Begin with a tale. Imagine that your neighbor walks by the farmer’s market with custom printed paper cups of coffee in hand. But this time, things are different. Her cup gets attention because it has a neon octopus hugging a coffee bean on it instead of a generic logo. It instantly starts five conversations and makes people want to know more. Look, that’s not just any old to-go cup. That’s magic that you can see every day.

Let’s get to the point. People like things that are different. Want people to remember your brand? Put it on a cup they use every day. Custom cups are a great way to get people talking about your business, whether you own a small café or do side jobs at home. The secret? Stay away from boring clip art and old font choices.

Begin small. Don’t worry about needing a hundred designs. A catchy logo or a quote that makes people smile is all you need. Do people laugh at your “Death Before Decaf” slogan? Make a copy of it. Have you ever heard someone say that your muffins are “the bomb”? Here’s your next cup. Real stories and real reactions are what keep people talking.

Don’t be afraid of color. Put bold backgrounds, crazy drawings, and even weird photos on your mockups. Picture yourself drinking iced tea while your pet pigeon looks at you. That’s something I’ll always remember for the right reasons. If you own a business, sell themed cups or seasonal art. People love things that are only available for a short time. They even gather them.

Do you have a tight budget? There are sites that let you order prints on demand, which makes it easy. No huge minimums and no worrying about lost stock. Upload your work, choose the type of cup, and let the site do the rest. A lot of them let you see designs in a few seconds. You will have the last word before anything is printed.

Before you order, ask questions. Will these cups be able to hold hot lattes? Can you put them in the dishwasher? What about options that are good for the environment? People are paying more attention to the little things now. Good cups aren’t just for show; you can use them every day, when you spill something, and when you need to fill them up again and again.

Be social about it. Share your cup designs on TikTok or Instagram. Let your followers tell you what they like best. Try a poll; the winner gets made next month. Some places hide surprise codes under the cup that give you a freebie. People really like that.

Are you going to try this at home? If you’re crafty, you can use a DIY vinyl-cutting machine to cut small batches. Or get in touch with a nearby print shop and share some crazy ideas. Who says all cups have to look the same? Have fun with it.

There you go—no magic, just good ideas and a lot of guts. Custom cups are more than just for drinking coffee. They make small moments into conversations, create a community around your brand, and most importantly, they sell themselves. So the next time you see a parrot drinking herbal tea in the park, maybe someone else did what you did.