logo stamp for paper coffee cups

Jeff/peckishonthepark

Hello everyone we are going to change our paper takeaway cups to three sizes useing  one lid.  We thought about putting our  logo on them with a stamp we would get made up, has anyone tried this?

Kelsey

When I get asked about marketing tactics by clients, I ask them - "what tangible benefit does this have for the customer?" The people buying your coffee are already customers... so what's in it for them? 

derrilex

So, should I not bother putting my name on my resin stuff, or even a serial number ?

Kelsey

on 1341317317:

So, should I not bother putting my name on my resin stuff, or even a serial number ?

Different story D. Your stuff is a premium ongoing-use product. An ink hand stamp on a coffee lid isn't. Although (for the op) you might be able to do something cute, funny or interesting that could met people talking.

askthecoffeeguy

At Foxy Brown we've been stamping our own takeaway cups now for about a month and in that time I'd say that takeaway sales have probably increased by around 30 per cent - I don't have the name of the cafe on the cups at all just an upraised fist facing outwards and the logo 'best damn brown in town' To me it's all about brand recognition and creating a point of difference, as well as a loyal following We've gone from double walled to single walled cups representing a considerable cost saving but have 'value added' by adding a unique point of difference to our branding - and it seems to be working ! Go for it I say! Pat

Brett H

on 1341341520:

At Foxy Brown we've been stamping our own takeaway cups now for about a month and in that time I'd say that takeaway sales have probably increased by around 30 per cent - I don't have the name of the cafe on the cups at all just an upraised fist facing outwards and the logo 'best damn brown in town' To me it's all about brand recognition and creating a point of difference, as well as a loyal following We've gone from double walled to single walled cups representing a considerable cost saving but have 'value added' by adding a unique point of difference to our branding - and it seems to be working ! Go for it I say! Pat

Just brilliant Pat.  I was thinking about cups the other day because a Bar Merlo in the city had no name cups for the larger format.  I was thinking that this was sending a message to customers that if you want American Vats, we'll serve it but not endorse it.  In truth they probably just ran out... BUT?!!

Kelsey

on 1341341520:

At Foxy Brown we've been stamping our own takeaway cups now for about a month and in that time I'd say that takeaway sales have probably increased by around 30 per cent - I don't have the name of the cafe on the cups at all just an upraised fist facing outwards and the logo 'best damn brown in town' To me it's all about brand recognition and creating a point of difference, as well as a loyal following We've gone from double walled to single walled cups representing a considerable cost saving but have 'value added' by adding a unique point of difference to our branding - and it seems to be working ! Go for it I say! Pat

Yep, that's a great idea - just putting your logo on it isn't worth it. It's something that I've been trying to find the time to write about for a while, on the dangers of small businesses thinking like big brands. By stamping a logo (and nothing else) on there, you're thinking like a brand, like you have market share (and more importantly, mind share) - but you don't. No-one knows who you are and half your regulars would be hard-pressed to even remember the name of your business. It's a wasted effort that does nothing to really push your actual business forward. What you're doing Pat is great - you're thinking disruptively and doing things that actually improve your mindshare - and therefore your market share.

Jeff/peckishonthepark

Thankyou for all your comments we have alot of branding from our coffee surplier who I may add we are very happy with, I thought of doing something differant  I make duck bikies and send them out with our dine in coffee they are part of our logo and have been a big hit people like them  and talk about how its nice to get something for nothing.

mycuppa

Wonderful - my pet topic. As someone who has spent many tons of thousands on plates for various cup sizes from 4oz through to 16oz as well as plates for coffee bags, umbrellas, barriers, labels, etc. I have for a very long time closely managed the impact on branding to the end-customer. So acute is my observation and very forward/direct manner in asking and soliciting feedback, that I've formed some very firm views on this topic. There are 3 camps:- Those cafe owners that feel compelled to plaster the coffee brand everywhere (generally, these are also likely to be the same type who have their hand out asking for plenty of freebies - branded of course). I can't always blame the owner as there are still plenty of the old-school reps who feel signage is the most important part of their cafe deal (which by the way indirectly self-promotes for them - especially when the coffee company foots the bill) Those cafe owners that have been through the industry more than once and have some well-gained experience - for some of them it could be the 3rd or 4th cafe. These are less inclined to want tacky coffee company signs all over their cafe and may indeed be strong believers in promoting their own brand and point of difference. Finally, there are those that are un-decided or think they are missing out - afraid to remove the coffee company signs for fear they will lose customers and yet at the same time desiring a more individual branding. My research and evidence point to branding on takeaway cups as being highly ineffective these days. I could be totally wrong, but when I ask strangers walking along the street holding a takeaway cup if the branding influenced their decision, almost 100% say no. That's after the funny look they give me. Similarly, I have a lot of friends that work in the city - Melbourne. When I ask them if they buy takeaway coffees they say yes - plenty. Then I ask "what is the branding on the takeaway cup" they look at me strange and say they don't know. I even ask what color and if it's plain versus branded.......I am yet to have someone answer the question without the need to pay attention the next day and text me the result while they have it in their hand. Having stated all this, I have come across a few people who swear they will never drink brand XXXXXX, brand YYYYY or brand ZZZZZ coffee. Case in point, this only proves that one bad experience at a cafe can taint a consumers view of that brand - in all likelihood the issue was probably isolated to that cafe and you have to feel sorry for the coffee company. I'm sure there are plenty of marketing folks who would love to shoot my theories down. I am also not trying to be a branding grim-reaper. If it is something you think will work, then go for it. I know where I would rather invest my funds/time/attention/focus.

derrilex

Yep I have to agree. I dont pay any attention to anything other than what's in the actual cup. I'm a really hard marker on takeaways and the first couple of sips will determine whether its in the bin or not. You can have the best looking cups in the world but if the content is rubbish it does more damage than anything. You cant polish a turd.

Kelsey

Jeff, I'm a marketing guy and on this one I'm with you 100%. With a few inevitable exceptions, coffee cups are going to be a very poor way of marketing yourself. I've been working with a business consultant to improve his overall presentation aesthetic and he has some very interesting stats along these lines: - 92% of consumers see 'alike' products as too similar to differentiate between - Only 13% buy on price - You can't count on customer satisfaction buying repeat business - 62% never return even if they're happy - Most don't recall anything less than major brands and often can't tell the difference even then - 80% of business is repeat or from word of mouth - Exceptional customer service is the major reason why consumers engage in repeat business In short - if you behave like a brand you'll lose. Be exceptional - not on product (tho that can help with we marginal few who are passionate about that product area) and don't compete on price. A good example on these forums is BeanGreen. No-one has a bad story to tell about that company - instead it's a consistent story of "They delivered much quicker than I expected, responded promptly to enquiries and there's occasionally a little surprise in my delivery." It might not be much, but Brendan has developed a great deal of customer loyalty here and I'm always loathe to buy elsewhere because I *want* to buy from him. Sorry Jeff, I haven't bought from you yet. I've only ever heard good things about you too (and I really need to get some Harrar off you) but I wanted to speak from personal experience on that bit.

Brett H

Brilliant Jeff and K!  This thread has certainly one to the next level.  I don't have anything much to add apart from that I have bought from Jeff and also benefited from his generosity.  Both experiences were ones I'm keen to repeat.  :thumb: