Stanley cups are made by Stanley, a drinkware brand owned since 2002 by Pacific Market International (PMI), a company based in Seattle. Stanley dates back to 1913, when inventor William Stanley Jr. patented an all-steel vacuum bottle. It has no connection to the Stanley tools company. The brand’s Quencher tumbler became a viral hit in the early 2020s.
Stanley: Quick Facts
| Brand | Stanley (often called Stanley 1913) |
| Owner | Pacific Market International (PMI), Seattle |
| Owned since | 2002 |
| Founder | William Stanley Jr. |
| Founded | 1913 patent; company set up in 1915 |
| Viral product | Quencher tumbler |
| Annual sales | About $70 million (2019) to an estimated $750 million (2023) |
| Related to Stanley tools? | No |
Who Owns Stanley Cups?
Stanley has been owned by Pacific Market International, a Seattle-based company, since 2002, when PMI bought the Stanley and Aladdin brands. Before that, the line passed through Landers, Frary & Clark (from 1921) and Aladdin Industries of Nashville (from 1965).
Are Stanley Cups Made by Stanley Tools?
No. Stanley drinkware and Stanley Black & Decker, the tools company, are completely separate businesses. The drinkware brand is named after its inventor, William Stanley Jr.
The Origin of Stanley
William Stanley Jr. patented an all-steel vacuum flask on September 2, 1913, after finding a way to insulate a bottle with steel instead of fragile glass. He set up the Stanley Insulating Company in Great Barrington, Massachusetts, in 1915. For decades, the green Stanley flask was a classic for workers and campers.
How Did the Stanley Quencher Go Viral?
Stanley introduced the Adventure Quencher in 2016, but it sold poorly, and the company stopped restocking it in 2019. The Buy Guide, a shopping blog run by women in Utah, persuaded Stanley to let it sell a batch of 5,000. They sold out, and the Quencher was revived in more colours. Under president Terence Reilly, who joined from Crocs in 2020, Stanley leaned into TikTok and marketing aimed at women. Sales rose from about $70 million in 2019 to an estimated $750 million in 2023.
The brand’s most famous viral moment came in November 2023, when a TikTok user showed her Stanley cup had survived a car fire with ice still inside. Stanley responded by offering to replace her car.
Our Take
Stanley is the rare 100-year-old brand that found a whole new audience. It didn’t change what it made, just who it was talking to, and a product it had nearly given up on became one of the most talked-about cups in the world.
More brand stories: Who owns Owala? · Who owns Poppi? · Who founded Comfrt?
Frequently Asked Questions
Who owns Stanley cups?
Stanley is owned by Pacific Market International (PMI), a Seattle-based company, which bought the brand in 2002.
Are Stanley cups made by Stanley tools?
No. Stanley drinkware is a separate company from Stanley Black & Decker.
When was Stanley founded?
William Stanley Jr. patented the steel vacuum bottle in 1913 and founded the company in 1915.
Why is the Stanley Quencher so popular?
Influencer marketing, limited colours and a viral 2023 video of a cup surviving a car fire turned the Quencher into a must-have.
Sources
Sources and Editorial Notes
Elivestory aims to use relevant sources, separate confirmed information from speculation and update important details when reliable new information becomes available.
Jaylin Khan
Jaylin Khan is an entertainment writer at elivestory.com who covers celebrity biographies, entertainment news, digital media and the latest pop culture trends. Drawing information from credible and trusted sources, she combines verified facts with thoughtful opinions to create engaging and informative articles for readers.
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