Corporate Gifts Blog

Whilst we at the Mug Shop are working hard, day after day, nose to the grindstone, designing and supplying great looking mugs, glassware and tableware to the world at large, it’s really nice to receive feedback from satisfied clients. Of course, we receive many such testimonials but the one we reproduce below is so gratifying that we just had to share it through our blog.

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So, I’ll say no more but simply allow the testimonial speak for itself.

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Hello Stuart

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Helen has just told me the mugs have arrived.

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We have been so impressed with all the help and advice and quick, friendly responses from both you and Jill throughout the process. It feels as though I have been dealing with friends, and yet it has been very professional.

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Having never ordered anything like this before, we needed advice! Jill did a really clever job of adapting the drawing by one of our sponsored children in Uganda to make it fit the mug. We hope we shall sell them quickly to raise much-needed funds and will definitely come back to you for another set.

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We will stay in touch and will send feedback from people. Thank you for all you have done. We wish you the best in your business – you deserve to do well!

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Regards, Margaret Stevens (Teso Educational Support Scheme)

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If you would like to experience great quality products and exceptional service too, call us on 08450 998796 or visit our website.

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We employ several print methods to decorate our mugs and below we summarise the merits and limitations of each of them.

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Direct Screen Printing:

This process is particularly suitable for earthenware and may also be used on bone china. It is ideal when the design is relatively simple and there are no complex half tones. Screen printing is primarily used for the low-budget end of the earthenware sector and print is to only part of the surface. The process lends itself to printing several thousand items a day.

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Transfer Printing:


This process is particularly suitable for earthenware and may also be used on bone china. It is suitable for more complex art tones and full colour work. Although slower and more labour intensive than direct screen printing it is more flexible and precise. Printing can be to the whole surface including the base and also just inside the rim.

  We consider Transfer Printing  when larger than average print coverage is needed, printing in 4-colour process is required or where more complex designs are specified.

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Digital Printing:

When high quality reproduction and resolution of photographic or cartoon images is required, Digital Print is suitable on both earthenware and bone china. It is best suited to small print runs but not for images with strong primary colours or coloured glazed ceramics.

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Dye Sublimation:

The use of Dye Sublimation allows the print of any number of colours and produces superb full colour images and brilliant photographic reproduction. The process lends itself to small runs with a fast lead-time.
 You should note that it is not right for certain mug shapes or mugs that need to withstand frequent harsh dishwasher cycles.

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Heat Change Mugs:

This  innovative process results in a very dramatic and visually interesting promotional mug and is ideal for earthenware. It is not suitable, however, for bone china or mugs likely to experience vigourous dish-washing cycles or microwave use. The effect is that when you pour hot liquid into the mug it changes colour and  image before your eyes.

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Four Colour Printing:

Four Colour Printing is for large run photographic work
and not for small runs for which dye sub or digital printing is best. The process divides the image into four basic colours – cyan, magenta, yellow and black (CMYK). However, when considering artwork, remember that computer monitors don’t always give a true reflection of Pantone colour and it is therefore best to accompany graphic files with a printed visual.

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Click here for greater detail on our printing methods

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But if you’re still not sure which process is suitable for your promotional mug project call us on … 08450 998796

Recently we’ve been asked by fine artists to supply limited editions of mugs, both bone china and ceramic,  printed with images of their paintings or photographs in full and glorious colour, black and white or sometimes as tints. This is possible by using the mug printing process known as dye sublimation which is capable of producing really accurate colour photographic reproduction. What’s more, the minimum quantity is just 36 which helps to keep the initial outlay very reasonable too!

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This fine art growth market is something we’re very keen to encourage as our own operation, Mug Shop, employs a team of graphic designers who also have fine arts degrees and are always keen to support fellow creatives.

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For the artists we supply, the limited edition mugs provide added value to their gallery sales bringing in money from ‘browsers’ who are unlikely to spend £100’s on a painting but are quite willing to part with £9.95 for  a limited edition bone china mug.

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We’ve even had an order from a school which held an art competition amongst its pupils to design a mug. The results are not quite what you would call fine art but then Picasso had to start somewhere!

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If you’re a budding or established artist or even someone who just dabbles give us a call on 08450 998796 or use our Mug Shop contact details.