Just some of Northern NSW Football’s new custom medals. CREDIT: SPROULE SPORTS FOCUS
Ever looked at your medals and thought, "Is this really it?"
This was the exact dilemma facing Northern NSW Football, and Badges And Medals had the solution.
In this article, we'll show you how our collaboration led to improvements for both the federation and its players and why Northern NSW Football has chosen us as their exclusive awards supplier for the next two years. So, if your medals aren't making the impact you want, you will soon find out why Badges And Medals might be the answer you've been looking for.
Northern NSW Football (NNSWF) started under a different name in 1884 when the region's early coal miners started forming football teams. Since then, it has become Australia's fourth-largest member federation, with more than 73,500 registered players across 201 clubs. Yet, the NNSWF team knew its awards weren't keeping pace.
A NNSWF spokesman said their medals and trophies looked like they were "off the shelf".
He said the medals "looked cheap and were not high-quality," while the trophies were "small" and "generic".
Neither did justice to the achievements of NNSWF's players.
It was time for an upgrade. NNSWF wanted a partner who could deliver:
But who could tick all their boxes?
The answer: custom award maker Badges And Medals.
The spokesman said the team chose Badges And Medals for three reasons: their "high-quality products", wide range of customisation options, and "highly competitive" prices.
From the get-go, it was clear that partnering with Badges And Medals would be a game-changer. The NNSWF team was suddenly able to customise any part of their medals. They could tweak everything from their shape, materials, and thickness to their very functionality, should they want to add features like magnets or bottle openers.
The team was "very impressed" by the level of customisation on offer.
"This is something we've never had before," the spokesman said.
The federation had multiple competitions throughout the year. Having custom medals for each one would add prestige and make players "feel more valued", he said.
Plus, custom medals would also allow NNSWF to boost its brand recognition.
"The fact they are all custom designs means they can be made with small details that represent our brand [and] region … Brand recognition is very important to us," he said.
The cherry on top was Badges And Medals' prices.
Despite the wide range of customisation options, their prices were "highly competitive".
"We can now obtain high-quality custom-made medals that don’t break the bank."
But the decision to choose Badges And Medals didn't happen overnight.
First, they proved their products were up to scratch by showing NNSWF samples.
And not just any samples, but real-life examples of two medal designs that Badges And Medals had made for NNSWF. Both designs centred around the National Premier League (NPL). Badges And Medals hand-delivered the samples to NNSWF's headquarters.
When the medals arrived, the reaction from NNSWF was nothing short of ecstatic.
“We loved them," the spokesman said. "They were real statement pieces."
The Badges And Medals design team used the NNSWF's logo as the centrepiece on both medals, recognising the importance of branding. The logo was coloured with enamel and partially framed by a cut-out to make it stand out. On one of the medals, this cut-out doubled as a bottle opener, so players could celebrate their win with a drink.
The other medal was 90mm wide - slightly smaller than a saucer plate.
The spokesman said its size was "impressive".
"We loved the idea of having bigger medals for our most prestigious competitions."
The samples were such a success that the team asked Badges And Medals to be their exclusive medal and trophy supplier for two years, covering the 2024 and 2025 seasons.
NNSWF chief executive Pete Haynes said the partnership was a "perfect fit".
"The quality of their badges and medals are second to none, and it’s a relationship we’d love to see grow in the future," he said in a public announcement on their website.
But the proof of the pudding is in the eating, right?
And the results speak for themselves! Since partnering with Badges And Medals, the NNSWF team has received "great feedback" from players about their new awards.
"All of our premier competition winners and runners-up now receive a medal custom to their competition from Under 13s all the way through to 1st Grade," the spokesman said.
“Our players have been proud to wear the medals.
"When we have been presenting them, the players have all been seen looking closely at the detail of the lanyard and medal while the rest of their team has been handed theirs.”
It showed just how much custom awards meant to the players.
"Badges And Medals have lifted the professionalism of our brand and competitions."
The NNSWF spokesman also praised their exceptional service.
“All of the team at Badges And Medals are super responsive and nothing is ever too great of a challenge. For example, our team had a very intricate design for the NAIDOC [National Aborigines and Islanders Day Observance Committee] Cup medals and Badges And Medals had a solution to getting the design on the medals," he said.
He said the team was "very excited" to award those medals come July 2024.
CREDIT: SPROULE SPORTS FOCUS
At Badges And Medals, we understand how crucial it is to choose the right award supplier. If you've been wondering whether we're the right fit for you, our partnership with Northern NSW Football (NNSWF) offers clear proof. We transformed their awards into something they were proud of because it enhanced their brand and their professionalism.
Now, it's your turn. If you’re facing the challenge of finding the right partner to commemorate your event, look no further. Whether you’re organising a one-off event or need someone long-term, the Badges And Medals team is ready to bring the same level of dedication and quality to your awards.
Fill out our contact form today for a free consultation on how we can help make your event a stand-out success!