PPB January 2018

Dr i nkwa r e You wouldn’t buy a refrigerator without an indoor light, would you? This exclusively licensed and patented light-up cooler from LiT Coolers comes with removable “ice legs” and a unique logo plate in the center of the lid that allows the light to shine through. The cooler is illuminated with a 100-percent waterproof and rechargeable Night Sight LED liner. Coolers are available in three sizes and multiple colors. J-America Wholesale Blanks / PPAI 351699 www.jamericablanks.com The H2go Houston is a 20.9-ounce double wall stainless steel thermal bottle with copper vacuum insulation, a threaded one-touch push- button lid with locking mechanism and a carrying handle. It comes packaged in an individual retail gift box and provides hours of temperature retention for beverages on the go. ETS Express / PPAI 135148 / www.etsexpress.com 54 | JANUARY 2018 | GROW categories, and most notably drinkware. As more and more people strive to get their nutrients in a convenient manner and on-the-go, juicing has become an international craze. If gulping down broccoli for breakfast doesn’t suit your taste, fruit smoothies, protein shakes or green tea are popular, less extreme options. Melissa Ralston, marketing vice president at supplier BICGraphic (PPAI 114187), says, “Fitness is more than a trend, it’s a lifestyle. As health and wellness awareness has increased, so too has the variety of products to support it. We carry shaker bottles, athlete’s bottles and vacuum-insulated drinkware to keep drinks cold through the whole workout.” Green Is The Word With the rise of conscious consumerism, merchandise that is non-toxic and environmentally friendly is a must. Reusable drinkware reduces the consumption of single-use plastic water bottles and provides a healthier alternative. For 2018, May predicts, “Trends will continue to follow the consumer demand for environmentally- friendly products like reusable water bottles. The future will bring design changes to the stainless-steel bottles that are clearly still very popular. Look for black and rose gold with engraved logos as an elegant piece that you can bring nearly anywhere.” In addition, consumers are looking to reduce their carbon footprint by purchasing local products. Local craft beers and wines are gaining popularity, as are locally sourced spirits, coffee, tea and juices. Make It Your Own In our society today, there is a cultural shift away from conformity and toward the adoption of individuality and creativity. For example, the wine industry took note over the past several years as customers dismissed the historic snobbery toward rosé wine, transforming it from passé to chic. Another out-of-the-box idea was the hot-weather invention of the wine slushy—a modern concoction of ice, fruit and wine mixed in a blender. New restaurant and bar concepts celebrating originality are also cropping up. Drink, a modern underground speakeasy in Boston’s seaport district, is fast becoming one of the most popular bars in the city— but you have to find it first. Hidden in a basement without signage, the only indication that it exists is the number of beautiful people entering this nondescript building and lining up on the narrow stairway. If you’re lucky enough to get in, don’t bother asking for the drink menu. You are assigned a bartender who asks you about your tastes, and then he creates a custom cocktail just for you. Just as important as the unique drinks is the glassware in which they are served. Presentation is everything, and customers want their drinkware to be as much of a reflection of their personality as the beverages they are consuming. And don’t even think about skimping on quality. May explains, “Customers are asking for higher- end products since end users are keeping logoed products longer than in the past. Clients want to give away something that will be more of a keepsake, with long-lasting quality.” So now if someone asks you, “What are you carrying?” they may not be talking about your designer bag—they’re probably admiring your drinkware.