a home entertaining dilemma has inspired the launch product for a graphic designer.
belle howie started up thirst impressions after attending a bbq where she heard her friend apologising for using bar coasters and complaining that there weren’t any made for the home.
“i thought she was crazy, that you must be able to get them,” she says. “so i did a little research and found that you couldn’t. no one had released this relatively simple and extremely functional product for the home.”
starting with coasters made sense to sydney-based howie as it was a low cost but simple and effective product. it also helped that she’d already designed many for her graphic design clients who were in the alcohol industry.
“i wanted to create something that was useful, commercially viable, a good canvas for any sort of artwork and relatively easy to produce. i really wanted to keep manufacturing in australia so didn’t want anything too tricky or expensive to produce here.”
according to howie’s research her coasters, made from plantation stock cardboard so that they soak up liquid like a bar coaster, are the only ones on the market. most coasters designed for the home are made from materials such as glass or timber, which aren’t absorbent and result in cups sticking when they are lifted up.
“also… because of the economical price point you can update your look frequently, with different designs for different seasons or events. they make a great gift and are perfect for any party environment,” she adds. so far the product is stocked at a couple of retailers in sydney’s eastern suburbs but is also available online.
once thirst impressions’ debut range is established in the marketplace more products could be on the way, but only if they have a point of difference to what’s already on the market.
“it’s important to me i don’t try and add more designs to an already saturated market, so i’d be looking for products that haven’t been explored by other people already. coasters were a great find for me, and i’d like to find something equally unique.
