Aren’t all drink glasses the same? Why stock different glasses when they do the same thing? How are water glasses different from beer glasses? For the glass novice, these are all legitimate questions. What may not be apparent straight away is that the shape and feel of a glass are often intrinsically linked to the feel and experience of the beverage that it holds.
The drink glasses market therefore is constantly evolving to accommodate changing trends, lifestyles, and environmental concerns. Here, we’ll delve into six noteworthy glasses trends for home buyers and businesses to leverage in 2024.
Table of Contents
An overview of the drinkware market in 2024
6 examples of trending drink glasses
Drinkware trends every retailer should understand before investing
Summary
An overview of the drinkware market in 2024
The drinkware market is growing steadily and is forecast to increase at a 6.32% CAGR from USD 750.86 million in 2023 to USD 1.152 billion by FY 2030.
The primary driver for the growth is increased consumer spending in bars, restaurants, and hotels, which combined generated the most revenue in 2023. In addition, the glass segment currently dominates the market due to its more sustainable nature.
6 examples of trending drink glasses
As the industry continues to grow, it’s time to look at which glasses make the most sense investing in in the coming years.
1. Beer glasses
Mugs or pint glasses may be the most popular beer glass options, but retailers should also look into selling a variety of many styles. For example, beyond the classic varieties, tulip glasses are perfect for ales and hoppy beers. Another fantastic option are pilsner glasses, ideal for lighter beers.
Based on Google search volume data, beer glasses are doing well search-wise, averaging 74,000 hits in 2023. Demand for these glasses soared during Christmas and New Year to 90,500 and 110,000 searches, respectively.
2. Wine glasses
Red wine glasses are designed so that the wine within is able to aerate, “relaxing” the compounds that may otherwise be slightly bitter. Hence, red wine glasses typically have wider brims and bowls than those made for white wine.
On the other hand, white wines are best chilled, so white wine glasses are often smaller with narrower brims to help the wine maintain an optimal temperature and trap its aroma. Plus, their longer stems prevent the drink from being warmed by the hand.
Red wine glasses averaged 40,500 searches in 2023 before surging by 70% during the holidays to 90,500. They have averaged 49,500 searches so far in 2024 and will likely witness another boost in demand at the end of the year.
Generally, white wine glasses are less popular than their red wine counterparts, but they still boast an impressive audience. For example, they received on average 22,200 searches per month in 2023 before peaking at 40,500 during the winter holiday season – a 22% uptick.
3. Margarita glasses
Nothing quite beats an icy margarita out of the proper wide-rimmed and salted glass. Margarita glasses are designed for fun and also feature long stems to keep the drink cool.
Like other drink glasses on this list, searches for margarita glasses surged during the Christmas and New Year holidays, peaking at 90,500 searches. However, unsurprisingly for a summer cocktail, average monthly searches of 49,500 also jumped significantly by 10% to 60,500 in July and by 20% to 74,000 in August, so consider stocking appropriately during these times.
4. Rocks glasses (old-fashioned glasses)
Rock glasses are wide-brimmed, squat glasses that are designed to hold 6 to 14 ounces of whiskey-based cocktails, such as an old-fashioned, as well as straight single or double shots.
Rocks glasses are one of the few glasses that maintain interest after the holidays, averaging 27,100 searches in 2023 and rising by 40% to 40,500 in the New Year.
5. Hurricane glasses
Hurricane glasses are another classic style that no bartender should be without. Tall with shorter stems, these glasses are made for pina coladas, frozen daiquiris, and, as the name suggests, Hurricane cocktails.
While Hurricane glasses don’t tend to register an uptick in searches during the winter holidays, they do receive a massive boost in the summer, witnessing a 320% rise to 201,000 searches in August 2024, as opposed to the 40,500 they eceived in the first half of the year.
6. Tumblers
Finally, you have your standard tumbler glasses for everyday drinks. Typically, these can hold up to 15 ounces and are great for everything from smoothies to cocktails to just plain old water.
According to Google ads, tumblers are consistently popular, boasting 60,500 searches since the beginning of 2024.
Drinkware trends every retailer should understand before investing
Hyper-personalization and customization
There is a growing demand for unique and personalized items in the drink glasses market. Therefore, retailers should consider offering some additional features when it comes to selling glasses, including:
- Customization: Consumers want glasses that reflect their tastes, including the option to engrave their names, initials, or special dates onto the glass
- Design freedom: Beyond simple engravings, retailers can offer advanced customization options with their glassware, like painting, etching, and even 3D printing, allowing consumers to order more intricate and highly personalized designs
- Limited edition and exclusive offerings: Retailers can attract customers by offering limited edition or exclusive designs, appealing to those who are on the lookout unique and collectible pieces
- Interactive customization: To provide an even more unique service, retailers can offer online tools or in-store experiences where customers can design their glasses from scratch, choosing colors, patterns, and fonts
Experiential drinkware
The experiential drinkware trend is about enhancing the overall drinking experience beyond just functionality. Consumers seek glasses that engage their senses and make their beverages more enjoyable. If you’re looking to branch out into this segment, make sure to stock items that provide:
- Sensory experiences: Glasses with unique textures, shapes, or materials can create interesting tactile and visual sensations that enhance the drink. For instance, ribbed glasses can improve the aroma of wine, while colored glass can affect how consumers perceive the taste.
- Flavor optimization: Glassware designed for certain beverages can bring out the best in flavor profiles. This trend includes glasses with shapes or sizes that intensify aromas or highlight particular notes.
Summary
No doubt, consumers are always searching for classic and modern drink glasses to build their perfect bar at home or for commercial purposes. However, just like in other industries, drink glasses are constantly evolving, so retailers should stay ahead of trends in order to avoid missing out on potential sales.
Thankfully, there’s no shortage of exciting glass manufacturers out there, providing highly sought-after options that business buyers can acquire to update their inventory.
To discover the huge range of different glasses on the market in 2024, browse the latest offerings from trusted suppliers on Alibaba.com today.
