Decorating Drinkware

There are two types of drinkware users: those who use the same cup for everything or those who look in their cupboard like a closet and pick one that matches their mood, outfit, or the time of day. Those tried and true tumblers that can handle your morning coffee, the water goal you’re trying to hit throughout the day, or the mixed drink on the weekend are staples. The choice of liquid inside those drinkware items can be unique to the user but the outside of it is where the real statement is made.

The market seems to be flooded with all sorts of drinkware and color choices that cover the spectrum of the color wheel, and many may think they already have a cup for that, so what can make your customer want to splurge and add another one to their collection?

The size and shape may be a hard must-have for many, but the color combinations can be the game changer. I’m totally guilty of finding that one shirt that fits so perfectly that I buy it in all five colors available. 20-ounce and 40-ounce travel mugs are very popular sizes, so going with what works, adding more colors or new color combinations might pique interest.

A 20-ounce stainless steel tumbler wrapped in faux leather is very popular. The same vibrant colors of faux leather wrapped over stainless steel powder-coated in black double your options and offer your customers something brand new. The popular 40-ounce size travel mug in the black/faux leather combination offers still more new options. The elegant combination of faux leather in stunning colors over matte black gives off full executive vibes.

Ion-plated drinkware ups the game from the standard silver stainless steel being exposed under powder-coated colors. Options like a subtle black on ghost black to an eye-catching white over ghost black, as well as white and black powder coating over a luscious rose gold will be ones to watch for along with other colors of powder coating over matte black. Ion plating in a rainbow prism of beautifully merging colors under white and black powder coating will give you more new options to offer going into the holiday gift season!

With all the new color combos, you will need a way to highlight all of them and make it personalized to the end user who can proudly show it off. I’ve picked my top three trends for decorating tumblers and what you could definitely find in my cup closet.

1. Repeat patterns: The simple geometric shape, a polka dot, or maybe even a flower and a click of a button to create a full wrap evokes a visual and a whole new physical textured look and feel to your cup. Ion colors under the simple black and white coating, especially the rainbow prism, lends itself to a world of possibilities.

2. Typography: A single word in just the right font or that motivational quote you need a reminder of every day. Simple and on a single side. The perfect legible font that you can almost feel the meaning of the word or quote just by the right font choice. As my graphics professor always said, “Your words matter, but your font choice matters most.” No graphics are needed — just words to literally make that statement.

3. Personal sentiments: The signature from grandma on the last card she gave you or your child’s cute handwriting with backward letters and all have become popular tattoo choices, but for those who don’t want to commit to the ink on their skin, having it forever etched onto a tumbler to carry daily is the next best thing. There are many different design software and even some websites that can take an image of that signature or drawing and vectorize it in seconds, giving you a crisp black vector to engrave — adding a whole new layer of personal touch.

I’m that second type of drinkware user, a cup for my coffee and one for my water and wouldn’t dream of using the same cup two days in a row. I want the choices; I want variety in showing off different designs day to day. The conversation piece or that personal connection of a memory or the motivation to drink one more cup of water. That is what personalized drinkware has to offer. When you can offer your customers something that was made just for them, it can be the final push to decide to make that purchase and convince themselves, “Maybe I do need another cup.”