Greetings, Valued Customers!

Welcome, both new and returning customers, to the updated and more modern site for The Trophy Place. This first blog serves as our introduction and aims to address some initial questions you might have.

What is the story of The Trophy Place?

It's quite straightforward. Fifty-one years ago, at 17, Timothy Beltz applied for a job at what was then The Award Shop in Mauston, WI. By 21, he had purchased the company and renamed it The Trophy Place, Inc. The business remained in Mauston for 25 more years until Tim moved his family to Tomah, where it is currently located. On June 27, 2024, Tim sold the business to John and Judy Roloson and retired. He still occasionally assists with questions and is enjoying his newly completed man-cave!

Who are John and Judy?

They're everyday people. They met in Orlando, FL, and started dating in May 1999. By November of the same year, they made a lifelong commitment to each other. Twenty-four years later, they decided to become small business owners and settle in Tomah, WI. They have two children, Cody Andrew (married to Kara) and Karen Elizabeth (married to Jason), and Judy has additional "children" in the form of pets: Bella (Papillon), Nala (Siamese), Lagertha (Bearded Dragon), and Pebbles (Snowflake White Tree Frog).

Judy was born in Bogota, Colombia, and adopted at the age of four, moving to Ravenna, OH. Her adoptive parents were both Air Force officers. She spent much of her childhood traveling to Boone County, KY, working on the family farm, and caring for her favorite pet, a Quarter Horse named Red. She has been a stay-at-home mom and has over 20 years of experience in retail.

John was born in Winter Park, FL, where he spent most of his childhood. A jack-of-all-trades, John has experience in drywall construction, food service, and retail. He enlisted in the U.S. Army Reserve in January 2006 and later joined the Active Guard Reserve in August 2012. With 19 years and seven months of service, John has two years left before retiring from the military to run the business full-time with Judy.

What can you expect from The Trophy Place?

We are dedicated to customer satisfaction, offering quality products and services at competitive prices. Our goal is to provide you with an excellent experience whenever you reach out for your award recognition needs.

How competitive are your prices?

We consistently compare our prices with other businesses offering similar products and services. We also compare prices for unique items, like our popular Rosewood Piano Finish Double Tomahawk Plaque, and keep our costs as low as possible. Unlike many businesses that charge 3 to 4 times their product cost, we never charge more than double. Our goal wasn't to "get rich quick" but to embark on a new chapter as John's military career winds down.

What about the ongoing tariff wars?

It's been a challenging journey. We hope these tariff disputes reach a resolution so small businesses like ours, which are the heart and backbone of the country, can continue providing products and services without the uncertainty of material availability and costs. Unfortunately, there's little we can do about cost increases. However, we strive to minimize the financial impact on our customers while ensuring we can cover our expenses.

Why are most items "out of stock"?

This is a valid question. Items that are lower in quantity, or that do not take much time to produce, are marked as in stock, while items that typically require mass production based on our historical customer requests are marked out of stock. But that does not mean it is not currently available. As a small business with one full-time staff member (Judy), we operate by receiving orders via email, ordering necessary materials to avoid waste, and fulfilling orders from there. Don't let "out of stock" deter you; feel free to place an order on our website, or through our email, and it will be fulfilled.

Can I get an official quote before ordering?

ABSOLUTELY! We use QuickBooks for invoicing, which is convenient for us and our accountant. If you need an itemized quote or estimate before purchasing, just email us at thetomahtrophyplace@gmail.com.

Is the customer always right?

No! If we make a mistake, we'll own it and correct it. However, this doesn't mean the customer is always right. We expect customers to acknowledge their own mistakes, such as proofreading text or images for sublimation or engraving, and ensuring timely submissions. As a small business with one full-time staff member, last-minute requests don't constitute an emergency. Until we can hire additional help, we require a 10-14 day window to complete orders.

We hope this answers some of your initial questions and alleviates concerns about items being "out of stock." Our aim is to provide quality service and exceptional products at competitive prices. Please consider The Trophy Place for all your award recognition needs!

Sincerely,

John C Roloson - President Judy P Roloson - Vice President