If you run your own business in the food and beverage industry, you have probably used your fair share of disposable cups. No matter what you’re serving – whether it be soda, beer, coffee, or milkshakes – disposable cups make everything easier, from conveniently and quickly serving customers to eliminating extra time spent cleaning dishes. While many businesses gravitate towards the use of styrofoam or paper cups, clear disposable cups present a unique alternative that can also boost your marketing efforts. Read on to discover why you should be creating your own custom plastic cups!

The Importance of Branding

“Hang on a second,” you might be thinking to yourself. Why do you even need branded cups in the first place? After all, the plain cups you use seem to be working just fine. However, the difference between plain cups and branded cups makes a tremendous difference when establishing awareness for your company.

In the business world, first impressions are everything. Whether you’re meeting a potential client for the first time or walking into a job interview, the way you present yourself and your company speaks volumes. When it comes to branding your business, this same philosophy applies – if you want customers or clients to take you seriously, you need to make sure your branding is on point.

One of the most important aspects of effective branding is making sure that your logo is visible and recognizable. This might seem like a no-brainer, but in today’s busy world, it can be easy for potential customers to overlook your brand if they don’t see it right away. This is where custom clear cups come in handy – by printing your logo directly onto your cups, you’re putting your logo right in front of every customer you serve. If your customers are taking their orders to go, then your brand plastic cups become a mobile advertisement for your business.

The Benefits of Using Plastic Cold Cups

If you’re starting to consider the idea of creating your own custom plastic cups, you still might wonder why you need to include plastic cups in your inventory. While other cup materials will fulfill your needs, plastic offers a number of distinct benefits – both physically and aesthetically – that make them a high quality printing material with enticing marketing potential.

1) Safe Alternative

One of the most important benefits of plastic cups is that they’re a much safer alternative to styrofoam or glass. While styrofoam doesn’t pose any threats to customers enjoying a cold beverage, it can be unhealthy when paired with hot beverages. Styrofoam – shorthand for polystyrene foam – contains a chemical called styrene, which is widely considered to be a human carcinogen, potentially exposing your customers to harmful chemical compounds. PET plastic cups, on the other hand, are much safer and don’t contain any harmful BPA (bisphenol A).

If you run a bar or restaurant, then you know that broken glass can pose a serious safety hazard. By using plastic cups, you can avoid the risks and keep your customers safe. Additionally, plastic cups are also less likely to break when dropped – meaning that your customers are less likely to make a hazardous mess and more likely to appreciate your efforts in providing them with a safe drinking experience.

2) Reduced Environmental Footprint

If you’re worried about the environmental impact of using disposable cups, then plastic cups are an excellent choice for your business. Plastic is one of the most recyclable materials out there, so you can feel good knowing that your custom plastic cups aren’t lingering in the environment for decades on end.

Along with PET plastic cups, PLA plastic offers an even more eco-friendly alternative to other cup materials. Short for polylactic acid, PLA is derived from natural resources such as corn starch and sugar cane, both of which can be regrown continuously and efficiently without damage to our planet. Most importantly, PLA plastic cups are fully compostable, meaning that they break down safely without leaving behind any toxic residues that can affect water or soil.

3) Strong & Reliable Structure

    One of the best things about plastic cups is that they’re built to last. Whether you choose PET or PLA plastic, your custom plastic cups will be sturdy and reliable – meaning that your customers can enjoy their drinks without worrying about spills. While paper cups or styrofoam cups can run the risk of leaking or crushing too easily, PET and PLA plastic is rigid enough to resist dents and leaks, while also being flexible enough to not crack under pressure.

    Not only are plastic cups durable, but they’re also lightweight and easy to transport. This makes them ideal for catering events or outdoor parties, where glassware might be too impractical or dangerous. Plus, if you run a food service business, then you know that dropped dishes can quickly add up and put a dent in your bottom line. By using plastic cups instead of glass, you can avoid costly replacements and keep your business running smoothly.

      4) Visual Marketing Appeal

        One of the most noteworthy benefits to clear plastic cups is their marketing potential. After all, that’s what we’re here to discuss! With styrofoam and paper cups, you can certainly customize them to showcase your logo and designs in multiple colors. With plastic cups, however, you can combine the colors of what you’re serving with the full color designs you’re putting on display.

        Drinks like soda, beer, smoothies, tea, and milkshakes come in a wide variety of colors. In a paper or styrofoam cup, you don’t really get a good look at these colors. With crystal clear plastic cups, however, any type of beverage can establish a colorful canvas for your company logo or custom artwork. The possibilities are virtually endless in this regard and they allow you the opportunity to promote your brand with your trademark style and personality. This is particularly important in the era of social media. Being able to develop visually captivating online content is crucial, making customized clear plastic cups helpful in both building a steady customer base and capturing the attention of potential customers.

          What Industries Benefit From Using Plastic Cups?

            Now that we’ve gone over some of the key benefits of plastic cups, let’s take a look at which industries can benefit from using them.

            The food and beverage industry is an obvious one – after all, plastic cups are commonly used for to-go orders and catering events. But there are other businesses that can make use of custom plastic cups as well, such as:

              • Retail stores – Custom sample cups are great for retail stores in various industries, whether it’s a grocery chain promoting a new bakery selection or a health foods shop advertising new supplements.
              • Trade shows and conventions – From financial services to healthcare to the tech industry, these events provide an excellent opportunity to make connections and leave memorable impressions with custom cups and other branded swag.
              • Fitness centers – When gym members are looking for an energy boost or some much needed hydration, fitness clubs can serve them anything from water and sports drinks to post-workout smoothies in custom printed clear cups.
              • Schools and universities – Educators and administrators have an abundance of opportunities to promote the excellence of their academics and the unique qualities of their institution, including at college fairs, sporting events, and even school pep rallies.

              These are just a few examples – really, any business or organization that wants to promote their brand in a unique and impactful way can find plenty of success using their own customized plastic cups.

              Marketing Capabilities on Clear Plastic Cups

              We’ve briefly touched on the marketing capabilities of clear plastic cups with a logo, but let’s dive a little deeper.

              One of the best things about using plastic cups for marketing is that they offer a wide range of customization options. You can choose from a variety of colors, sizes, shapes, and designs to create the perfect cup for your needs. Plus, with full color printing capabilities, you can really make your cups pop with high-quality graphics and eye-catching designs.

              By creating cups that capture the attention of potential customers, you can successfully advertise your business and its activities in numerous ways. Let’s look at some possibilities for how you can utilize your custom branded plastic cups.

              Promote Your Online Presence

              Along with your custom artwork and brand logo, plastic cups can also feature your website address and handles for your social media accounts. As customers are examining your captivating cups, you can give them the opportunity to explore more about your business and follow your brand through Instagram, Twitter, and any other social media platforms you use. If you want to make this even easier, printing QR codes on your cups presents an excellent way to direct customers to anything from your menu to your web pages.

              Advertise Upcoming Events

              Your custom cups are perfect for letting your customers know about the exciting events you’ve got on the calendar. Consider making a limited run of cups with a special design for each occasion in order to increase their visibility. For example, if you’re hosting a Halloween party, promote it with cups featuring ghosts and bats. For a summertime cookout, use Fourth of July cups to get everyone in the patriotic spirit. You can even print dates and times on your cups so customers will have all the information they need to save the date.

              Community Connection

              If your business has an inspiring origin story, don’t hesitate to share it with your customers. A plastic cup with your logo on one side and a short bio on the other can go a long way. Even if you don’t think your background is something written for a Hollywood feature film, you’d be surprised at how people resonate with your history as well as your company values.

              Does your company support a charity? Talk about your involvement on your cups! People love a business that is about more than just their bottom line. Not only can you build genuine connections with your customer base through your charitable efforts, you can also get them involved in contributing to the cause. It’s a win-win scenario!

              Holiday Designs

              Much like with promoting your special events, holiday designs can be a great way to build excitement for your business. Large coffee chains are always prioritizing seasonal shifts and specific holidays as a way to drive customer engagement. You can do the same thing on a smaller scale with your own plastic cups. When pumpkin spice season is in full swing during the fall, get people talking about your business with cups featuring all things pumpkin. For Christmas, give your customers all the candy cane and Santa designs they can handle. The more fun you have with your cups, the more your customers will enjoy them!

              Co-Branding Opportunities

              You don’t have to feel like you’re all alone in your efforts to advertise your brand. Co-branding is a fantastic way to get your products and services in front of a whole new audience. If you team up with another local business, you can put your cups to work for both of you. For example, if you own a bakery, you can partner with a nearby cafe to design cups that feature each of your logos. You can also cross-promote other products and services to create an even more well-rounded customer experience.

              Create Your Own Plastic Cups with Your Brand Cafe

              So now that you know the ins and outs of customizing plastic cups, where do you go from here? Luckily your source for custom plastic cups has been right in front of you this whole time! For over ten years, Your Brand Cafe has helped thousands of small businesses create their own unique custom cups and we can help you do the same. What makes us different from other printing companies? We’re glad you asked!

              What Sets Us Apart from the Competition

              Many of our clients are independently owned small businesses, such as local restaurants, cafes, bakeries, and even food trucks. Because these customers don’t require as much product as large chains and corporate franchises, they have a difficult time placing orders that fit their needs. Many companies in our industry require you to purchase 5+ cases of one size for custom printed products. That’s a lot of money up front and many small businesses simply don’t have the storage space for these large order stipulations.

              That’s why Your Brand Cafe offers orders as small as one case of custom printed products. You read that right: just one case! Along with our low order minimums, we also offer competitive low pricing as well as free shipping. All of these factors combined allow us to provide you with personalized services that help you get exactly what you need to run your business efficiently.

              We also understand that the life of a small business owner can be stressful and unpredictable. Sometimes you need an extra hand to get something done in a pinch. If you’re running short on time for a special event, we provide rush shipment options for your products. If you have questions or concerns about a recent or upcoming order, our in-house customer service team is at your service via online chat, phone, or email. And if you need assistance with your custom designs, our art department is here to save the day and help you create the cups you’ve been envisioning.

              Printing Capabilities

              Along with our low order minimums and expedient shipment options, Your Brand Cafe has introduced a comprehensive overhaul to clear cup printing. To make the process of creating custom clear cups more rewarding for our customers, we’ve divided our clear cups into three distinct printing options: Standard, Standard+, and Premium. Here is what makes each option unique from the others:

              1. Standard printing is our one color print option that offers the quickest and easiest printing. For businesses with a simple and sleek logo design, this is the go-to option. Standard print also provides the fastest turn times on orders as well as the most competitive pricing.
              2. Standard+, read as Standard Plus, takes the benefits of Standard printing a step further. With 2-4 colors available, your logo designs can get a little more creative in their execution. Standard+ also maintains rapid turn times and low pricing, albeit slightly moreso than Standard printing.
              3. Premium, as the name would suggest, gives you the most printing features for our custom clear cups. While it is the most expensive choice, premium printing boasts unlimited color options and no print area restrictions, which means more space for a larger logo print, multiple logos for a co-branding event, and additional text info for special events. You can even create dazzling full wrap, full color prints that feature your logo. If your company is looking to “wow” customers with brand advertising, this is your choice!

              Our clear cup changes also include better pricing options for all of our customers, regardless if they’re veteran business owners or are just opening their first shop. By negotiating with supplies and shipping partners and bringing in new printing machinery, we were able to lower our prices on standard prints by as much as thirty percent! With the aforementioned negotiations and upgrades, we are proud to now be able to pass these savings on to our customers.

              Extended Services for Growing Companies

              While many of our customers are still working out of only one or two locations, some of them have grown considerably over the years. In order to best serve the businesses who have expanded into multiple franchise locations, we created the next step in the Your Brand Cafe process: YBC Plus.

              YBC Plus is a franchising program that gives you the tools you need to operate a growing brand. Some of the perks to YBC Plus are:

              • Online ordering portals for each franchise location, allowing them to order the products they need when they need them
              • Centralized distribution that serves each franchisee regardless of location, even if it’s on the other side of the country
              • Comprehensive product sourcing to help you acquire the items you can’t find elsewhere
              Alongside Your Brand Cafe, YBC Plus can help propel your business to the next level. For more information on how YBC Plus can assist your brand, contact us today!

              Our Clear Cup Printing Capabilities

              Your Brand Cafe offers detailed, vibrant color printing to help bring your company logo and custom designs to life on plastic cups. Here are a few of the benefits to our printing methods:

              • put up to four colors on your design – with up to three colors per side
              • competitive prices with a one-time only setup fee
              • amazing full wrap, full color clear cup designs for extra memorable advertising
              • seasonal design templates – featuring all four seasons and their major holidays – that put your company logo front and center

              For more information or a quote on your own custom printed cups, call us today at (866) 566-0390 or email contactus@yourbrandcafe.com!

              Contact us to speak with a customer solutions member

              Drew Thomas

              Drew Thomas is a graduate of Georgia College & State University, where he earned his Bachelor's Degree in English Literature. He is an expert in brand marketing and has experience in freelance writing on topics ranging from sports to music reviews. He has also spent time as an editor, having revised website copy and press releases for local businesses. In his free time, Drew enjoys performing music, reading, hiking, and spending time with friends.