Trophy Works

Trophy Works is based in Modesto, CA and specializes in award engraving services.

The Challenge: Staying ahead of the curve in the awards industry.

If you see the serial number from A D Hawkins’ Epilog Eclipse, it reads 00014. As in the fourteenth Eclipse laser Epilog ever produced. The year was 1991 – the first year Epilog began showcasing equipment on the tradeshow circuit – and as A D and Adela Hawkins perused the Epilog booth, they knew this revolutionary technology was a necessity for their business.

“Small lasers were very new to the market in 1991, so selecting a manufacturer seemed like risky business,” A D tells us. “We primarily made our decisions based off the first impressions we got from the principals of the company – turns out we made the right decision with Epilog.” In 1991, A D and Adela were already in the awards business, selling manufactured laser plaques in their shop, Trophy Works, located in Modesto, California.

“It didn't take a lot of foresight to see where the industry was headed,” A D said. “We prided our shop on being the most professional and tech-savvy – Epilog’s equipment just fit our businesses. They helped take us from a trophy building business to a higher level of award services. They helped us maintain our competitive edge.

Also, their competitive pricing was an important part in the decision-making process,” Adela mentioned. As most every other industry, cutting-edge innovations often come with their share of challenges. “Initially, we had some difficulties with our first Eclipse,” A D said. “But Epilog and its tech support team were right there with us, troubleshooting, sending parts and warranty items at no charge – their priority was to make sure we got everything we needed to keep our business running."

In fact, Epilog’s responsiveness and commitment prompted the Hawkins to purchase their second machine used from another awards dealer. Turns out that was a good business decision also. “It was a deal we couldn’t resist,” A D said. “The second machine doubled our production capabilities and was as reliable as the first.”