Supplier Profile – Chien Wang of Toujours

As my supplier relationships progress, I am amazed by certain individuals with a zest for going beyond the norm.  One individual that epitomizes this is Chien Wang of Toujours.  Before telling you some of Toujours’ new offerings, I want to let you know a little more about Chien.

Chien J. Wang was born in Taipei, Taiwan and immigrated to the United States with his family at the age of 11.  He did not speak a word of English yet started doing odd jobs for neighbors, and had a paper route to help the family’s finances.  At the age of 13, Chien’s father started a food distribution business. Chien worked every day to help his father establish the family business.  He established his work ethic and also learned that work could be fun and very rewarding.  He proceeded to attend the University of Southern California in Los Angeles, and graduated with a degree in business administration and entrepreneurship in 1991.  Chien finally realized his goal of starting his own business in 1991 by launching Toujours Products, Inc.  His company has become well known and successful by distributing awards and personalized gifts to retail outlets, such as Trophies2go.com.

Chien is more than just the president of Toujours Products.  He embodies the term ‘networker’.  He speaks at industry meetings, tradeshows, and networking events on the power of networking.  He has written a book, It’s Who Knows YOU.  The book will be available in all major book stores such as Barnes and Noble and Borders in early February 2008.  He also donates his time, speaking appearances, crystal awards and cash to many service organizations and community causes in the Southern California area.  His goal is to help others succeed and his mission in life is to touch and be touched by as many people as possible.  You can read more about Chien at www.chiensworld.com.

People like Chien help us accomplish our vision of being the national leader of meaningful recognition.  Through innovative product design and excellent customer service, Chien and his company help us make an impact in the world.  We look forward to continuing to grow our relationship with Toujours in order to help make our customer’s recognition events as heartfelt and meaningful as possible.

With that being said, Trophies2go.com is delighted to be one of the first to announce Toujour’s new 2008 product line.  Their new offerings feature a collection that is designed by well known designer, Nik Meller.  Nik designs furniture for many of the world’s high end hotels and for many movie stars and celebrities.

Item #1 – Product ID#8844   Bliss 6 1/2″ W x 11″H (Made from top grade optic crystal) $215 Retail.  Quantity Discounts Apply.  Smaller Size Also Available. 

 

Item #2 – Product ID#8845  Seeq 5″W x 11 1/2″H (Made from top grade optic crystal)  $285 Retail.  Quantity Discounts Apply.  Smaller Size Also Available.

Item #3 – Product ID#8846  Bayona 6″W x 11 1/4″H (Made from top grade optic crystal)  $160 Retail.  Quantity Discounts Apply.  Smaller Size Also Available.

Lead Content in Trophy Parts

As a parent of 2 small children myself, I am somewhat concerned about lead content in their toys and other objects.  I am proud that my company, Trophies2go.com, is teamed up with great suppliers such as the Plastic Dress-Up company.  They are our major supplier of trophy components that make up 90+% of the sports trophies we sell.  We choose to partner with them because they are committed to safety as well as providing the highest quality products in the marketplace.  Below is a letter we just received from them that should help re-assure that lead content is not an issue in buying from us.

PDU November 21, 2007

Dear Valued Awards Retailer, PDU PRODUCTS GET THE LEAD OUT! LEAD PAINT TESTING RESULTS     THE LEAD PAINT CONTENT RESULTS ARE IN!  We have taken lead paint testing to a whole new level! In order to verify the results of our vendors and assure the safety of our products, PDU has tested all of our products for lead paint content at a certified USA testing facility.    The result:  PDU products FALL WITHIN all of the Maximum Permissible Limits and those products are well below the established legal limits as established by the Code of Federal Regulations and the US Consumer Products Safety Commission. These products are either LEAD FREE or rated at significantly below the legal limit of lead content. Please pass the expected and great news on to your customers.  If we can provide any additional information about the safety of PDU products, please do not hesitate to contact us. Very truly yours, Catherine M. Garcia Director, Product Development

Current trends in the awards industry

Change has typically occurred slowly in the awards industry.  I feel that there are several aspects of my business that are changing more rapidly than they have in the past, yet some remain the same.

 

We are in the midst of change with regards to products, wholesalers and the internet.  Awards products used to be designed, manufactured and marketed in the USA.  Many of the producers now design their products in the states and have them fabricated overseas.  This has spawned some really creative products and minimized the effect of increased raw material and labor costs.  Because of the offshore production, wholesalers have needed to adapt their business model to accept the difficulties of seasonal demand.  They also have to speculate on which new products will be successful and order an ample supply to meet their customer’s needs.  The burden of this issue has been placed directly on the wholesalers, yet the retailers and, in turn the end user, inevitably pay the price through product shortages and the carrying cost of excess inventory.  Trial and error as well as technology will eventually cure the issues now being faced with the product supply chain.

The internet is also changing the awards industry.  Although most of the purchases are still being completed by brick and mortar stores, there is definitely a trend toward more ecommerce transactions.  Whether the customer uses the internet for price comparisons, information, or actually purchasing awards, my feeling is that the internet will continue to be the growth point of the industry.  I am proud to be one of the leaders in making this happen and am committed to increasing the customer’s experience with regards to the internet awards industry.

Some things in the industry also remain the same or are stale.  The Awards and Recognition Association as well as most of the brick and mortar stores are not embracing change.  The ARA is a relatively well run association, but it caters to its membership by providing a baseline level of education and resources to its members.  It thrives in its existence because of the relatively low barriers of entry to the market.  It gives brand new or younger companies the framework of how an award business can be run, yet it doesn’t provide a community or forum for those businesses to accelerate their growth past the ‘Mom & Pop’ phase.  I will be the first to admit that this business is not easy.  It is also really hard to break through the daily grind in order take your company to the next level.  I feel that through increased motivation, better resources (through peer groups and the ARA), and a mentorship program, that positive change can occur.  I am hopeful that the award industry will continue to improve by profitably providing excellent products and services to those we serve.

When (and when not) to buy Awards on the Internet

Buying awards products on the internet has been around for 10-plus years.  We have been serving our customers since 2000.  In that time, I have noticed some interesting trends from our customers that may turn into helpful tips of when and how to effectively use an internet awards business.  I have broken these out into 3 categories: timing, price/quality, and other.

Timing:

The most important thing that is universal to our customers is when they receive their order.  After all, what is the use of getting a good deal on high quality awards if they arrive after the awards presentation?  We have engineered our site so that we guarantee the delivery date based on the shipping method chosen during checkout.  The catch with this can be the rush nature of when the order is placed and when it is needed.  So Tip #1: Order Early!  The sooner the order is placed, the higher the likelihood that you will be able to ship it by the cheapest method possible.  We even have a promotion that allows for free shipping if your order is over $100 and you give us an extra week for production.  A lot of our repeat customers are aware of this promotion and order well in advance – it is a win-win for all involved when ample time is given.  On the other end of the spectrum is rush orders.  We are happy to accommodate rush orders, but overnight or 2^nd day air shipping can be expensive.  This leads me to Tip #2: if you need your awards within 2 or 3 days, be prepared for expensive shipping.  We can adjust our production schedule in order to meet your deadline, but UPS is going to be the beneficiary of the extra cost.  Finally is my Tip #3 - if there is a super-urgent need (24 hours) and cost is a factor, try a local trophy company first.  This may be contrary to an internet company making money, but most of us are in business to please our customers.  If it is going to leave a sour taste in your mouth to pay $15 for an award and $50 for shipping, it might be worth it to explore a local business to accommodate your needs.  Even if they charge a $10 rush fee, you are still ahead of the game.  If it is worth the time and hassle to pay the overnight shipping fee, please don’t hold it against us…we are just trying to fill the need in your life to award someone who has done something extra special.

Price and Quality:

In my opinion, the internet has turned a lot of products into commodities.  Most of our suppliers have chosen to import products from overseas to stay competitive and keep prices down.  Even though we hand pick the products that we think provide the best value, there is another component to the finished award that is equally, or perhaps more important – engraving.  I think engraving is the most important part of the finished award, but it oftentimes gets overlooked by the buyer.  There are several different engraving methods that can decrease the cost of the award.  This leads me to Tip #4: find out the engraving process used on the award and make sure you are comfortable with it.  As an example, we engrave directly onto all of our medals.  We also use premium quality brass and aluminum and diamond drag our trophy plates.  We laser engrave into our acrylic awards.  We sandblast our crystal awards.  In contrast, some internet retailers use plastic labels for the engraving of medals and trophies.  They may also use other methods for engraving acrylic and may surface laser etch their crystal awards.  All of these styles provide a faster and cheaper method for marking the awards, but detract from the possibility of making a fantastic award.

There is also an artistic component to the layout of the engraving.  I have written an article on this in the past, but be aware that not all companies have ultra-experienced engravers.  If you are concerned about how your engraving looks, make sure to ask for a pre-production proof of how the engraving will look.  This can save an unpleasant surprise when you open your shipment.

Other factors:

Some other factors that influence whether you should buy on the internet and from who are: shipping expense, inventory levels, the company’s reputation, and building a long-term relationship.

The cost of shipping can be significant, but so is the cost we pay to our shipping carrier.  If you qualify for a free shipping promotion, that is best.  If not, make sure that you order well in advance to eliminate air shipping charges.  Inventory levels and the retailer’s supply chain are also important.  It is hard to gauge how much stock a company has, but if you are ordering in bulk, call your provider before placing the order to make sure they will be able to fill your order.  This should only be a problem for smaller companies, but occasionally there may be a national shortage that only a larger supplier’s existing inventory can rectify.  Finally, I will lump the retailers reputation and building a long-term relationship into one.  It is important to choose an awards retailer that you trust and then nurture that relationship.  The amount of time the company has been in business, viewing customer testimonials, the friendliness and knowledge of the employees, the look and feel of the website are all building blocks for building trust in the company.  At a certain point you will need to take a leap of faith and place an order.  This is the first step to building a longer term relationship with the company.  If you like what you get, tell them.  If not, let them know as well.  We are all in a state of constant improvement and welcome feedback so we can make your experience better.  When there is a history with our customers, it also allows us to treat them better when they need something extra special, such as a unique award or expedited shipping.

To summarize, there are a lot of factors that go into making sure that you should buy awards on the internet and from whom.  These factors are timing, price/quality, and other intangibles.  We feel like we do a great job in communicating and providing value for our customers.  If you choose a trophy and awards internet retailer other than us, keep us in mind for next time.  Our staff’s commitment and integrity in the long-term is our foundation of our vision to be the national leader in meaningful recognition.