Fastest Ways To Get Last-Minute Custom Medals

You could have medals on your doorstep in just a few days.

Are you stuck in a situation where you need to recognise a job well done, but you're painfully short on time? Perhaps you've suddenly found yourself organising a last-minute event, or your attendance list has grown beyond expectations, leaving you with just days to work your magic.

In the heat of this time crunch, ditching your usual grab for medals might seem like a necessary evil - especially after a quick internet search reveals that most custom medals take a month or so to make. But you’ll be glad to know it's not.

There are several tried-and-tested ways to get last-minute custom medals in as little as a few days, as we at Badges And Medals know, having helped hundreds of customers beat the clock and deliver some unforgettable medals on short notice.

We're committed to giving you the same result, so much so that we've written this article. Read on to learn the fastest ways to land medals for your event, starting with what's quick and finishing with what's quickest!

• Custom insert medals: 8 to 17 days turnaround time, including delivery

The sticker, or “insert”, is placed in the centre of the wreath.

An insert medal is a medal that features a sticker, or as we like to call it, an "insert", fixed to one side. But don't let the term 'sticker' throw you off! Insert medals are about as sturdy as their traditional die-cast, or metal medal, counterparts. The stickers on the insert medals are customised by you and crafted from high-quality vinyl - a material more robust and water-resistant than paper. Plus, they're protected with a resin dome to shield them from everyday wear and tear.

One of the benefits of insert medals is that the design printed on the sticker does not influence the medal's end cost, so you can go as colourful or as detailed as you like. The other is that insert medals are quicker than metal or wooden medals to make up until about the 150-medal mark. From that point, medal manufacturers can press metal medals and cut wooden medals faster than they're able to hand-make the insert medals.

Insert medals are often available in gold, silver or bronze but can also come in other colours, such as black, depending on what your medal manufacturer has on offer.

How long does it take to make an insert medal?

A small batch of insert medals can be ready for shipping a week after you select your sticker design, so long as you're happy to have a plain one- or two-coloured ribbon. Larger orders take longer, with 150 insert medals taking most medal manufacturers a little over two weeks to dispatch.

Do I have time to customise the insert medal even more?

To make each insert medal your own, you can add custom ribbons or personalised engravings to them. But here's the catch: you need to wait another week or two for customised ribbons. Meanwhile, engraving the medals pushes your finish date out another 1 to 3 days.

• Stock medals: 3 to 4 days turnaround time, including delivery

Stock medals have the fastest turnaround time of all the common medal types.

Sometimes waiting around for medals or ribbons to get made just isn't an option. That's where stock medals come in.

Unlike the previous options we've discussed, these readily available gems don't need anything designed or created. They're essentially an express lane to getting new medals and ensuring your well-deserved event winners don't go away empty-handed.

There are two types of stock medals to choose from:

• The manufacturer's standard stock medals
  These are medals that your manufacturer always keeps in store. They are pre-designed and pre-produced in various styles and colours, making it quick and easy to pick one for your event.
  
  
• Your medals, held in stock
  These are medals that your team has ordered in the past but opted to store at your manufacturer's facility. There are several reasons this might have happened: maybe there wasn't enough storage space in your office, or it was cheaper to buy the medals in bulk. The good news is you can use this reserve to quickly respond to unexpected events or achievements, all while still delivering a customised medal. It's a win-win situation! If this is something you don't currently have but would like to explore, reach out to your medal manufacturer. If they confirm it's doable, then consider doubling the number of medals on your next order and have half of them stored at your manufacturer's for a rainy day.

What's the fastest turnaround time for a stock medal?

Your medals can be shipped off in as little as a day if what you want is in stock.

Do I have time to customise the stock medal?

You can add personalised engraving to the back of the stock medals; however, this could add a couple of days to your order, depending on how many medals you need to be engraved.

Ready to place your order?

Having a short deadline doesn't mean you have to miss out on medals. It doesn't even mean you have to miss out on quality medals!

We at Badges And Medals have shown you that no matter the time frame or event, you can always give credit where it's due. We've proudly helped countless customers use the methods above to deliver unforgettable medals on short notice. It's no wonder 'speed' is one of our three company values!

If you want help doing the same or want more information on the above options, contact our sales team.