Category: Tips & Tricks

Employee Awards: How to Maximize Their Impact and Perceived Value

It’s understandable that employee awards and recognition programs might have taken on added significance during the past several years.
After all, employee engagement is a very real and immediate workplace challenge. A recent Harvard Business Review article reported that only 13% of American employees could be described as “engaged”.
And that article was written in 2018.
In other words, that finding was made before the onset of COVID-19.
That also puts it before the whole litany of pandemic-borne trends that have since become so familiar to organizations globally. These include dispersed staffs, hybrid work arrangements, quiet quitting, the Great Resignation etc.
But two other things stand out about that HBR article.
The first involves the impact of that simple statistic. The article notes that disengaged employees cost American companies alone a staggering amount: $450 billion to $550 billion annually.
The other finding that might have real implications for your employee recognition program is the root cause cited for this critical lack of employee engagement.
And it’s not a lack of interest or attention.
The Overlooked Element in Most Employee Awards: Branding
And it’s certainly not for lack of effort—or commitment of resources.
The article notes that organizations annually spend an astounding $100 billion on employee engagement.
“The reason why most engagement efforts fall short”, the article continues, “is that they’re designed to cultivate employees’ commitment in generic, general ways”.
A great example of employee awards aligning with an organization’s brand. Georgia-based Swift Straw prides itself on its innovative, disruptive approach to a once-sleepy industry. This distinctive award departs from the usual default, off-the-shelf “recognition awards”.
If you’re looking for a ready example of this kind of uninspired, cookie-cutter approach to employee engagement, you can often find it in an organization’s approach to employee recognition.
The failure is actually on two levels.
Not only do most organizations fail to inspire with their recognition programs. They also fail to do so in a way that advances—and reinforces—the organizational brand.
An employee award celebrating FDA approval of Cosela—and incorporating an actual vial of the cancer drug. The effect gives the award heightened perceived value among recipients while advancing the company’s product and brand.
The Two Flaws of Most Employee Awards
Recognition programs (both internal ones for employees and external ones aimed at, for instance, donors) tend to miss the mark in two important ways.
First, the awards and recognition pieces distributed have no identity.
A custom Lucite trophy created for Honda’s inaugural 2025 National Technician Contest. It leverages the company’s “wing” logo, designed by founder Soichiro Honda almost 80 years ago.
They’re interchangeable and generic—in the truest sense. They’ve merely been plucked off a shelf in some factory storeroom and personalized only to the extent of engraving (or adding an engraved plate) with the recipient’s name.
Hours or even minutes later, another piece of the same design will be taken from that very same shelf and will be used for yet another menu-driven recognition program for some other, entirely different organization.
And that’s exactly what makes these “awards” such an easy choice. Yes, they could be used for your organization; but they could also be used for virtually every other organization on the face of the earth.
The Other Failing of Most Employee Recognition
Another common shortcoming of recognition programs is that they are too formulaic and inflexible.
They tend only to recognize a predetermined set of thresholds and milestones, such as years of service.
Make no mistake, recognizing and rewarding longevity and organizational loyalty is crucial, and we design years-of-service awards all the time.
But the failing here is that some organizations only take the opportunity to recognize employees at these preset times and occasions.
The missed opportunity results in the very aspects of organizational culture and identity that should be celebrated getting overlooked.
Innovation, for instance, might be a crucial part of your organizational identity. That said, do you regularly recognize and reward efforts and achievements linked to that defining aspect of your identity? Do you, for example, meaningfully recognize instances of innovation, such as product development milestones, FDA approvals, patent awards etc.?
Identity and brand consist of more than a logo or slogan; they should also encapsulate the traits and characteristics that define—and differentiate—-your organization.
This is precisely what the HBR article calls for: what it terms “employee brand engagement”. “The goal”, it notes, “is to make sure employees know what the brand stands for and are committed to reinforcing it with their actions”.
A custom employee award that leverages an iconic brand symbol: the KFC “bucket”.
Employee Awards that Actually Advance Your Brand
So how can you incorporate this kind of branding into your employee awards and recognition pieces?
What you don’t have to do is spend huge amounts of time and money on awards designed for your organizations—awards that might also prove to appear both extravagant and even garish.
The types of custom award touches that can truly distinguish your brand can be relatively simple. They can play off the shape of your logo, or even more subtly, the colors of your logo (something not always easy to capture); or they may communicate something distinctive about your products or services, or your organizational mission.
A great example of employee awards not only reflecting but actually advancing an organization’s brand and culture is Swift Straw. The fast-growing Georgia-based company has prided itself on being an innovator (and disruptor) of the previously sleepy and obscure pine straw industry. (For confirmation of this, just check out one of their commercials ).
The saw-themed employee award shown above is consistent with that brand. It ties together one of the company’s primary pieces of equipment and the whole idea of honing and refining skills. It’s hard to imagine a company that has made innovation so central to its mission opting for awards that were generic and interchangeable.
Aligning with Your Organization’s Brand
You don’t have to do is conform to some vendor’s inflexible menu of tired, well-worn “awards”. By opting for default selections from off-the-shelf designs, you miss the opportunity to reinforce your brand. You also miss the opportunity to infuse your employee awards with additional perceived value and cachet.
At The Corporate Presence, we’ve been designing and providing these kinds of awards for over 40 years. We can offer you designs tailored to your organization’s brand and identity. Reach out to us today.
David Parry is the Director of Digital Strategy for The Corporate Presence, and for Prestige Custom Awards, a designer and provider of custom corporate awards ranging from creative employee and client recognition pieces to the N.F.L. Commissioner’s Awards, and ESPN’s ESPY awards.

January 13, 2026
Custom Lucite Embedments: The Questions You Should Really be Asking
Custom Lucite embedments, as you may already know, offer an ideal way to preserve, showcase, and honor prized items and objects.
Unless you don’t know what you’re doing.
Or you don’t know enough about Lucite embedments to ask the important questions. Because the embedment process also offers a great way to singe, tinge, melt, mangle, and fry those same beloved objects.
Too often, the expertise offered up about the process is reduced to simple terms: yes or no.
Yes, this can safely be embedded; no, that won’t work.
Make no mistake: knowing what is and isn’t possible is a necessary starting point. And you should always have realistic expectations of whether something will hold up to the embedment process.
Placing something inside Lucite (acrylic) is always tricky. One of the biggest challenges here, for instance, isn’t the vial—but the label.
But embedding items in Lucite (acrylic) is actually a little more complicated than you might think.
First off, some things you’re likely to hear will seem completely counter-intuitive.
For instance, Lucite embedment involves extremely high heat (similar to baking something in a kiln). But if that’s true, why you can usually successfully embed a cookie but not a rock? And why do even related objects produce different results?
How is it, for instance, that peanuts typically embed? Almonds, on the other hand, typically do not.
But an answer to the question “Will this embed in Lucite?” is usually only part of the concern most people have, or should have, heading into the process. So what is it about custom Lucite embedments that most people are missing?
Embedding any product in Lucite—especially one as iconic as this bottle—should truly showcase it. Otherwise, what’s the point?
Is Lucite Embedding Possible? There’s More to Consider
When it comes to Lucite embedments, there’s a whole qualitative aspect that tends to get overlooked.
Yes, you want an answer to the question “Will this embed?”.
But the expertise necessary to answer that question only goes so far.
Because what you’re probably really asking is, “Will the embedment truly capture the effect I’m hoping for?”
Here’s an example. Suppose you’re in the pharmaceutical industry and want to recognize a team for their contribution to the development of a new drug. The exact occasion might be the first successful in-human trial or FDA approval.
It would be great to hear that, yes, you can embed the vial in Lucite.
But is that really all that’s involved?
What if, as is often the case, you also want to make sure that the label on the drug vial is included in the embedment? After all, for you, this might be a crucial part of replicating the authentic look of the vial.
So what if, during a test embedment, the print on the vial fades or disappears? Or it slips off the vial?
Those are challenges that can be dealt with but, again, you have to be able to anticipate these kinds of problems.
And, again, you also need to know what you’re doing.
A great example of how embedding the real thing can transform the perceived value of a commemorative. What’s inside isn’t just some random piece of metal.
Why Perceived Value Matters in Custom Lucite Embedments
Here’s an example of how using a genuine article can heighten perceived value.
The piece above celebrates the extraordinary disaster recovery efforts of teams from PowerSouth in the aftermath of Hurricane Michael in 2018. Embedded within the piece is a section of the actual conductor strand used to restore power.
Another example involves embedments in the energy industry.
You might want to embed an oil drop, say to commemorate the “first” oil extracted from a site, or shipped from a port.
Custom Lucite with embedded oil vial—a vial containing not generic liquid but the client’s actual oil.

Yes, it’s possible to embed an oil drop. You can see oil drops inside Lucite all over the place online.
But what if you want to embed “your” oil? Do you really have to use the same generic “oil” that’s been used for every other project (and will for all future projects)?
After all, this does commemorate something to do with a specific oil. Wouldn’t using some interchangeable inky substance (which often isn’t even oil) undercut the impact of the commemorative?
Here again, the use of the genuine object can transform the perceived value of the commemorative. Here it’s a design honoring contributions to the development of a new surgical implant—with a design incorporating the actual implant itself.
The goal of any recognition gift or award is pretty straightforward: perceived value.
You want the recipient or honoree to attach value to whatever it is that’s being given—to recognize that his or her contribution or achievement has truly been appreciated.
And yes, you can use your own oil. But you have to be aware of that the option exists, and that the vendor you choose has the capabilities to do exactly that.
It Successfully Embedded! (But It Looks Lousy)
There are other some considerations that can also be figured in this “Will it embed?” question.
These involve aesthetic issues.
For instance, the chosen shape of the Lucite could either complement or undermine the embedment. And distortion could cause your drug vial, for instance, to end up looking more like a natural gas canister.
Also, you may have an object that successfully embeds in Lucite.
The only problem is that, when embedded, it looks terrible.
Just as an example, a banking customer of ours once wanted to embed an aircraft component manufactured by its client.
The client stressed that the part could withstand temperature extremes. It should therefore have absolutely no issues withstanding the extremely high temperatures involved in the Lucite embedment process.
Which proved to be true.
And the part did fully stand up to the heat. The only issue was that, once subjected to that high heat, it looked bad. This was, after all, an internal part not intended to be seen regularly.
So if your goal is to showcase one of your (or your client’s) cherished products, is showing something in this kind of tarnished condition really the best way to do that?
And if it isn’t, what do you do instead? What’s the Plan B?
A beautifully framed commemorative celebrating FDA approval of the drug Cosela.

How Long Does It Take to Produce a Custom Lucite?
A common question we hear: how soon can you actually have your finished custom Lucite deal toy in hand?
Generally, you’re looking at a production timeline of about 10 to 15 business days after you approve the final design. Of course, this can vary a bit depending on the specifics—more intricate designs, unusually shaped embedments, or particularly large orders may take a few days longer.
Need something sooner? In many cases, there are ways to fast-track certain projects. It never hurts to ask—sometimes our team can pull off a small miracle, especially if your event date is looming.
The important thing is: communication counts. When you reach out, let us know your timeline and we’ll be up-front about what’s possible.
What Sizes and Shapes Can You Create with Acrylic Embedments?
The possibilities here are nearly endless—and that’s not hype. Acrylic (Lucite) embedments can be fashioned into a wide variety of shapes, far beyond the confines of rectangles or circles. Want something classic and understated? We’ve done plenty of simple blocks, wedges, and domes for everything from product launches to corporate anniversaries.
But if you have a vision that breaks the mold—think silhouettes echoing your logo, the shape of a key product, or something wild like a miniature oil rig or transmission tower—it’s absolutely doable. Custom contours are no issue; we’ve helped clients capture everything from geographic outlines to actual product cross-sections inside Lucite.
Size-wise, it’s equally flexible. Pieces can be crafted to fit perfectly on a crowded desk, or scaled up for serious boardroom presence. Whether you’re looking for something subtle and handheld or a true statement piece for a presentation, dimensions are truly up to you.
Just let us know the look you’re after—from petite tokens to showstopper centerpieces—and we’ll make sure your embedment measures up.
Lucite Embedments in Construction Completion Ceremonies
When it comes to marking the successful completion of a major construction project, Lucite embedments offer a compelling way to capture those milestone moments in a tangible, memorable form. Instead of simply handing out another plaque or certificate, many teams are choosing to enclose symbolic items—think: scaled-down architectural models, fragments of building materials (like a core of structural steel), or the final, stamped blueprints—right inside Lucite.
These pieces aren’t just desk ornaments. They serve as lasting reminders of the collaboration and expertise that brought the project to life. Sometimes, they’re presented during ribbon-cutting ceremonies, with key project leads, architects, and even city officials receiving their own uniquely customized pieces. Other times, they’re handed out to the project team as a collective nod to months—or years—of hard work.
It’s not just about nostalgia, either. Having something like a miniature version of the finished building or an original occupancy certificate artfully preserved in Lucite elevates the sense of achievement. It carries more weight than a digital file or flat printout ever could. And when someone glances at that embedded model on their shelf, the effect can be very powerful.
How the Production and Approval Process Works
First, you’ll receive detalled, digital proofs of several possible design. They’ll provide a preview of each variation. This isn’t just a formality. It’s your opportunity to scrutinize every detail: the placement of your embedded object, the text layout, and how everything works together visually. It’s a lot like reviewing architectural blueprints before breaking ground; you want to be sure every the design .
Once you’ve given your thumbs-up and signed off on the proof, that’s when production begins. The entire process is far more artisanal than people expect. Each piece is carefully produced by hand—and by people who have been doing this for years. The item being embedded is set with precision to guarantee that it’s showcased at its best—with no accidental tilting.
The Lucite is then cast around your object in a multi-step process, with attention to temperature, clarity, and finish. Anything less, and you risk cloudy resin or a misaligned item—neither of which are words you want attached to your commemorative. Because the Lucites bake in a kiln, there will, however, be slight variations in the final position of the object within the Lucite. So not all your pieces will look exactly the same. Again, this is result of the labor-intensive, handmake nature of these embedments.
Lastly, once the piece is fully cured, it’s inspected one last time for clarity, flawless embedding, and overall appearance. Only then does your piece get packed up and shipped out, ready to be displayed on someone’s desk or shelf.
Get Real Answers for Your Custom Lucite Embedments
Experience and expertise can go a long way. They can ensure that you do, in fact, get a correct answer to the question “Can I embed X in Lucite?”
At The Corporate Presence, we draw on more than forty years of experience in embedding objects in Lucite.
But we can also point to two other, equally important things we additionally bring to any project: design insight and production knowledge.When it comes to embedments, we know what works—both practically and aesthetically.
We also appreciate all the challenges—and the possibilities—of the embedment process, and are ready to share them with you.
Get your project started. Reach out to us today.
David Parry is the Director of Digital Strategy for The Corporate Presence, and for Prestige Custom Awards, a designer and provider of custom corporate awards ranging from creative employee and client recognition pieces to the N.F.L. Commissioner’s Awards, and ESPN’s ESPY awards.
December 30, 2025
Oil and Gas Deal Toys That Will Leave an Impression
When ordering oil and gas deal toys, one of your top priorities should be making them memorable. Most deals require a significant amount of time, effort, and expertise, and you want your deal toy to reflect and truly commemorate that achievement.
But that’s not the only reason your deal toy needs to be memorable.
Deal toys will carry your bank’s name and logo—in other words, your branding. You’ll obviously want to ensure that the overall look and effect of the piece is something that actually furthers that branding.
How can you do that?
As you’ve probably noticed, deal toys in the oil and gas industry often center on the same design ideas and themes.
Some have become so commonplace and well-worn that they’ve lost impact among recipients.
And choosing an easy, default design can also reflect badly on your bank or company.
But making your deal toy memorable you doesn’t require a breakthrough design or concept. Often it just means revisiting—and bringing a fresh take—to a traditional idea.
Here are a few ideas you can use to ensure that your next oil and gas industry is one that has, and retains, cachet for recipients—now and in years to come.
Use Actual Product—Not Some Phony “Oil”— in Your Deal Toy
Nothing is more central to the identity of a firm or organization than its product.
Or more distinctive.
A recurring oil and gas deal toy or award design involves the embedment in Lucite of a vial of oil.
Or more accurately, it involves the embedment of “oil”.
The word oil here is fully deserving of the quotation marks. Most often the piece contains some inky, black liquid but it’s not oil
And more importantly, it’s not either your or your client’s oil.
Embedding real oil, for instance, the actual “first” oil taken from a site and not some substitute or generic equivalent, has a huge impact on the perceived value of a deal toy or award.
Most deal toy and award companies don’t even offer the opportunity to use the real thing. Many seem uncomfortable or even unaware of the option of using something authentic.
You should, at very least, have the option. It can transform an often tired deal toy design into something truly unique—and timeless.

Play with the Deal’s Code Name
Code names are often a neglected source of the deal toy design idea.
The source of code names can vary widely. Some are almost arbitrary; others reflect anything from an important strategic element to an inside joke.
Whatever their origin, deal code names are distinctive for the very reason that they are so closely identified with the transaction.
Here’s one example of an award we designed that incorporated its project’s code name. The project was called “Project Mojito” because of the green policies of the acquired firm.

Work with Deal or Project Themes
You don’t necessarily have to use your project’s code name as your idea springboard. If the code name doesn’t lend itself to creative designs—or if the project didn’t have a code name—you can explore the key themes at play with your project to find inspiration for your design.
Again, the green bar drink commemorating Project Mojito paid tribute the acquired company’s commitment to “green” policies. Instead of playing off what the company does, the design reflects how it does it.
Maybe the company focuses prides itself on its sustainability policies, or has made a special commitment to energy conservation.
There are any number of possible themes like this that might make for a fresh design take.
Take a Broad View of the Achievement
If you’re familiar with deal toys, you know that scaled-down models of equipment, tools, and the product itself are popular design choices.
In other words, the focus of the design is highly specific.
Those are great choices — for certain projects.
Most energy companies tend to be highly diversified, with any number of different lines of business. Another approach is a design that suggests the activities of the entire enterprise rather than just one aspect of it.
Puzzle piece are a great way of achieving this effect.
Or, Take a Narrow View in Your Deal Toy or Award
On the other hand, you may still want to focus on something very specific—perhaps a specific tanker, drilling site, or technology.
Even here, a fresh take is possible. Instead of using some generic representation of the whatever it is that’s the centerpiece of the design, you can capture its precise details.
The design below is a great example.
Yes, the design could have fallen back on a stock image of a tanker, or some generic pewter piece; but instead, a cut-out has been created that captures the look and lines of the actual tanker involved in the deal.
Get a Deal Toy that Leaves a Lasting Impression
As the global leader in deal toys and custom awards since 1981, The Corporate Presence specializes in crafting unforgettable, personalized awards. Don’t settle for slapping your name on something generic; work with our team to create a deal toy that truly recognizes your client’s achievement—and also furthers your name and brand—for many years to come.
Ready to get started? Contact us today and tell us all about your deal.
December 22, 2025
9 Creative Deal Toy Ideas to Celebrate Success
Coming up with creative deal toy ideas can be a chore for bankers
Especially when they’re faced with the same predictable, stock design suggestions. Fortunately, there are a number of imaginative–though commonly overlooked— design alternatives.
Coming up with memorable deal toy ideas can sometimes be a huge challenge for bankers—and a needlessly time-consuming one.
It becomes even more challenging when, as is often the case, your client’s company or industry doesn’t readily lend itself to design concepts. Or at least, ones that are creative…or original…or practical, or perhaps, above all, affordable.
Beyond that, your MD may have certain expectations or preferences when it comes to deal toys—which may already have been made pretty clear to you.
What’s Your Role in the Design Process?
Of course, most deal toy companies are not going to expect you to come up with design ideas for your tombstone.
Still, many bankers—even senior bankers—like to take an active role in the design process. Some even consider making a contribution to the final result a point of pride.
And, anyway, handling deal toys should be one of the fun parts of your job, right?
What Exactly Are M&A Tombstones and Deal Toys?
But before we dive into the fun stuff, let’s clear up exactly what we mean by M&A tombstones and deal toys.
M&A tombstones, often called deal toys, are custom commemorative objects created to celebrate significant financial transactions—think mergers, acquisitions, IPOs, or major financings. At first glance, you might spot them decorating a banker’s credenza or gathering dust on a law firm’s bookshelf. But these are much more than corporate knick-knacks. They serve as tangible reminders of the teamwork, late nights, negotiation marathons, and “just one more revision” spreadsheet battles that brought a major deal across the finish line.
Deal toys come in all shapes and sizes, limited only by imagination and a slight nod to corporate taste. Lucite blocks with embedded pitch books, 3D-printed models of client headquarters, or crystal skyscrapers topped with company logos—the possibilities are vast. Think of them as Wall Street’s answer to a championship trophy, except instead of hoisting them in a parade, you’re showing them off at your next meeting with a prospective client (or hire), or maybe on a Zoom call.
More than just a trophy, these mementos are a pat on the back for everyone involved: bankers, lawyers, clients. Custom deal toys are a way of saying, “We did this together—and it mattered.”
Now that we’ve got our terminology straight…
Going Beyond Standard Deal Toy Ideas
Some companies, and even whole sectors, almost immediately conjure up creative, custom deal toy ideas.
Other deals can pose problems—even if it’s only that most of the relevant design ideas have already been overused.
In those instances, the default suggestion—often the only suggestion—is to base the design on your client’s company logo.
Basing a design on a client’s logo can work extremely well, and again, we do this all the time. But what if your client’s logo doesn’t really offer up many design possibilities? Or if it does, logo-themed deal toys may well have been done for them before—maybe to death.
Other Design Ideas You’re Likely To Hear
So what should you do?
You could, of course, accept the suggestion of simply opting for a conventional design.
Make no mistake: we suggest classic deal toy designs like this to clients all the time, and they can be highly effective.
But what if you want to see something slightly more imaginative, even if it’s just an alternative design that you might only consider?
Deal teams often begin the ordering process with at least a rough idea of what they want (or don’t want) for their deal gifts. You may just want to kickstart your creative thinking.
So where does that leave you?
Some Alternative Deal Toy Ideas You Should Consider
So either of these default suggestions could ultimately work for you. But if you’re initially looking for examples of additional options or other possible creative alternatives, we’ve provided some suggestions below.
1. Play Off the Deal’s Project/Code Name

Code name-inspired deal toy for Project Hemingway.

Side view of deal toy for a transaction code-named Project “Rex”.

Project “Beach”

Project “Satellite”
This is one of the most neglected sources for meaningfully customized deal toys.
Project names can really enliven design possibilities (see, for instance, the tombstone for Project “Martini” above). If you’re looking for a design element that will make for a truly customized, unique commemorative—one that will resonate with recipients for years to come—the intimate and closely guarded nature of a code name gives it considerable cachet.
We’ve written before about code-name-based deal toy ideas .
Code names can provide the basis for designs in a number of ways. In some cases, such as the piece commemorating the project “Big Bang” below, the code name can be the centerpiece of the design.
In the case of the project “River” design also shown here, the code name appears far more subtly.

Deal toy designed for Project “River”.

Project “Big Bang” deal toy.

Code name-inspired 21st Century Fox-Sky-Comcast deal toy.

Back view of Viking-themed “Valkyrie” deal toy,
Code names can also give coherence where the deal (or its subject matter) is complex. The deal commemorated below, for instance, involved Blackstone’s acquisition of a far-flung European warehouse portfolio encompassing five countries. Basing the design on the deal’s code name, Project Emerald, made considerable sense and resulted in a compelling crystal piece.
The tombstone above marks Blackstone’s acquisition of a farflung warehouse portfolio spanning five European countries. Basing the design on the deal’s code name, Project Emerald, provided a simpler (yet still visually striking) alternative.
2. Look for Deal Toy Ideas in The Relevant Locations (especially with cross-border transactions)
Your Texas-based client has no doubt already at least seen, if not actually received, deal toys in the shape of the state or country.
Many geographic themes make use of some obvious touchpoints, such as maps and flags.
But location-based designs don’t have to be that literal. The design of the deal toy below, for instance, plays off the Dutch fondness for bicycles. It commemorates a transaction involving hotel properties in The Netherlands. Additionally, the South Carolina design commemorates notes issued by an auto receivables trust. The license plate design is a nod to that, and also to the issuer’s headquarters: Greenville, South Carolina.
Other location-based design ideas can be more straightforward.
Again, maps are an obvious location-based design feature.
Similarly, the design below creatively works in the California theme while providing a necessary recess to anchor the drop shape.
Flags, currencies, and other national symbols can provide a number of creative possibilities. The design in the two pieces below makes creative use of two national flags.
Location-based themes also play to the increasing trend toward multinational transactions. Two deal toys for cross-border transactions appear below, one with a flag motif, the other using currency symbols.
The deal toy components can be seen more clearly below:

3. Base Your Deal Toy Idea on the Transaction Type
Over the years, we’ve often taken inspiration from the very nature of the deal itself, whether it involved Cinderella bonds, accordion tranches, a bolt-on acquisition, Dutch auction, swap, spin-off, PIPE transaction, etc.
The two spin-off-inspired deal toys below, for instance, reflect a current trend. The fourth design is a more literal rendering of a “block” trade.

Back view of a deal toy commemorating the accordion tranches of a debt facility.

A design playing off the transaction type: a spin-off.

Another spin-off-inspired deal toy.

Deal toy based on transaction type.
4. Make Use of an Inside Joke or Bond
Running jokes are usually fodder for gag gifts, but sometimes they’re so central to the transaction that they become a focal point of the deal.
One highly successful design we manufactured featured a Pepperidge Farm cookie inside Lucite—the snack of choice for meetings between the parties during negotiations.
Another design playing off a more subtle bond of this sort is the tombstone commemorating Google’s initial public offering. The IPO deal toy was styled after a decorative staple of Google’s Mountain View headquarters: the lava lamp.
Again, this is the type of customization that makes for meaningful, enduring, and above all, valued deal toys.
5. Highlight the Significance of the Deal
Deals can often be ground, barrier, or record-breaking, and all of these suggest possible design options—nicely represented by the IBM piece in the following gallery.
6. Find Ideas by Combining Elements of the Deal
Combining aspects of the deal can transform well-worn concepts into something unique.
Two designs in the gallery below combine elements of the transactions both seamlessly, and creatively.
One crystal tombstone below combines design elements—a horseshoe, a carrot, and the state of Washington—to convey very precisely the specifics of the asset involved: a Washington-based company specializing in apparel for the equestrian sports sector.
The clever design for Kellogg’s Euro issue has artwork of the Keebler Elf—a quintessentially American brand mascot—fanning a wad of Euro notes.
7. Play Off a Distinguishing Feature of the Deal
Deals can be remarkable for any number of reasons: their contentiousness, for instance, or the swiftness with which the parties came to terms.
For one deal characterized by particularly arduous, grueling negotiations, we designed a 3-D piece showing Sisyphus pushing uphill a giant rock—bearing the opposing party’s logo.
The deal toy for The Blackstone Group in the gallery below is a great example. The turtle refers to both the pace and duration of the transaction (the cane and spectacles, on the other hand, relate to the nature of the business: assisted-living facilities).

8. Focus on the End Result
Deal toys involving process or service-oriented firms can often pose challenges. How, exactly, can you represent or depict that process visually?
In the case of a transaction involving a German manufacturer of turning and milling machines, there was always the option of centering the design on a photo or photos of the company’s equipment.
Instead, the chosen design ultimately drew on the verticals in which the company’s equipment was used. Those included watchmaking, optics, and the dental and medical fields.
The ring design, shown in the gallery below, reflected yet another space in which the company’s equipment found an application: the jewelry industry.
9. Work in the Real Thing
It’s hard to equal the allure and resonance of designs incorporating the actual subject matter of the transaction. Tombstones featuring Lucite embedments of this sort have ranged from drug vials to surgical implants to manufacturing components. Depending on your product—and your timeline—embedments could offer a unique design option.
The gallery below, for instance, shows a Lucite design showcasing another company’s flagship product: limestone.
You might also find inspiration in a client’s product. Also shown here are three designs that replicate either a product, or its packaging.

Deal Toy Ideas at The Corporate Presence
At The Corporate Presence, we’ve been designing and producing creative deal toys for over 40 years. Whether you already have preliminary ideas in mind or are looking for design guidance from the outset, our team is ready to help get the creative process started. Reach out to us today.
David Parry is the Director of Digital Strategy for The Corporate Presence, and for Prestige Custom Awards, a designer and provider of custom awards, ranging from creative employee and client recognition pieces to the N.F.L. Commissioner’s Awards, and ESPN’s ESPY awards.
December 4, 2025
Who Gets Custom Deal Toys (and What Exactly are They For?)
If you’re not in the financial industry, there’s a good chance you’ve never even heard of custom deal toys. And you’re even less likely to have heard of the other, less captivating term they commonly go by: “financial tombstones“.
But even if you are in finance, perhaps even a new investment banker charged with ordering them for the first time, you may still be wondering what exactly deal toys are for.
After all, they don’t seem to “do” much. (Very few deal toys are functional. You might occasionally see one that doubles as a pen stand or desk caddy, but those are increasingly rare.)
So it might be hard to see custom deal toys as anything other than some insignificant financial industry quirk: weird, self-indulgent, and maybe just plain silly.
If they don’t do anything, what—and who— exactly are they for?
And if they do serve a purpose, is it just for investment bankers? And even if you are an investment banker, and are already familiar with them, you may still be baffled. Why would anyone possibly ask you to disrupt your already hectic work schedule, just to devote time and energy to something that seems so…frivolous?
Deal Toys Do Have a Purpose (and More Than One)
Deal toys, those commemoratives usually made of crystal or Lucite that celebrate successfully completed financial transactions, actually have several recipients and serve several purposes.
Internal Recognition
One rationale for deal toys is purely internal: they serve as employee recognition awards for those involved in a completed deal.
But unlike the kind of traditional, off-the-shelf employee recognition awards you might be familiar with, deal toys tend to have additional meaning for bankers (and other recipients). This added cachet is due to the fact that deal toys usually have custom designs, which in some way play off or evoke something specific to the deal itself, such as the company logo, the industry involved, or the type of deal. (These highly customized, creative touches also tend to make deal toys such effective conversation pieces when put on display).
In his book chronicling the experiences of several first-year investment bankers, Young Money, Kevin Roose gives some sense of the impact of what some disparage as “deal trinkets”. He describes the nightly routine of one of the young bankers, chronically sleep-deprived and bleary-eyed with pitch books and other “deliverables”. “He kept his deal toys lined up on the desk in his bedroom”, Roose writes, “and he liked looking at them before bed”.
Even many senior bankers still find that same sort of satisfaction in deal toys. They represent—and recognize—the considerable amount of time, effort, and expertise that typically go into a completed deal.
Personal and Group Branding
A second rationale for deal toys involves promotion and branding. They showcase experience, expertise, and ultimately, success. The particular brand being promoted can be that of an entire firm or group (through, for instance, a display of deal toys in a conference or reception area).
But when displayed in an individual’s office or workspace, they speak more to a personal brand and provide what amounts to a visual resume of transactions and achievements.
Importantly, that visual resume tends to travel with bankers as they move from firm to firm; and just as significant, these custom deal toys are on display for a number of distinct and influential groups: colleagues, clients, and potential clients.
Deal toys are a uniquely powerful branding tool. An effectively-designed deal toy can ensure that a firm’s name is prominently displayed to a client long after the transaction.
Client Retention and Marketing
This is by far the most important reason for deal toys, and explains how, and why, they’ve managed to survive over the course of 50+ years—despite a litany of financial disruptions, downturns, and even crises.
The most important recipient of deal toys is external; it’s the client of the bank or financial institution.
Whether they successfully guided a company through an IPO, raised needed capital through a debt issue, or facilitated a strategic acquisition, banks (like many other businesses) have sought ways not only to celebrate the occasion but also solidify their relationship with their client.
Decades ago, banks started to recognize that traditional, high-end “client appreciation gifts” had their limitations. Expensive pens, for instance, undoubtedly have both function and cachet, but they also have an uncanny knack for getting lost or disappearing.
High-end clocks, another obvious gift with high perceived value, posed different problems. Not all cultures prized clocks as gifts, and beyond that, just how many ornate desk clocks does an individual need, or for that matter, have the space for?

Bitcoin-themed deal toy featuring gold-painted Lucite “coins”.

The Most Crucial Deal Toy Recipients: Clients
By contrast, investment banks found that deal toys were something that clients tended to hold on to.
Why?
One reason was their distinctive designs, which, again, had special meaning and resonance for those involved in the transaction. Having a design specific to a deal, and all the many challenges and shared experiences that went into bringing that deal to fruition is what gives custom deal toys so much perceived value and cachet for participants.
(At The Corporate Presence, we’re regularly provided evidence of that perceived value. We routinely receive requests, from both bankers and their clients, to replace lost or broken deal toys that were originally given years and sometimes even decades ago).
And because deal toys are valued in this way, they also tend to be displayed prominently. As banks soon appreciated—and long before the term “top-of-mind marketing” became so well-worn—that this also meant that their names and logos remained prominently displayed to their clients. That kind of silent advertising and promotion can be invaluable, especially if you’re trying to lay for the groundwork for future business with that client.
The gallery above demonstrates the visual appeal—translating into enduring marketing value—of an array of custom deal toy designs.
But are Custom Deal Toys Still Relevant—and Worth it?
But all this really speaks to the traditional rationale for deal toys, and there would seem to be a number of recent trends actively working against that rationale. Remote and hybrid work arrangements and cost-cutting, for instance, come immediately to mind.
Why would deal toys survive these realities?
The fact is that many recent trends have only underscored the value of deal toys. Yes, investment banks and financial institutions, like most organizations, have become increasingly cost-conscious. Deal toys have shed many of the flamboyant and extravagant flourishes they had in the 80’s and 90’s.
On the other hand, the impact of new workplace arrangements, especially in the form of fewer in-person interactions with colleagues and clients, has been profound. If anything, it has also tended to heighten the need to recognize employee contributions and forge deeper bonds with clients.
Due to their effectiveness, deal toys celebrate much more than transactions. This piece, for example, recognizes a law firm’s advisory work in a legal settlement.
Again, if anything, deal toys have proliferated. Though they may not be ordering “deal toys” by name, a growing number of clients outside the financial sector are ordering similarly customized commemoratives to celebrate not only transactions but other organizational achievements and milestones.
What to Know Before Requesting a Custom Deal Toy Design
Before diving into the world of custom deal toys, there are a few key things you’ll want to keep in mind to ensure a smooth—and genuinely creative—process.
Be Clear About Your Objectives
Start by defining exactly what you’re commemorating. Are you marking the close of a complex transaction, celebrating a key partnership, or spotlighting an internal achievement? Clarifying the “why” will help your design team create something with personal significance—not just another desk ornament.
Expect a Collaborative Process
Unlike the assembly-line Lucite of yesteryear, today’s deal toys are highly tailored. Reputable designers thrive on bringing your specific story—and brand—to life. Be prepared to share details about your deal, company personality, and any design elements you want incorporated. The more context you provide, the more meaningful your end result.
Know the Timeline
Custom work takes time. From initial concept to final delivery, you’ll want to plan ahead—usually four to eight weeks is standard, but rush arrangements can sometimes be made.
Budget Appropriately
Costs can vary widely depending on materials, complexity, and quantity. Be up front about your budget at the outset so your design team can suggest options that maximize impact without sticker shock.
With these points in mind, you’re far more likely to end up with a memorable piece that’s worthy of both your achievement—and that coveted spot on a client’s desk.
Do You Need a Custom Deal Toy?
You may be considering a deal toy for an actual transaction.
But you might also want a “deal toy” to recognize a strategic partnership or joint venture, legal advisory work in a favorable judicial decision, or regulatory approval of a new drug.
Despite their often playful design and character, and the seemingly dismissive “toy” tag, they do serve an important purpose—and not just for bankers. Get the creative process started. Reach out today.
David Parry is the Director of Digital Strategy for The Corporate Presence, and for Prestige Custom Awards, a designer and provider of custom corporate awards ranging from creative employee and client recognition pieces to the N.F.L. Commissioner’s Awards, and ESPN’s ESPY awards.
December 4, 2025
Do Lawyers Get Deal Toys?
Yes, lawyers do, in fact, get deal toys. That’s been the case since the practice of giving out deal toys first took root among investment bankers and dealmakers back in the 1970’s.
But that’s probably not the most relevant or illuminating question here.
The far more interesting questions might be how, and more importantly, why attorneys and law firms end up with those deal toys.
Lawyers do receive deal toys, but increasingly they’re also ordering those deal toys directly themselves—for both clients and internal recipients. Why? For the same reasons investment bankers traditionally have. To commemorate successes and solidify client relationships, whether those successes take the form of legal advisory work in a transaction, or a favorable judgment or verdict.
This change gets to the very heart of why a custom like giving deal tombstones–one that might at first seem so frivolous and self-indulgent–actually has a sound business rationale.
And why it has endured for so long.

Eye-catching deal toy design highlighting a firm’s legal advisory work in transaction.

Custom Lucite commemorating two favorable rulings on behalf of a client.

Court of Appeals ruling commemorative.

Commemorative for dismissal.

Custom crystal acquisition advisory.

Industry-themed arbitration commemorative.
Attorneys and Deal Toys
Lawyers and deal toys go back many years. But for the most part, law firms historically weren’t the ones ordering them (and at The Corporate Presence, we have a 40-year history in the deal toy industry to draw on here).
Most often, lawyers on a transaction found themselves on the distribution list when an investment bank placed a deal toy order for that transaction. In some instances, the investment bank paid for the pieces and eventually sent them to attorneys (and sometimes accountants as well).
But more often, attorneys weren’t even on the initial distribution round. They had to contact the deal toy company themselves and make a separate, add-on order for the same deal toy.
Whatever the billing arrangement was with the investment bank, the point is that, for the most part, attorneys were rarely in on the deal toy ordering process at the outset.
That’s increasingly changed in recent years.
More law firms are now ordering deal toys to commemorate their own advisory role in a deal.
Custom Lucite commmeorating the legal advisory work performed by Wachtell, Lipton in a $4.8 billion media merger.
But Why Would Lawyers Order Their Own Deal Toys?
If an attorney could simply piggyback off the deal toy orders of investment banks, and buy their own deal toys, why would they bother to place separate orders for their own?
The answer’s simple: deal toys serve a couple of functions.
Among law firms, deal toys had traditionally served just one of those functions. Whether they appear together in a reception area, conference room, or an individual attorney’s office, they provided a visual resume of the deals in which the firm or attorney had participated.
The impact of this kind of display on a prospective client (or hire) can be powerful, something that investment banks have known for many years.
But that’s still only one of the crucial benefits of deal toys, something that, again, investment banks have appreciated for decades.
The other purpose of deal toys, and arguably the more important one, involves marketing. That’s discussed below.
Crystal design recognizing an agreement ending litigation between rival golf leagues LIV Golf and the PGA Tour.
The Lesson Law Firms Learned from Investment Bankers
For many years, as mentioned above, it was unusual for lawyers and law firms to order deal toys directly. They tended instead to request additional pieces from an order already handled and placed by an investment bank.
But attorneys have also increasingly come to appreciate the other, more subtle role of deal toys—namely providing desktop advertising for their advisory services.
Investment banks have long recognized that, because of their customization and cachet, deal toys tend not only to be kept by clients but also kept in a highly visible and prominent place.
That means that a deal toy can serve as a constant visual reminder to clients of the expert work done on their behalf by your bank, law firm, accounting firm, etc. That constant reminder, in turn, increases the likelihood that when that client again needs the services of an investment bank, law firm, accounting firm, that they reach out again to your firm.
Their effectiveness as a marketing technique has been the very reason deal toys have survived so long. (And this was the case despite endless predictions and pronouncements that they were “dead”.)
Lawyers have increasingly recognized the value of deal toys in fulfilling this same marketing function.
Lawyers Discover Non-Deal Uses for “Deal Toys”
Though we continue to receive a steadily growing number of inquiries from law firms, most of these “deal toy” requests have nothing to do with deals.
We regularly hear the word “deal toys” in inquiries from law firms, but many times the event being commemorated is not a successful transaction but a successful judgment or verdict. These pieces, again, are for internal distribution at the law firm, but primarily they’re intended as commemoratives for their clients.
A great example is the design below.
Custom crystal piece commemorating a decision in favor of client Honeywell.

But there are any number of reasons law firms can (and regularly do) contact us for these kinds of non-deal “deal toys”. They include:
- Successful Judgment/Verdict Commemoratives: (As noted above)
- Litigation Team Recognition Pieces: (Often including photos of team members)
- Third-Party Recognition: (Such as pieces commemorating the firm’s selection in a National Law Journal “Hot” list)
- Press Coverage: (Usually in the form of a commemorative incorporating articles on a high-profile judgment or verdict).
- Bankruptcy Reorganizations
- Successful Patent or Trademark Filings
Providing Firms with “Deal Toys” and Non-“Deal Toys”
If you’re looking to commemorate any significant event or achievement on behalf of your firm, The Corporate Presence provides you with a wealth of design and production expertise and experience. Reach out to us and get the creative process started.
David Parry is the Director of Digital Strategy for The Corporate Presence, and for Prestige Custom Awards, a designer and provider of custom corporate awards ranging from creative employee and client recognition pieces to the N.F.L. Commissioner’s Awards, and ESPN’s ESPY awards.
December 3, 2025
Planning a Business Anniversary: 9 Crucial, Preliminary Tips
If you’re planning, or even just considering a business anniversary celebration, you may already be aware of an overwhelming array of options and suggestions. These range from opulent black-tie events to more subdued gatherings. They also run the gamut from corporate retreats to charitable initiatives to carnivals to open houses—and dozens of other possibilities. Obviously, a number of factors will influence how, and even if, an observance might be appropriate. These include your organization’s financial health, its size, its mission, industry conditions, logistics, and how much time—and money—can reasonably be budgeted.
The purpose of this post is not to provide yet another list of ideas for business anniversary observances. Again, there are already a number of valuable articles and resources devoted to that topic.
This post will focus instead on some preliminary considerations you might want to keep in mind in approaching a business anniversary—and regardless of the size or nature of that celebration. And these initial considerations are relevant whether the upcoming milestone marks your organization’s 100th anniversary or its first. These tips are also helpful whether your budget will allow you to spend lavishly or only frugally.
1) Make Your Business Anniversary About More Than Your Business
Your business or organization should, by definition, be the centerpiece of your anniversary celebration.
But that doesn’t mean that it should be the exclusive focus.
Anniversary celebrations can often come across as too insular and self-absorbed. This inward focus can undercut interest in your celebration outside your organization and even stymie enthusiasm within it.
Mullerhaus, a firm that specializes in company brand storytelling, urges a broader perspective. Your celebration should be about more than the staying power of your company or organization. It should also be about the relationships that characterized and made possible, its longevity, and its success. These include relationships not only with staff, but also customers, community members, and those communities themselves.
2) Tap Into Employee and Manager Creativity
One of the best ways to ensure your business anniversary celebration feels meaningful and authentic is to actively include the perspectives of your employees and managers. After all, no one knows your organization’s culture, quirks, and daily triumphs better than the people who help drive its success every day.
Opening the floor for suggestions can spark ideas you may not have considered—from small but heartfelt gestures, to larger initiatives that celebrate collective achievements. Consider holding brainstorming sessions or setting up a simple online suggestion box to gather input. You might be surprised at the ingenuity and insight your team brings forward.
Ultimately, celebrating together and giving your staff a personal investment in the festivities can foster enthusiasm, deepen the sense of shared pride, and make the occasion truly memorable for everyone involved.
3) Highlight Your Business Anniversary Online
Marking your business anniversary on your website can be more than a routine update—it’s an opportunity to reinforce your brand and foster engagement.
Visual Accents and Banners
Consider adding a prominent visual element to your site, such as a header banner or pop-up that acknowledges your milestone. This needn’t be limited to a simple line of text. Incorporate a striking graphic or visual motif that subtly—but clearly—signals your anniversary on every page. Linking this banner to a retrospective page or special blog post gives visitors an immediate way to learn more about your journey.
Dedicated Anniversary Content
Diving deeper, you might create a featured article or blog post that not only looks back at your organization’s growth and evolution, but also addresses how your industry or community has changed during your years in business. If you’re feeling ambitious, pair this with an interview series or short videos featuring founders, long-standing employees, or even dedicated customers. These stories can add texture and warmth to the anniversary narrative, while also offering insight into your organization’s vision for the future.
Highlighting Milestones and Timelines
For organizations celebrating a significant milestone, such as a quarter- or half-century, an interactive timeline on your “About Us” page can offer a compelling look back. Visitors can see at a glance how your story has unfolded over the years, with key achievements, photographs, or even press clippings. This not only spotlights your longevity, it can underscore your adaptability, commitment, and evolving expertise.
Updating Social Media and Company Bios
Don’t overlook your digital outposts. Briefly referencing your anniversary in your company bios and about sections on platforms like LinkedIn and Facebook can help amplify the reach of your celebration. This creates alignment across your digital presence and signals to both new and returning visitors that your milestone is part of your broader organizational story.
4) Frame Your Business Anniversary Celebration Messaging
This broader perspective can also inform your messaging efforts surrounding the celebration. A recent article in Forbes makes the point that the “why” of your celebration can be critical. Why exactly should anyone care about the fact that your organization or company has been around for x number of years?
The article goes on to suggest some possible ways of providing that “why”, including podcasts with interviews with current and former employees, special newsletters with anniversary-related stories, etc. But the broader, more significant point here is that this kind of content can do more than serve the short-term goal of raising awareness of your anniversary observance. It can also have a permanent place (and function) in marketing your organization as, for instance, additional content for your website or landing pages.
5) Involve Employees in Spreading the Word
Your staff can be some of your celebration’s most compelling advocates—and communication channels. As you consider strategies to share your anniversary with customers, partners, and the broader community, don’t overlook how employees’ everyday communications can amplify your message in authentic and effective ways.
A simple yet powerful place to start is the humble email signature. Encourage everyone in your organization to add a discreet but celebratory line mentioning the anniversary—such as “Proudly serving our community for 25 years.” This small addition to routine correspondence gently keeps your milestone top-of-mind for anyone receiving emails, from clients to vendors.
Similarly, consider reviewing other touchpoints where employees interact directly with your audience. For organizations with customer-facing staff, even temporary updates such as buttons or commemorative pins worn on uniforms can spark curiosity and conversations. This is an approach that works whether your people are in retail, hospitality, public service, or the trades.
For those with phone systems, on-hold and after-hours messages represent rare opportunities: a truly captive audience. Refresh your scripts to mention the anniversary, or infuse a bit of historical perspective or humor—think, “Celebrating a century of service, back when a ‘stream’ was just a body of water.” These small touches not only reinforce your brand but also offer moments of surprise and delight.
By weaving your milestone into daily communications and touchpoints, you extend the reach and resonance of your anniversary far beyond the main event. Each interaction becomes a subtle reminder of your legacy and the people who made it possible.
6) Consider Creating an Anniversary Logo
A business anniversary celebration should go beyond simply recognizing your organization’s continued existence. At its core, it is also a way of showcasing, and furthering, your brand itself.
A logo is one of the most visible symbols of your brand.
You may therefore want to solidify your messaging efforts by creating a special anniversary logo. Here again, a commemorative logo of this sort can provide marketing and promotional benefits long after your celebration event itself.
An anniversary logo doesn’t have to supplant your established logo. On its own, it can pay benefits long after the event or observance.
7) Tap (or Begin Curating) a Company Archive
Another preliminary business anniversary strategy involves amassing archival material. An organizational archive might draw on a variety of materials, including memorabilia, interviews, and other artifacts of the organization’s development and growth. For younger organizations, a historical archive might consist primarily of recollections of a company’s start-up and launch phases.
Historical material of this sort, whatever its form or vintage, can significantly enliven an anniversary observance. It can also provide invaluable source material for future observances as well as more immediate marketing and promotional campaigns.
8) Highlight Your Milestone on Your “About Us” Page
Another practical way to amplify your anniversary is by revisiting your company’s “About Us” or history page. This section is often the first stop for those wanting to understand your organization’s journey, values, and achievements. Use the occasion to weave in the story of your milestone year. Consider building out this page with a dedicated segment or timeline marking key moments, notable achievements, and the evolution of your company.
Interactive timelines can be particularly effective for significant anniversaries—think quarter-century marks or beyond—allowing visitors to explore major developments across the decades. Supplement the story with photos, archived marketing materials, testimonials, or even a video montage. Not only does this provide richer context for your visitors, but it also demonstrates both heritage and forward-looking momentum.

9) Integrate Business Anniversary Awards & Gifts
There is a final suggestion that can both complement and unite the remaining strategies above. This is also a strategy aimed at not only heightening immediate interest in your event but also ensuring that it is remembered.
The gallery above showcases a selection of custom anniversary and milestone commemoratives. They reflect a diverse cross-section of organizations and companies.
Custom gifts and awards can provide this kind of visible, tangible, and most important—lasting— reminder of your event. They can be tailored for your organization: your logo, mission, service, product, or anything that uniquely captures your brand. These awards and commemoratives can be displayed for years to come throughout your organization, in reception areas, conference rooms, and individual employee offices.
At The Corporate Presence, we’ve been helping companies and organizations in a variety of sectors and industries celebrate milestone anniversaries and achievements for over 40 years. See how we can extend the celebration (and impact) of your business anniversary with truly memorable custom commemoratives. Get the design process started now.
David Parry is the Director of Digital Strategy for The Corporate Presence, and for Prestige Custom Awards, a designer and provider of custom corporate awards ranging from creative employee and client recognition pieces to the N.F.L. Commissioner’s Awards, and ESPN’s ESPY awards.

October 9, 2025
How to Make Tombstone Awards More Memorable
Here are a couple of creative sparks for distinctive tombstone award designs
Tombstone awards tend to have their own built-in cachet and perceived value. Even the most conventional tombstones have tremendous significance for recipients—for the simple reason that they embody all the time and effort devoted to closing a transaction.
And if you need independent confirmation of the impact of tombstone awards, you should check out Kevin Roose’s book Young Money.
Roose’s account of the trials of a group of first-year investment banking analysts contains a small but particularly telling personal detail. One banker describes his regular ritual, as he prepares to catch some sleep between grueling stretches of work. At these moments, what he takes pride in—and by his own account, what makes him smile is looking at the row of deal toys arranged on his desk.
That said, there are still ways you can increase the resonance of tombstone awards. And yes, you’re probably aware of the advice inevitably offered up at this point: base the design on your client’s logo.
That’s great advice, but again, you or someone on your deal team, probably already thought of that. And there’s also a good chance your client has already received tombstones with similar designs.
Make no mistake: there are any number of potential designs that play off a logo, brand mascot, etc. We create designs like this all the time, so it would be hypocrtical to say otherwise.
But what if you want a tombstone award that gets closer to the shared experience of the deal itself?
We’ve outlined here a couple of potential creative sparks for non-obvious and distinctive tombstone award designs.
1) Include an (Even Small) Extra Element in the Design
Even a relatively small, relatively subtle touch can tie a tombstone award more closely with the underlying deal.
The Lucite wedge design shown below provides a good example.
The wedge shape is a popular alternative to a rectangle, Even so, the wedge style is ordinarily considered a relatively basic or standard shape. Even so, the addition of some simple, custom elements elevates this piece well above a “basic” design.
The tombstone features a northern lights motif. It plays off the geographic focus of the joint ventue deal being celebrated: Canada’s Northern Territories.
Again, there’s nothing showy or ostentatious about this piece. But despite its simple trappings, it incorporates several elements that result in unique value to its recipients.
This Lucite wedge design provides a good example of how even a small, relatively subtle touch can tie a tombstone award more closely with the underlying deal.
2) Base Your Tombstone Award on a Code Name
We’ve pushed the idea of code-name-inspired deal toys for a number of years. Code names can run the gamut in terms of the creative options they seemingly provide. Some, like Project Goldfish for Macquarie, and Project Valkyrie, which provided the inspiration for the Viking-themed tombstone shown at the top of this post, are highly evocative.
But there are other code names that don’t seem to offer the same kind of rich creative possibilities. You should keep in mind, though, that even if a code-based design seems a little more commonplace or even cryptic, that’s not necessarily a bad thing.
Once again, you are after all looking to memorialize—and celebrate—the shared experience of bringing the deal to fruition. A design that plays off this kind of insider experience and knowledge might actually have great resonance among recipients.
The gallery below showcases a selection of project-themed designs.

3) Showcase Pieces in Custom Boxes
Custom boxes can significantly increase (and extend) the impact and perceived value of a gift or award. They can also magnify the branding impact of the piece. Finally, gift boxes of this sort offer an ideal way to deliver a personalized note of appreciation or thanks to each recipient.
4) Add Personalizations to Individual Pieces
Personalizations can be added to individual pieces in one of two ways. Each individual piece can personalized for an individual recipient, or pieces can list a group of individuals. Either effect can, again, substantially heighten the perceved value of the piece.
5) What Made the Dealmaking Process Memorable?
Is there anything that comes to mind as a defining aspect of the dealmaking process?
This is a source of ideas that, again, tend to resonate most with the actual deal participants.
In the case of a tombstone we once designed for Blackstone (see below), the salient aspect of the deal was the amount of time it took to finalize. That was reflected in the turtle (the cane and bifocals, on the other hand, are a nod to the underlying subject of the deal: nursing homes).
Here again, it’s the inside nature of this kind of design element that makes this deal toy so effective.
6) What Made the Deal Itself Memorable?
Just as tombstone awards designs can play off distinctive elements of the dealmaking process, they can also spring from the deal itself.
These can be headline aspects of the deal. Over the years, we’ve based designs on deals that were, for instance, barrier, record, or ground-breaking. Or they’ve highlighted a given deal being the first or largest type of transaction.
But the distinctive aspect of the deal doesn’t have to be that dramatic.
The deal toy below, for example, highlights sustainability as the foremost theme of the transaction. And it does this through the very choice of materials.
For this tombstone award, celebrating a capital raise by New Zealand-based CarbonScape, a very conscious decision was made to use wood.

The selection was especially appropriate since the company has patented a more sustainable alternative to lithium-ion for use in batteries. That process produces bio-graphite—which, in turn, is derived from wood chips.
7) Focus on the Parties
Looking to the parties for tombstone design ideas may not seem especially inspired, or new.
After all, logos are a common source of designs; and logos combining, or intertwining the logos of two or more parties often come to mind as potential ideas as well.
You can base designs on the locations of subject company, or of the parties themselves. Or, for instance, you could call attention to the different time zones separating various parties. You may have seen tombstone designs like these incorporating clocks, but there are a number of creative ways to work in this concept—as with design idea.
Your Tombstone Award & The Corporate Presence
By their very nature, tombstone awards can have pretty profound meaning for recipients.
And this should highlight a significant point about tombstone awards and deal toys. Their significance isn’t necessarily a function of the size of the transaction or the prestige of the parties. Even a relatively small deal can nevertheless have tremendous value to the participants.
But as the tips provided here show, you don’t have to go very far afield to enhance that value. Relatively minor—and sometimes relatively inexpensive—tweaks to a design can have disproportionate effects.
At The Corporate Presence, we’ve been designing these kinds of tombstone awards for over 40 years. We can provide you with design options that not only have impact, but also fit your timetable and budget. Get the design process started.
Whether you’re envisioning a striking crystal piece, an elegant acrylic, a classic plaque, or a custom creation that captures the essence of your transaction or partnership, we’re equipped to help. Our extensive experience covers custom awards for branding, employee recognition, and honoring key business partners—ranging from creative, one-of-a-kind designs to prestigious pieces for organizations like the NFL and ESPN.
No matter the size or significance of your deal, we offer a wide selection of award materials and styles to match your vision and celebrate your achievement in a meaningful way.
Reach out to us today.
David Parry is the Director of Digital Strategy for The Corporate Presence, and for Prestige Custom Awards, a designer and provider of custom corporate awards ranging from creative employee and client recognition pieces to the N.F.L. Commissioner’s Awards, and ESPN’s ESPY awards.
July 10, 2025
Unique Code Name-Inspired Deal Toys for Your Next Big Deal
Code names offer a rich, and too often neglected, source of deal toy ideas.
Why do code names inspire so many memorable and successful deal toys?
Code names tend to provide ready-made design ideas because they also tend to be both colorful and evocative.
The code names for high-profile deals have included, for instance, Bambi, Maui, Comet, Bald Eagle, Napoleon, Pineapple, and Quantum. At The Corporate Presence, we’ve created successful tombstone designs based on code names as seemingly random and far-flung as Big Bang, Goldfish, Eastwood, Beachfront, Matchbox, Macchiato, Mariner, Camouflage (shown here above and below)—among many, many others.
We’ve written before about the design potential offered by project names. Code names have resulted in some of the most memorable and effective deal toy designs, for both bankers and, importantly, clients. And as we mentioned in our post on creative deal toy ideas they’re most often completely ignored.
It may help you appreciate that range of creative possibilities by seeing some actual examples. We’ve featured directly below two views of a crystal design commemorating Project “Martini”.
We’ve presented additional examples in the gallery below, along with some some background on why code names evolved in the first place.

Code Names, Secrecy, and Deal Toys
The obvious rationale for a code name is the confidential nature of certain aspects of a transaction. Maintaining confidentiality can be of critical importance, especially with mergers and acquisitions. Leaks and rumors concerning parties, terms, and timing, can have serious repercussions in financial markets. Disclosure of sensitive information can also benefit rivals, and hurt a party’s competitive position.
But code names can also inject a small element of fun in what can otherwise be a prolonged, and often grueling dealmaking process. Former Merrill Lynch M&A banker Scott Rostan may have brought the proper perspective to the importance of coming up with a winning code name.
“A good deal code name”, he once explained to The Wall Street Journal, “can make you a rock star”.
“At least for a few minutes”.

The Bond of Secrecy and Its Importance to Deal Toys
The glory of striking upon a memorable code name might be temporary. But the code name itself can live on in a deal toy design for literally decades.
Though many people tend to disregard deal toys as frivolous and even worthless, they have considerable meaning for deal participants. Even the most antic tombstone design can for them symbolize something extremely important and valuable.
What gives deal toys their value and cachet among recipients is their customized nature. They’re not interchangeable. They’re not merely mass-produced, lookalike designs wrenched off some factory shelf and used to celebrate whatever transaction is at hand.
Their designs tend to reflect something unique to the deal or the participants. That unique design element can spring from a number of sources, including a logo (or logos), a industry or sector, or the type of deal.
It might also spring from an experience or bond unique to the deal participants. Significantly, a code name, known only within a select circle of dealmakers, might provide the quintessential example of that kind of “insider” experience and knowledge.
It’s therefore not surprising that, among both bankers and their clients, deal toy designs based on code names have such perceived value, meaning, and resonance.
And recipients tend to hold on to deal toys for years (and even decades—as we’ve learned through requests to replace lost or broken pieces over our 40+ years in business). That code name and the resulting deal toy could retain its meaning for a considerable time.
Top view of deal toy for Project “Camouflage” —also shown at the top of this post.
Small Deals Shouldn’t be Excluded
Yes, the code name associated with megadeals tend to be the ones most widely recognized and celebrated. But that doesn’t mean they’re the only transactions for which a code name design might be appropriate.
The $23 billion dollar Berkshire Hathaway-Heinz deal, for instance, boasted not just one but multiple code names. (They included “Hawk”, “Penguin”, “Goose”, and “Owl”).
But again, the key to the perceived value (and enduring appeal) of deal toys isn’t necessarily the monetary value of the underlying transactions they commemorate. What’s crucial isn’t the size of the deal, but it’s importance to the participants.
Code name designs can work for smaller transactions—with appropriately smaller deal toy budgets. You’ll notice that some of the designs in the gallery above feature relatively modest and inexpensive tweaks to incorporate the project name. In the case of the Exterran-MidCon deal, for instance, “Project Mercury” appears via the simple addition of a watermark to the deal terms.
Project Name-Themed Designs
The code name also doesn’t have to be part of a traditional merger or acquisition. Increasingly, clients request “deal toys” to commemorate achievements and milestones outside the investment banking arena. There are any number of business developments (including, for instance, joint ventures, strategic alliances, new product launches etc.) that might have taken on project or code names in the same concern for privacy. These too can be successfully memorialized and celebrated through some confidential identifying name.
Exploring Code Name-Inspired Deal Toys
At The Corporate Presence, we’ve found inspiration in a variety of aspects of deals, many of which weren’t immediately apparent to either our banking clients or their clients. Whether the appropriate design idea for your deal proves to be a code name—or any number of other potential possibilities—our team is dedicated to providing you with the best possible tombstone.
You may not achieve rock stardom, but you will have a deal toy that provides a memorable and distinctive memento of your deal. Reach out to us today.

June 16, 2025