Promotional Mugs - Designed to Sell
We all know that mugs are effective promotional items. Promotional mugs are a safe choice because they are practical. They are used to serve coffee and other beverages; some use mugs as pen holders or containers for small items; and there are those who keep mugs as ornaments.
Mugs can bear any design - a company logo, the catch phrase of the moment, or the face of a politician. Mugs are so versatile that they can be customised with virtually any design needed to help the campaign.
Although the track record of mugs as promotional products is consistent, it is not fool proof. Like the product being carried by the campaign, the promotional products need to be appealing as well. Here are a few simple ways to ensure that the mugs will be received favorably by the public:
The promotional mug design should be consistent with the campaign. From the design to the colour, they should reinforce or complement the overall theme of the product it supports. If the product being marketed is an established brand of chocolate for instance, the product logo may be sufficient. Set against a neutral or color associated with the chocolate brand, the logo design looks elegant and uncluttered.
The mug design and form should aim to please the product’s target market. A whimsical take on classic paintings is a clever option for products that cater to students and young professionals. Vintage designs will appeal to the trendy and fashionable set. The mature market will appreciate classic and simple designs.
The material of the mug is equally important. Promotional mugs come either in ceramic, bone china or acrylic. The main advantage of acrylic is cost and durability. Plastic is cheaper and is not prone to chipping or breaking unlike ceramic and china. The downside is that it can look cheap if not designed properly.
The form of the mug helps generate interest in both the mug and the product it represents. The form of the mug may be given feminine curves or have certain details embossed to give it a twist. An embossed detail or a certain texture can help acrylic mugs look like ceramic ones.
Promotional mugs are extremely versatile they can literally be molded into anything to help sell a product without losing their functionality. This comes in handy since mugs are products themselves. They need the public to want them in order for them to effectively sell the product they represent.
Tags: printed mugs, Promotional Mugs
October 10th, 2008 at 6:12 pm
Another benefit to the mug is that you can include your website address or phone number in the design. I recently bought a furnished house and there were a few promotional mugs in amongst the unexpected crockery they’d included in the sale. First time I needed a plumber, I reached for the promotional mug with a plumber’s details on it. Being new to the area and not having a phone book yet, that was my quickest option.
October 22nd, 2008 at 6:53 pm
Love it when a corporate gift proves to be an effective marketing tool, that brings in business long after it has been handed out (and/or down). Brilliant example, point well taken, Kayy.
October 24th, 2008 at 4:19 pm
an advantage in a promotional mug is that it has more space to advertise your brand for eg. it may be a coffee mug or the mug used for sanitary purposes… and hence will attract more views… one has enough space there to fill in the address and other contact details. and since we use them frequently the product stays in our mind… like as Kayy had pointed out if one is new to the place he can get the contact details of the local plumber,painter,carpenter etc…
October 29th, 2008 at 3:06 pm
I admit that promotional mugs have their own advantages as a promotional gift. Anybody don’t use mugs here? I don’t think so.
As Kayy and aby said above, you could put your company details on promotional mugs. Mugs design should reliant to your target market too. This will help you attract more customers and they will easily contact you whenever need.
October 30th, 2008 at 1:10 pm
The biggest advantage i see for promotional mugs are its use throughout the year. And it is used by every one no matter he is senior VP in company or a new trainee.The only thing one should keep in mind while selecting the promotional mugs is the target audience whom you are going to give the mugs as a part of your promotional campaign.
October 30th, 2008 at 2:22 pm
Promotional mugs are advantageous in many ways , because they can be used for multiple services.As aby says there will be more space for advertising your brand. Promotional mugs will gain the attention of many if they look fancy and the color contrast plays a major role in the markets.
October 30th, 2008 at 6:24 pm
Beside the above advantages i wanted to add a few more. Nobody throws away cups. I know i don’t. Even if it’s from a company a don’t like i still use it if it looks good or is in some way catchy. Besides that mugs aren’t too expensive and should be given primarily to customers that you haven’t heard from for quite some time just to refresh their memory of you.
October 31st, 2008 at 6:28 am
The mug is a huge piece of real estate that you can make use of to emblazon your logo and all sorts of marketing messasge. Of course, the bulk is also a big disadvantage as it increase production and shipping costs. Quality again is of supreme importance as shoddiness can be seen easily in a product like a mug.
October 31st, 2008 at 6:20 pm
Yes, mugs are very useful promotional products, in fact they are lot better than jugs also. But i feel the emblazon your logo or your company name would be bit of time consuming job. It is worth doing mugs with your logos.
November 3rd, 2008 at 7:41 am
I have found most of the articles very useful for promoting a product. All the promotional aspects are said in a unique way. Your blog has helped me a great deal in promoting my products most effectively and in a unique way.
November 3rd, 2008 at 8:01 pm
More Power to the mug! Gee, I wished more companies would hand these out, I’d never have to buy coffee mugs! As Kayy stated, the effectiveness of such a simple tool can never be overlooked. Marketing doesnt have to be hard! I’ve been using mugs for years as a marketing tool and the rewards long outweigh the costs involved. Like Geremy says, we as humans usually NEVER throw out a mug.
November 6th, 2008 at 4:44 pm
I think mug is the most promotional gift used on my country. I have more than 10 mug with different company logo. But too bad 3 of them already broken.
Anyway, people love to use mug with branded logo. So, mug is very good for promotional gift too.
The bad side is, mug usually used at home, so another people can’t see it.
November 7th, 2008 at 8:19 am
Mugs bearing marketing message is one of the most popular give-aways especially on Christmas holiday or important corporate occasion. Some are giving mugs just to express appreciation for their loyal customers.
You are right, for as long as the mug is useful, the brand is right there. And in my office, mugs are not just being used for drinking purposes, a lot of my officemates are having it on their table.
And one thing for sure, even though the mug is being used for marketing purposes, there is no resentment coming from the user or the targeted audience. Well, it is free and free will always be effective especially in breaking barriers.
November 7th, 2008 at 4:30 pm
I use my mugs daily, so I personally would like a very personal mug that I like. A mug isn’t really one of those things that you need many of, just one or two are enough, and most people probably already have that much and don’t need another one. A promotional mug would not see much usage, and you would be better off using pens or umbrellas as promotional items.
November 9th, 2008 at 5:42 pm
Using mugs in our daily life is one of the things we don’t pay attention to, but it exists. There are many people who like their mugs to be “personal”, but we should not forget about some students at a hostel - they will gladly use promotional mugs, since their own are missing. And the people, who are ready to carry around a mug, are not that much.
Besides, if a company invests a bit more on design (not only logo, but design of the mug itself), a very interesting product will be present.
Think about it.
November 10th, 2008 at 7:46 pm
Mugs have their own attraction, i have several mugs from different companies, i use each for different purposes. A large mug of lager beer was the best, it had a big logo of lager beer. I can say a mug should have a large logo instead of a small one, it would serve more purpose as your promotional product.
November 11th, 2008 at 8:05 am
Every factor must be taken into consideration when deciding want to use the mug as the promotional medium. In my opinion, due to its high cost and customization, it should be only given sparingly to premium prospective clients instead of a indiscrimate giveaway.
November 11th, 2008 at 3:02 pm
In all the meetings and dating the coffee should be there and if you have make some perfect designed mug then you have great survey for your compnay. I like to suggest you the mug too.
November 11th, 2008 at 4:41 pm
A perfectly designed mug always indicates the prosperity of the company and also lets the employees know that they care for them and personally wat i suggest is having a great marketing message as well as can personalize them but printing an autograph kinda things which the person can preserve
November 12th, 2008 at 1:10 pm
Mugs are the most commonly given promotional product since most of us use the mug on our day-to-day activities. There never really a day that we don’t use the mug, either in our homes and offices. In our office, all of us received mugs as giveaways from our company. Aside from mugs, re-usable sports/water bottles are the current in thing as company’s giveaways.
November 13th, 2008 at 5:41 pm
I have about a dozen promotional mugs, all from companies I have used over the years, mostly IT and Telecommunications related, and I use them a lot. They are always the perfect size for a good cup of coffee, and I get excited whenever I receive a new one to add to my collection. I do think these are good, practical items.
I also agree with Santosh that a well designed mug always reflects very well on the company that sent it. Too simple or cheap looking always seems to indicate the company is less professional.
November 19th, 2008 at 5:00 pm
Hello webmaster. Not totally agree with you, but you just gave me an idea for a new eBook regarding \”Promotional Mugs - Designed to Sell\”. It is related to vintage chocolate advertisements. Thanks.
November 27th, 2008 at 10:28 pm
Good post. I am looking into these issues on my blog….
December 1st, 2008 at 10:29 am
Good post. I am looking into these issues on my blog….