Issue link: https://nbm.uberflip.com/i/1490460
G R A P H I C S - P R O. C O M F E B R U A R Y 2 0 2 3 • G R A P H I C S P R O 3 9 C O U R T E S Y O F T H E J D S I N D U S T R I E S S A L E S T E A M Q. Since the return of sports and competitions, how has the landscape changed in terms of what's being offered? A. While we've seen a resurgence in traditional trophies, we are also start- ing to see more customers using custom-cut acrylic for trophy toppers or awards. They are either lasering them or UV printing them. Some deal- ers are adding LED lights to make the acrylic pop and give even more wow factor. Q. What are your observations on how the products and demand for awards has changed? A. We hear about and are seeing a lot of changes in the market. Some customers are moving away from traditional trophies and into more usable award items. Others are looking for new and different awards than in the past. We also are hearing about smaller budgets and seeing a shift to lower priced awards, like medals. Q. What are the newest awards and recognition products? A. When you look at the types of products besides awards that JDS and other distributors are offering you can see the direction of the industry. More gifts and more personalized items are being offered. So, it's not nec- essarily a trophy or a plaque anymore. Q. What awards and products continue to be popular for sports and competitions? A. Traditional trophies and medals continue to be popular. For the dealers not doing trophies plaques, medals, acrylics, and rings are being used. Small trophies for the younger kids are always a hit. Q. What trends are you currently seeing within the team sport awards market? Is there any kind of trend toward more or less expensive awards? Do these trends differ depending on the type of sport? A. Full color decoration like UV printing is trending. This allows dealers to customize more high-end items like crystal, glass, and acrylic as well as lower-cost options like medals and plaques. This helps dealers be able to satisfy customers who have had their budgets cut, which has been the case more recently. Q. What are your predictions for the year to come in the sports seg- ment of the awards market? A. Most dealers are optimistic about 2023. Schools and sports programs are back in full swing, and people are excited to see things return to nor- mal. Product availability continues to improve and that allows dealers to get what their customers want, when they need it. THE FUTURE OF Spos Awards