Top tips to buying promotional mugs

Promotional mugs have been successfully used in marketing campaigns for many years. There is a wide choice of styles, colours and materials available, including ceramic mugs, earthenware mugs, bone china mugs, frosted glass mugs, metallic mugs, insulated travel mugs, acrylic mugs and recycled plastic mugs.

Branding options for promotional mugs include direct screen printing, silkscreen printing and laser etching, as well as digital printing which produces high resolution photo quality images. The latest method to be made available for use in ceramic decoration is dye sublimation printing. This uses organic dyes to achieve a combination of bright vibrant colours.

With so many promotional mugs to choose from, the selection process can be rather daunting, but a few key factors should be taken into consideration.

First determine how much you want to spend and when the mugs are needed. This is the first step in preparing a comprehensive brief for the supplier.

Next establish the target market and its demographics as this will influence the style of promotional mug. For example, contemporary latte mugs will appeal more to a younger audience, whereas traditional bone china mugs may be more appropriate for an older market.

The most powerful promotions deliver the all-important wow factor. As well as being creative and innovative, it is also essential to keep up with the latest trends. A good supplier will come up with a range of fresh and original ideas.