Employee of the Year?
Glass or crystal awards are a popular choice for top annual honors because they feel substantial and formal. A premium plaque is a good alternative if the recipient will hang it in an office.
Can you put our company logo on the award?
Yes. Many products, including plaques, acrylics, glass and crystal, mugs and custom inserts, allow logo upload on the product page. Custom design help is free.
Is there a charge for engraving or setup?
No. MigAwards offers free personalization and engraving, free set-ups and free custom design services.
Can we get the order approved internally before paying?
Yes. On the cart page, choose "Send order to MigAwards" to send the order as a request instead of paying online.
Plan your company's recognition program
MigAwards has helped South Florida companies recognize their people since 1996. Browse corporate awards, visit our Hialeah showroom minutes from Miami International Airport, or call (305) 863-0319 and we'll help you plan awards for every tier.