Custom bottle openers are personalised tools for opening bottles. Bottles that usually have metal caps, such as many beer and soft drink bottles do. These openers can be customised in many different ways to match specific brand characteristics and, at the same time, match the preferences of the audience that is meant to use them. Options to customise a bottle opener are primarily the material, the overall design, the branding, personalisation and functional enhancements.
A custom bottle opener can help distinguish a brand in multiple ways. The first option is a unique shape. One that aligns with the brand’s identity makes the product eye-catching and extra valuable.
Integrating a brand’s color palette reinforces the uniqueness of the product and helps create a stronger connection to the brand it represents. An important decision when designing a custom bottle opener is the logo placement. Unless a brand intentionally opts for sublety, the logo needs to be easily visible each time the product is being used. The choice of quality level and material will have a direct impact on how the product will be perceived. High quality materials such as stainless steel, wood or diecast metal help position a brand as premium. Eco-friendly options such as sustainable or recycled materials will help position a brand as environmentally conscious and socially responsible.
Another aspect of great importance is the practicality of the bottle opener. How easy is it to use the product? How well does it perform its function of opening a bottle? If the product does not reach a high level here, it will fire back on the brand and almost certainly create a negative experience for the user. Reversely, a bottle opener that is easy to use contributes to creating goodwill towards the brand. In terms of functionality, a bottle opener can be equipped with additional functions, too. For example the function of a corkscrew or a keychain can add further value.
Bottle openers can work with personalisation. Each single unit can have a personalised name or message, e.g. via laser engraving or a printed label. This can make the product extra relevant to different target audiences or individual consumers. Bottle openers offer lasting value because they are used on a regular basis, which means they keep the brand in front of consumers over a long time. Whilst using them chances are other people will notice them and the brand they represent. Particularly if they offer novelty, which means have a highly unusual design not seen before. Such bottle openers can generate buzz and make the audience e.g. share images of the product online which extends the brand’s reach.
When it comes to novelty and creativity, a special subcategory of bottle openers are collectibles. Some brands will offer a themed or even a limited edition of a particular bottle opener. This way they are offering exclusitivity and attract collectors. This might happen during a special event, e.g. a premier showing of a movie. Or, talking about themes, it might be a Christmas related bottle opener.
By leveraging the above aspects, custom bottle openers can help achieve improve brand differentiation, strengthen brand identity and foster customer loyalty.
There exist a lot of different ways to integrate custom bottle openers into marketing efforts.
One can use them as promotional giveaways, e.g. at fairs, conferences and other events. To increase brand visibility and attract potential customers. These can be personalised, too.
Bottle openers are often part of a brand’s merchandise product line, especially in the beverage industry. This means companies sell branded bottle openers, e.g. at their own visitor centre or webshop.
Custom bottle openers can be used as memorabilia, e.g. at sports events or music concerts. Fans appreciate custom bottle openers that are featuring a team’s or band’s logo and event dates. Since bottle openers are small items, fans appreciate the fact that they can easily take these with them after such events, to remind them of their experience.
The functional value of bottle openers is not to be underestimated. Particularly if additional functions are being added, like corkscrews for opening wine bottles or a keychain to connect keys. Everyone needs a bottle opener at some point in time. Particularly outlets such as bars or restaurants that, throughout the day, will use them very often, ensuring the brand is exposed to consumers.
Custom bottle openers can be used as gift items for employee recognition and client appreciation. By doing so one can strengthen employee and client relationships.
As part of promotional campaigns, a brand team can manage offline and online, e.g. via social media channels, contests where participants can win custom bottle openers. A common marketing abbreviation, particularly within the Fast Moving Consumer Goods world, is GWP, Gift With Purchase. As another option of a promotional campaign, one can offer a free custom bottle opener when buying a product, thus increasing revenue.
Items such as custom bottle glorifier can be part of customer loyalty programs. They can be redeemed via reward points one has gained or used, if the product is of exceptional quality, as part of a reward package for VIP customers.
No brand works in isolation. Partnerships with other brands, to create co-branded bottle openers, offer an opportunity to expand reach. Sponsorships, e.g. of a sports team or a sports event such as the upcoming European Football Championship 2024, enable brands to use custom bottle openers in sponsorship packages, connecting the brand with a strong other brand.
Direct mail campaigns are a common marketing tool. Custom bottle openers, due to their relatively small size, can be easily integrated as thoughtful gifts into such campaigns. These could be linked to particularly milestones a customer, business partner or employee has reached.
Social media and influencer marketing offer another opportunity. Influencers can showcase custom openers in their content and customers can share photos of themselves using the openers on social media, e.g. Instagram, Snapchat and Facebook.
All of the above practical applications offer great ways of integrating custom bottle openers into marketing activities. By doing so one can foster a positive brand image whilst increasing both brand visibility and sales.
Choosing the right custom bottle opener
How does one go about choosing the right custom bottle opener? A key element to start with is to use the power of design. Either by collaborating with an in-house designer, a freelance designer, a designer who works for an agency or maybe, like in our case here at PES, with a supplier who has their own, in-house design team.
It is important to focus on expertise regarding product design here. If the designer has expertise in the domain of engineering, too, that’s even better. It might only be required if the design is an extremely challenging one and therefore requires expertise regarding tool development, though.
Whoever the designer will be, he will rely on a quality brief. One that, ideally, covers all of the following aspects:
A custom bottle opener will be a physical representation of your brand. Therefore it needs to perfectly align with your brand identity and the campaign it will be part of.
Looking for custom bottle openers for your brand? Take a look at our work or contact us to explore a potential cooperation.
