We’ve all seen the (massive) cup that’s dominating the reusable cup market—and if you’ve ever doubted that a reusable cup market exists, the Stanley Cup and its staggering popularity proves there is.
As someone who loves a good reusable cup, the benefits of the Stanley are evident: it’s huge (holds over a litre of water), has a handle, it’s durable, fits in cupholders of most cars, and comes in tons of cute colours. However, while I can see the appeal of the cup, I can’t imagine doing what I’ve seen so many people doing on my TikTok feed: camping outside of retailers that sell it, waiting for hours until opening, and racing inside to beat others to limited editions of the Stanley. So… how did we get here?
Stanley’s influence(RS)
Although the Stanley name has been around since 1913, its popularity has been rising since 2020, skyrocketing in the last year and becoming the phenomenon we know it to be now. The surge in the company’s fame began in Utah, with the cups going hand-in-hand with the at-home soda ‘recipes’ native to the state as well as the prominent influencer culture.
The Stanley Cup has become a distinct staple for influencers, likely the result of a few factors. Firstly, recent years have seen a shift to reusable plastics (save the turtles, anyone?), with straws and cups being an easy adjustment from single-use plastics. Secondly, the cup is designed to suit car cupholders, which suits the influencer lifestyle. Most of the influencers that come across my for-you-page on TikTok spend a lot of time in their cars, either because it’s a luxury they can afford, or because they live in areas where public transport just isn’t as robust as it is in New York City. Lastly, the mere size of the Stanley Cup makes a statement, and the wide range of colours makes it an accessory in itself. The cup is so noticeable and trendy, that it becomes part of one’s style. I mean, what good is a cup that huge if it doesn’t go with your outfit?
Breaking down consumerism
So, what cup is worth camping out for? The answer, despite all of the features that make Stanley Cups great, and all of the hype over it, is no. The real reason people are in love with the Stanley has little to do with its qualities and everything to do with the overconsumption fueled by social media that we can’t help but surround ourselves with every day. If you own a Stanley, you might be thinking, “But I love my Stanley because it keeps my water cold all day!” or ‘I love my Stanley because of its handle and its colour!” Whether you’re willing to admit it or not, you also love your Stanley because everyone else loves it too. It all reminds me of the scene in 10 Things I Hate About You, when Bianca and Chastity are walking together and Bianca says, “There’s a difference between like and love. Because I like my Skechers, but I love my Prada backpack.” Chastity replies, “But I love my Skechers,” to which Bianca says: “That’s because you don’t have a Prada backpack.” There are plenty of cups that will do whatever the Stanley Cup does, but for a lower cost (the 40oz Stanley tumbler cup sells for approximately $60 CAD), and it’s okay to love a cheaper option because it works for you.
The rhetoric I’m seeing more and more on my TikTok when it comes to shopping is that if you love something— because everyone else loves it—then you need it. This mentality is why we are seeing more and more people with multiple Stanley Cups. When a new colour drops and everyone starts talking and posting about how cute it is, how can you resist? I’ve seen influencers who have five Stanleys. I’ve even seen influencers who have fifteen. No one needs that many reusable cups. Still, the online attitude towards consumption remains one of ‘if you love it, then you need it, and you should buy it.’
in stanley we trust?
The craze of the Stanley Cup says less about how great of a cup it is and more about the impact of social media trend cycles on overconsumption. The desperation required in order to camp outside of Target just to be the first to get your hands on a limited edition Stanley—when you already have three others at home—is seen as unfathomable by most people. Yet, considering so many influencers’ content revolves around varying degrees of consumption, either out of their own pockets or via PR packages and brand deals, it’s not hard to imagine how they get to this point.
Of course, I’ve thought about getting a Stanley Cup. It has a lot of great features that have earned the company significant sales. Realistically, though, the cup isn’t something that everyone needs. Despite its handle, the Stanley isn’t as convenient for carrying as some of its competitors (Hyrdroflask’s top handle, for example), and being someone who walks almost everywhere, this is one of the reasons why I just don’t feel like I need one. But hey, if I keep seeing TikToks telling me I simply need a hot pink Stanley… I might just cave.