Why Recognition Deserves Better Than a Plaque: The Rise of Custom Trading Cards

Written By Justen Schwarz

Most people forget the last award they got at work. A certificate. A gift card. Maybe a trophy that wound up in a junk drawer.

But you know what they don’t forget?

The moment someone handed them a custom trading card—with their face on it, a fun fact on the back, and teammates fighting over who got the “foil” version.

That’s a moment worth keeping.

Trading Card Designs from a set created for a team at Sunbelt Rentals.

 

We’re Not Talking About Baseball Cards. Not Exactly.

At Trading Card Memories, we build custom cards for real people—not just athletes or superheroes. We’ve made cards for:

  • Sales teams crushing milestones

  • Coaches honoring their MVPs

  • HR departments replacing boring name tags

  • Proud parents turning their kid’s first tee-ball season into a collectible

These cards spark joy, get conversations going, and actually get saved. Because they’re personal. They’re designed. And they feel like something made just for you—because they are.

 

Why Custom Trading Cards Work

Let’s be honest: most forms of recognition feel transactional.
But cards? Cards are fun. Nostalgic. Unexpected.

They tap into a childhood feeling we all remember—collecting, trading, showing off what made us unique. Now, we’re just doing that for the grown-up moments too.

Here’s why people love them:

  • They tell a story – A good card is more than a headshot. It highlights personality.

  • They’re designed to last – High-quality cardstock. Optional foil. Collector-style packaging.

  • They’re ridiculously shareable – People post them. Frame them. Keep them on their desk.

Try doing that with a boring “Employee of the Month” plaque.

 

A New Way to Build Team Culture

The best part? These cards aren’t just about individual recognition.
They build connection.

We’ve seen it happen over and over:
A table full of coworkers opening their packs like kids at recess. Laughing. Swapping cards. Remembering what makes each person on the team awesome.

That’s culture-building that sticks.

 

Want to Create a Set for Your Team?

Here’s how it works:

  1. You send us names, photos, and fun facts

  2. We design custom cards that match your vibe (no templates here)

  3. You approve everything before we print

  4. Your team opens packs they’ll actually care about

Simple. Personal. Unforgettable.

 

You Can’t Build Loyalty with a Gift Card

You build it with a moment. A memory. A card that says:
“We see you. You matter.”

So the next time you're planning a team event, award ceremony, or company offsite, ditch the dusty trophies and give your people something they’ll actually want to keep.

Let’s make something worth trading.

Justen Schwarz