Introduction
“Where there is bread, the flour bags must be,” said an English proverb. Hardly prophetic, the old saw nonetheless underscores the importance of flour containers. Today, the humble flour bag has given way to the myriad forms of packaging available to the canny marketeer. In this context, the modern tote bag has much to recommend it. It is generally a spacious bag with parallel handles that emerge from the sides of its pouch. A tote bag is a wonderful medium for promotion – whilst a student may only possess one briefcase, they may own several totes, to suit the variety of tasks on their social calendar! Bags travel, and by virtue of this mobility, your brand too travels, far and wide. Tote bags are thus a wonderful promotional tool. Customised in all shapes and sizes, the attractiveness of tote bags as a branding medium is limited only by the creativity of the designer. Customisation can take many forms. At the most basic level, a company may choose to use a bag of its own colour to better reflect their brand. At the other end of the spectrum, complex art and photographic images can be used to beautify a bag. Commonly, tote bags are adorned with the logo and name of a company or organisation. Take for example a student on an economics major. They are young and have yet to establish a concrete professional identity. It may be more suitable to provide them with a bag that represents the company providing the bag, rather than the company that provided the electricity to office building B, though of course such a high level of branding is possible in the case of a custom tote.
Benefits of Custom Tote Bags
Those familiar with supermarkets are sure to be aware of the abundance of promotional bags that seems to have overtaken reusable and eco-friendly tote bags as a marketing tool. Supermarket trade faces pressure from groups and consumers alike to reduce and potentially eliminate the use of plastic bags in favor of alternatives which are kinder to the environment. Tote bags are already the superior alternative to plastic bags due to their reusability and potentially biodegradable nature, and with the market now more open than ever following the coming partial bag charge, they are in a great position to become the consumer’s product of choice. Customers tend to favor tote bags over the polypropylene supermarket alternative as in all likelihood they need not purchase one for every shop visit due to their sturdiness. With a stylish and well-made tote bag that they received for free after a promotion, the shopper is incentivized to make use of it and eschew buying a plastic alternative at the till, thus reducing plastic bag purchase. Companies are free to choose the style of bag they give away, and custom totes are sure to make a better impression than unadorned or generic tote bags. A nicely printed or even embroidered tote is a higher quality item and will reflect better on the company. In a time where plastic bags are seen as archaic and socially irresponsible, associating a brand with an environmentally responsible product will be beneficial. A customer walking with a custom tote bag can be seen as a brand ambassador for the company, increasing awareness and perception of the brand.
Designing Effective Custom Tote Bags
Remember that creating custom tote bags is a marketing step. So to ensure that your investment in these bags is not put in vain, each bag must help you to market your brand. Because of that, designing your tote bag is the most important part in your first step. There’s a cheap tote bag with a few simple designs and there’s also a branded one with good design. The first thing to do is try to find the best logo, image, or any identity of your brand which is unique and eye-catching. Because that identity is your flagship on your customer or the identity of what you will bring to the market. If you’re already known as a company with good environmental concern, you can put a leaf image or a recycled sign on the bags. If you’re a youth market clothing production, you can make trendy tote bags which represent the youth of the society. But always be careful by adding text to your design because it can lessen the impression. Text like a company tagline is okay but if it’s unnecessary, it’s better to be deleted. After finding your brand’s identity, now envision how your tote bag will look when it’s used. How frequently it will be used in public or only for a specific moment, will it be suitable for the user’s attire or the event where the bag is used? These factors will help you determine the quality of the tote bag itself and also give an idea of where you will distribute the bag. In some cases, companies are using the tote bags only for exclusive customers or when they are participating in an event. It’s not a good idea to translate it to a cheap tote bag because the user will not see it as a merchandise item and the bag will not reach a public eye.
Implementing Custom Tote Bags in Promotional Strategies
Custom designed tote bags can be applied to many promotional situations, some of which might include a business event, fundraiser, fashion trade show, or even a staff appreciation gift. To make the most of totes as a branding tool, carefully consider who will be using your bags and how they will be most effective. Fashion tote bags might, for example, be best provided at a charity event for Mental Health or at a summer fashion event. Conference bags get great mileage as they are used to carry informational material. Branded tote bags can be ordered in small quantities, which makes them viable as a marketing tool for even small enterprises and events. Low-cost, high visibility, and providing a useful promotional item to the recipient, custom tote bags are a broadly applicable tool for many promotional objectives.
Conclusion
Totes are more than a simple carrying bag. With the rise of environmentalism and a push towards sustainability, they have become more important than ever. The variety of materials available means finding one that fits your lifestyle or brand is easier than it’s ever been. From affordable reusable grocery bags to sturdy canvas book bags, there is an option for everyone. Whether using them as promotional tools or fashion statements, totes have proved that they are here to stay. With a market oversaturated with advertising, it is important to choose a product that will be effective. In terms of effectiveness, it is difficult for other promotional products to compete with customized tote bags. Their low cost, high durability, and potential high visibility make them a great tool for company, event, or cause promotion. And in terms of being a fashion statement, consumers are using totes to make statements about themselves. They’re no longer something to just throw your extra stuff in. When someone chooses to use a tote, whether as a fashion accessory or for practical reasons, they are making a decision to uphold certain values. These values can be anything from “I like this TV show” to “I believe in this cause” and anything in between. This is where a particular design on a tote can be a very powerful thing. It can start a conversation, create a connection, or pique curiosity. With so many benefits and available options, it’s easy to see why custom totes are becoming a branding powerhouse and why they will remain an influential product for years to come.