Prost! Branded drinkware rises in popularity

Americans love their branded drinkware – whether they are plastic cups, pint glasses or coffee mugs – and they’re more than likely drinking a beverage from a glass bearing a logo during the week. A recent Advertising Specialty Institute Ad Impressions Study found half of U.S. consumers who own promotional drinkware use it two to three times a week or more on average. This is welcome news for any companies that give out or sell glasses or mugs with their brand name and logo on them. The facts show it takes just one sturdy glass to create multiple impressions with customers along with their family, friends or anyone else within eyeshot of the drinkware.

Raise a glass
If you break the collected statistics down even further, you’ll see 53 percent of U.S. customers own some form of branded drinkware and residents in the Pacific Northwest are especially passionate as 61 percent of Washingtonians and Orgeonians keep a logoed glass or cup in their kitchens, the study reported. Plus, those in the Pacific Northwest are 54 percent more likely to patronize a business that features branded drinkware than one that doesn’t. The rest of the West Coast came in a close second with 53 percent.

However, not only do breweries, bars or coffee roasters find the value in offering promotional glassware or branded mugs – colleges along with their students and alumni are just as rabid for these items.

ASI’s global study found that the University of Arkansas Razorbacks and their fans consider drinkware to be the most influential of all of the college’s branded offerings.

Adding to your brand
Drinkware can be a complement to your brand and a very effective and inexpensive way to market your company. Reusable coffee cups and travel mugs featuring your brand name, slogan and logo is one simple but ingenious approach to gaining impressions and potential customers. This kind of promotional drinkware is especially useful in high foot traffic areas during people’s morning commutes. Fellow commuters and public transportation passengers will see the mug on the train or bus, adding to the amount of impressions the item receives.

Other businesses are now learning what breweries, distilleries, cafes and restaurants already know. Customers hold on to promotional drinkware and also value it. Collecting mugs and glasses is even a hobby for some.

A few companies go so far as to use specially designed branded glasses to enhance their main products. The Telegraph noted how beer brands such as Stella Artois, Heineken, Budweiser, Coors Light and others offer special glassware designed to enhance the flavor and experience of drinking their beers. The glasses prominently display their respective brand’s name and logo, however, the glassware differ in overall design. Some look like traditional glass steins while others feature a sleek and skinny tapered appearance.

Enhancing the experience
While the brewers insist that the shape of the drinkware heightens the taste and smell of the beverage, one thing is clear even if your taste buds aren’t that discerning – the drinkware adds to the branding. Whenever customers pick up a promotional coffee mug or branded pint glass or even see them stored in their kitchen cabinets they’ll be reminded of your brand. Not only will you gain impressions, branded drinkware is long lasting and can be a great collectible for your customer base.

Whether you’re taking a sip of coffee, tea, beer or water, the taste of the liquid won’t be the only thing registering in the patron’s mind. Your brand will, too.