New Rodney Cups to Challenge Stanley

by I. B. Lyon

Stanley cups or tumblers are all the rage these days. Every young girl either has a Stanley cup or really wants one. This has led to some companies manufacturing Stanley knockoffs or lookalikes, but none of these have really caught on. A Valley company called Rodney is now challenging Stanley.

Stanley cup or tumblers are very durable and functional cups, and that’s why people love them. Plus, they come in many fun colors, and many women on social media promote them. This has caused their sales to go through the roof. But, there are a couple issues with Stanley cups. The price point- they’re pretty expensive. And, the fact that they’re made in China is another issue.

Valley electrician, Stu Cupp, has decided to take on the behemoth Stanley. Cupp has always used a thermos or tumbler cup to hold his coffee and sweet tea. Cupp said, “Back in the day, I used the old school Stanley thermos; these young girls don’t know anything about that. More recently, I used a Yeti cup until they went woke. My wife fell into the Stanley Quencher rage, and she bought three of them. After that, I decided I was going to start my own tumbler company. Why not?”

Cupp had to find ways to differentiate himself from Stanley and other companies in the marketplace. Cupp said, “First off, my cups had to be tough as nails. They had to be indestructible. Stanley’s cups are 18/8 stainless steel, but my cups are going to be 20/10 stainless steel. Chemists and engineers said I wouldn’t be able to do 20/10, but I got it done. Also, every part of my cups were going to be made in America. I worked on my prototype for months, and I finally finished it a few months ago. I’m going to have two sizes, 24 oz. and 40 oz. I’m proud of what I’ve done, and the future looks very bright.”

When thinking of a name for his company, Cupp wanted something that embodied grit and toughness. Cupp’s pet raccoon, Rodney, kept coming to mind. Cupp rescued Rodney as a baby 4 years ago; his mom and siblings had been ran over. Rodney had a broken leg, and he was in really bad shape. Cupp didn’t know if Rodney was going to make it, but he survived. Cupp said, “Rodney is the toughest thing I’ve ever seen. He’s a survivor. He’ll take on any animal; my dogs and cats don’t mess with him. So, after a while, I decided I was going to honor Rodney and name the company after him.”

Cupp realizes he’s facing an uphill battle in challenging Stanley. They generated $750 million in sales in 2023 alone. Cupp said, “You gotta start somewhere right? My wife and I have traveled around to multiple trade shows in the past couple months, and we’ve sold 79 units. She’s been promoting the cups on social media, and it’s been getting some traction. We’ve sold a lot of cups from social media. I did a video of Rodney drinking water out of one, and that was a big hit. I’m really going to have to step up the social media game though. So, I’m looking for good looking women and manly men with a minimum of 1,000 followers on Tiktok and Instagram. We want to market to men too, not just women. I’m going to need some manly hunters and outdoorsmen to market to that demographic. We’ll pay you $25 to do a post for us. That’s how you promote stuff these days, and all it takes is one post to go viral.”

Cupp has gotten into a few local retailers including The Riz Men’s Store, Loco Lulu’s Boutique, and Bougie Bertha’s, and he plans to expand even further into more retailers. Cupp wants to sell online in addition to retailers, and he’s working on his online store to get it where he wants it.

Cupp said, “Y’all give Rodneys a chance! They’re more durable than Stanleys, and they’re made here in The Valley and America. Plus, they’re cheaper than Stanleys. I feel good about what I’ve created, and I hope to become a household brand. I hope to see young girls and boys sipping out of a Rodney in the future!”