Incentive - March 2008 - (Page 63)

AWARDS China and Crystal Gifts for Folks to Fancy Recognizing Star Performers with Rewards that Shine and Glitter he USA 2004 Ryder Cup team watched the Europeans walk away with the solid-gold trophy, but went back to their hotel rooms to find otherwise impressive room gifts. Pickard china was used by Coconut Creek, Fla.–based Winner’s Award Group to provide personalized commemorative plates for each of the team members, including such fairway superstars as Tiger Woods, Phil Mickelson, Jim Furyk and Davis Love III. They left the Oakland Hills Country Club in Bloomfield, Mich., winners in a different sense. Pickard, says Lou Chiera, president of Winner’s Award Group, is used in embassies throughout the world and on Air Force One. The President’s passengers get a souvenir piece upon their departure, and are served chief executive–caliber meals and beverages using Pickard serving trays, tableware and teacups. While porcelain originates from China, it is manufactured in some form in almost every region. Pickard china is an Illinoismanufactured product line that is available in retail, outlet and incentive markets. Chiera says that many of his customers use the fine domestic china in their length-ofservice programs, but that the cost is typi- T cally above their price allowances for general recognition initiatives. The lowest price point for a china or crystal gift through Winner’s Award Group is between $70 and $100, Chiera says. Winner’s Award Group distributes Scandinavian-made Orrefors and Kosta Boda crystal, which, like its distribution of Pickard, is primarily for employment anniversaries and rewards at sales meetings. The client base for Winner’s includes a bank network, newspaper company, security company, power company and golf course country clubs. One of Chiera’s clients, BankAtlantic, a chain in east Florida, uses Orrefors vases for service awards. The newspaper company chooses Pickard bowls and colorful Kosta Boda crystal. Chiera says Kosta Boda offers a beautiful selection of colorful crystal, and that women tend to prefer the tinted crystal. Pickard applies colored company logos to their pieces upon request, and the images are stored on a database for later use. Because of the customization and simple reorder process, Chiera says, his customers often work Pickard pieces into their sales meetings. One trend Chiera sees is a shift to clients requesting more practical china and crystal awards. “They’re picking things that are more suitable for home use,” he says. Chiera notices a tendency in recent years for his clients to order the quality merchandise that is more likely to be visible in the home. He says that items like china trays, bowls and jewelry holders are most popular, because they are useful and are not thought of as being for exclusive use, reserved for formal occasions. The Northbrook, Ill.–based Crate and Barrel, now a widely recognized home décor company, deals in glassware, personalized upon request, through its corporate sales division. Though it does not sell lead crystal, its glassware Baccarat “Tornado” crystal vase from Michael C. Fina incentivemag.com | March 2008 | Incentive | 63 http://incentivemag.com

Table of Contents Feed for the Digital Edition of Incentive - March 2008

Incentive - March 2008 Contents Editor’s Note: Delivering on Diversity In The News Cover Story: Leveraging Diversity in the Workplace Incentive Interview: Paul Levesque on Why Awards Fail Case Study: AEIS’ Max!-imum Incentive Program Mine Employees’ Creativity with Innovation Incentives Incentive Must-Reads The Third Annual Gift Card Roundtable My Turn: Motivation or Bribery? Everybody Get Together In Her Shoes: Why Bosses Should Be Flexible Incentive Primer: Passport Problem-Solving potentials Here and Now Is CES Electronics Heaven? China and Crystal: More Than a Pretty Face Travel News Florida: What’s New on the Beach? Smooth Sailing for Incentive Cruising Come To Hawaii And Take It Fast Last Word: But Enough About You

Incentive - March 2008

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