Hi there, I’ve been thinking about offering personalized engraving on tumblers, especially with the Stanley/Starbucks tumblers being so popular right now. Imagine being able to customize them with the owner’s name, initials, or unique designs. Seems like a great idea to try. I’ve taken a design course before and know how to use Adobe Illustrator, so I don’t think pattern design would be too hard for me.
I would love to hear your experiences if you’ve done something similar in a customized business! I’m curious about everything—how do you move from production to sales?
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Customized tumblers and thermoses are already a pretty crowded market. Honestly, I think protecting your designs from being copied might be harder than offering just customization.
Zen said:
Customized tumblers and thermoses are already a pretty crowded market. Honestly, I think protecting your designs from being copied might be harder than offering just customization.
I make custom leather patch blocks for hats and work with patterns customers provide. If any of the designs are original, it only takes about two months before I start seeing knockoffs pop up on Etsy.
@Zen
I think the key point that sets individual designs apart from mass production is the level of detail. If I could add more complexity to my customizations, I think that would make it stand out more
Noel said:
Uniqueness or targeting local customers could really help with side-gigging.
It might be great to partner with local businesses. If you’re still in school, maybe try working with a school club to produce something with their logo!
It’s a good product idea, but I think the market is already saturated. Unless you can get tumblers at a discount to undercut your competition, it might be better to pass on it. Check out existing competition on Etsy and other niche online marketplaces. The good news is your skills are transferable, and if you keep exploring new options, you’ll likely find something that works. Good luck!
