Creative Design Specialties

My favorite part of being a Unilocaler is getting to review small and wonderful businesses like this one and bringing them to light.
So here’s the story: a few years ago, my wife won a blue ribbon at the Del Mar Fair for a news story she did with North County News, the student news team at Palomar College. She never picked up her ribbon, and after attending the fair this year, she regretted not having done so.
Since the fair, I have been trying to find a trophy or award shop that would help me make a ribbon similar to the one she never picked up. I snapped a few pictures at the fair and thought I was good to go.
Not one shop I called wanted to work with me. They all told me that it would cost at least $ 115 dollars to make a cast or something that they use to print the ribbons and that this obviously wasn’t worth it for one ribbon. They all quoted me the same price, so at least I know they were telling me the truth, but I knew there had to be a way to just print something on a ribbon. Anyway, many of these shops were rude, and I won’t name names but the rudest one was a Trophy Shop in North Park — figure it out.
Lou and his wife really came through for me at Creative Design Specialties. He also told me about the initial setup costs, but actually explained to me in detail just what went into the process. He also was quick to offer alternatives for me and explained how I could have a nice ribbon that said what I wanted on it, but it wouldn’t be completely custom.
I said that was exactly what I wanted. He chose for me a really nice three ribbon blue rosette and said he could have «1^st Place» and «Del Mar California» and a cute symbol on there in gold print. He drew some sketches and sent them to me in an email. He also explained to me in detail every step that was going to take place and around how much each would cost. he was very up front about it and his original estimate was within a few cents of the actual cost.
I told him that was exactly what I was looking for and gave him the go ahead to put in the order. Although $ 35 dollars might seem like a lot for one ribbon, to me it was nothing since it was a gift for my wife. I could have spent more on something else and have it mean less. And compared to the hundreds of dollars every one else was quoting me, it seemed very reasonable. They were very apologetic about the price — I knew it seemed ridiculous for them in their business for someone to pay that much for a single ribbon — but I know they were honest about the cost since it had to be shipped, and I’m not even sure that they made much on it.
He put in the order and I waited about 10 days for it to arrive. When it did, Lou emailed me immediately and his wife agreed to stay late so I could come pick it up after work. The ribbon ended up looking ten times better than the one she didn’t pick up from the fair. (I will post a picture soon).
Lou and his wife were so friendly, so personable, and so helpful, and the way they took a special interest in me and went out of their way to help me get what i want when no other store would (and it wasn’t as profitable as bigger jobs) — I am forever in their debt. I have the deepest, heartfelt gratitude for Lou and his wife, and I urge anyone, if you need any sort of ribbons, awards, or trophies, give them your business — you will not be disappointed!