It may seem like there is always a famous water bottle trending with people, specifically teens and young adults. This idea of trending water bottles is because it’s true. It was Hydro Flasks years ago, but now Stanley water bottles, or quenchers, have taken the reigns. How much are Stanleys sweeping the nation? After being first introduced in 2016, Stanley Quenchers weren’t trendy. In 2019, sales were around $70 million. The projection for sales of Stanleys in 2023 is roughly $750 million, which soars past the sales of 2019.
For years, the Stanley brand did well in selling their famous hammertone green products, primarily directed toward working-class men. The Stanley Quenchers are now off the charts and geared towards people from tween to young adulthood. On December 31, 2023, Stanley released a new “Galentine’s Day Quencher” for the upcoming Valentine’s Day on February 14, 2024.
Selling in Target, these Stanleys were gone within minutes in multiple locations. Hours before the store’s opening time, Americans lined up anxiously awaiting the release of the Valentine’s Day-themed Stanley Quenchers. While not confirmed by Stanley or Target, anyone and everyone who did not have the opportunity to purchase one of these sought-after products will be ready if more are released. After this past week, the only chance of buying these new Stanleys is from resellers online, with a high price range from $200 to $300, compared to the usual $33 to $55 cost of 40-ounce Stanley tumblers.
Tweens, teens, and young adults are the main popular buyers of Stanley steel and sealed water bottles, but only some in those age ranges are pro-Stanley. Eighth-grade student Elizabeth McGann says, “Even though they (Stanleys) have nice colors, it is not worth it. I have had a Hydro Flask for years and still like that color too.” Stanley Quencher colors might be appealing, but McGann finds that other brands provide similar, if not the same, options. “The most popular type of Stanley typically doesn’t even fit in backpacks, which is inconvenient for a student who uses a backpack daily, and they spill when knocked over because of the straw,” continues McGann. “They aren’t worth buying, in my opinion, because they are trending now but might not be next year, which means no one will want to use them the same way they do now.”
With negatives, there are always positives. 12-grader Meghan Kessler has a positive outlook on Stanleys. “Besides being super cute and in right now, Stanleys are also so well made and do a really good job at keeping your drink cold,” Kessler answered when asked if Stanleys are worth the hype. While she also uses a Hydro Flask, Kessler would love a red or pink Stanley water bottle as we get closer to Valentine’s Day.
The fate of Stanleys is unknown for 2024. Will a rival company gain or regain popularity? From the looks of things, everything will remain the same except for more growth for the Stanley empire.
Source:
https://www.cnn.com/2024/01/04/business/stanley-cup-valentines-day-target/index.html
https://www.news5cleveland.com/why-are-stanley-cups-so-popular-and-selling-for-hundreds-of-dollars
https://www.cbsnews.com/philadelphia/video/new-target-stanley-cups-cause-mayhem-at-stores/
