Best Selling Bottle Openers & Branded Stubby Coolers: Custom Bar Accessories People Actually Use

When was the last time a free pen or stress ball truly wowed you? Exactly. Too much promo merch ends up forgotten at the bottom of a drawer. But the bar accessories we’re about to spotlight are a whole different story. We’re talking about the best selling bottle openers and branded stubby coolers – those custom bar accessories that get grabbed, used, and remembered long after the event. (Spoiler: they squarely fall into the category of promotional products people actually want.) Whether you’re in the hospitality game or just throwing legendary backyard BBQs, here’s why these pieces of bar gear are the no-fail promo moves you need.

Bottle Openers: The No-Fail Merch Move

Bottle openers are the unsung heroes of swag. Think about it – every time someone cracks open a cold one, your branded opener could be in their hand. That’s daily visibility for your logo without breaking a sweat. Unlike gimmicky trinkets, a bottle opener has one job and does it well, which is why it’s often a no-fail merch move for breweries, beverage brands, and events serving drinks.

What makes custom bottle openers best-selling in the promo world? First, universal usefulness. From beer lovers to soda drinkers, nearly everyone could use an extra opener on standby. They attach to keychains, live on bar counters, or magnetize to the fridge – always within reach when needed. (How many promo items can say that?) It’s no surprise, then, that people tend to hang onto useful swag – 65% of consumers say they’ve kept a promotional item because it was useful.

Secondly, variety and creativity set bottle openers apart. Credit-card openers slip into wallets; heavy-duty bar blades make bartenders swoon; novelty shapes (surfboard opener, anyone?) spark conversations. You can go sleek stainless steel for that premium feel or eco-friendly bamboo for sustainable vibes. (There’s even a model with a built-in USB drive – talk about multitasking!) One look at our custom bottle openers collection shows how far you can flex with design and functionality. The bottom line is these little tools are workhorses: they’re durable, long-lasting, and used over and over – exactly what you want from a promo item. Your brand logo on a quality opener might see years of action (indeed, 87% of recipients keep a promotional product for longer than a year). That’s years of subtle brand exposure every time someone says, “Hey, pass me the opener.”

Stubby Coolers: Winning at BBQs & Branded Events

If you’ve ever been to an Aussie backyard barbie or a summer music festival, you’ve likely encountered the almighty stubby cooler (aka can cooler). Far from a one-hit wonder, branded stubby coolers pull double duty: they keep your drink cold and your hands dry while turning your beer into a mini billboard for whatever logo’s on it. In Australia, stubby holders are practically a way of life – used all year round and a must-have for a typical barbecue party. In other words, hand someone a cool branded stubby holder at a BBQ or event and you’re instantly in their good books (you just solved warm beer and cold hands in one go).

Stubby coolers shine in both the hospitality/event industry and laid-back lifestyle settings. Hosting a corporate event or sponsoring a beer garden? Put your logo on neoprene can coolers and watch them get snapped up faster than free beer. People use them on the spot – suddenly your brand is in every guest’s hand, featured in party selfies and clutched in conversations. At outdoor festivals or sports games, branded stubby coolers are VIPs: they keep drinks colder longer and distinguish whose drink is whose. And at the end of the day, attendees take them home – meaning your branding leaves the event and enters the daily life of your target audience.

Even in more personal settings like family BBQs or weddings, stubby holders win hearts. They’re fun, functional, and inclusive – all ages can use them, from the kids with soft drinks to grandpa with his ginger beer. Plus, they have a nice big canvas for your artwork. A witty slogan or vibrant full-color design on a stubby cooler not only catches eyes but often becomes a talking point (“Check out this cool cooler I got!”). And since they’re made of insulating foam or neoprene, they’re lightweight and packable – people will toss a couple in the picnic basket or camping gear by default. The result? Your branded cooler keeps making appearances at every weekend cookout.

Trends in Custom Bar Accessories (Design, Functionality, Sustainability)

Just because bottle openers and stubby coolers are classics doesn’t mean they’re stuck in the past. Brands today are raising the bar (pun intended) with trends that make these bar accessories even cooler. Here’s what’s on tap in 2025 for custom bar gear:

Creative Designs with Personality

Forget bland and boring – it’s all about standing out. We’re seeing stubby coolers shaped like team jerseys and beer cans adorned with full-wrap funky art. Bottle openers come in novelty forms from guitars to flip-flops. The idea is to make the merch fun, shareable, and aligned with the brand’s vibe.

Multi-Functionality = Extra Value

Why be just a bottle opener when you can be a multitool? Think bottle openers that double as keychain flashlights, coasters with built-in openers, or stubby coolers with a bottle opener attached. Some bar kits even bundle a corkscrew, opener, and pourer into one. More functions = more use = more brand impressions.

Sustainable Materials & Eco Swag

Bar accessories are joining the eco revolution. Bamboo bottle openers, recycled neoprene or cork stubby holders, and stainless steel straws are becoming the norm. Choosing sustainable materials isn’t just eco-smart – it’s good branding. Over half of consumers say they view a brand more positively if the merch is eco-friendly.

Bar Merch That Gets Remembered: Stats Don’t Lie

Handing out swag is ultimately about impact – you want people to remember your brand, not just the freebie. Here’s the proof:

• 75% of consumers who receive branded merch are more likely to purchase again.

• 87% of people keep promo products for over a year.

• 65% say usefulness is why they kept the item.

• 59% would rather get a useful promo item than watch an ad.

That stubby holder or opener isn’t just gear – it’s a trigger for brand recall.

Still not convinced? Check out our deep-dive on low MOQ merch that works.

According to the Advertising Specialty Institute, 78% of consumers own promotional drinkware. These aren’t throwaway items – they’re branded favourites that last.

Time to Rethink Your Merch Game

Most promotional items get one pity glance before they’re chucked or forgotten. But your merch doesn’t have to suffer that fate. Bottle openers and stubby coolers prove that branded gear can be both badass and actually used.

So ditch the throwaway junk and invest in promo items that will earn you genuine gratitude (and years of exposure) instead of a fast trip to the bin.

It’s time to rethink your merch game: swap the forgettable freebies for memorable, functional bar accessories that align with your brand’s style and values. Ready to make the shift? Head over to Promo Punks – we’ll help you create bar swag your audience will fight over, not toss aside.

Cheers to useful merch that doesn’t suck.