Acrylic Glasses Alternatives
"We want to steer away from providing bottled water for guests to our office in favor of pouring them a glass of cold water." Makes sense since private label bottled water is about 65¢ - 75¢ per bottle if we commit to 5000 bottles.
"We’d like some guests to keep their glass, but we don’t see glasses as being a preferred branding vehicle for us (although we could perhaps be convinced otherwise)." Clear as mud, it's ok for some guests to keep their branded glass but don't want the branded glass to be perceived as a branding vehicle, only way out of that one is not to brand the glass. That said, cannot imagine a guest asking (or anyone offering) a guest "would you like to keep the glass?", that just ain't gonna happen. Only way around this conundrum is to give them a branded water bottle which according to below you don't want to do. We're in a loop here: "live next to a nuclear power plant, you're gonna die, I don't wanna die than I have to move, I don't wanna move, then I'm gonna die, I don't wanna die...".
Now that you've hopefully had a chuckle we're stuck with a water bottle if we're using this item when guests come to the office. Here's a link to a vendor with a bunch of water bottles Molded with Post-Consumer Recycled, Food-Compliant PETE which are obliquely labeled with the PETE symbol on the bottom so you'd have to explain to your guests that the bottle is made of recycled materials which you'd have to somehow flow into your presentation. Possible alternate option is to use a coffee mug that is clearly labeled that it is made of recycled materials and I haven't found those as yet. Or use drinking vessels made out of corn plastic which are clearly labeled and do make for a conversation piece. Here's a link to Quickpoint which has tons of stuff made of corn plastic and other vegetable based plastics. These are more expensive and unless your clients are coming in from Boulder or committed tree-huggers who rallied to save the spotted owl these drinking glasses/mugs are pure yuck. Here's some additional mug options, I've made note of which have some form of eco-value, if any:
NATUREAD™ CORN MUG KOFFEE KEG QP-CP35785 - 10.5 oz. capacity - Microwave safe - 100% corn plastic engraved on bottom - Made in the USA $4.69 each |
Recycled 12 oz. mug in 100% recycled electronics with plastic inner liner @ $3.39 each. Vendor is GreatStuff and they do indeed have bunches of great stuff made of recycled materials, problem is the items look like they're made of recycled materials. |
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There's a bazillion mug vendors out there if you decide to go with a traditional coffee mug to use around the office. I listed the price @ 36pcs and 144pcs because at 144 pcs we get end quantity pricing which is usually a significant price drop. That said, if we're doing 144 coffee mugs to get the cheaper price if possible we view AdGlass as a vendor first, they are located here in Denver @ I-70 & Sheridan and allow customer pick up from their facility. If they don't have what you like or your find something elsewhere then factor in 50¢ - 75¢ per mug for freight charges! |
We tend to be big on uniqueness and are not on the coffee mug & water bottle bandwagon for branding. OK, then just get a short run of 36 coffee cups for the office, a style or design that reflects the company. Here's a couple of links (in my preferred order) and some unique styles are pictured below:
- Archer Decorative Glass (here in Denver, web site is a nightmare to navigate)
- Norwood TX or CA (good vendor, standard styles, balance freight charges)
- Glass America - PA (rock solid vendor, huge selection, we'll want a freight quote)
- Hit Promo - FL (standard stuff we should be able to find at Archer, balance freight against pickup)
- Allen Mugs - OH (good vendor, lots of different unique items but watch their minimums)
And here's some unique items that hold water but have style, all are linked:
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These are a close out |
 Pricy but very nice looking |
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These are very very cool, top image is mug empty, hot liquid causes image to appear. Last about a year - year & half before "mystique" wears off.
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