Discover Our Rich History
The Journey of Excellence at Bob & Ted's Trophy Shop
Explore the milestones and achievements that have defined our legacy in creating custom trophies, plaques, and awards for our community.
Our Story
Beginning
The year was 1970 when two lifelong Habersham County sports enthusiasts, Bob Carpenter and Ted Roberts, got the idea to start a local trophy shop. They had been friends and competitors in observed motorcycle trials for a few years and had watched the sport grow in popularity. Numerous individual motorcycle trials were held in Atlanta, Athens, Gainesville, Mt. Airy, Clarkesville and Cornelia. They realized that all the trophies and medals awarded to winners had to comô€…‹ from Athens, GA which was a huge inconvenience for the trials hosts as it required a trip to Athens to select the desired trophies/medals and another trip to pick up the finished awards. Wanting to fill the need for a more local option, the idea of Bob & Ted’s Trophy Shop emerged.
Early Days
The trophy shop was initially housed in an outbuilding next to Ted’s house. Both Bob & Ted continued work on trophies in the evenings. At this time, all phases of assembly were manual. They had to cut sheet metal, roll metal for trophy columns and drill holes in the marble bases. Initially, both their wives shared the engraving duties, using a portable desktop engraver. Soon they upgraded to a New Hermes Engravograph. It had a diamond needle that traced each individual letter (a tedious method compared to today).
Their early customers came from local motorcycle events, but as word spread about a new trophy shop in town, their customer base expanded to include county schools, recreation departments, local businesses and government entities.
Growth
In 1980, they outgrew their meager beginnings and moved the business to it’s present location in Clarkesville, GA on the main road through town. With this move and added visibility, they were able to expand their offerings. In addition to all things award related, they began providing rentals of campers and portable signs. They also upgraded to a computer engraver which did the margins and letter spacing calculations.
Next Generation
In 2005, Bob & Ted handed over the reins to the next generation when Ted’s son, Mike Roberts, became the sole owner. Mike made improvements and renovations to the building and grounds and completely revitalized the business by diversifying their offerings. Most importantly, he upgraded to their first laser engraver, allowing him to engrave on a wider range of materials, shapes and sizes. In addition to their traditional product lines, he also brought in an assortment of outdoor products such as The Big Green Egg, Yeti coolers and cups, and Eno hammocks. His expertise in outdoor cooking proved invaluable for Green Egg customers. Besides recipes and cooking tips, Mike’s commitment to customer service helped make Bob & Ted’s a mainstay of the community.
In 2010, Mike’s enhancements to Bob & Ted’s Trophy Shop were recognized by the Chamber of Commerce when he was awarded Small Business of the Year. That same year, he also received the Golden Nail Award from the City of Clarkesville.
The New Era – Looking to the Future
In March 2024, Mike sold the business to Jeff Ferguson. Jeff’s son, Luke, will manage the business with Mike continuing as an employee durng the transition. To honor the history and success of the business, Jeff opted to keep the Bob & Ted’s Trophy Shop name.
Discover Our Custom Trophies and More
Explore the wide range of custom trophies, plaques, and awards we offer, along with our selection of Big Green Egg and Yeti products. Visit Bob & Ted's Trophy Shop today or browse our online catalog to find the perfect item for your needs.
