As an entrepreneur who has ordered custom printed products from over a dozen online companies, I can confidently say that DiscountMugs stands head-and-shoulders above the competition – and I’ll tell you why within this extensive, unbiased review.
Overview of DiscountMugs
DiscountMugs, a division of Bel USA LLC, offers an absolutely massive collection of customizable marketing products including mugs, water bottles, bags, shirts, pens, and countless other options perfect for any business, charity, school, or team.
Key Facts About DiscountMugs:
- Florida-based small business operating since 2006
- Specializes in factory direct manufacturing
- 4 warehouses across the U.S.
- ~100 employees
- $15+ million in annual revenue
- Ships to US & Canada
- Known for speedy fulfillment & great service
What I Love About DiscountMugs:
In the 15+ years I’ve been a loyal DiscountMugs shopper, three key advantages make them my go-to for all customizable swag needs:
1. Unbeatable Prices – By controlling manufacturing in-house instead of drop-shipping, DiscountMugs cuts out the middleman markups providing rock-bottom wholesale pricing customers love.
2. Huge Product Variety – With thousands of drinkware styles and promotional products paired with endless customization options, DiscountMugs has the perfect item for every budget and need.
3 – Fast Turnaround – Thanks to their multiple US production facilities and warehouses, DiscountMugs can create and ship incredibly quickly, often delivering within just 1-2 days – astounding for custom work!
Beyond the advantages above, read on for my full analysis across DiscountMugs’ 4 key product categories…
Drinkware – My #1 Category Purchased from DiscountMugs
The first items that likely come to mind when you hear “DiscountMugs” is their incredible assortment of customizable drinkware. As a long-time repeat customer, around 90% of my orders have been mugs, water bottles, stemless glasses, and tumblers – and with good reason!
Drinkware Options:
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| Product | Materials | Sizes | Processing | Prices (Min Qty 100) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ceramic Mugs | Durable stoneware clay | 12oz-20oz | Dye sublimation, screen printing | $1.92 per mug |
| Water Bottles | Glass, plastic (BPA-free) | 12oz-40oz | Decal application, screen printing | $2.76+ per bottle |
| Pint Glasses | Durable glass (soda lime) | 16oz glasses | Direct glass imprinting | $3.12 per glass |
| Stemless Wine | Crystal clear glass | 17oz glasses | Screen printing | $3.72 per glass |
| Heavy Base Mugs | Quality American-made ceramic | 10oz/14oz | Wraparound 360° imprints | $5.40 per mug |
With such an vast selection of drinkware, DiscountMugs has been my go-to for all sorts of events and clients:
Clients I’ve Created Custom Drinkware For:
- Startup Software Company – Stemless glasses for tradeshows
- Local Coffee Shop – Ceramic mugs for retail
- Non-Profit 5K Race – Water bottles for goodie bags
- Basketball Camp – Tumblers sold as fundraiser
- Chiropractor Office – Yeti-style mugs for patients
What I Appreciate About Their Drinkware:
🏆 Quality – Considering the affordable prices, the mug quality from DiscountMugs is truly impressive – they’ve held up wonderfully despite nearly daily use!
🖼️ Printing – From dye sublimation, to screen printing, to etched glass imprinting, logos and custom art always comes out crisp and vibrant.
🛍️ Value – Dollar for dollar, DiscountMugs dominates competition. I priced out identical etched pint glasses elsewhere for 220% more!
With such an exceptional lineup of glassware and mugs, it’s easy to see why drinkware makes up a lion‘s share of DiscountMugs orders (over 735,000 sold annually!)
Bags & Totes – Fantastic Branding Potential
While drinkware may be their bread-and-butter, DiscountMugs offers so much more. After mugs, custom printed bags are my 2nd most purchased product from them!
From tried & true totes to backpacks, cooler bags and drawstring sacks, I’ve found their bags to be a portable yet spacious canvas to promote brands.
My Go-To Bag Order Details:
| Bag | Material | Features | Price (Min 12) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Laminated Non-Woven Tote | Durable polypropylene | Waterproof, reusable grocery bag | $3.48 per tote |
| Cotton Canvas Tote | 12oz cotton canvas | Natural fabric, long handles | $5.76 per tote |
| Drawstring Backpack | 210D nylon | Spacious, sporty, two straps | $4.92 per bag |
I’ve used my custom printed bags from DiscountMugs to:
- Create merchandise for a localotton Canvas Totearts festival
- Make welcome bags for a conference I spoke at
- Package event materials for a 5K I organize
Beyond outstanding prices, I’m always dazzled by how quickly DiscountMugs can turnaround bags without rush fees. Whether for sponsor goodies, vendor freebies, or retail merchandise, DiscountMugs has every style needed for professional branding at bargain costs.
Apparel – Super Soft Custom Tees & Hats
T-shirts, polos, hats and other apparel make outstanding merch because they literally get your brand seen walking around. For one charity event I co-hosted, we ordered over 500 custom shirts from DiscountMugs to give out to participants and volunteers. Despite having under 2 weeks to print and ship them to us from Florida to California, DiscountMugs got them to us with days to spare – now that’s impressive!
My Top Apparel Picks:
| Item | Materials | Sizes | Price (Min 12) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Short Sleeve T-Shirt | 5.3 oz. pre-shrunk cotton | S-4XL | $9.72 |
| Adjustable Twill Hat | Washed cotton twill | One Size | $11.88 |
What I Love About Their Apparel Printing:
👚 Super Soft – Their fashion fit tees feature a soft ring spun cotton that’s both comfy and high end feeling.
🎨 Print Quality – Logos and designs consistently come out vibrant thanks advanced printing equipment.
💯 Ethical – DiscountMugs only works with suppliers that certifiably pay fair wages and craft products under safe, lawful conditions.
I’d easily rate DiscountMugs among the best custom apparel vendors on price, quality and responsible manufacturing standards.
Writing Instruments – Pens, Pencils & More
For reach-building client gifts, trade show goodie bags, or retail merchandise, branded pens or styluses make fantastic affordable products, which is why DiscountMugs offers countless varieties.
In fact, one of my very first orders years back was for custom printed pens to include with pitch decks sent to potential startup investors!
My Pen Recommendations
| Item | Materials | Print Method | Price (Min 100) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bic Sticky Note Pens | Plastic hybrid ink pen | 1-color imprint | $1.44 |
| Aluminum Stylus | Lightweight aluminum | Laser engraving | $3.72 |
Biggest Benefits of Ordering Writing Instruments:
🖊 Low Minimums – Get custom pens, highlighters or marker sets printed with logos starting at just 50 piece minimums
🤝 Giveaways – Pens might be promo 101, but they still work wonderfully to provide value & visibility
🔗 Cross-selling – The high perceived value of pens makes them smart addons to grow order values
While pens may not be revolutionary, DiscountMugs selections, super fast turnaround and pricing makes all the difference.
