Organising a sporting event, a corporate gala, or a school tournament? Fantastic! But what about the awards? After years of collaborating with hundreds of organisers across Europe, we know one thing for certain – most stress can be avoided with solid planning.
At Winmedal, we see the same pattern every year: phone calls a week before the event, panicked emails, and desperate requests to fast-track production. And you know what? Most of these situations were entirely preventable.
We’ve put together this practical calendar to help you organise your order without the frayed nerves.
🚨 The 3 Most Common Organiser Mistakes
Before we dive into the calendar, here’s what to avoid:
Ordering at the eleventh hour
"We’ve got an event in 10 days; we need 200 medals" – sound familiar? Production takes time, especially during peak season (April–September) when foundries are running at full capacity.
Forgetting about personalisation
A medal is more than just a piece of metal. It involves engraving, UV printing, ribbon matching, and graphic design. Each of these stages requires precision and time.
Vague communication
"We want something cool" isn't quite a brief 😊. The more accurately you describe your vision (or send a photo/sketch), the faster we can deliver exactly what you're dreaming of.
The good news? We provide a dedicated account manager to guide you through the entire process. Zero guesswork, total control.
📅 Your 2026 Ordering Calendar
3–4 Months Before the Event | Jan–Feb for Spring Events
What you do:- Estimate your budget for awards.
- Decide on the type of awards (Cast medals? Steel? Wood? Trophies?).
- Browse for inspiration at winmedal.eu.
- Help you determine which award type fits your event and budget.
- Show you examples of work we’ve done for similar events.
- Explain the differences between various medal and trophy types.
2–3 Months Before | Feb–March for Spring Events
Deadline: This is the final "comfort zone" for placing your order!
What you do:- Finalise the graphic design (or send us your ideas/sketches).
- Confirm quantities (30 medals, 5 bespoke trophies).
- Place the order.
- Prepare the project visualisation (mockups).
- Suggest any necessary tweaks or improvements.
- Finalise the details: ribbon colour, engraving type, special effects.
1 Month Before | March for April Events
Stress Level: Moderate (but manageable!)
What you do:- Last chance for standard orders.
- Double-check your final numbers.
- We are currently in production.
- We keep you updated on progress.
- If necessary, we can offer express options.
2 Weeks Before | The Home Stretch
What we do:- Await delivery.
- Prepare your award ceremony script.
- Dispatch your packages (Standard/Express).
- Confirm your tracking number.
- Catalogue awards? We can still handle these off the shelf!
1 Week Before | Panic Mode?
Forgot the awards? We’ve got:- Catalogue awards (cups, stock medals).
- Engraving & UV printing – lightning speed.
- Express delivery – order today, receive in 48h.
Note: Bespoke cast medals or custom-made trophies CANNOT be made at the last minute. Production isn't magic – we need time for casting, finishing, and quality control.
🎯 Peak vs. Off-Season – When to Order?
Peak Season (April–September)
The time for marathons, sports tournaments, and outdoor festivals. Foundries are at 200% capacity.
Order: At least 2–3 months in advance.
Why: Higher production load = longer queues.
Off-Season (October–March)
A quieter time, ideal for:
- Corporate events.
- Business galas.
- School/Academic events.
Order: 1–2 months in advance is sufficient.
Why: The foundry has more immediate capacity.
✅ Your Checklist: What to Prepare Before Ordering
To make the process run smoothly, have the following ready:
- Quantity of awards (breakdown: Gold/Silver/Bronze, age categories, etc.).
- Event date (specific date so we can schedule production).
- Graphic design (logo, event name, year) – or a description of what you’d like to see.
- Budget (we have solutions for every pocket – from economy to premium).
- Additional requirements (e.g., eco-friendly materials, specific ribbon colours).
Don't have everything yet? No problem! Your dedicated account manager will help you figure it all out.
💡 Why is it Worth Ordering Early?
- More time for design – we can fine-tune every detail together.
- No stress – you won't be checking your emails every five minutes for updates.
- Cost savings – express production comes with a premium.
- Higher quality – haste is a poor advisor in manufacturing.
- Plan B – if something unexpected happens, we have time to react.
🚀 And if it’s Already Too Late?
We get it – life happens. An event got moved? A sponsor joined last minute and wants their logo on the medals?
Our express solutions:
Give us a call – we’ll see what we can do.
📞 How We Work at Winmedal
You reach out with an idea or a question.
We assign a specialist to guide you.
Visualisation & detailed offer.
We keep you in the loop on progress.
Shipped with tracking straight to you.
We are here even after the event.
🎨 Get Inspired!
Check out our gallery. You’ll find:
- Cast medals with colour filling and 3D effects.
- Laser-cut metal trophies on marble bases.
- Wooden medals with engraving and UV print.
- Glass statuettes with full-colour printing.
Every award is 100% your vision.
🌍 Why Winmedal?
- Produced in Europe – Fast, eco-friendly, and reliable.
- Dedicated Manager – One point of contact throughout.
- 100% Personalisation – Create exactly what you want.
- Experience – We work with the largest events in Europe.
- Punctuality – We keep our promises.
📆 Summary: Your 2026 Plan
| Event in: | Order no later than: | Ideal time to order: |
|---|---|---|
| April–May | February | Dec–Jan |
| June–July | April | Feb–March |
| August–September | June | April–May |
| October–December | September | July–August |
💬 Questions? We’re Here for You
Organising an event and not sure where to start? Drop us a line. We’ll assess your needs, suggest the best solutions, and walk you through the entire process – no stress, no surprises.
Because awards aren't just metal and glass. They are memories that last for years.
