Mugs and bottles are the most reliable branded items there are, because people use them every single day without thinking about it.
They are also easy to get wrong, usually in the same few ways.
UNDERSTAND THE SHAPE YOU ARE PRINTING ON
A mug is a cone, not a flat surface. A bottle is a cylinder that tapers. Artwork designed as a flat rectangle will distort, and anything too close to the top, the base or the handle will be cut off or warped.
Ask your supplier for the print template for that specific item. Every item has a different usable area, and this one step prevents most problems.
WRAP OR PANEL, DECIDE EARLY
A full wrap print covers the whole surface and looks impressive, but costs more and leaves nowhere for the design to breathe.
A single panel on each side is cheaper, cleaner and usually looks better. Logo on one side, a short line or a pattern on the other.
REMEMBER WHICH HAND PEOPLE USE
A single print on only one side of a mug is invisible roughly half the time. Print both sides, or accept that your branding is a coin toss.
KEEP IT SIMPLE AND HIGH CONTRAST
These items are seen from a metre or two away, in a kitchen, while someone is doing something else. Fine detail and small text are wasted.
A clean logo with strong contrast against the item colour does the work. Light grey on stainless steel disappears completely.
CHOOSE THE DECORATION METHOD FOR THE LIFE OF THE ITEM
- Ceramic mugs: proper kiln fired printing survives dishwashers. Cheap transfers do not, and a mug with a peeling logo is worse than no mug.
- Stainless steel bottles: laser engraving is permanent and looks premium. Printing allows full colour but will scuff eventually.
- Powder coated bottles: engraving cuts through to the metal beneath, which gives a sharp two tone result.
BUY A GOOD ITEM, NOT JUST A CHEAP ONE
A bottle that leaks in a handbag gets thrown away immediately, along with whatever goodwill it carried. A mug that chips in a month does the same thing.
Check the lid seal, the wall thickness and whether it keeps a drink cold for the time it claims. These are the things the recipient will judge you on.
MATCH IT TO THE PERSON
Office staff want a mug. People on the road want an insulated travel cup. Site teams want a tough bottle with a secure lid. Giving all three the same item is a missed opportunity.
DO NOT SKIP THE SAMPLE
Brand colours shift on ceramic and on coated metal. One sample before the run tells you whether your pink is still your pink.
See the range on our everyday branded items page, or send us your logo and we will mock it up on a few options.