4 Ideas Friday

Spring’s arrival means warmer weather and longer days. For many, it’s time to get outside and exercise. Your customers, prospects and staff need to stay hydrated. And that’s the perfect promotional opportunity. Whether you are promoting a company wellness program or just want to hand out some useful, memorable promotional gifts at a trade show or open house, branded water bottles fill the bill.

We chatted with Mae, 4imprint’s drinkware guru in the Merchandising Department, to find out what’s trendy and cool.

Glass-lined bottles insulate and make your message crystal clear:
Glass is a great insulator that is making a comeback. This time it’s protected with a clear Tritan plastic exterior. The gorgeous color on the ZOKU® Suspended Core Bottle is added to the glass for a distinctive look. The paracord carrying handle and screw-on lid give this fun water bottle a style all its own. “And the best part is that you are still drinking out of the glass neck of the bottle,” Mae said. ZOKU offers printed vacuum stainless bottles and travel mugs, too. Another eye-catching bottle is the Poppi Glass Bottle. This innovative style has a colorful soft-grip sleeve, a screw-on lid and removable handle for easy portability.

Rugged steel and aluminum bottles get handles and new colors:
“Metal water bottles are one of the most popular items right now in the retail world, and the same thing holds true for our promotional world as well,” Mae explained. “Metal feels more durable and is perfect for outdoor activities or even just bringing to work with you to stay hydrated throughout your day.”  Nothing says, “take me along” more than our best-selling aluminum bottles with convenient carabiners—like the Pacific and Lil’ Shorty Aluminum Sport Bottles—or handles with built-in carry loops, like the Sip & Flip Aluminum Bottle. Vacuum-insulated stainless steel is also very popular. It will help keep a beverage cold or hot for hours. Try the h2go® Concord Vacuum Bottle or Thor Vacuum Bottle. For a very trendy bottle, check out three multicolor ombre versions of our best-selling h2go® Force Vacuum Bottle.

Water bottles with speakers, pill bottles and phone stands:
Water bottles are not just only for hydration anymore! “Bluetooth® speakers are one of the hottest trends in retail right now—and, of course, what goes better with water when you are working out than your favorite tunes?” Mae said. Check out the Rumble Bottle with Bluetooth Speaker in two sizes and the Ozzy Tritan Audio Bottle. “But why stop there? There are bottles that have a phone stand—the h2go® Port Sport Bottle—built in or a pill box, like the Pill Organizer Sport Bottle. People who like to add to their water will love bottles that have a compartment to carry protein powder, like the Lava Fitness Shaker Bottle and Fitness Fanatic Shaker Bottle Set. You will want to work out even more with these bottles!”

Flip your lid for many customer-pleasing top options:
“Another way that we are making some of our best-selling plastic water bottles, including our exclusive ReFresh® brand, better is to add additional lid options. We still have our hugely popular push-pull lids, but now there are additional options like flip-top, straw lid and flip-up straw.”