Greetings to all our craft brewer friends!

It’s nearly summer already, so let’s all breath a sigh of relief as many of us experienced a pretty harsh winter.

As we now begin the transition into the summer months, it's time to think about hot sandy beaches, extended long weekends, backyard BBQ’s, patios and festivals. As a craft brewer, this is also a good time to think about your summertime and yes, upcoming Fall marketing campaigns. With the continued rapid rise and popularity of the Craft Beer movement, we thought it was the perfect time to reach out to you specifically on our blog.

Coaster Factory works with a lot of crafters in North America. We get it. We get your business and understand your trials and tribulations, while we also celebrate your triumphs and successes. In fact, from behind the scenes we cheer your craft beer movement on. The popularity of craft beer is undeniable. Crafters have continued to crop up across the continent as the public's taste for beer becomes more refined — thanks to the trend and increased exposure local labels get when establishments feature your taps.

Craft brewing is more popular than ever!

In this extremely competitive marketplace, craft breweries continue to open at a rate of more than one per day! Now that is astonishing.

Craft brewers face many hurdles as entrepreneurs that go far beyond the complexities of government regulations, red tape policies and licensing. Competition for shelf space, taps and distribution is a growing challenge as the race is on to get products into the hands of thirsty consumers.

The Craft Beer revolution-evolution is shaking up the brewing industry.

The craft brew message is getting through! These are certainly exciting times, but is revolution the right word? We think so. And the numbers speak to that fact!

The Brewers Association, the trade association representing small and independent American craft brewers, released 2013 data on U.S. craft brewing growth.

From the Brewers Association :: As a primary driver of growth in the beer industry, craft brewers saw an 18 percent rise in volume, representing a total of 15.6 million barrels, and a 20 percent increase in retail dollar value. In 2013, craft brewers reached 7.8 percent volume of the total U.S. beer market, up from 6.5 percent the previous year. Additionally, craft dollar share of the total U.S. beer market reached 14.3 percent in 2013, as retail dollar value from craft brewers was estimated at $14.3 billion, up from $11.9 billion in 2012. “With this stellar year, craft has now averaged 10.9 percent growth over the last decade,” said Bart Watson, staff economist, Brewers Association. “Beer drinkers are excited about what small and independent brewers are offering and that is evidenced by the rising production and sales of the craft segment.” 

Additionally, the number of operating breweries in the U.S. in 2013 totaled 2,822, with 2,768 of those considered craft, demonstrating that craft breweries make up 98 percent of all U.S. operating breweries. Combined with already existing and established breweries and brewpubs, craft brewers provided 110,273 jobs, an increase of almost 2,000 from the previous year. “Openings of brewing facilities continue to far outpace closings, demonstrating that the demand for high-quality, local, fuller-flavored beers is only increasing,” added Watson. “The geographic diversity of openings and production growth shows the national nature of this movement. In towns all across the country, craft brewers are creating jobs, delivering innovative products, advancing the beverage of beer and strengthening their local economies.” 

These numbers are especially amazing in light of the fact that overall beer sales by the numbers have decreased across the board, except in craft beer.

Coasters Create a Buzz Around Your Brand

If you’re in the Craft Beer biz, you’re looking to increase exposure and sales.

Even in a digital world, print advertising is still a powerful medium for getting your message across. 

Customized beer coasters are a highly effective way to create brand awareness and increase sales of your beer products.

Coasters are ideal in spreading the word about your BIG events and product launches while also used to promote your brand messaging. 

Beer Coasters Are Your Portable Billboard for Marketing

Today there are literally billions of drink coasters manufactured each year. Next to the billboard, coasters are one of the oldest traditional forms of advertising communication. Imprinted with your slogan, colors and logo, promotional beer coasters can be quite trendy too providing an inexpensive way for targeting your potential. Promotional beer coasters are a great complement to your ongoing beer brand and brewery advertising campaigns. As marketing collateral pieces go, beer coasters can be easily circulated as an ambient media through brewpubs, bars, clubs, hotels, eateries, trade shows and festivals.

Drive sales and build customer loyalty using drink coasters

Building brand awareness and customer loyalty is one of the most difficult goals for any company to achieve. Restaurants and bars are obvious businesses that can benefit from promotional beer coasters. First thing that comes to mind is that they are practical and inexpensive. While customers are waiting for their order to arrive, they can promote everything from add-on food and beverage items to rewards programs and contests. Branded Beer Coasters are also the perfect promotional gift giveaway, not only to attract new customers but also to show appreciation to old ones. People LOVE free stuff.

Beer coasters are practical, inexpensive, and placed properly can be very visible to your target audience. Custom designed coasters can be specifically used to target different segments of your market. 

Drink coasters have one of the lowest-cost-per-impressions. Compare the value of promotional products such as coasters to other forms of advertising, and research consistently shows your marketing dollar goes further with promotional products. It’s a simple and yet very effective way to connect with your customers and establish a long and lasting relationship.

Promotional beer coasters can help you generate the sales you need in order to maximize your success. A very affordable way to advertise, coasters can be personalized in full color and virtually any design.

Beer coasters can serve as a subtle or high impact targeted form of bar advertising. Advertising on beer coasters is a cost effective way to promote your company and your product-line. Using beer coasters as an advertising vehicle has been true tried and tested for many decades and has been a real success for many businesses. Beer coasters are also popular collectibles and serve well as unique promotional gifts that are always appreciated by many people.

Put our beer coasters to work for YOU!

Coasters are the best cost-effective and flexible solution for your co-branding promotions between restaurants, clubs and bars.

• Provide beer coasters personalized with your own logo FREE to bars and watch your sales increase.
• Beer coasters are a great way to advertise what YOU have to offer.
• Beer coasters help to increase sales revenue and have proven ability to promote brand awareness.
• From Short-Run orders of less than 500 coasters to High-Volume print runs into the thousands, even into millions, we manufacture the highest quality custom beer coasters at affordable prices.
• In no time your new beer coasters can be working for you.

Our most popular product is our Value Pack beverage coasters, which are very economical and great for just about every occasion. Value Packs are available in Circle or Square with rounded corners, in either 3½" or 4" sizes in light, medium, heavy weight or custom library shapes. Perfect for orders of 1,200 to 25,000 with standard pricing. CLICK HERE VISIT OUR SHOWCASE FOR COASTER DESIGN INSPIRATION!

High Quality, Coaster Printing, Colors & Materials: Our offset presses print FULL color (CMYK) on BOTH sides of your coasters (spot color is available). Not only do Coaster Factory's authentic European Pulpboard coasters effectively absorb spills, they’re lightweight, firm, and look great too!

Great Prices: We offer competitive pricing on any size coaster order, from 1,200 into the millions! We have standard value pack pricing for most common quantities and can provide quotes for larger or customized orders. Have your artwork, logo, and design printed full color on both sides with many size and custom shape options.

Fast Delivery: Need your coasters quickly? Whether your order is large or small, you'll receive your custom coasters fast. We offer standard as well as GUARANTEED RUSH production options (extra fees apply).

Off-set printed coasters are 100% recyclable and biodegradable

Add an element of authenticity and flair to your promotion with these thick, durable coasters made from European pulp board.

Need a quote? Click over to our Custom Coaster Quote Form. See our coaster designs by viewing our online Coaster Factory Showcase. ​Check out our FAQ (Frequently Asked Questions) section.

Do you have customization ideas you'd like to try? Talk to one of our representatives and we will look into it for you! Check out our stock library coaster shape pricing options!!

Call Coaster Factory @ 1-866-BEERMAT

blog post by Alex Zafer