Financial Tombstones (also see deal toys) are customized gifts that commemorate the closing of a major business deal in financing, investment banking, or real estate. Financing tombstones are often designed to highlight a unique element of the transaction, and then presented to all parties of the transaction to recognize participation, efforts, and contributions. Custom financial tombstones are usually produced in the lead up to a major corporate deal and are typically presented at a special deal closing ceremony or virtual event. 

As coveted status symbols, today’s best financial tombstones are made of wood or crystal (lucite and acrylic have fallen out of favor as more people are avoiding plastic). Quality and craftsmanship are more important than ever because deal toys are symbolic of how your company operates and chooses to do business. In the world of finance, it is a point of honor to receive a custom designed banking tombstone! Many financiers and investment bankers proudly display their financial tombstones in highly visible spots within their offices, leveraging extra value from their deal toys as visual marketing tools for potential new clients and partners. A big sparkling collection of crystal financial tombstones means they’ve participated in many major financial transactions, they are successful and experienced, team players, and they’ve earned the hardware to prove it! 

If you have the responsibility of ordering deal tombstones for your business, think about the moment where they will be presented to each recipient. Handing out your tombstones is a moment of recognition and celebration, so you'll want to feel confident knowing that your custom deal tombstones are well-made and impressive. You don’t want to feel embarrassed or apologetic for handing out out pieces that are cheap and poorly made. 

Be sure to select a reliable supplier that will deliver the best custom design tombstones that you can present with confidence! To help you, we’ve assembled a few tips to make sure you’re the office hero when your order of custom financial tombstones is delivered!

HOW TO ORDER CUSTOM FINANCIAL TOMBSTONES ONLINE

1. Aim to start planning about 4-6 weeks before you want to present your financial tombstones. Determine how many you’ll need to recognize your team, when you’d like them delivered by (ideally a few days before your event), the details you’d like to highlight on your deal toys, and an approximate budget (typically between $100-$200 per piece). Consider the materials you’d like to use: high quality crystal and eco-friendly wood tombstones are always popular and well-received. Lucite and acrylic are also common materials, though more people are trying to avoid plastics these days. You don’t need all of these details finalized to place an order, but the more you can organize early, the easier it will be.
   
   
2. Select a reliable and established financial tombstone supplier as your partner. Search for a company with in-house design and production capability that is responsive, easy to work with, experienced, and design-savvy. You’ll want graphic design services and digital artwork proofs to be provided as well. Read their client testimonials. Contact potential suppliers and see how they respond, you can learn a lot from your first interaction! Some suppliers provide extensive customization, which often requires an extensive design process; while some suppliers like Eclipse Awards provide a more streamlined process by offering a curated set of popular financial tombstone designs and styles that can be customized through creative layouts and markings.
   
   
3. Connect with your chosen supplier and let them know what you’d like to accomplish. Share the details you gathered in step #1. Typically, your customer service representative will confirm the details of your order and gather any remaining details or files. Once everything is organized, your order will go into a design stage that incorporates everything you’ve provided. Design can take anywhere from 1-3 days, then you should receive an artwork proof of the proposed design for your financial tombstones.
   
   
4. Review your artwork proof closely, this is critical! Make sure that all logos are correct, along with punctuation, grammar, and any figures or dates that are listed. If possible, have a second set of eyes review the proofs. If something is missing or incorrect, now is the time to correct it! If changes are required, request a new artwork proof. Once the design is perfect, send back your approval to ensure everyone is on the same page. Once you’ve approved your proofs, production begins and design changes are no longer possible.
   
   
5. Once your order is in production, there’s not much you can do. This is a good time to plan for your event and how you will present your financial tombstones. Once your order is complete and shipped, you will be notified with a tracking number to follow the progress of your shipment.
   
   
6. Check your order upon arrival, don’t leave it in a corner until your event. Make sure that all pieces are in good condition and accounted for. If there are any issues, you’ll want to report those immediately. Hopefully your supplier has policies in place if there are any issues. If everything looks good, then get prepared to enjoy presenting your financial tombstones with confidence!