Companies are turning to higher quality branded water bottles made of steel or silicone protected glass. Gifts to employees, like quality water bottles, are both incentivizers and motivation boosters, increasing workers’ productivity and staff loyalty. A reusable water bottle isn’t a novelty item which takes up space on a shelf and is inevitably thrown away. Longer lasting water bottles are an economical marketing investment, disseminating a health conscious and unified company image wherever their employees go. About 53% of employees take reusable water bottles with them every day to work, allowing organizations to capitalize on water bottles’ widespread functionality to encourage brand cohesion.

Bottles made from better, temperature resistant materials reduce plastic waste, and allow the company brand to be easily advertised in every-day places. Their versatility makes them a great focal point for other visibility initiatives, like health focused campaigns or even cobranding opportunities which take advantage of another market. For example, many coffee-shop chains around the country offer customers a discount on their purchase if they bring their own tumbler or reusable mug. This could be an advertised promotion for companies with in-office coffee shops, or possibly open the door to brand partnerships with local chains. Partnerships like these could offer deeper discount or free coffee refills for corporate branded bottles and tumblers. The company gets positive exposure, while the coffee chains can save on single use cups and straws. More community engagement like this improves company reputation and rewards employees for promoting brand initiatives outside of their typical workday.

Reusable water bottles could also feature in sustainability campaigns, encouraging customers and employees to make more ecofriendly choices by reducing their single use plastic consumption. Despite the efforts of green organizations to encourage recycling, 90% of single use plastic is never actually recycled, leaving it to waste away in landfills. The same fate awaits cheaply made reusable plastic bottles, even if they last a little longer. This type of plastic can take up to 1,000 years to disintegrate, because the material never actually breaks down; instead, it chips apart into toxic particles which can contaminate the surrounding terrain and waterways. Focusing on these environmental benefits in advertising campaigns is a great move for companies looking to participate in causes or other movements.

From a financial perspective, even well-made water bottles are not any more expensive than other popular employee gift options like sweatshirts or decorative merchandise. Unlike the single-use alternative, stainless steel and silicon protected glass last for years, making either a functional and economical choice, since they almost never need to be replaced. Cheaper reusable bottles made from plastic are still destined to be thrown away or recycled as soon as they begin to break down, which results in recurring cost. By investing in better quality bottles, employees receive more and corporate repurchases are avoided altogether.

The reusable water bottle provides marketers the opportunity to improve the wellbeing of customers and consumers. Those who bring refillable water bottles with them to and from work are more likely to actually drink water, and thus stay hydrated. This is sometimes called the tracking effect, as described by an article on the Johns Hopkins Medicine website. People who have clearly defined goals and visual reminders of their progress towards them are much more likely to achieve their objectives. Smart watches help people hit their activity goals, and refillable water bottles encourage consistent water intake.

With something as simple as a reusable water bottle, brands access a promotional vertical that is not only long lasting, but provides a high return on investment. This item works with the concepts of health consciousness and sustainability, functioning as a marketing tool that follows consumers everywhere they go. If you are looking to explore more effective marketing techniques or how to best make use of reusable water bottles in your branding, feel free to contact the team at Amplifi for more ideas to support your company.

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Written by Hannah Voteur for Amplifi.

Rebottling Your Brand