Reusable bags are hot right now. They’re environmentally sound, can last for years and hundreds (or thousands) of uses, and they can look pretty cool, too. And, in many places, legislation has banned single-use bags, so reusable bags may be the only option.
People carry reusable bags around with them everywhere — to the grocery store, the office, the library, the coffee shop, the farmers market, and even out to lunch or dinner. That makes reusable bags an excellent marketing tool. If one of your customers is carrying a bag with your logo on it to all those places, then they’re spreading awareness of your brand far and wide.
Of course, when you decide to order reusable bags to promote your own company or event, you’ll have some choices to make. Here’s how to design your perfect reusable bag.
Choose Appropriate Fabric
There are so many woven and non-woven fabrics to choose from when it comes to designing your perfect reusable bag. You should consider the type of business you’re running and think about the kind of bag that’s best for carrying your products. Unbleached cotton is a solid choice for high-end brands looking for something simple and environmentally friendly. Canvas and cotton are good choices for a bag that will last for years and see a lot of use. Retailers of antiques, sports equipment, pet supplies, and even swimsuits could do well with either fabric.
However, there are cheaper options available that may not be as long-lasting, but will nevertheless get the job done. Nonwoven fabrics made from recycled plastic bottles can showcase your commitment to keeping single-use plastic bottles out of the ocean and landfills. Insulated bags are the right choice if you sell perishable foods, or foods that need to be kept hot or cold. Linen bags are a good choice for bakeries selling fresh loaves.
Select Styles
There are so many different styles of custom reusable bags. You can buy wine bags for single bottles or for two, four, or six bottles. You can get tote bags, satchels, and backpack-style bags. Choose a bag style based on how you expect customers to use your bags.
If you’re going to hand your branded bags out at a trade convention or craft show, choose a tote bag style that leaves your customers room to carry both your items and those of other vendors they might encounter at the event. If you’re going to hand out branded bags on a university campus, choose a backpack style that kids can use to carry their books to class or their gym clothes to the rec center.
You might even want to choose multiple styles. If you’re running a winery, you’ll probably need some branded wine bags in different sizes to accommodate all of your customers. And at some events, you may want to offer customers a choice of bag styles — between tote and drawstring, for example.
Select Colors
If your brand already has a color palette, then those are the best colors to use for your reusable bag design. If you don’t have a brand color palette, take a look at your website, signage, tags, and brochures. Choose colors reflected in your branding materials, and if you still can’t figure out what colors to use to represent your business, call a marketing professional pronto.
Make Your Bag Stylish
A pretty, stylish reusable bag will get carried around a lot more than an ugly one, and that means more exposure for your brand messaging. Some people will want to look good whether they’re headed to a night on the town or to the grocery store for milk, and a stylish reusable bag appeals to those people. You don’t have to hire a high fashion designer to come up with a stylish bag. Clean lines, some nice bag art, and pretty colors can go a long way towards making your reusable bag the envy of the checkout line.
Reflect Company Values
You’re already reflecting a commitment to sustainability by offering reusable bags in the first place, but you can use the type of fabric, the style of bag, and the art to reflect your company values. Recycled bag materials belie a focus on safeguarding the environment, while unbleached canvas or cotton comes across as sturdy and reliable but not blind to aesthetics.
Use your bag art to showcase your belief in the power of reading, your desire to save the turtles, or your commitment to bringing clean water to third-world communities. Nice bag art can have the added benefit of making your reusable bag a conversation piece that customers will discuss with others in the community.
If you’re not handing out reusable bags to your customers, or at least offering some for sale, you’re missing out on a golden opportunity to spread your messaging around the community. Everyone who sees your branded bags will be that much more familiar with your brand — so don’t wait any longer to order custom reusable bags.
