Tampa trophy shop owners talk about awards
Who we talked to
Dan Cantlon, manager
Awards of Distinction Inc.
1417 E. Busch Blvd.
Tampa, Fla.
813-932-1145
Charlie Brown, general manager
Brown's Trophies Inc.
3202 Gandy Blvd.
Tampa, Fla.
813-837-9418
brownstrophies.com
Dick Wibberg, vice president
Award & Engraving of St. Pete
1110 94th Ave. N
St. Petersburg, Fla.
727-577-5080
awardsofstpete.com
What services do you offer?
Dan Cantlon: "All types of awards ranging from plaques, trophies, acrylic awards and glass awards."
Charlie Brown: "A complete list is available on our website, but we offer everything including corporate awards, plaques, trophies and promotional products."
Dick Wibberg: "Engraving on medals, plastic, glass and acrylics. We do plaques, trophies, corporate awards and paperweights."
Are trophies becoming more or less unique today?
Cantlon: "I think they're becoming more unique. There's more of a variety to choose from."
Brown: "There will always be a percentage of trophies sold for Little League, but in the last five to 10 years more acrylics and glass awards have been sold."
Wibberg: "For adults it's less unique, they're more into plaques and money, but for kids it's unique."
How do you charge for trophies?
Cantlon: "Trophies can range from $10 and less up to $100 and more."
Brown: "On all of our trophies we don't charge for engraving. They can range in price from a couple of dollars to a couple thousand dollars."
Wibberg: "Yes, we charge by the size. An average trophy is 10 to 14 inches, and between $8 and $15."
Do people still have the same attachment to trophies that they once did? Why or why not?
Cantlon: "I think so. Seeing your name in print is very rewarding, it's very special."
Brown: "Even in economic hard times, most companies will give an award. It's a good thing to do in front of your peers. There will always be a need for recognition."
Wibberg: "There are some very personal things that have meant something to people throughout their life, and there's still attachment."
What's the funniest or most unusual award request you've received?
Cantlon: "The most unique are the 6-foot karate trophies. I always wonder what moms think when their children come home with this monstrous trophy."
Brown: "A pole-dancing award for one of the local clubs. It had a pole-dancing figure that looked like a Barbie doll. You could plug it in the computer and she'd dance to any song."
Wibberg: "The hot dog was the funniest one. It was for young kids that were driving go-carts."




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