Sales Awards Season Starts Now: How to Plan Before the Numbers Are Final
Sales Awards Season Starts Now
It’s that time of year when your sales teams are pushing hard to close out the year — wrapping up deals, chasing quota, and pulling in a few bluebirds for good measure. There will be wins, saves, and close calls. Some deals will fall through, others will come through big. And before you know it, it will be time to celebrate.
Meanwhile, on the event planning side, you’re tracking a parallel path. Sales kickoff is just around the corner in January. President’s Club? February. These are high-visibility events that set the tone for the entire year — and recognition is a key part of their success.
The final numbers aren’t in yet, but one thing is certain: your job is to be ready. Here’s how to set yourself up for a smooth, spectacular awards season — even when the details are still in motion.
1. Start planning now — even if you don’t have final numbers
Yes, final rankings and quotas won’t be tied out until early January. But you can still get ahead. Start by reviewing last year’s program:
- What were the award categories?
- How many recipients per category?
- How many sizes or tiers of awards?
- What was the total budget?
Use those numbers as a starting point — even rough estimates will help you begin the selection and design process.
2. Get estimates without forcing the numbers
Sales leaders are focused on closing the year strong. They may know which reps are likely to land where, but most won’t commit until the final numbers are in. That’s fine. What they can give you is guidance — ballpark counts by region or role — and approval to move forward on design and budgeting. Use last year as a baseline, and ask for a 10–20% buffer.
3. Choose your awards partner wisely
Custom or not, award programs come with last-minute changes. Choose a vendor who’s ready to work with you on:
- Fast turnaround and accurate personalization
- Drop shipping to far-flung destinations (including President’s Club resorts)
- Flexible design options for evolving award categories
Note: If you’re ordering custom awards or glass awards, allow extra time for design approval, fabrication, and safe packaging — especially in Q4 when production and freight times may be extended.
4. Finalize your award design and artwork early
Want an award that ties into your kickoff theme? Something that reflects your brand or tells a story? Now is the time to get started. Even if you don't yet know who will receive what, you can finalize materials, layout, and engraving style well in advance. That way, when the sales rankings are final, you’re ready to go.
Recognition shouldn’t be an afterthought. Done right, it reinforces your culture, rewards excellence, and energizes your team for the year ahead.
Need help planning your 2025 sales awards? We’d love to help →