Custom Trophies - Frequently Asked Questions

Our show is less than 8 weeks away, can you still make us trophies?

Depending on the size and complexity of the order, YES! Some of our items require less time than others so please reach out to us. Another way to decrease the amount of time needed is to use a design we already have made, such as the rosette vs us creating a design from scratch that requires lots of back and forth communication prior to design approval. Having a clear idea of what you want, acrylic patterns picked out (if needed), fonts in mind, etc, will help speed things up.

We do reserve the right to charge an additional fee for a “rush order” that will be determined prior to taking an order.

I noticed the prices have changed on your website, will you honor the prices quoted on an estimate that I received previously?

All of our estimates are good for 30 days. We are a very small business (it’s just the two of us!) and are constantly seeing price increases on the materials we use. As a result, we have to adjust our pricing to reflect those increases. If your estimate is more than 30 days old, we would be happy to provide you with a new estimate that reflects our current pricing.

What is the difference between the design fee and the deposit? Do I need to pay both?

Both the design fee and the deposit are non-refundable and apply to your trophy order total. The design fee is only necessary if I am creating new designs for you prior to you deciding if you will place an order. If I am not creating anything new (aside from perhaps a breed silhouette) and you have received an estimate and are ready to move forward with the order, then only a deposit is required. The amount is based off of the order total.

Why does it take so long to fulfill my order?

With the exception of our slate items, everything we create is made from scratch. We do not purchase pre-finished blanks the way a lot of makers do. We start by purchasing high quality lumber that we hand pick from our local lumber yard - we do not buy from chain stores like Home Depot or Lowe’s! We then break down the lumber based on the project, followed by sanding before it goes to either the CNC, laser, or table saw. Items then require yet more SANDING! All of our hardwood items are finished with typically an oil-based polyurethane sealant that requires multiple applications over several days. Cold weather will extend the finishing time so please keep that in mind depending on when you order. We are also limited on space when applying finish so things are typically done in batches. In the end, we don’t want to send out an item we are not happy with. We pride ourselves in our work and our attitude is why buy something if we can make it ourselves and guarantee the quality.

How do you ship your items? Why are you not able to tell me the cost of shipping when I place my order?

All of our custom trophy orders are shipped using PirateShip and will use either USPS, UPS, or FedEx as the carrier based on either cost or customer preference. We calculate the cost of shipping once all items are finished, packaged securely, and the box is weighed. We always recommend adding additional insurance beyond the standard $100 that is included with most services to cover the full cost of your order. We are not responsible for orders that are damaged by the carrier if you choose to not purchase the additional insurance. We also cannot guarantee that replacement items can be made in time for your show if it is less than 4 weeks away.

Do you offer any sales or discounts? What about for non-profits? If I order a certain quantity or dollar amount?

Unfortunately we are unable to offer any type of discount or sale and the vast majority of the clubs we work with have non-profit status. We try our best to keep our pricing competitive. While we used to offer a small discount when ordering a certain quantity of select items, we have had to re-evaluate and are not offering it at this time.

Why is there such a huge difference in the price of some items that are so similar?

We use a specific formula to calculate our pricing and try to stick to that as much as possible. A lot goes into calculating the price of an item, including cost of materials, machine time, our labor, and how much waste or material is lost in production. Some items (I’m looking at you lanterns…) have as much waste in milling the wood as there is in the finished product and require a lot more labor than some of our other items.

Where do you source your materials? Do you buy everything from Amazon?

Whenever possible we purchase from local businesses or other online small businesses. All of our lumber is purchased from a locally owned lumber supplier in Colorado. Our acrylic, including clear, colored, and patterned as well as all of the ‘Eco’ products come from a company based in North Carolina. The majority of our slate is manufactured in Virginia.

I see something listed for sale in your shop, but it’s not listed on the Custom Trophies page. Is it something that can be offered as a trophy?

In most cases, YES! Some items you see listed in our shop are one-of-a-kind but can be recreated. In some cases these items were originally made to sell at a local craft fair and are already finished items. In this case, the item may be priced based on old materials costs or be priced to move. Depending on the item, we may be able to offer them as trophies, however the price may need to be adjusted. Additionally, some of the items (specifically the fiber arts, pine needle baskets, and clay miniatures) were made by my mom and it will be up to her to decide if she has the time to make more. Other items were made to fulfill a creative urge of mine! A lot of our non-dog related items can be made using a design that is breed specific, just ask!

Have other questions or want to discuss working together? Please send us an email at alienwoodshopllc@gmail.com and we will be in touch within 24 hours!