Spill the Beans
COFFEE BREAK SHOWCASE
 Turn a Profit
According to Betras Plastics, advertising exposure for coffee mugs is second to none, since coffee drinkers are one of the fastest growing categories in the United States. Offering several to-go styles, the company provides domestic manufacturing and printing, which means fast turnaround on small and large orders.
864.599.0855
 Aroma Therapy
Smell is man’s most memorable sense, and memory is what the promo biz is all about. Each of With Gratitude Inc.’s 20 gift sets includes tangible items with long-term branding potential. Gourmet Coffee Gift Sets are unique, as the final coffee roast is completed in the microwave. Free samples available.
800.452.3085
 On the Move
Express Line
presents its 18-ounce Curve Tumbler. Featuring 18/8 stainless steel and double-wall construction, the tumbler serves both hot and cold liquids. Fill it with your favorite iced coffee or steaming lotus tea. It’s great for the grab-n-go.805.278.7771
 Break the Routine
DW-04 from Gold Bond Inc. makes a perfect desk mug. Features include spill-resistant slider lid, ergonomic four-finger handle and ribbed thumb stabilizer. The double wall maintains temperature for extended periods. A modern design — low center of gravity and nonskid bottom — keeps coffee in the mug, not on your desk. 423.842.5844
 I Break for Coffee
Sophie Mug by RCC Koozie/Norwood is a fun update to an old favorite. Your customers will love the look of the high-polish exterior contrasted by a white interior. The mug comes in three colors: black, navy and white. Sophisticated styling and a 16-ounce capacity make for a great promotion. 800.937.0320
 Fishing for Gold
From rugged to rich style, Moderne Glass Co. has it all. The new Green Corporate Collection and 15-Ounce Black Atlas Mugs feature gold and platinum bands, halos and imprints. Both are available in microwave-safe and non-microwavable options. Many other banded styles are also available. 724.857.5880
 Coffee with Class
Impress everyone from the parking garage to the corner office. Leed’s 15-Ounce Hampton Tumbler has the look of luxury. A removable vinyl sleeve makes for easy cleaning. Features include double-wall construction using an 18/8 stainless-steel liner, and a low-profile rotating closure lid. Available in five colors. 800.860.1555
 Premium Perks
Richard’s Gourmet offers three packaging styles for coffee, cappuccino, cocoa or tea. Select from numerous colors of metallic foil for a bright, glittering look. Pick solid colors to match any design scheme, or choose four-color process for demanding artwork with vibrant color and impeccable clarity. Artwork is printed on both sides.800.370.2633
 Right on Trek
Starline USA Inc.’s 15-Ounce Quest Rubber Grip Tumbler is available in black chrome or stainless steel. Its dual-wall construction adheres to FDA guidelines. The foam-insulated tumbler has a spill-resistant lid with thumb-slide closure. Select standard two-sided color print or laser-engraving options. Drawstring pouch included.800.831.2231
 Aloha Java
Share the love. The Coffee Room’s Premium Kona and certified Hawaiian coffee offers gourmet taste, artistically presented. Foil-gusseted bags seal in the fresh-roasted aroma and flavor, while custom-designed laser labels present your client’s logo and message in full color. 866.207.7509
 In Good Taste
Coffee breaks provide an ideal setting for presenting new products and programs. Associate your company with taste by imprinting the wrapper or handle of Chicago Gourmet/A La Carte’s Ghirardelli Chocolate Spoon. Custom tea bags and honey jars — and single-serve packets of coffee, iced tea and cocoa — will enhance your corporate message. 800.723.2370
 Joe Coffee
Got a favorite office mug? Snag a coaster for that cup o’ joe. Your clients can take full advantage of Digispec’s Colorful Coasters promotional opportunity. Show off that logo with pride on a 3.6-inch heavy duty rubber coaster. 800.873.9133
 Spice Up Your Logo
Custom Chocolate-Topped Gingerbread Cookies are the newest addition to the Chocolate Chocolate line. The combination of two great flavors — Belgian chocolate and spicy gingerbread — was such a hit during the holidays, now these cookies are offered year-round. 888.448.9722
 Thanks a Latté
Faro USA’s 4-Piece Café Latté Set is ideal for serving hot or cold beverages. Each glass mug sits in a stainless-steel frame and comes with its own removable stainless-steel coaster. Place a 1.3-inch pewter-cast emblem on the glass or frame. Dishwasher-safe. Boxed as shown.800.654.3276
 True Colors
Choose from an array of brilliant shades to decorate Goldstar’s Full-Color Custom Mugs with panoramic graphics. These durable mugs feature vivid art, a 72-piece minimum, low price, high perceived value, quick turnaround and no extra color- or run charges. Decorated in the United States. Dishwasher- and microwave-safe. 800.553.9646
 Espress Yourself
At the flick of a switch, Premium Connection’s Espresso Maker brews two perfect cups. Its compact size takes up little counter space. The set, which includes two porcelain espresso cups, features an illuminated on/off switch, removable drip-tray for easy cleanup and a reusable dishwasher-safe filter. 800.407.2892
 Dropping In
How do you make mug promotions irresistible? Fill them with Mug Drops. Memorable gifts for any budget, Taylor & Grant Specialties’ mugs hold decorative, foiled bags of delicious treats. Choose from seven fillings and three mug styles, or order Mug Drops separately to fill your own standard mugs. 800.461.0892
 Roll With the Best
The Allen Co. offers this 10-Ounce Wheelie Mug, along with many other innovative, custom-imprinted coffee mugs, glassware, polycarbonate bottles, stainless-steel items, jars and ceramic tiles. The company also carries exclusive Spinner Mugs. Art services include iridescent/simulated ceramic blending, sublimation and disappearing ink.800.783.2491
 Beautifully Bold
Lanco Corp.’s new Curved Translucent Travel Mug is a heavy duty polycarbonate for rugged use. Available in blue, red or green, this mug’s large 16-ounce size makes it perfect for extra long trips, or for the serious coffee lover in all of us.631.231.2300
How to Sell Drinkware Stan Breckenridge, vice president of sales and marketing for Aliquippa, Pa.-based Moderne Glass Co., outlines five tips for increasing drinkware sales. The information was presented at a factory tour organized by Three Rivers Advertising Specialty Association. 1. Learn the selling advantages of drinkware. Glassware and ceramics are the third leading promotional product. Durable and collectible, they have high retention value, high-perceived value of ratio to cost, and decorating flexibility. 2. Know your product. “Ceramic” is a general term that applies to products made of clay, then glazed and fired at high temperatures. Both porcelain and ironstone (stoneware) are ceramic items. Porcelain has fine, white clay (kaolin), which is conducive to imprinting. This hard, fine-grained, nonporous ceramic is thinner walled, lighter, more delicate looking and easily fused (well-vitrified). Its inherent nature usually limits its coloration to white.Stoneware is a less fine clay, but maintains its quality. When glazed clear, it appears more off-white than porcelain, but it can be glazed with color, including white. Like porcelain, it’s well-vitrified and nonporous.Bone china , translucent white china, has unusually thin walls. It’s durable but lightweight and made of bone ash or calcium phosphate.
3. Learn the imprinting processes used on glass and ceramics, and the selling benefits of each. Four-color process involves breaking down full-color artwork into four basic colors. Because of variations in materials, reproduction artwork will vary somewhat from the original. This is caused, primarily, by the fact that certain colors used in printing nonceramic surfaces are not available in the ceramic color palette.Sublimation is created with high-resolution line screen decals. The heat transfer is applied under heat and pressure, creating bolder, brighter colors with maximum coverage. This process does not have the durability of a glass- or ceramic-fired decal.Etching uses various abrasive substrates to cut away the surface of glass, crystal, marble, ceramics or porcelains.Decals are generally hand-applied to products, so you can imprint a larger decorating area. They offer increased resolution, product application flexibility and tighter registration. There is no lasting difference in the permanence of a decal versus a direct screen process.Direct screen imprints are printed directly onto the item using ceramic inks that can be kiln-fired and fused into the glaze. This is generally the most economical printing method.Icing is a process that creates a raised imprint area with texture. Distributors should be sure to know their suppliers’ decorating capabilities, strengths and weaknesses. They should also learn about proprietary products, rush services and special pricing agreements.
4. Devise sales techniques and research statistics that will aid you in the sale. Take advantage of newspaper/magazine articles, verifiable research from the Internet, co-op programs, continuity programs and direct mail. 5. Identify potential customers and get creative selling ideas by examining real industry case histories. Some solid drinkware markets include schools, reunion promotions, niches, souvenir shops and environmental organizations. Get creative, enhancing sales with packaging, fillers such as candy or candles, multiple color options, precious-metal accents and bottom branding — accenting the lower portion of drinkware with striping — to increase profits.
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