Insights

Read our latest news, sustainable insights and get inspired.

Artisan trophy creation

Going turbo: our rush trophy service

Our rush trophy service exists for those moments when time is not an option. Usually, the average timescales on a bespoke award from Upstream is 8 weeks – from first conversation to finished trophy. The design process is meticulous, and can run for 2 weeks, with even the smallest details being edited to ensure the…

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Bespoke trophy design

Bespoke trophy design vs personalisation

Browsing trophy suppliers more than likely means scrolling through pages and pages of catalogues.  Pick a shape – check. Choose a colour – check. Add a name plate – check. Somewhere along the way, the personalised trophy you were looking for loses meaning within a highly impersonal process. Bespoke trophy design and personalised trophies both…

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London Film Festival Awards

Seventy years of BFI London Film Festival awards

Few events in the British film calendar carry the weight of the London Film Festival awards. Hosted by the British Film Institute, this festival celebrates films from all corners of the world and creates a global platform for newly emerging talent – with daily movie premieres and star-studded red carpet interviews.  But even if you…

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How much event trophies cost: what to expect and what affects the pricing?

How much event trophies cost: what to expect and what affects the pricing?

How much do event trophies cost? Finding out the answer to that question means considering more than just the trophy itself. When searching for the perfect award, the question on most people’s minds is: how much should I budget for this? The answer depends on what kind of trophy you need, for instance, how much…

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Where to order event trophies

Where to order event trophies: a practical guide to finding the right supplier

A quick Google search of ‘where to order event trophies’ will result in a thousand different sites all offering the same trophy, and usually, that’s not what you want.  However, most people searching for a trophy are working to a deadline. The event is set. Pretty much everything has been booked. Soon enough, the event…

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Is it too late to order a trophy? Your quick trophy options when time is tight

Is it too late to order a trophy? Your quick trophy options when time is tight

We’ve all been there – in the thick of event planning, assuming you’ve got all the time in the world to get things done. One day the deadline is six weeks away, and the next it’s one week away, with the most important task still untouched: the trophy. As the pinnacle of any award event,…

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entertainment award trophies

Entertainment award trophies: what makes a design work across film, TV, music and stage

Entertainment award trophies do something most trophies never have to. They get photographed under stage lights, held up in front of an audience, sometimes displayed in a studio lobby for decades after the ceremony ends. A corporate award can sit in a drawer and still do its job. Entertainment award trophies have to perform (usually…

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recycled materials showed on material passport

The material passport: A product passport for our trophies

Most sustainability claims in the trophy industry stop at the word “recycled” printed somewhere on an invoice. Nobody checks and nobody verifies. The trophy gets handed over, the applause happens, and if there was a material story, it quickly gets forgotten (along with the trophy itself).  A material passport is Upstream Trophies’ answer to that…

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Event trophies by event type

Event trophies by event type: a guide to what each audience expects

When you’re deep in event planning, the trophy is rarely the first thing on your list. It probably should be. While not logistically complex, considering event trophies by event type is often overlooked, despite being the most visible decision you’ll make. The award is what people photograph, what winners display, what press features. The object…

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Mistakes to avoid when designing a trophy for your event

Mistakes to avoid when designing a trophy for your event

Here’s something we see happen more often than we’d like. An event organiser spends six months planning every detail: the venue, the speakers, the running order, the catering. Then, about three weeks before the event, someone remembers the trophy. It gets ordered quickly from wherever is convenient, arrives in a box, and is handed out…

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Engraved event trophies with logo branding and personalisation

Engraved event trophies with logo branding and personalisation

More than just an object handed out at the end of a ceremony, an event trophy is a symbol of everything the event wants to communicate: achievement, identity, dedication, values, quality and sponsorship.  For engraved event trophies with logo branding and personalisation, it’s a delicate balance between getting the logo seen and not allowing it…

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The Venus Rosewater Dish: the most detailed trophy in sport nobody talks about

The Venus Rosewater Dish: the most detailed trophy in sport nobody talks about

The Venus Rosewater dish is probably one of the most understated trophies in sporting history. Surprising, really, considering it’s the award for the world’s most prestigious tennis event.  When you take a closer look at the intricate design, it begs the question: Why isn’t this trophy more famous? A trophy unlike any other The Venus…

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World Cup trophy history: design, theft and legacy

World Cup trophy history: design, theft and legacy

The World Cup is well and truly underway. Even if you’re not watching it, there’s no way you could miss it. Anything remotely football-shaped in stores has been transformed. Lettuce, for example. With every passing tournament, it seems like World Cup fever becomes more and more contagious. Something not many know about? The World Cup…

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What makes a trophy meaningful

What makes a trophy meaningful – and why so many end up forgotten

Finding trophies on the shelves of thrift stores always feels strange. Like something has gone wrong. These are once meaningful objects. Personalised. Engraved. Created to mark a specific achievement for a specific person. And yet they end up discarded – stripped of context, reduced to an anonymous object on a shelf between someone’s old paperbacks…

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Sustainable Awards: Time for a Trophy Revolution!

Sustainable Awards: Time for a Trophy Revolution!

You want to buy a trophy, but everything tells you that you cannot turn up again with the same standard prize as last year, and really the year before that too. The world is changing, and the market of traditional cups is simply out of step with the times. It is time for a trophy…

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verschillende materialen award

Sustainable Trophy Materials for Custom Trophies and Awards

Sustainable trophies and custom awards: why material choice makes the difference for custom-made trophies A strong award tells a story. Not only through its design, but above all through the material it is made from. The right trophy materials turn an ordinary prize into an object with meaning. At Upstream Trophies we believe that real…

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Employee Awards: A Custom Trophy for a Colleague’s Work Anniversary

Employee Awards: A Custom Trophy for a Colleague’s Work Anniversary

A work anniversary is a special occasion to show an employee how much you value their effort. What better than an employee award to celebrate this milestone? At Upstream Trophies we stand for sustainability and creative custom work, so you can have a unique custom award made that fits the occasion and the person receiving…

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The Power of Bespoke Trophies and Awards

The Power of Bespoke Trophies and Awards

At Upstream Trophies we believe trophies and awards are much more than just a symbol of recognition. Our bespoke trophies and awards tell a story and reflect the recipient’s values. Whether it is a corporate award, a sporting achievement or a personal accomplishment, having a trophy made by us means choosing high-quality recycled materials and…

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Multiple minimal event trophies all lined up neatly

Sustainable Awards for Every Event: The Road to Sustainability in the Events Industry

In the events industry, sustainability is becoming more important all the time. Organisers are looking for ways to make every event not only memorable, but also good for the environment. At Upstream Trophies we believe this can go hand in hand with style and creativity. Our sustainable awards offer a unique chance to give events…

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3 event trophies of different designs all in a row

Want a Personalised Trophy? Custom Trophy Design Tips

Giving a trophy is more than just handing over a prize: it is a recognition of achievement, creativity and commitment. At Upstream Trophies we believe that having a custom award made is far more powerful, making it personal and unique. Through personalisation and the right trophy design, with a logo or design for example, you…

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Music Trophies and Prizes: Making the Best Award for Your Music Event

Music Trophies and Prizes: Making the Best Award for Your Music Event

Music trophies and prizes are the way to recognise talent and celebrate musical achievements. Whether it is a music contest, a band battle or a fun karaoke night, a fine music award creates a lasting reminder. In this article you will discover how to choose the perfect trophy for your event by designing your award…

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Materials used in high-end event trophies

What materials are used in high-end event trophies?

A trophy is only as meaningful as the thought behind it. One of the most telltale signs of that thought? The material it’s made from. Whether it’s the weight of a metal award when handed to a winner or the texture of a reclaimed material with a story behind it, the material shapes the moment. …

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Custom event trophies for brands and events

Custom event trophies for brands and events

A custom event trophy goes beyond a simple name engraving. A custom trophy allows you to embody your brand in a single object that takes centre stage. They are brand assets. Storytelling tools. Long-term objects that will carry your narrative beyond a single moment. Imagine a simple cup – forgettable, irrelevant, and to put it…

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monetise padel

The business of padel: Why clubs are replacing tennis courts – and how they monetise the sport

Sport is an increasingly effective way to generate revenue – and padel is no exception. When the game was first created, it’s unlikely the question “How do we monetise padel?” was at the forefront of its founders’ minds. But whether intentional or not, padel has rapidly risen in popularity, becoming a compelling alternative to tennis…

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