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Expect Longer Production Times
We, like most trophy stores around the country, see a noticeable increase in order volume during this time of year. The increased order volume, coupled with the challenge to hire new team members, means we can't complete all orders as quickly as we'd prefer. At this time, we're trying to complete all orders within 10-12 days. Bigger and more complex orders may require more than two weeks for us to complete.
 We plan to participate in Armed Forces Day at JBLM. This year's event, scheduled for Saturday, May 21st, will be held on McChord Field's Heritage Hill. We look forward to seeing many of you there. Earlier this month we received the final approval from the Department of the Army regarding our licensing application. We're now licensed to produce and market items for the Department if the Army, US. Marine Corps, Department of the Navy and Department of the Air Force.
Join us in welcoming Filimaua Mckenzie to our team. Mckenzie joined us earlier this month as our newest customer service specialist. She's quickly learning about all of our products and the systems we use to make and track everything.
 With events and in-person meetings returning, do you know where your business cards are? Do your cards need to be updated? During the pandemic, our printing partners invested in new equipment, new people and new printing techniques that open up many new options for basic business essentials like business cards. Some of the new enhanced options include extra thick business cards, raised foil business cards, color core business cards and gloss effects on business cards.
We're pleased to help to sponsor the Transportation Club of Tacoma golf tournament in May. Proceeds from the tournament go to Mary Bridge Children's Hospital and Habitat for Humanity.
Earlier this month, Judi attended a trade show focused on branded and promotional merchandise. Need new ideas for m erch that will help to boost your brand awareness? Contact Judi. One of the many cool ideas she saw was this mini-spirograph game. Even adults will love to doodle on this toy. The minimum order is just 150 pieces. Have you received your star-shaped magnetic clip from us yet? That's our April customer appreciation gift.
Once again, we are supporting the fundraising efforts of Rebuilding Together South Sound. Plan now to join the fun May 8th through May 12th by viewing and bidding on some really remarkable auction items and a lively and fun live-streamed program on the evening of May 12th. Want to support Rebuilding Together with an event sponsorship? Contact Judi and she can get you all the details on the sponsorship opportunities. The organization is also accepting additional auction donations, virtual ambassadors for the event, as well as anyone interested in potentially volunteering with the various rebuilding projects the organization undertakes. Get more details on the event here. Purchase a beer box, cider box or charcuterie/grazing box to enjoy while supporting the good work of this local organization.
Have you seen our virtual showroom tour? Wondering what we offer but can't make it to the showroom? This virtual tour allows you to visit from wherever you are. Please share it with others who may want to visit us.
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What's Trending?
Every week we review analytics reports on our websites. Yes, you read that right, websites (plural). We track activity on both tacomatrophy.com and brownknowsawards.com.
Corporate plaques always rank high among searches on our e-commerce website, but recently we've noticed an increase in searches for drinkware, wood awards and traditional trophies. As it turns out, we carry a good selection of all of these in our store.
Shaped Plaques
 Sometimes what makes a plaque really stand out is its shape. When we produce custom plaques here in our store, we make all kinds of shapes, but there are also plenty of stock plaque shapes our main suppliers provide. Shield-shaped plaques, scalloped-edge plaques, curved-edge plaques and scroll-shaped plaques provide eye-catching alternatives to standard rectangular plaques and may just serve as the perfect "canvas" for your employees and clients deserving of recognition.
Travel Jewelry Cases
Have you seen this new line of travel jewelry cases? Constructed from the same laserable leatherette used in many of our other products, these small jewelry boxes enable you to keep all your jewelry together in an enclosed case that easily fits in your carry-on bag. These make fabulous gifts (Mothers' Day is right around the corner). Personalize the box with monograms, words of empowerment, favorite quotes or names.
Political Campaign Merchandise
 With elections scheduled for later this year, those people running for political office or advocating for various ballot measures are approaching us about buttons, signage, stickers and merchandise they can pass out to potential voters. We work with our trusted vendors on some of these items but can get a variety of items produced in a relatively short turnaround cycle.
Banners & Small-Scale Signage
We've worked with several customers over the past few weeks needing various types of signage. While we are not a traditional sign shop, we do work with vendors who do a fantastic job creating banners of all sizes, as well as A-Frame signs, political signs, flags and backdrops. Most of the time, we're able to get these items produced and into our customers' hands in 7-10 days.
Championship Ring Resin
 The same vendor we use for custom championship belts offers this impressive resin championship ring. This "trophy" makes an excellent gift for a coach. The ring itself can be customized and there's a generous area on the base to add an engraved plate.
NEW - Gift Items
We always look out for fun gift ideas that we can personalize. This month, we're debuting two new items. The first might be a perfect Mother's Day gift. This bathtub tray fits on the edge of the tub and can hold quite a number of items, including a wine glass, a book, a cell phone, a wireless speaker, a candle and a whole range of other products one might want near them while luxuriating in a bubble bath.
 The other new item might really delight your fur-kids, especially those dogs that like to play fetch. The wooden ball launcher will help you keep your dog entertained for probably a lot longer than you want to play fetch. We can even add your pup's name to the launcher!
Online Store Featured Product
 This one we think is a work of art. The engraved acrylic seems to balance in the rust-colored, textured base. This item comes from one of the suppliers we don't use routinely but we can certainly get this or any of their distinctive awards.
Our online store features this custom-designed award and many others.
Promotional Products in the Spotlight
Screen Cleaner
Seventeen years ago, when we first started our business, we attended a Microsoft-sponsored event for small businesses. Among the promotional items we received that day was a screen cleaning kit that included a liquid, spray cleaner and some screen-safe wipes. At the time, we didn't even imagine we'd someday sell promotional merchandise, but that one item remains my most favorite. And, only because we stole a few extras, we actually still have one bottle of the liquid cleaner that we use today. The item we received 17 years ago isn't exactly the same as this one, but it's darn close. Want a product your customers, clients and colleagues will love you for giving them, possibly for many years? Consider screen cleaner!
Contact Judi for information on this and any other promotional merchandise that's caught your attention.
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