Glass bottles are not only practical, but they can be used in creative ways as well to highlight certain products or even as promotional giveaways. Glass bottles and other glass containers are one of the most versatile consumer products on the market. And the best part is they are a relatively cheap way to market your business or provide extra incentives to your customers.

Making the most of glass bottles is the key to using such a multipurpose product. All of the different shapes, sizes and colors that glass jars and cheap glass bottles come in lend themselves to creativity. Consider the following ways toward making the most of glass bottles:

1. Bottle non-food-grade products such small plants to give as special thank-yous to employees and customers.

2. Paint glass bottles for decoration and a useful promotional tool.

3. Show your Go Green efforts by hosting a recycled glass bottle drive and donating the glass bottles to a recycling facility or another company that would have a good use for them.

4. Add colorful and unique displays to your retail store or restaurant by using antique glass bottles of various shapes, sizes and colors.

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Use glass bottles as a way to give thanks

Glass bottles are a relatively inexpensive way to give a very thoughtful gift. Customizing your gift can make it more memorable and show your employees and loyal customers that you put some thought into your thank you. Small decorative glass bottles can be filled with dirt and a seed or already sprouting plant as an inexpensive gift and one that can be appreciated for a long time. For something even more personalized, consider painting the outside of bottles to create a decorative gift or promotional item if only offered for a short time. No need to spend hours painting bottles, maybe just select a few bright colors that match the colors in your company logo or red, white and blue if it's a summer promotion.

I recommend: Save On Crafts has many glass bottles and cheap glass jars in different shapes and sizes. Glass Packaging Solutions sells glass bottles wholesale.

Host a recycling drive and donate glass bottles or reuse them yourself

In this day and age of promoting greener Earth, it is important to take into account what ways your company can be aware. If you have a particular use for glass bottles, or even if you don't, consider hosting a recycling drive not only to show your customers that you are serious about 'going green' but also to save money by not having to buy glass bottles. This type of event will only work for your particular business if the irregularity of the glass bottles is unimportant. Those glass bottles that you choose not to use can be sent to the recycling facility or donated to another business.

I recommend: Some facts at Green Networld may entice you to recycle glass bottles. And if you don't have the time to host the event yourself, think about buying recycled glass bottles from places like Mountain Rose Herbs to begin with.

Employ glass bottles to add some decor to your establishment

One huge benefit of glass bottles is the variety that you can find. Glass comes in a wide selection of different colors and can be found in just about any shape you can imagine. When trying to create ambiance or a theme within your store or establishment, you can use various glass bottles to set the mood. Choose brightly colored, tall, skinny glass bottles for cafés and clothing stores and maybe mason jars and deep-colored glass bottles for steak houses and coffee shops.

I recommend: Sites like eBottles.com carry several unique glass bottle options. And for something even more unique, check out Antique Bottle Trader.

Tips & Tactics

Helpful advice for making the most of this Guide

• •  If you are considering bottling any food-grade products such as beverages or oils, keep in mind that there are special requirements that the bottle and the facility need to meet. Be sure to look into these necessities before bottling to eliminate the possibility of contamination or improper processing.

Glass bottles are manufactured in a highly mechanized process and are no longer hand blown as they were in the past. Factories that make glass containers are usually divided into a batch house, a hot end and a cold end.

The batch house contains the limestone, sand and soda ash among the other raw materials required for creating the glass bottle. They are measured out into calculated amounts and mixed together before being sent to the furnace.

The hot end of a glass manufacturing plant contains the furnace where the molten glass is formed into the containers. The batch is fed into the furnace at a controlled rate where it is transported to machines that actually form the glass bottles. The glass bottle manufacturer may then subject the container to additional treatment to improve their chemical resistance before being allowed to cool. This procedure, known as dealkalization, is required for glass beverage bottles.

Three points to consider when buying glass bottles:

1. Settling for a boring round bottle isn't necessary. Specialty bottles are available.
   
2. Buying large quantities through a wholesaler will keep costs down.
3. Finding a supplier that is flexible will help you when you need to buy a small quantity.

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Order glass bottles with unusual shapes or composition from specialty stores

Many companies sell glass jars and bottles with non-round shapes such as hexagons. This shape allows containers to be stacked together much more securely and prevents rolling.

I recommend: Find these types of bottles at Specialty Bottle. This company also have bottles made of amber or cobalt blue glass that are used for storing drugs or other items that may be photo-reactive. eBottles also sells bottles in a variety of shapes.

Save money by buying glass bottles wholesale

Glass bottles are usually bought in large quantities and this is reflected in the pricing. Volume discounts are routinely offered to all customers and many companies have additional discounts for preferred customers.

I recommend: Get a custom quote by contacting Bottles-n-Jars directly if you need to buy glass bottles in quantities of five cases or more. Look for surplus glass bottles offered at substantial, low-volume discounts at Wholesale Supplies Plus.

Check on minimums when placing small orders

The small business owner may need to locate a company that does not require a minimum order or service charge on small orders of glass jars or bottles.

I recommend: Order small quantities or even individual glass bottles from Sunburst Bottles. The company also sells glass bottles wholesale (typically up to 5,000 or more units). SKS Glass Bottles offers pricing on a wide range of quantities as well.

Tips & Tactics

Helpful advice for making the most of this Guide

• •  Always test your product with the glass container first before you buy wholesale glass bottles. Glass bottle suppliers rarely offer any sort of guarantee on product compatibility.

Many trades use glass bottles. Manufacturers need glass bottles for their products, product development laboratories need glass bottles for their ingredients, retail stores need glass bottles for displays, and so on and so forth. Other glass containers, too, may come in handy at your business for various purposes due to the clean, nonporous surface that glass offers.

Glass jars and glass bottles come many shapes and sizes, making the task of choosing the appropriate glass bottles seem daunting. However, a logical place to start is with the pricing and costs of glass bottles. Glass bottles can be purchased for anywhere from 25 cents to $30 each, depending on the size, lid and thickness of the glass. For a point of reference, standard, run-of-the-mill glass beverage bottles cost about $10 for a case of 12 bottles. Consider the following when assessing the pricing and costs of glass bottles:

1. What size and style glass bottles do you need?

2. How many glass bottles do you want to purchase at a time?

3. Do you need special caps or pumps for your glass bottles?

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Consider the size and style of your glass bottle needs

Glass bottles come in everything from 1/32-ounce to 1-gallon glass jugs. If you just need basic glass bottles and aren't concerned about the thickness, shape or lid type, you can get away with cheap glass bottles -- under 16 ounces -- for less then $1 each. Even smaller glass vials and other glass containers for perfumes and oils that are measured in milliliters can be found for less than 50 cents each.

I recommend: Glass bottle manufacturer Sunburst Bottle Company sells a variety of glass bottles in different shapes and sizes. It also provides discounts if you order in very large quantities. SKS Bottle & Packaging sells all shapes and sizes of glass bottles wholesale.

Buying glass bottles in bulk will save you money in the end

Glass bottles and jars are something you can order once and never have to worry about again if you place an appropriate order. Depending on your needs for glass bottles, you may be able to calculate, to a close number, the number of glass bottles you will need over a period of time. Doing this will allow you to order in bulk, which can save you a few cents per bottle and translate into a huge savings if you are placing a large order. Some companies may need to buy glass bottles by the case, but ordering multiple cases at a time will not only save you time having to place another order but also a significant amount of money in the end.

I recommend: Cape Bottle Company sells wholesale glass bottles in bulk. Specialty Bottle sells glass jars and bottles at wholesale prices.

Evaluate the lids on your glass bottles

The cost of your glass bottles may be significantly more if you need a specialty lid or pump. Glass bottles and jars used for cosmetics and laboratory settings may need lid droppers, pumps or other types of caps. These types of accessories can add anywhere from about 10 to 50 cents each. This is an important cost to take into account when planning your glass bottle budget.

I recommend: Container & Packaging Supply carries a variety of pumps and other types of lids for your glass bottles. Bottles.us can also provide you with the appropriate cap for your glass bottles.

Tips & Tactics

Helpful advice for making the most of this Guide

• •  Some of the colored and uniquely shaped glass bottles cost slightly more than an average glass bottle. If you are offering a new product, consider the return a unique bottle might have on your initial sales.

Some glass bottles are made for specific purposes and should only be used for their intended purpose to get the best result. Others are multi-purpose and can serve any number of functions. No matter what the eventual purpose, though, most glass bottles start out as just raw ingredients in the batch house that eventually make their way through the forehearth. From there, the glass is formed into a decorative bottle or perhaps an amber bottle. Whatever you're planning on using glass bottles for, it is important to do your research and learn your glass bottles terminology.

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Batch house

The batch house is the portion of the glass production facility that stores all of the raw ingredients. The ingredients are delivered to the batch house and then distributed to the other portions of the plant.

I recommend: The Glass Packing Institute describes how the batch house is involved in the glass production process.

Forehearth

The forehearth is the canal that the molten glass passes through to keep it liquid before it is formed into a glass bottle. The forehearth is extremely important in the glass making process because the molten glass needs to stay liquid and at a certain temperature in order for it to properly form into a shape. Glass production facilities often have numerous forehearths to maximize production.

I recommend: McCann Science describes the function of a forehearth.

Decorative glass bottles

Decorative glass bottles can serve a specific purpose and also be used for decor. Decorative bottles come in different shapes and sizes and are appealing to the eye. Many cosmetic glass bottles are also considered decorative glass bottles.

I recommend: Blown Art Glass discusses the idea of using glass bottles for aesthetic purposes.

Lid droppers

Small glass bottles with oils, chemicals, or perfumes have a lid that has a small dropper attached to it. The lid dropper allows you to only dispense the liquid a drop at a time.

I recommend: Earthen Magick discusses the uses and the benefits of a lid dropper on a glass bottle.

Shrink bands

Shrink bands are small strips of plastic that can be melted to provide a seal on a glass bottle.

I recommend: Specialty Bottle shows the process of adhering shrink bands to a glass bottle.

Amber glass bottles

Amber glass bottles are a deep orange/brown color. The amber color acts as a protective barrier for the liquid that is inside.

I recommend: SKS Bottle & Packaging outlines their amber glass bottle selection.