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Strategy

Stanley Launches Apparel Line

Consumers can now proudly swear fealty with more than just the brand’s drinkware.

The absolute stranglehold that the Stanley Quencher had on consumers over the past year was more than enough to deem the fast-selling drinking vessel ASI Media’s Product of the Year.

Now, the company has launched an apparel line.

On offer for Stanley fans who want to “Wear the Bear” (the tagline for the collection, in a nod to the brand’s logo) are basics like T-shirts, caps, hoodies, sweatshirts and socks.

This crewneck sweatshirt features two embroidered Quencher tumblers on the left chest.

Colors include black, rose quartz, cream and even Stanley green – in homage to the Hammertone green that Stanley, a brand that’s more than 100 years old, made popular with its classic vacuum bottle for many decades.

The Classic Patch corduroy cap in ginger has an embroidered patch.

Stanley also has T-shirt options for kids, with screen-printing in bright, eye-catching colors.

The Kids Roar Tee in cream has a playful imprint.

Stanley isn’t the first retail drinkware line to expand into clothing. Competitor YETI also has an apparel line with T-shirts, caps and beanies.

In 2023, “Stanley” was the ninth-most-searched term in ESP for the year, according to ASI Research. Between November 2022 and November 2023, search frequency had increased by an impressive 4,500%. “This has been unlike anything we’ve ever seen,” Liz Haesler, chief merchandising officer at Top 40 supplier PCNA (asi/66887), told ASI Media in late 2023. PCNA along with Top 40 firm HPG (asi/61966) and Top 40 supplier Starline USA (asi/89320) offers Stanley drinkware to the promo industry.

In recent weeks, shoppers stormed Target locations to snag a special-edition “Galentine’s Day” Stanley Quencher. Stanley also responded to consumer concerns about lead in the vessels, saying they’re “making progress on innovative, alternative materials for use in the sealing process.” Vacuum-insulated tumblers like the Quencher are often constructed with a small lead pellet in the bottom to seal the insulation. It’s encased in glass and therefore inaccessible by users unless the drinkware is badly damaged.