1. Make Sure Your Custom Mugs Are Portable

People are always busy and on the go. They may not have time to sit down and actually enjoy their breakfast. So with that in mind, you’ll get the best exposure if you print your logo on portable travel mugs.

Stainless steel is a great material since it’s so durable and long-lasting. You also can’t go wrong with microwaveable travel mugs. Your customers will be thankful that you took the time to think about their busy lifestyles.

2. Tailor the Custom Coffee Mugs to Your Business

Every business is going to want something different when it comes to custom mugs. Ultimately, you should tailor your mugs to your industry.

Diners

Stick with classic white mugs with your logo printed on the front. Your customers are there for the mom & pop experience and want to feel that retro flair with a shiny ceramic diner mug in hand.

Coffee Shops or Bistros

Are you a quaint little downtown coffee shop or bistro? Choose cute mugs that reflect all that picturesque charm. A distinct shape or pretty color will be instantly associated with your piping hot lattes and delicious scones.

Bars or Breweries

Consider adding your logo to custom wine mugs, beer steins with handles, or copper mugs for Moscow Mules. You can also sell these mugs as souvenirs!

Hotels or Resorts

Make people think of paradise with unique coffee mugs in a bright or eye-catching color. Your visitors are there to have a good time, so your customized mugs should reflect all that fun and excitement. Keep them on the table for the complimentary breakfast!

You can work in non-food industries like banking or education and still advertise with custom mugs. No matter what, people will use your cups all the time, whether it’s for hot coffee in the morning, hot cocoa with the kids, or tea before bedtime.

Every time someone take a sip from their personalized mug, they’re going to see your logo. Make sure you take the time to choose mugs that will be used over and over again!

3. Use Color Wisely

Are you new to customizing promotional items for your business? The #1 rule is to use only one ink color if it’s screen printing, or to find a full color printing option instead. Your wallet will thank you, trust me!

Now that’s all settled… let’s talk about how you can incorporate color into your promotional coffee mugs without printing a bunch of ink colors if you don’t want to. Print your logo using one ink color and then look for…

Colorful Interior

Colorful Handle

Colorful Base

Color matters when it comes to your custom mugs. You want your brand colors to be part of the design, either it’s in the ink design or on the mug itself.

For instance, McDonald’s should have their red or yellow somewhere in the final product. FedEx should make sure to have purple or orange. Apple should use a sleek gray or white. You get the idea.

4. Pick Unique & Trendy Mugs

Nobody is interested in another boring mug like the ones they can find anywhere and everywhere. They want cool coffee mugs that are unique and trendy; something they’d genuinely be excited to receive as a gift or freebie. Here’s some inspiration!

You want your promotional mugs to be used every morning and for people to take pics and share them on Instagram. If your mugs are cool enough, other people are going to want to go and get one for themselves!

5. Try to Be Eco-Friendly

A reusable coffee mug is way better for the planet than disposable cups. In fact, over 99% of coffee cups are not recycled according to BBC News.

You can do your part in making your custom coffee mugs as eco-friendly as possible. Simply follow these tips!

Wash it in the Dishwasher– Look for dishwasher-safe mugs to help save on water! It takes about 6 gallons of water for every dishwasher cycle, but the sink will flow at about 2 gallons every minute. If you have a bunch of other dishes to wash, it could be greener to load it all at one time.

Say “No” to Paper– Print your design directly on reusable coffee cups instead of on disposable ones. You should also avoid printing on any labels that will come off during washing.

Choose a durable material – Ceramic, porcelain, stainless steel, copper, or stone – these are the most durable materials for personalized mugs. You will get something that lasts for years, which means your mug will stay out of the garbage.

6. Let Your Design Pop

Keep in mind, your end goal is to print your logo, company name, or contact information on the front of the mugs. Choose your custom mugs with that in mind. Your design should really be the star of the show, so make sure it will pop!  

You can also customize your mugs with a funny saying or a clever pun. Something like “I Woke Up Like This,” “Ready for a Refill,” or “Crazy About Coffee” will make people smile and is sure to be a bright spot to their morning.

Have you ever wondered how mugs are made? Watch this video to find out!

Final Thoughts

You’re allowed to be picky when it comes to customizing mugs for your business. Moscow Mule mugs, photo mugs, large mugs, novelty mugs, and other personalized mug you choose is sure to get a ton of use since almost everyone drinks coffee. In the United States alone about 400 million cups of coffee are consumed every single day!

People clearly have favorite mugs, so don’t be hasty when making your decision. Look for custom coffee mugs that are portable, colorful, trendy, and above all, relevant to who you are and what you’re all about.

References

Delgado, J. Do You Have a Favorite Mug? 5 Reasons for This Emotional Bond. Retrieved from, https://psychology-spot.com/bonds-emotions-favorite-mug/

BBC News. (2018, April 17). Plastic Recycling: Why Are 99.75% of Coffee Cups Not Recycled? Retrieved from, https://www.bbc.com/news/science-environment-43739043

Dunn, C. (2009, January 22). Built in Dishwashers vs. Hand Washing: Which is Greener? Retrieved from, https://www.treehugger.com/built-in-dishwashers-vs-hand-washing-which-is-greener-4858791

Beans, J. (2020, March 2). Our Team Spent 300+ Hours on Research. Here’s What We Learned About Coffee Statistics in the USA. Retrieved from, https://urbanbeancoffee.com/coffee/usa-coffee-statistics/