The Stanley brand was founded in 1913 by William Stanley Jr., which changed the way hot drinks lasted. William Stanley Jr. created a vacuum-insulated, strong steel bottle that started the Stanley brand. Originally targeted towards men favoring the outdoors, and blue-collar workers, the Stanley cup was known for its hammerstone green coloring, and flask-like look. In recent years, however, the company has started to stray away from its original consumer base and focus on women. The President of the Stanley company, Terence Reilly, specifically chose women for the new consumer base and used social media influencers to make the cup popular among fans. Expanding its original line and colors to an endless array of colors, shades, designs, and collaborations, the brand partnered up with Starbucks and created limited edition Valentine’s Day cups that have sold out in minutes. 

The rise of Stanley has come with FOMO(Fear Of Missing Out). Not having a Stanley has led some kids to be bullied for it, and parents have to buy their kids the cup so they can fit in with their peers. With today’s society being obsessed with having the newest and best thing, the Stanley cup fits right in and now it is all the rage. They grew in popularity so much that Stanley’s revenue grew from just 75 million to 750 million dollars in 2023 alone. TikTok influencers have also promoted the Stanley cup aesthetic, with people calling the cup a staple part of the “clean girl aesthetic”. The aesthetic which was popularized on TikTok in early 2022, revolves around being at your best, without looking like you spent any effort at all on it, with a key part of this carrying around a cup to show you stay hydrated, hence the clear and glowy skin. However, the look is not easily attainable, as the average 40 oz. The Stanley cup costs about 45 dollars, which is a lot to spend on a single cup. Many other influential factors come along with Stanley, like the array of colors offered.

New colors, and limited edition Valentine’s Day cups cause people to wait outside stores for hours before they open, creating lines of people that wrap around the store just for a new cup with a new color. There are 21 colors that the 40 oz. the tumbler comes in. In the very quick months of 2024, Stanley has already dropped 7 new colors for cups. The limited edition Valentine’s Day cup has created an insane outrage, the Cosmo Pink, Target Red, and Starbucks x Stanley Pink cups flew off the shelves within minutes of being stocked. This led to restrictions on the amount per shopper. Some videos show people lined up outside of Target as early as 4 am. Some people bought the limited edition cups just to resell them on sites like eBay, for prices of upwards of 200 dollars. The strong influence that this cup has had on the new generation of consumers has opened many eyes.

This minuscule factor has turned into a lifestyle for some. While some may find this whole thing crazy, many others are finding this relatable. The recent activity in the Stanley world is giving the idea that the Stanley obsession is not slowing down anytime soon.

Maegan Miller, Staff Writer

Junior Maegan Miller is a staff writer for the 2023-2024 Colonel Newsmagazine. She likes going to the beach, spending time with her sister, and being outside!

Sarah Vincent, Staff Writer

Junior Sarah Vincent is a staff writer for the 2023-2024 Colonel Newsmagazine. She likes Taylor Swift, sea otters, and drinking iced coffee.