Queenstown entrepreneur, retailer and former art dealer Mark Moran started his artistically designed, environmentally-friendly bottle concept in 2017 in the hopes of gaining wider exposure for emerging artists.
Chunky — a range of stainless steel, insulated bottles which initially featured designs by four local artists — was born.
An order for 5000 bottles as gifts for staff of a major bank at the end of 2018 served as a catalyst to growth, and today Chunky offers a range of 43 designs, developed by 20 artists across New Zealand, Australia, England and the United States.
Mr Moran said while the ultimate aim of the initiative was to support emerging artists, expanding the base of creative talent was not altogether altruistic.
‘‘They bring a different style but they also bring another audience for the brand, particularly through Instagram and Facebook platforms.’’
Sales of the bottles, which retail for $49.90, has so far generated $100,000 for contributing artists.
The bottles, which are manufactured in China and imported in batches of 5000 and 10,000, have gained a firm following with thousands of Kiwis and visitors alike, across dozens of retailers throughout New Zealand and Australia.
Mr Moran said while the bottles were good for both cold and hot drinks, the ‘‘vast majority’’ were used to keep water cold.
To cater for demand, the company recently rolled out a larger 750ml bottle to the range, and there were plans to launch a coffee cup version this year, Mr Moran said.
As part of its commitment to sustainability, the company has organised a collection programme for stainless steel bottles of any brand through his national retail distributors, via the Scrap Metal Recycling Association.
‘‘We are trying to stop the use of single-use bottles, but we also need to ensure our own product measures up to a ‘circular economy’ measure.’’
‘‘We’re really not sure where we will end up, but we are having fun building a brand and more importantly, seeing our artists grow.’’
