Cow Print Starbucks Cups Take Over Social Media and Spawn Viral Trends

The Cow Print Starbucks Cup Craze

Starbucks is no stranger to launching limited edition cups that take social media by storm. Back in 2019, they unveiled holiday cups with minimalist red and green designs. Customers went crazy trying to collect all four cup designs and post pictures of them online. But by far their most viral cups have been the cow print cups that first launched in the summer of 2022.

The Origin of the Cow Print Cups

In June 2022, Starbucks launched a new summer menu with a farmhouse theme. To go along with the pastoral inspiration, they also released a collectible series of reusable plastic cups covered in black and white cow prints. Customers could choose between three different cow patterned cups while supplies lasted at participating stores.

The cow cups were an immediate hit, with the earliest buyers posting unboxings and reviews on TikTok and Instagram. The cups spread quickly on social media, with fans using hashtags like #cowprintstarbuckscup and #starbuckscowcup to share photos of their new tumblers. Trendsetters came up with stylish ways to coordinate their outfits and accessories with the black and white cups.

Why the Cow Print Cups Blew Up

There are a few reasons why the cow print Starbucks cups caught on so quickly and became a huge trend.

• Novelty - The cow pattern was unique and stood out from other Starbucks cup releases.
• Aesthetic - The black and white print is versatile and fits many styles. Cow print is simultaneously retro, funky, and chic.
• Customization - The reusable cups could be customized with stickers, charms, gems, and more. Crafty TikTokers came up with clever cow cup makeovers.
• Collectibility - With three distinct patterns, fans tried to collect the whole set. Hunting for certain cups drove demand.
• TikTok fame - The unboxing and review videos were perfect viral content. Everyone wanted to get in on the trend.

Clearly Starbucks created cups that not only looked great, but inspired creativity and tapping into collectible culture. The cows checked all the boxes to become social media catnip.

Cow Print Cup Craze Reaches New Heights

As the summer went on, the cow cup hype reached even greater heights. Resellers started selling the cups for huge markups on sites like eBay and Etsy. Some limited edition cups were going for as high as $125!

The resale mania inspired Starbucks to restock the cow print cups in November, right in time for the holidays. They also launched a brand new red sequined cow cup that was even more glamorous. Droves of fans lined up early at Starbucks locations on the release date to get their hands on the coveted collectible cups. Once again, the cow cups proved to be a huge hit both in stores and online.

DIY Cow Cup Creations Take Over Pinterest and TikTok

As the cow cup trend exploded, creative Starbucks fans took to Pinterest and TikTok to share ways to customize and embellish the cups. The reusable plastic cups were a blank canvas perfect for crafty cows. Some popular DIY cow cup ideas included:

• Adding rhinestones and gems in cow spot patterns
• Painting and coloring the cups with cow themes
• Gluing on fuzzy yarn or fabric in black and white patterns
• Attaching cow charms, ears, and noses
• Drawing or stencilling custom cow prints

Elaborate custom jobs included covering the entire cup in black and white crystals in a dazzling cow print. The sparkly DIY tumblers looked even more amazing on camera. Cow cup creators flaunted their handiwork in mesmerizing TikTok videos that inspired even more people to try their own embelishments.

Business Opportunities with Blinged Out Cow Cups

As demand for customized cow print cups skyrocketed, small businesses and crafters jumped on the opportunity. Some focused on hand embellishing plain Starbucks cups with rhinestones, sequins, and other dazzling touches. Then they sold the tumblers for $75-$100+ on sites like Etsy and Facebook Marketplace.

Other small business owners bought wholesale reusable Starbucks-style tumblers and mugs in cow print patterns. They added high end embellishments and details themselves using vinyl, HTV machines for customized designs. By selling directly to consumers online they could price their fancy cow cups at a healthy markup.

Independent artists also got in on the action by promoting their cow cup painting, coloring, and embellishing skills on social platforms. Customers would send them plain cups to transform into one of a kind cow print pieces. Small businesses took advantage of the viral trend to supplement their income during the 2022 holiday season.

The Future of the Cow Print Cup

Given the insane popularity of the first few releases, it's almost guaranteed that Starbucks will bring cow print cups back again. It's likely they will continue to experiment with new colors, materials, and patterns to keep customers interested in collecting new releases.

The cow cups have simply been too effective at driving social media buzz, store traffic, and sales. Starbucks would be foolish not to tap back into that viral success again. The only question is what form the next generation of cow cups will take.

It's possible we could see sequined fabric cow cups, soft plush cow cups, metallic cow cups, glow in the dark cow cups, and other surprising new takes. Expect to see limited edition seasonal cow cups that will send customers racing to get them before they sell out.

One thing is for sure, the cow print Starbucks cup phenomenon is here to stay. This is just the beginning of a whole new era of collectible cups. Starbucks has discovered the secret viral sauce. Get ready to see cow cups and other trendy cup designs blow up your social feeds for years to come.

FAQs

Why did the cow print cups become so popular?

The cow print cups went viral because of their novelty, aesthetic appeal, collectibility, and associations with TikTok trends. The reusable cups stood out with their funky cow pattern and inspired people to collect all the different designs. TikTok unboxing videos then fueled demand and made the cups even more sought after.

Where can I buy an authentic Starbucks cow print cup?

The only way to get an official Starbucks cow print cup is to purchase one in person from a participating Starbucks location while supplies last. Limited edition releases often sell out quickly. You can also try finding resales on sites like eBay but authentic cups will come at huge markups.

How can I customize my Starbucks cow cup?

Popular DIY customizations for cow cups include adding rhinestones, sequins, or studs, painting your own cow pattern, attaching cow charms or ears, and more. Check out TikTok and Pinterest for inspiration on embellishing and personalizing cow print cups.

Where are people selling embellished Starbucks cups?

Small businesses and crafters are selling customized glamorous cow print cups on sites like Etsy, Facebook Marketplace, and their own online stores. Independent artists promote their cup embellishing skills on Instagram and TikTok.

Will Starbucks release more cow print cups?

Given the viral success of the first cow print cup launches, Starbucks will almost certainly release more limited edition cow cups, likely with new colors, materials, and designs to fuel collectability.