Thirsty for Sales

It's just a fact of life: today there is a greater focus being placed on healthy living and eco-friendly products. With this in mind, more than ever before people are grabbing their own personal water bottle and heading off to school, the gym, the office or anywhere else they might want to fill up with some liquid refreshment—without leaving an environmental footprint. The time has never been better for the sports bottle and reusable drinkware market. With so many diverse likes, looks and needs in a product, there is surely a supplier to meet the demand.

WHY, OH WHY?
Melissa Hoffman, sales manager for Huffermen Inc., Phoenix, explained the ubiquity of sports bottles and cups in today's market. "Drinkware is a profitable product in so many areas," she said. "I remember a time when water bottles were almost non-existent in the retail market. Now they are everywhere. Water bottles, travel mugs, stadium cups and coffee mugs are sold as promotions products." She noted gift shops, department stores, airports, sports arenas and pro shops as some of the top retail outlets for the drinkware market. "Drinkware is a product that people will use almost every day," Hoffman said. "If you have an end-user who wants to keep their message in the public eye, drinkware is the perfect choice."

Drinkware is the perfect choice for two simple reasons: imprint area and longevity. Bottles, especially those intended to hold large amounts of fluid, have large imprint areas and can be seen from a distance. Drinkware pieces are also built to last. They are products that will live for years in an office, gym or home. And as Hoffman pointed out, they are kept and used on a regular basis.

HIGH TECH & HIGH FASHION
However easy fill, sip and go seems, technology is always changing for bottles and cups. The needs of a sponsored cycling team will be different than a third grade class or a financial institution. To meet the needs of users, there's always a fresh new feature being added to the market place. "Suppliers are constantly seeking the next water bottle," said Jim Martin, vice president of Numo, Kaufman, Texas. "First, there was the polycarbonate bottle, then aluminum, and then stainless. Recently, we've seen the collapsible water bottle and the filtered bottle," he explained.