Have you ever wondered how to start a tumbler business and make money?
You’re in the right place.
Tumblers are drinking containers; their material can be stainless steel, plastic, glass, or ceramic. Giving them an attractive epoxy painting and sublimation design are the popular ways.
According to a research report of (lucintel.com) the US tumbler market is experiencing steady growth, projected to reach a value of USD 1.9 billion by 2028, with a CAGR (Compound Annual Growth Rate) of 8.8% (2023-2028).
In this post, we’ll discuss the following:
- Basic market research
- Master the art of design.
- Pick the perfect supplies.
- Business setup process
- Marketing strategies
A successful launch hinges on knowing the proper process and steps. If you’re considering starting a tumbler business, there’s never been a better time to jump in.
Let’s discuss the steps.
How to start a Custom tumbler business?
1. Conduct market research.
Designing a tumbler requires skills, creativity, and painting supplies; it is a simple business model, but one still needs to understand the selling, marketing, and business setup process.
Decorated and custom tumblers have become popular as people are attracted to unique and personalized designs. It gives a beautiful look, uniqueness, durability, and sustainability, the main thing that grabs people’s attention.
Before starting the business, conduct proper research to understand the different types of tumbler designs, types of tumblers, competition, market demand, opportunities, etc.
First, understand your target customer base, know their need and interests, and also analyze the demographic (age, gender, location, lifestyle, etc).
Focus on identifying the right customer base.
Here are some quick steps to define your ideal Tumbler buyer:
Understand the demographics:
- Age: Are they teens, young adults, professionals, or retirees?
- Location: Urban, suburban, or rural areas?
- Lifestyle: Analyze their lifestyle, income, and interest.
Dive into Psychographics:
- Interests: Sports, travel, art, or sustainability?
- Values: Eco-friendly, health-conscious, or socially responsible?
- Personality: Bold, playful, or minimalist?
Observe their Habits:
- What do they drink? Coffee, tea, smoothies, or water.
- Where do they go? Work, gym, travel, or home.
- How do they shop? Online, in stores, or at craft fairs.
You can research using market research tools, analyze social media and industrial publications, and check market reports (IBISWorld, Statista) and surveys (Google Forms, SurveyMonkey, Google Trends).
2. Develop your skills
Making money by selling tumblers is an easy and creative process that requires proper preparation, planning, research, and dedication.
Develop your designing skills, learn how to paint, what supplies are required, how the process works, safety precautions, and best practices. d
Before starting painting, here are some points to consider:
- What are your interests and skills? (painting, crafting, design)
- Do you have a specific niche in mind? (pop culture, nature, inspirational quotes)
- What kind of customer are you trying to reach? (young adults, professionals, pet owners)
- What’s your budget for supplies and equipment?
The next important point is to learn the different techniques of tumbler design and follow the popular Trend, focus on customer demand, and choose a technique according to your choice.
- Epoxy resin: It provides a glassy finish, best for a stunning effect like (glitter swirls) which make it highly attractive. Read – Glitter tumbler DIY tutorial.
- Alcohol Inks: This technique creates unique watercolor-like designs suitable for makers and attracting buyers.
- Vinyl Decals: This process is also best for clean lines, precise designs, and in terms of affordability, which makes it a popular choice for tumbler painting.
- Acrylic Painting is best for creating detailed designs, layering, and stenciling.
Growing Trends:
- Hydro Dipping: This technique’s mesmerizing patterns and unpredictable nature create unique pieces and cater to customers seeking eye-catching designs.
- Sublimation: This transfer method allows for vibrant and permanent printing of photographs or designs, perfect for personalized gifting or brand representation.
You can select a design technique depending on your target customer, skills, resources, and budget. Also, understand the pros and cons of those methods before deciding.
Skills for Tumbler business:
Considering the custom tumbler business, you’ll need some skills.
For great tumbler designs, blending creativity (visuals, illustration, typography, branding) with technicality (design software, printing, material knowledge, business skills) is important.
As well as basic knowledge in photography, social media marketing, understanding online presence, and good customer service for success.
Where to learn the skills?
You can explore different resources for learning the skills.
Get Formal Education:
Enroll in a graphic design, illustration, or digital media program to learn basic design, software, and technical skills.
Online Resources:
- Online Courses: You can learn from (Skillshare, Udemy, and CreativeLive); these are the best platforms for learning skills.
- YouTuber Tutorials: Many talented content creators on YouTube offer free tutorials from basic to advanced; you can learn everything from this platform.
- Blogs and Website: You can read blog posts, articles, and textual tutorials for learning.
Community and Mentorship:
Join online communities (Reddit, Facebook groups) and connect with experienced creators.
Practice and Independent Learning:
Practice and Independent Learning: Self-learning, practice, experimenting with different materials, and learning from mistakes are the most important to gain experience.
So, continuously learn and put in your dedication and hard work to make more creative designs.
During the practice process, start by buying basic supplies (buy some blank tumblers and painting kits). It takes time to develop expertise, but give time in practice; your creativity will refine over time.
Buy equipment and supplies.
Before you invest in any supplies, take some time to understand your skills, interests, and budget. Once you have a clear picture, you can create a targeted list of the materials, tools, and supplies you’ll actually need.
Here is the basic list of tumbler designing supplies information; depending on your requirements, you can consider.
Supplies for sublimation printing:
- Sublimation printer & ink
- Sublimation paper
- Heat press
- Heat tape/adhesive spray
- Sublimation tumblers
- Heat resistant gloves
- Butcher paper
- Computer and design software
Optional option:
- Tumbler turner
- Sublimation wraps
Equipment and supplies for tumbler designing:
Basics:
- Tumblers: Choose high-quality, double-walled, stainless steel tumblers in various sizes and shapes (20oz, 30oz, skinny, etc.).
- Blanks: If using vinyl or sublimation, you’ll need blank tumblers with appropriate coatings.
- Epoxy Resin: If you’re adding a glassy finish, choose two parts: epoxy resin and hardener. Consider UV and food-grade options depending on your designs.
Design Materials:
- Glitter and Mica Powders: Invest in high-quality glitter and mica powders in various colors and sizes for vibrant effects.
- Alcohol Inks: Create stunning watercolor-like designs with vibrant alcohol inks.
- Paints and Markers: Acrylic paints and permanent markers are useful for details and smaller designs.
- Brushes and Sponges: Different brushes and sponges help apply paints, inks, and epoxy.
- Sandpaper: Use fine-grit sandpaper to prep the tumbler surfaces for better adhesion.
Tools and Equipment:
- Heat Gun and Torch (optional): A heat gun helps cure epoxy and shrink wrap, while a torch can create fire effects on inks.
- Gloves and Safety Equipment: Protect yourself with gloves, masks, and goggles while working with epoxy and fumes.
Optional Advanced Tools:
- Tumbler Turner: This rotates your tumbler while you work, saving time and ensuring even application.
- Mixing Cups and Stirrers: Measure and mix epoxy and paints with dedicated cups and stirrers.
- Safety Razors: Use for removing vinyl scraps or imperfections.
- Transfer Tape: Helps apply vinyl designs seamlessly onto the tumbler.
- Vinyl Cutter or Heat Press (optional): If you’re using vinyl, consider a vinyl cutter or heat press for creating and applying custom designs.
Consideration: Choose a ventilated workstation for the tumbler designing, because there are many chemicals are used on the process. Always wear safety gloves and glasses.
Heat press
Tumbler Turner
3. Write a tumbler business plan
Write a solid business plan with a proper structure that builds up the foundation of a startup. It helps, like a GPS, provide a roadmap to make the venture successful.
Having a well-written plan is helpful regardless of the business size, industry, and business type.
The recommendation is to create an easy-to-understand plan for your tumbler business; with research, add the essential points in the documented plan.
Thinking too much can stall progress. Instead, capture your vision in a clear and concise plan, no matter how big or small your idea. Start with a simple notebook or explore convenient online templates. A basic plan gets you moving, and you can always refine it later.
A Tumbler business plan should include the following:
- Executive Summary
- Business Description
- Product Description
- Competitors Data
- SWOT Analysis
- Marketing strategy
- Pricing Plan
- Operational plan
- Financial Projections
- Management Team
- Exit Strategy
These are the basic outlines; follow the (U.S. Small Business Administration) guide to learn the basics of writing a business plan and its process.
4. How much does it cost to start a tumbler business?
If any person thinks of starting a business, the first thing that comes to mind is the startup cost and financial budget.
Knowing the startup cost is a good idea because if you do not know how much the cost will be required, it won’t be easy to buy all the equipment and supplies on the right budget.
For estimating the investment, define the business size (small scale or large scale), supplies, commercial space, rental fees, legalities, marketing cost, inventory, ongoing expenses, etc.
Calculate the necessary equipment, raw materials, painting kits, etc. Accordingly, you can know how much the business will cost.
If you want to start from home – there is no high management cost; you can manage the business yourself and hire 2-3 employees together for help.
The initial minimum startup cost is around $2,000-$5,000, depending on your business scale and design method (sublimation, other custom painting).
Note: The cost is only estimated, depending on supplies, location, and business goals, the budget can vary.
Arrange funds for your business.
Starting a tumbler business requires several pieces of equipment, supplies, and materials, such as bulk tumblers, painting kits, packaging kits, marketing materials, etc.
Also, we’ve already discussed what is needed for a tumbler business; you need to arrange adequate funds to purchase them.
If you have sufficient funds, preferring self-funding can be the best and most straightforward option, but if you don’t have much budget, explore potential funding sources.
Here are your funding options:
- Ask your friends and family.
- Government grants or loans
- Use Crowdfunding platforms
- Get traditional bank loans.
- Consider an SBA business loan.
Also, there are various ways to arrange funds; you can research and explore more different sources. Start from a small scale and learn the market properly; once you succeed, you can expand your business with time.
5. Fulfill the business legal formalities
Obtain the required licenses and permits to run a tumbler business in your location. Follow the state and local regulations; if your area’s legal requirements are essential, they must be obtained.
Licenses and permits are not necessarily required in every state. Before taking any action, research the requirements where you operate and get guidance from a qualified professional, such as a business consultant or local accountant.
You can also contact a legal adviser or local business licensing office for specific guidance about legal formalities.
- Business License (local or state)
- Sales tax permits
- Employment Identification Number
- Licensing for specific designs (copyright)
For company registration, defining the business entity is an essential step. Also, depending on your budget and planning, you should select whatever structure you want to start with.
Register your business by choosing a legal structure (sole proprietorship, LLC, or corporation); consider tax, liability, and ownership when choosing a legal structure.
Register as per the requirements of the state, local, and federal levels,
Information on licensing, permits, and registration can be found on the official website of the relevant state & country; if you want to learn more visit the US Small Business Administration SBA website (for the USA).
Note: Visit your state and country’s official website to find legal information.
6. Choose a tumbler business name
Your business name is the first and most important thing to bring attention to your brand, so choose a name that creates a positive first impression for your business.
Many struggle to choose a good name for their business, company, or shop.
That is why we’ll guide you on how to choose a name, how the name should be, and the important things you need to consider.
Make sure your startup name is small and unique. Also, you must have noticed that the old established companies are also small names; their names are often short and unique.
Most people don’t remember big names, so try to make the name short and creative.
Here are a few steps to help you choose an attractive name for your business.
- Use the business name generator tool to find names.
- Avoid using numbers, underscores, hyphens, and symbols.
- Select a web-friendly, memorable, and unique name.
- A domain name should be available to the business name.
- Don’t use a copyrighted name (find unique)
Buy a domain name
How to buy a domain:
When you choose a name for a Tumbler business, if you get a domain name with the same name, buy it too because you have to create a website on that name itself.
Domain name: For example, if your business name is (Tumbler Art), then the domain should be (tumblerart.com); this is a simple way to register a domain name.
Domain extensions: While “.com” is common. Also, you can consider (.shop, .co, .us. etc.)
Where to Buy:
For a domain name, the best registrar, such as GoDaddy and Namecheap. Create your account and register a domain; the cost is around $5-$10+, depending on the extension.
7. Create a Packaging and pricing strategy
Packaging and pricing are key elements influencing your brand, customer perception, and purchasing decisions.
Packaging Your Tumblers
Packaging is crucial in attracting customers and creating a positive impression of your brand.
Importance of packaging:
- Brand perception
- Boosts customer satisfaction
- Drives social media engagement
- Protects your products
For packaging, choose durable, visually appealing materials; make sure to add your branding (logo, brand details, social profile ID, and pricing on packaging).
Tumbler packaging Material:
- Corrugated cardboard
- Paperboard
- Plastic packaging
- Foam and soft material
- Use gift boxes
How to price custom tumblers
Pricing custom tumblers is not difficult but requires research to determine perfect pricing; you can review online e-commerce sites, offline store pricing, and social media to get an idea.
On Amazon, the custom tumblers’ pricing varies ($10-$50).
Before setting up the pricing, analyze your competitors and their pricing, product quality, designs, patterns, colors, packaging, etc.
9. Create a professional website
A website is essential for selling products, promoting business, and creating an online presence. Having a website is important for running your business as a brand.
A website for your tumbler business is key for:
- Showcasing and selling: Stunning visuals, online store, global reach.
- Brand boost: Credibility, professionalism, community building.
- Customer insights: Data for targeted marketing and improved strategy.
- Direct sales: No reliance on others, control over profits and relationships.
Building a website from scratch requires technical and creative skills such as (Web design, Website Setup, Basic coding skills, WordPress knowledge, and Customization skills); these are only the basic requirements.
If you don’t know about website creation and SEO, you must hire a web developer to build a professional website for your business.
Basic steps to create a website for business:
- Step 1: Choose a domain name
- Step 2: Buy hosting
- Step 3: Set up your website
- Step 4: Create essential pages
- Step 5: Promote your website
Step 1: Choose a domain name
For creating a website, the first step is to choose a domain name that should be relevant to your business or website topic (already discussed).
You can buy the domain name from popular domain registrars (GoDaddy, Namecheap, etc.).
Step 2: Buy hosting
After you have chosen a domain name, the next step is to purchase hosting for your website.
Various hosting providers are available (Hostinger, Bluehost, Siteground, Hostgator). Also, you can research and choose one that offers reliable service and fits within your budget.
Step 3: Set up your website
Once you have purchased hosting, you can set up your website.
This involves installing a content management system (CMS) such as WordPress, allowing you to manage and update your website content easily.
You may also need to configure settings and customize the appearance of your website.
Step 4: Create essential pages
After setting up your website, now is time to create essential pages such as the homepage, About page, contact page, and any other pages relevant to your business or website purpose.
Add other pages like Services, Products, Blog, Portfolio, or FAQs, depending on your website’s purpose.
Step 5: Promote your website
Promote your website and utilize search engine optimization (SEO), social media marketing, content marketing, and online advertising to increase visibility and drive traffic.
Regularly update and refresh content on your site to keep visitors engaged.
By following these steps and investing time in each stage, you can create a successful website that represents your brand or business online.
10. Best way to promote your business
Digital marketing and promotion are crucial for businesses to increase leads & establish a brand. With the rise of online shopping, having a strong online presence or website is important.
For promoting your tumbler business, there are many ways to market & brand your service.
- Social media marketing
- Influencer collaborations
- Community building
- SEO optimization
- Email Marketing
- Free content marketing
- Rund paid ads
Digital marketing, online marketing is the best and most effective way to promote a product or service through (SEO, Social Media Marketing, Paid marketing, Advertising, etc.).
Also, you can try that technique to grow your business and create a huge user base with an online marketing process.
Use those strategies to promote your products and provide the best customer service to grow your venture.
FAQs (Frequently Asked Questions)
Here are some related questions that people often ask about the business.
How to start a tumbler business at home?
To start from home, choose a perfect ventilated space, buy the essential supplies, design, decorate, and sell the personalized tumbler online or locally, research, and start with low-cost supplies.
How much does it cost to start a tumbler business?
Startup costs range from DIY-friendly ($100) to pro-level equipment ($2000+), depending on your desired customization methods.
Is a tumbler business worth it?
Yes, starting a tumbler business can be worth it and a profitable opportunity. Your skills, goals, effort, market demand, competition, pricing, marketing, and strategies depend on your skills.
How big is the tumbler industry?
According to a report on digitaljournal.com, the global Tumbler market is booming! Valued at $614 million in 2021, it’s projected to surge to $954 million by 2027, thanks to a healthy 7.6% annual growth rate.
What is the cost of a tumbler?
Tumbler costs can range from $1 for disposable plastic to $50+ for high-end, custom-designed stainless steel ones. It all depends on material, size, brand, and features.
Which material is used for the tumbler?
Tumblers come in popular plastic, glass, stainless steel, and ceramic materials.
Final Thought
Starting a tumbler business is a profitable opportunity, as it gained popularity due to the growing functionality and aesthetic appeal demand.
The custom-designed tumblers have a targeted market and a huge customer base; additionally, selling tumblers is easier as the online e-commerce industry grows.
Before you launch your business, conduct proper research, identify your target audience, make a strategy, write a plan, and start with dedication.
Let me know if you have any questions related to the Tumbler business.
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