"Drinkware", the industry term for bottles and mugs, is exploding. A few years back it was the Nalgene(R) bottle tearing it up, then stainless steel water bottles and other environmentally friendly materials (turns out the polycarbonate in the Nalgene was bad for you). BPA-free plastics to the rescue! Here's my take on drinkware: awesome promotional product because everyone needs a new coffee mug/water bottle to replace the nasty one they are currently using. Seriously, these things do not have an infinite shelf life; your clients will love you if you give them a replacement for the brown-ringed plastic DD mug they picked up at the drive-thru 3 years ago. What to look for? Water bottles: cool designs, pop-up straws so you don't have to tilt to drink, double wall construction for thermal insulation, 20 oz. size and up. Coffee tumblers: cool design, double wall construction, SS lining, secure closure and open/close function that actually works and is easily cleaned. Brand exposure is super on all drinkware, they sit on desks and inside cars, are carried around in offices and on the weekends. When Starbucks is getting $24.00 for a coffee tumbler, you know there's a market. It's time to be the hero and offer one to your clients.
