How to Personalize Mugs and Thermos: A Practical Guide

Mugs, thermoses, and tumblers are some of the most versatile and widely loved gifts. They are simple, useful, and easy to personalize, which makes them a popular choice for both personal and corporate gifting. As personalized products have grown in popularity, mugs have become a consumer favorite.

Whether for holidays, special occasions, or business promotions, custom mugs cater to a wide range of needs and tastes. The growing demand for personalized items over the past decade reflects how much people value uniqueness and creativity, making personalized mugs a top choice for both individuals and businesses. 

How to make personalized mugs?

There are a few steps you should consider when mug printing and guarantee customer satisfaction.☕️

1. Select your mug:

   There is a wide variety of mugs that can be personalized and your choice will depend on what you like, what your customers prefer, and the type of designs you want to offer. It’s important to consider both aesthetic and functional qualities: 

   
   

   ◾White glossy mugs are the go-to choice for vibrant, full-color designs. 

   ◾Enamel mugs are durable and popular among travelers and outdoor enthusiasts.

   ◾Black glossy mugs offer a sleek, modern look but require careful design consideration to ensure prints stand out. 

   
   

Any of them can be personalized but it is advisable to choose the ones your customers may need. For example, enamel mugs are very popular among travelers, so if this is your target audience, this type of mug will be a success.

2. Get some inspiration:

   If you have no idea where to start, explore platforms like Pinterest or Instagram for design inspiration. You can also have a look at other brands, sometimes our competitors can be of great help to know what to do or what not to do. This step is crucial for understanding current design trends and customer preferences, which will help you stand out in a competitive market.

   
   

3. Create your design:

   Decide on the design and placement of your mug. You can use some design software to create your own designs or you can use some of the options available in the personalization tool like Customily. Make sure you add some alternative features for customers to choose from and personalize their own designs.

   
   

How to put logos on mugs?

You can put any designs on your mugs, however, there are some important secrets you should remember.

• Avoid tiny details, as they can complicate the printing process and lead to less satisfactory results.

• When using a transparent background, ensure the image is in PNG format.

• If you want to personalize a black mug, try to use designs with a transparent background, otherwise, if it is white, the printed result will not be the same as you see on your computer.

Which is the best printing method to personalize mugs?

Printing on mugs is not an arbitrary technique. In fact, there is a quite long list of printing methods and each of them has its pros and cons. It is important to know them all in order to choose the best printing method for the products and designs you want to offer.

Transfer Printing

✅ It guarantees color accuracy and durability

✅It admits vibrant prints

✅It is cost-effective for small orders

✅It allows customization and wraparound designs

❌It is less durable

❌The transfer film can be visible

❌Small elements and text can be problematic

Direct Screen Printing

✅It is perfect for colored and white mugs

✅It is durable

✅It is suitable for complex images

❌It requires long set-up time

Digital Printing

✅It is fast and cost-effective

✅It is eco-friendly

❌It is suitable for limited mug materials

❌It is not Suitable for dishwashers and microwaves

UV Printing

✅It’s Eco-friendly

✅It guarantees accurate prints

❌It can be expensive

❌It can be prone to smudging

DYE Sublimation Printing

✅It is fast and durable

✅It’s dishwasher safe

❌It is good just for white mugs

❌It’s high cost

Choose the printing method based on the type of mugs and your audience’s preferences. Make sure you choose a print-on-demand provider that offers the mugs you want to sell in your online store.

How to sell personalized mugs

Once you've selected the best mugs and decided on a printing method, it's time to prepare your online store. Here’s how to seamlessly integrate personalized mugs into your business:

• E-Commerce platform integration:

  Choose an e-commerce platform like Shopify, WooCommerce, or Etsy. These platforms are easy to use and support integrations with personalization tools like Customily and POD services.

  
  

• Connect Customily and POD providers:

  Install Customily on your e-commerce platform and connect it to your chosen POD provider. This allows you to access a catalog of mugs directly through Customily and apply your custom designs to them. If you want to sell your own mugs or use a third party not listed in Customily, you can do that as well. Just create your products using Customily’s product bases and that’s it! 

  
  

• Design and offer personalization:

  With Customily’s built-in design tools, you can create custom products by allowing customers to add personalized text, images, or logos. For quick setup, you can also use ready-made templates that allow easy personalization.

  
  

• Automated production:

  Once a customer personalizes a mug and places an order, Customily generates a print-ready file, which is automatically sent to your POD provider for production and shipping, ensuring a seamless workflow.

  
  

Finally, start your marketing campaign to attract all those customers who are looking for unique mugs and thermos. You can promote your product through social media, email marketing, paid ads as well as collabs, just make sure you know your target audience and how to reach them.

Personalizing mugs and thermoses is a great way to create unique, meaningful products that cater to diverse tastes and preferences. By selecting the right mug, getting creative with designs, and choosing the most appropriate printing method, you ensure that each product stands out. A well-designed and unique mug can turn a simple object into a cherished memory or a promotional item into a branding powerhouse.

Happy customizing! 💫

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ABOUT THE PUBLISHER

Customily Product Personalizer is the best solution to sell personalized products, both in the e-commerce and the print-on-demand market. With the widest range of personalization tools, free clipart designs, realistic live previews that increase conversions, and printing files that help you automate your printing business; Customily is the ally you need to boost your profit margins in a high-competitive market.

Visit our website to learn more about us.

Or try it for FREE on Shopify.

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