About Master Plaques
Master Plaques is a solely operated American Women’s Small Business.
As a small family business with ties to the US Marine Corps, Law Enforcement, Freemasons, and Eastern Stars, we have only one goal. To supply the finest quality, solid mahogany, hand crafted plaques, desk nameplates, shadowboxes, fez boxes, and custom furniture while leading the industry in customer service.
Master Plaques is a proud member of the Connect International LLC family of companies, which have their corporate offices in South Bend, Indiana, and production factory in the Philippines. Together we have been supplying the US Armed Forces and US Government with military plaques and products since 1993.
We pride ourselves on our customer service.
When you call on Master Plaques to order your custom designed item, you will be assigned your own customer service representative (CSR). Rest assured that this is not a call center. There are no foreign accents here. Your CSR follows your order from creation to delivery. You will only need call or email your assigned CRS if you have any questions.
Never an art work set up fee.
Many similar companies charge you an art work set up fee if you do not reach the minimum ordering level. Not Master Plaques!
Your CSR will work with you to obtain the information needed to produce you item. This information is then turned into a computer generated mock up of the finished item and emailed to you for approval and/or changes. This process will be repeated as many times as it takes to insure your satisfaction. Once you have approved the art work and placed the order your CSR follows its progress through the production stages.
Custom Hand Carved Items Take Time
Master Plaques never uses laser burning, cold metal pressing, plastic lamination, or plastic decals. Each item we produce is completely hand carved and painted by one of our four generations of master craftsmen. This process takes time. The standard delivery time frame is 6 to 8 weeks. We do offer a Rush Order service for a nominal fee, which will have your item delivered within 21 business days.
FREE SHIPPING
Master Plaques never charges you a shipping fee on standard orders to be delivered within the continental United States. So the price you see listed on our web site is all you pay.
We hope you find working with Master Plaque enjoyable, and we look forward to working with you.
The Connect International Story
While serving with the United States Air Force and based at Clark Air Field in the Philippines, the original founder of Connect International became friends with many of the local artists and craftsmen in the area. Seeing the quality of their work, he began to appreciate their need to expand their market and improve their living conditions. Upon his retirement, he returned to the Philippines, and enlisting the help of a family of local wood carvers, and a host of gifted artists he created Connect International.
The original intent for the company was to give these talented craftsmen a viable outlet for their goods, which would improve their life styles and open the door of opportunity for their children. He began the business through direct sales to his contacts in the US Military, and what started as a small business, has blossomed into a thriving enterprise.
Connect International Employees
Connect International employees approximately 75 employees worldwide. Some 50 of these employees are Philippine national citizens, and represent 4 generations of craftsmen. We are proud of our work force and maintain an “Open Door” policy to anyone wishing to tour our manufacturing facility. We value the skills each individual brings to our company image, and maintain the highest civil services record in the area. Our employees take pride in their productions and it shows in the quality of our products.
Master Plaques is a proud member of the Connect International family of companies.
The operative word here is FAMILY. The Philippine tradition of passing the family trade down to the next generation is very apparent in our business. We are proud to be giving the fourth generation of wood craftsmen the opportunity to display their talents. But our FAMILY attitude does not stop here. Our business is conducted as though each customer becomes a part of our extended family; after all, it is your designs and imagination that keeps our artists going.
