Issue link: https://nbm.uberflip.com/i/1491557
G R A P H I C S - P R O. C O M J U N E 2 0 2 3 • G R A P H I C S P R O 7 1 Award recipients very often compete in different events, and if they like what you've done, you may very well receive calls from other event organizers wanting to use your services. Some things to look out for: As much as I love my awards cus- tomers, they are, without exception, absolutely horrible at giving me sufficient time. Perhaps this is unique to me, but I seem to be constantly reminding award customers that I may need to order inven- tory, and that finished pieces don't mirac- ulously appear at the shipping desk. From my experience, you will need to keep reminding your customers that you don't want to disappoint them, so they really need to give you as much time as possible. If you are lucky enough to receive a large order (several hundred pieces) as I have been, you may find that, when you order materials, your supplier doesn't have that many in stock. Especially these days, the infamous supply chain can be a problem. Be ready to look for a differ- ent material, and possibly even a differ- ent supplier. Of course, always run your ideas or suggested changes by your cus- tomer first. In some cases, I have taken a cus- tomer piece that they want to use as an award, or I've repurposed exist- ing awards. Be sure to remind your cus- tomer that one-offs may not be workable, and respectfully suggest a new piece that retains the sentiment of the award if not the physical piece they've given you. 1 2 3