DRINK AND BE MERRY

Novelty glasses and cups liven up the playing field for the drinkware contingent, make for great collectors’ items and provide numerous customization options. At Barrington, Illinois-based HOWW Manufacturing, stems such as guitar handles and cacti can be mixed and matched with various “bowls” to create a personal promotion for whatever drunk is meant to fill it. Light-up styles are also a great way to amp up the fun, while keeping all eyes on a brand name.
Can include: Acrylic or styrene shot glasses, margarita glasses, hurricane glasses and the like, which can have fun features such as light-up styles or those with shaped stems
Great for: Ball parks, theme parks, restaurants, casino and liquor promotions
Imprinting options: Some places can do up to eight spot colors and you can imprint either on the glass or even on the base.
Plan the promotion: As most novelty drinkware items are casual fare, coupling them with other party essentials such as favors, hats and CD’s is an all-in-one way to promote an event or theme night.

SURVIVAL OF THE FITTEST

From their inception as appropriate-for-daytime-wear wardrobe standby (or inappropriate, depending on who’s doing the judging), T-shirts have been the put-upon younger brother of the apparel clan. Slacker. Underachiever. Slob. Uniform of the basement-dwelling video-game player, or worse, the go-to garment for sweaty work outside or on the treadmill.
Yet, in the 10 years of so, there’s been a bit of a shake-up in the hierarch. T-shirts grew up. In fact, they became king.
In an effort to emanate a more offbeat vibe, many designers began adding them to their collections, emblazoned with rock-and-roll icons and/or ironic witticisms.
Among those “incredible, creative designs” are those having to do with the T-shirt fabric itself, its shape and an influx of embellishments. Below, these three advancements are discussed further:
Special Effects: The shift to more on-trend detailing (which mimics a vintage, distressed look) will set promotional T-shirts up to be noticed on their own stylish merits. T-shirts are worn for going out and for setting a fashion statement. As this happens, T-shirts are being adorned with more upscale designs and fashion details.
Flattering Fits: Better cuts and silhouettes make the new T-shirt a business-friendly garment. T-shirts are becoming acceptable wear in business-casual environments, leading to a need for tailored T-shirts with flattering fits and refined finished details.


New Embellishments: The call for higher style options goes beyond even the fabric and cut of the T-shirts. Creativity in imprinting is growing in popularity, bringing new logo ideas and incarnations into the market. Advancements in decorating technology means higher-quality logos, greater use of metallics and well as the addition of rhinestones, grommets and nailheads.
With all these developments, and more on the horizon, the T-shirt will continue to grow and change in order to meet the needs of an increasingly retail-conscious industry.

PAPER OR PLASTIC

Though the “one and done” nature of disposable drinkware might make distributors shy away, the sheer volume of these items in the world is the key to their inherent branding and promotional power. People drink every day in a multitude of public environments. Drinking from an unimprinted cup is a waste of advertising space.
Can include: Paper, plastic or other disposable cups
Great for: “Lunch and learn” corporate education programs, pharmaceutical companies, sporting events
Imprinting options: Silk-screening and pad printing are often best for low-quality orders that need quick turnaround. With proper timing and budget, high-speed offset or flexographic printing works well for higher quantities and custom manufacturing. Flexography also allows for four-color process, full bleed and complicated graphical reproduction, he added.
Plan the promotion: Since these items are not meant for repeated use, widespread distribution is the most effective way to communicate branding, Getting an end-user’s message out to the people can be as easy as passing logoed cups to the tailgating masses at sporting events and concerts.

ON-THE-GO GULP

The ubiquity of the tumbler-as-promotional-product is about as unmatched as its apparel equivalent: the polo shirt. And, like the polo, its inherent function might be perpetual, but new styles, colors and designs are making the traveling drinkware’s statement a lot more fashionable than ever before. Look to specific features, such as dishwasher-safe, heated or oversized options, for new takes on an old favorite.
Can include: Tumblers, sports bottles, travel mugs
Great for: Automotive and financial industries
Imprinting options: For imprinting, suppliers offer pad printing on standard logos, and screen printing when the logo requires larger-than-standard or other custom needs. Laser engraving is available in metal-finished items, which allows a mug to become personalized.
Plan the promotion: Coupling a tumbler or mug promotion with coffee beans or tea bags is an easy, yet always-appreciated, choice. However, to go a little more corporate, bundle travel drinkware with business-card holders or leather padfolios so executives can bring entire show on the road.

RAISE A GLASS

Glassware has a high-perceived value at [an] affordable cost in most cases. Though, for obvious reasons, people might shy away from glass items in favor of more durable styles, There has been a resurgence in its popularity over the past three or four years. Glass can work equally well with more upscale promotions, as well as simple giveaways. Its effectiveness can be contributed to, the familiarity of the items, the universal utility and price.


Can include: Champagne flutes; wine, shot or margarita glasses; pilsners and other specialty bar items
Great for: Bars and restaurants, charity events, souvenirs, college
Imprinting options: Direct screening (in which colors are applied through a fine mesh screen) is the most popular glass-imprinting method, because, you can get the most color onto the ware. Logos also can be applied as decals, as well as cut directly into the glass (etching)
Plan the promotion: Pairing comes naturally with these items. People appreciate having glass sets, be it tumblers or stemware or even glass mugs. For greater impact, match the sets with liquor, chocolate or T-shirts (for a more casual end-user).