The ceramic mug is the oldest promotional item that still works. It costs a little over a euro, it sits on a desk in plain sight for years, and unlike almost everything else in a goodie bag it does a job the recipient already needed doing. Cost per impression is close to unbeatable.
The choice within the category comes down to two decisions: the shape and finish of the mug, and how the artwork gets onto it.
| Type | What it is |
|---|---|
| Classic cylindrical, 300 ml | The standard business mug. Straight sides give the largest usable print area in the category. |
| Coloured or two-tone | Coloured glaze outside, contrasting inside. The cheapest way to make a mug look considered rather than generic. |
| Matt | Soft-touch matt glaze. Photographs well and feels more expensive than it costs. |
| Vintage or barrel shape | Tapered enamel-style shape. Suits hospitality, breweries and lifestyle brands. |
| Espresso, 40-170 ml | Small cups, usually ordered as a set. Restaurant and coffee-brand territory. |
| Ceramic with lid and sleeve | A 400 ml mug with a silicone lid and grip band — a ceramic answer to the to-go cup. |
Screen and pad print put one to four solid colours onto the glaze and fire them in. It is the cheaper method, it is completely dishwasher-proof, and it is the right choice for a logo. Sublimation transfers photographic artwork into a special coating and can wrap the entire mug, including under the handle — the only way to reproduce photographs, gradients or complex illustrations. It requires a sublimation-coated mug, so the method has to be chosen before the model is.
A useful rule: if the artwork could be cut from coloured paper, screen print it. If it could not, use sublimation.
Screen print puts one to four solid colours on the mug and is cheaper per piece, which makes it right for large runs of a logo. Sublimation puts photographic full-colour artwork around the whole mug and only works on mugs supplied with a sublimation coating. If the design has photographs or gradients, sublimation is the only real option; if it is a logo in two brand colours, screen print costs less and lasts as long.
Screen-printed ceramic with a fired-on ink is dishwasher safe. Sublimation is dishwasher safe on quality coatings but degrades faster under repeated high-temperature cycles than fired ink does. If the mugs go into an office kitchen with a commercial machine, screen print is the more durable answer.
300 ml is the standard business mug and what most people picture. 200-250 ml suits a smaller coffee and a lower price. 40 ml espresso cups work as a set for hospitality. 400 ml is a large mug and reads as generous, but check it fits under the office machine before ordering a pallet.
Yes, individual white or corrugated cartons are standard across most of the range, which matters when mugs are handed over one at a time rather than stacked on a table. Printed gift boxes are available on request.
Ceramic breaks, and a pallet of mugs will always include a small number of losses. Order a few per cent over the exact requirement rather than exactly the headcount, and specify individual cartons if the mugs will be posted rather than handed over.
Usually 50 pieces. These are EU stock items, so lead time is normally two to three weeks from approved artwork.
The rest of the range: vacuum insulated bottles, insulated travel mugs and tumblers, reusable double-wall coffee cups, sports and water bottles and ceramic mugs. For events rather than desks: reusable event cups and IML printed cups. Carrying and accessories: drinkware accessories.
Our EU-based production means we meet even the tightest event deadlines.
Each product is created specifically to meet your unique event needs and brand guidelines.
Sustainable materials are available, incl. recycled and biodegradable wristbands.
