Have we skipped ahead 10 months to the chaotic Black Friday holiday? Suddenly, there's hoards of people sweeping up merchandise at certain retailers.
A specific, red hot merchandise.
A set of limited edition 40-ounce Stanley tumblers released nationwide Wednesday in Starbucks stores at Target locations for Valentine's Day, coming in pink and red shades.
Shoppers lined up hours before the store openings, some camping out the night before, to get their hands on the limited Valentine's Day cups. According to Target's website, the cup is sold out Florida stores (however, it doesn't hurt to call and double check).
What is Stanley? What are Stanley Tumblers?
Stanley was founded over 100 years ago in 1913 as thefirst-ever steel vacuum sealed bottleand the forest green thermos with removal cup lip became a staple for every outdoorsman and camper.
As for their prized tumbler, it was introduced in 2016 as "THE QUENCHER H2.0 FLOWSTATE." Their website boasts features like a handle, the ability to keep drinks hot for five to seven hours and cold for nine to 11 hours and the ability to fit inside of most car cup holders.
Also, it's dishwasher safe and comes in a variety of colors.
What made Stanley Tumblers so popular?
Despite its debut in 2016, the quencher wouldn't see the limelight until 2020 when it topped many Christmas wish lists for Gen Z.
Influencers catapulted the specific tumbler into the spotlight, showcasing it as one of favorite items and something their followers absolutely needed. The Quencher has been such a popular product that Stanley’s annual sales are projected to top $750 million in 2023, according to data reviewed by CNBC Make It.
Recently this past November, a TikTok video ofa Stanley cup surviving a car fire, with ice still inside, gained 92.4 million views. Even Stanley’s presidentTerence Reilly saw the video, replying with an explanation that Stanleys are “built for life,”along with gifting the woman a new car.
How much are Stanley Tumblers? Why are they so expensive?
Stanley tumblers retail anywhere from $45 to $55, depending on the style and size.
As for why the reusable cups have such a hefty price tag, it is noted that the cup is made out of ruggedstainless steel. They are also double-wall vacuum insulation, meaning it isensuredto maintain your drink’s temperature for a long time.
Why are Stanley Tumblers selling out at Target and Starbucks?
According to USA Today, Targets were filled with shoppers on Monday eager to get their hands on the sought-after water bottles.
The tumblers came in Cosmo Pink and Target Red as a part of the brand's "Galentine's Collection." The cups, sold exclusively at Target, retailed for $45.95.They also sold the winter pink Starbucks x Stanley cup, retailing for $49.95.
"Made to gift, a card label is included while a tiny heart adorns the Stanley logo. With a pop of pink and the perfect shade of red, let's celebrate your gal pal by spreading the love," a description of the tumblers on Target'swebsitereads.
Although the holiday is over a month away, it didn't stop patrons from flocking to the store to grab whatever tumblers they could find. Some displays were said to have sold out within ten minutes, others forced a limit of two per customers to stop the hoarding.
What are the reactions online to the shoppers grabbing the limited edition Stanley Tumblers?
As videos came out about the tumbler frenzy, social media users were shocked by the situation. Many wondered why were shoppers freaking out over a specific cup.
"I could watch a 10 episode documentary on the whole stanley thing," one user on X joked.
How much are they on third-party websites, like eBay?
Following the chaotic release in stores, the cups are nowappearing on retail siteslike eBay and Poshmark for upwards of $100 to $200.
Are the Valentine's Day Stanley Tumblers sold anywhere else?
The Winter Pink tumbler was only sold in-store. USA Today wrote that the two other Stanley tumblers, one inTarget Red and Cosmo Pinkthat werereportedly releasedSunday online but are now out of stock.
Will the pinkStarbucks x Stanley cup be restocked?
A Starbuck spokesperson told USA Today that the the cup will not be restocked and will only be available for sale “while supplies last.”
Contributing reporting: Amaris Encinas, USA TODAY
