Employee Christmas Gifts: Personalized Tote Bags Build Business and Strengthen Staff Relations
Posted by: pixiejen on: November 4, 2009
Christmas is bearing down on businesses. The passing of Halloween usually signals the beginning of the holiday push. Along with the appearance of Christmas decorations comes questions like: “What do I get for my employees for Christmas?” Personalized tote bags make thoughtful, elegant and often inexpensive Christmas gifts for employees and also serve as advertisements for your business.
Early November is an opportune time to order employee gifts, like personalized tote bags. Ordering too early in the year sometimes makes it difficult to choose employee Christmas gifts that are meaningful and personal, simply because there is little Christmas atmosphere in, say, July, to serve as inspiration. Of course, ordering too late means running the risk of orders not arriving in time for the holidays.
Personalized tote bags are a practical solution to the employee Christmas gift question because there are so many styles that are suitable for both men and women. Tote bags can be imprinted or stitched with your business name and/or logo as a source of company pride. Employers may also choose to add personal touches like a customized holiday greeting, the date or year of the gift, even the employee’s name. The more personalized the gift, the more memorable it will become. It will also communicate the employer’s appreciation to those who work hard together to make the business thrive in a way that a “generic” Christmas gift can’t.
Personalized tote bags are functional no matter what style an employer chooses. He or she may wish to go beyond a simple tote and choose an employee tote bag with a specific purpose, such as:
1) Golf totes: Businesses that specialize in sports or have golf lovers on staff can choose golf totes like accessory bags (for holding tees, divot fixers, golf balls, etc.) In fact, employers may wish to personalize the golf accessories inside too. Golf shoe bags, club bags and caddie totes also serve as excellent employee Christmas gifts. It may even inspire your employees to golf together or plan a charity golf tournament.
Personalized tote bags, like this promotional golf tote from Liftpromos.com, make personal and memorable employee Christmas gifts.
2) Wine totes: Wine is the quintessential Christmas gift. It goes with anything and just about everyone appreciates a gift of wine, champagne or liqueur. This year, order a personalized wine tote to go with it. The tote can be used long after the wine bottle is emptied, ensuring that your employee Christmas gift will be remembered all year long. Plus, it saves the trouble and extra expense of gift wrapping.
3) Travel totes: Travel bag style totes are practical gifts for employees who travel a lot for work. Executives, buyers, salesmen and other staff who travel frequently will have a gift that will come in handy year-round, and you’ll be able to raise the profile of your business in other parts of the country and the world when your bag travels.
Tote bags of all kinds make memorable and useful employee Christmas gifts. For more personalized tote bag ideas for your staff, visit our “Promotional Tote Bag of the Week” page.
Vancouver 2010 Olympics Unveils its Event Tote Bags
Posted by: pixiejen on: October 28, 2009
Olympic fever is officially starting, and the Vancouver 2010 Olympics committee has a complete line of Olympic-logo products to celebrate the occasion. Vancouver 2010 Olympics merchandise includes stuffed animals, mugs, clothing, bookmarks, comemorative coins and of course, event tote bags.
One of the official Vancouver 2010 Olympics logo tote bag line
Tote bags are the “new” mugs; they are quickly rising up the ladder of preferred choice when it comes to promotional products purchased specifically for advertising an event. The trend toward advertising an event with a promotional tote bag has emerged in full force in the last decade. This is due in large part to the fact that tote bags are practical, compact, inexpensive and highly visible.
The Vancouver 2010 Olympics official line of event tote bags features 26 different items. The line ranges in style from fanny packs to tote bags, backpacks, book bags, travel bags, duffles and messenger bags. Designs vary from aboriginal motifs to scenic Vancouver, B.C. mountains. The line even includes children’s bags adorned with the official Vancouver 2010 Olympics Mascots.
This official Olympics tote bag features Sumi, Miga and Quatchi, the 2010 Olympics mascots.
Event promoters often favor tote bags as a means for advertising because of their inherent visibility. Promotional items that can be seen by more than just the person who is using the product delivers far more bang for the advertising buck. Tote bags are like little mobile billboards, but cost considerably less. Multiply that by thousands (or more) bags in circulation and the advertising potential is not only significant, but tremendous. In fact, in the case of an international event like the Vancouver 2010 Olympics, event tote bags may potentially reach every corner of the world.
Promotional tote bags tend to range significantly in price, depending on style. A basic tote may cost between two and five dollars per unit. Larger products like duffel bags may cost between eight and twenty dollars on average. However, even the more costly varieties pale in comparison to the cost of other forms of advertising, and advertisers may even be able to recover much of their cost by selling event tote bags at a nominal price.
Whether an event promoter chooses to give away their tote bags or add a price tag, promotional bags still pack a powerful punch when it comes to advertising dollars. Their cost effectiveness is one major reason why the tote bag is quickly becoming the most popular promotional product in the world.
What is GSM (And what does it have to do with promotional tote bags?)
Posted by: pixiejen on: October 21, 2009
If you’ve ever ordered customized promotional tote bags before, you may have run across the term “GSM.” Unless you’re familiar with paper or fabric manufacturing or distributing, the term is likely an unfamiliar one to you. What does “GSM” stand for when in relation to materials associated with promotional tote bags?
What your promotional tote bag will be used for is one consideration when evaluating the GSM of a particular bag.
“GSM” stands for grams per square meter. Put simply, GSM (or grams per square meter) refers to how many grams of material comprises one square meter of the paper or fabric. In other words, it’s a measure of density. GSM is sometimes also referred to as “grammage.”
The number of grams present in a square meter of paper or other material is calculated by multiplying the basis weight by 1406.5 and then dividing that figure by the basic size (length x weight.) (1) Basis weight refers to “the weight, in pounds, of a ream (500 sheets) of paper cut to a given standard size for that particular paper grade.” The figure that you end up with reflects GSM, or how dense a single square meter of the material is.
When it comes to customized promotional tote bags, GSM will reflect a few points that are worthy of consideration. The higher number of grams per square meter, the denser the material that the tote bag is made out of. The denser the material, the more durable the tote bag will be.
A higher GSM number tends to reflect better quality material, though this isn’t a hard and fast rule. Other factors besides grams per square meter play a role in material quality, such as the ingredients that are in the material, whether it has been treated in any way, the manufacturing and production process, etc.
When choosing a customized promotional tote bag, consider what factors are most important to you and your business in a bag. Considerations to make include:
1) What the bag will be used for. For example, are you looking for a bag strictly for one-time use, such as for packing a customer’s purchases in? If so, a high GSM is not critical. However, if you’re ordering bags which will are intended to be used multiple times (i.e. reusable shopping bags) a higher GSM is more important.
2) Budget. Tote bags with higher grams per square meter tend to cost a bit more. Again, this is not a hard and fast rule. But generally speaking, the bigger the GSM number, the higher the cost. Your need for durability needs to be weighed against how much you can reasonably afford to spend.
3) Screen printing of your logo. Sometimes (but not always), materials with a higher GSM number result in a clearer, bolder image after screen printing. If your logo is very detailed or colorful, a tote bag with a higher GSM may produce more pleasing results.
(1) http://www.google.ca/search?hl=en&rlz=1T4GFRD_en&defl=en&q=define:basis+weight&ei=LYzeStWgKpH8tQP3s4DbDw&sa=X&oi=glossary_definition&ct=title&ved=0CAsQkAE. Google Web Definitions.
Mall of America Trick or Treating Event: A Business Advertising Example to Follow
Posted by: pixiejen on: October 14, 2009
The Mall of America trick or treating event is an annual happening, drawing thousands of children and their parents to the mall every Halloween. It’s a prime example of a successful mall promotion that accomplishes its purpose: to expose the public to the businesses within the mall.
The Mall of America is famous for its annual "World's Largest Indoor Trick or Treat Event."
Halloween is one of the best times of the year to use promotional tote bags as tools for advertising (see “What to Look for in a Promotional Trick or Treat Bag.”) It’s the one time of year that advertisers are practically guaranteed that their promotional bags will get used. After all, millions of children in North America go trick or treating every Halloween.
The Mall of America trick or treating event, billed as “The World’s Largest Indoor Trick or Treat Event,” is a good example and event model for other malls to follow. Of course, not every mall has the type of resources that Mall of America has. But even the smallest of shopping centers can plan a successful indoor Halloween event and distribute promotional products (like tote bags) as a means of advertising. Bags can then be used by children to trick or treat in the shopping center, or even to go door to door at home. (See “Planning a Mall Trick or Treat.”)
The idea of indoor trick-or-treating has caught on like wildfire all over North America in the last two decades. This year several hundred shopping centers will be participating in this modern twist on an old tradition. It’s little wonder, then, that Halloween is the busiest time of year for distributors of promotional tote bags, both disposable and reusable ones.
Other promotional products like pencils, pens, notepads and glowsticks are also popular at this time of year, particularly for retailers who prefer to hand out non-candy items to trick-or-treaters and/or the adults that they bring with them. No other occasion compares to Halloween when it comes to people’s willingness to accept freebies and smart businesses, like the Mall of America, have demonstrated this clearly.
Personalized Wine Totes: An Elegant Promotional Gift for Christmas
Posted by: pixiejen on: October 6, 2009
Your employees and clients will love receiving a tote with a quality bottle of wine for Christmas.
It’s hard to think Santa when the trick-or-treaters haven’t even been to your door yet. But in retail terms, Christmas is literally just around the corner. Most retailers are well into the throes of Christmas planning, including ordering promotional gifts for Christmas. For those thinking in terms of promotional tote bags, personalized wine totes make an elegant gift consideration.
A vast number of options are available when it comes to personalized wine totes. They can be purchased in both disposable and reusable varieties. Disposable wine tote bags tend to be less expensive than the reusable kind. They are a good option for smaller businesses looking for a classy promotional product but who don’t have a lot of money to spend.
Reusable wine tote bags are available in a variety of materials. They can be distributed as-is, or filled with a bottle of wine for a simple, welcome Christmas gift for staff members, co-workers and valued clients. Busy business owners appreciate them because it means no gift-wrapping is needed.
Personalized wine totes, both disposable and reusable, come in styles and materials such as:
* Paper: Heavy paper wine totes (similar to an ordinary gift bag, but slimmer) are an economical choice, particularly for businesses which plan to give away hundreds or more. They are disposable and meant for one-time use, although they often last longer. Paper wine totes can usually be recycled, so there’s no need to worry about creating extra landfill refuse.
*Polypropylene: Polypropylene tote bags are a popular choice, mainly for their ability to repel liquid and ease of cleaning. Polypropylene is a plastic polymer used in a variety of different applications. Polypropylene wine totes are less costly than some other types, strong, durable, and can be reused for years.
* Litchi: This type of fabric looks and feels like leather, but is considerably less expensive. Litchi is soft to the touch, and its look and appeal belie its economical nature. Litchi wine totes are popular because they look classy but are affordable, even for smaller businesses. Plus, the tote can be reused.
*Nylon: Nylon is another economical choice, particularly for business owners who are on a tight advertising budget but want to invest in something that will last longer than a disposable personalized wine tote. Nylon wine totes are perfect when you want to spend more of your money on the wine that goes inside than the bag that it’s wrapped in.
*Neoprene: Neoprene is a versatile material, used commonly in items like orthotic devices (i.e. knee braces) and sports clothing. Used in a wine tote, the result is a flexible but strong bottle holder that will keep drinks chilled during transport.
*Canvas: Canvas is known for its high strength-to-weight ratio and makes an excellent choice for holding a bottle of wine or champagne. Canvas is made from cotton and is earth-friendly. It can be reused for years and then recycled at the end of its life.
*Polyester: Polyester consists of both natural and synthetic fibers. It is one of the most commonly used materials for tote bags of any kind because it is strong, washable, and relatively economical.
*Leather and leather-look: The most deluxe wine totes are made from leather or leather-look materials. If you really want to reward a client or loyal employee, nothing is more luxurious than a bottle of quality wine in a leather personalized wine tote.
Personalize your wine totes with your business advertising, logo, or a customized message. You may even want to have the recipient’s name printed right on the bag for an extra-special touch.
Time to Order Promotional Tote Bags for Christmas
Posted by: pixiejen on: September 29, 2009
It’s barely October and perhaps a stretch for some to think about gingerbread cookies and decorated trees, but in the retail world Christmas is bearing down, and quickly. Businesses that need to order promotional tote bags for Christmas still have some time… but not much.
Early to mid-November is the time of year when businesses begin the Christmas retail push. This includes bagging customer’s purchases in Christmas promotional tote bags, or ordering re-usable totes with Christmas motifs to sell in-store.
Order your Christmas promotional tote bags in early October for November delivery.
Those who plan to order promotional tote bags for Christmas should remember that shipping can sometimes be delayed at this busy time of year. An order that would normally take ten business days to ship may actually end up taking 11 or 12 days (or more, depending on shipping method and/or carrier.) With this in mind, it’s important to plan for delayed delivery and simply place orders earlier.
Early October is the latest that businesses should wait to order Christmas promotional tote bags. Ordering during the first week of October usually ensures that the product will arrive by late October. Again, this depends on the shipping method (i.e. ground versus air) and who the carrier is.
It may even be possible to order as late as mid-October and still have your product arrive for early to mid-November. However, earlier is always better. It may also be possible to place a rush order in the case of an emergency. But rush orders may cost 30% more (or higher.) Ordering early will help you avoid eating into your advertising budget.
Once you’ve placed your order, there is little else that you can do except wait. You don’t have a lot of control over things like weather, carrier work load, etc. But there are a few things you can do before you order your Christmas promotional tote bags to increase the likelihood that your order will arrive on time (or sooner):
- Find out who your carrier is: Different business promotional gifts distributors use different carriers. Before you place your order, check to see what carrier the company uses. Make sure it’s a reliable one with a good track record of on-time, accurate deliveries.
- Always read the fine print: If ordering online or from a catalogue, read the shipping terms carefully to be sure you understand what to really expect with regard to delivery of your product. If ordering by phone, ask lots of questions, and ask for clarification on points that you don’t understand.
- Provide complete information with your order: Any omission of critical information, like address, phone number, etc. can delay your order. So can things like providing your logo in the wrong format than was requested (i.e. emailing a .gif file instead of a .jpeg file), or mixing up product numbers on your order form. Fill in information carefully and double check your entries to make sure there are no mistakes.
Doing everything you can on your end of things can significantly increase the chance that your Christmas promotional tote bag order will arrive on time. All you need to do after that is have a cup of egg nog and get ready for the Christmas rush!
Have Tote, Will Travel: Two Things to Look for in a Promotional Travel Tote Bag
Posted by: pixiejen on: September 22, 2009
Thousands of North Americans travel by airplane every day, 365 days per year. Despite a worldwide economic slump, air travel is still the most efficient mode of travel for many, even when it comes to domestic flights. For those who fly regularly, even once or twice per year, finding a promtional travel tote bag that is suitable for airplane use can be challenging, especially with current luggage specifications and requirements.
Airline travelers usually have two major concerns when it comes to flying with a travel tote bag: space, and security issues. So, when choosing a promotional tote bag that is meant for travel, and specifically air travel, here are two things to look for:
1) Compactibility: Different airlines have varying regulations when it comes to the type and size of travel tote bag a passenger can carry on to an airplane. Rules may also be dependent upon type of flight (domestic versus international,) size of the airplane, etc. But generally speaking, carry-on bags/travel totes must be small and compact enough to fit in an overhead storage bin. For this reason, promotional travel totes that are made of soft rather than hard materials are usually best for carry-on bags. Soft bags can usually be maneuvered, shifted and compacted much more easily. Hard bags (i.e. suitcases) are inflexible, and it can be a real inconvenience to discover at the last minute that what a traveler thought would be a carry-on bag has to be checked after all. Materials such as canvas are excellent for travel tote bags because canvas is very strong, but also flexible, and can take a great deal of abuse without being damaged.
2) Accessibility: Travel tote bags should be simple and easy to open, rummage through and empty at a moment’s notice. All carry-on items have to be scanned prior to boarding, and bags frequently have to be emptied out so that their inner contents can be examined by airline security personnel. Transparent bags are sometimes a good choice for carry-on bags, since their contents are readily visible and may mean that the bag won’t have to be emptied for inspection. Make sure the bag has pockets for small but important travel items that need to be carried, like passports and other official documents. Outside pockets that zip up are ideal for keeping papers and ID secure and also readily accessible.
Customized Sports Bags: Worth the Investment
Posted by: pixiejen on: September 15, 2009
Customized sports bags may not readily jump to your mind when you think of promotional bags. But customized sports bags are a memorable way to thank your loyal customers and clients for their patronage. They make excellent business giveaways for several reasons, including:
1) The number of people who exercise regularly is growing: More people are getting fit than ever before. Whether it’s going to the gym, participating in a sport (organized or informal,) hitting the golf course, or just going for a walk around the block, North Americans have begun to take seriously the need to remain physically active. Not only does this present an opportunity for you to advertise your business via a customized sports bag, you’ll also be encouraging your customers in their physical fitness routines.
2) Sports bags are long-lasting: Most sports bags will last for years, some even decades. So while a customized sports bag might cost more than a promotional mug, the payoff for the dollars that you invest will be greater and longer-term, well worth the extra expense.
3) Excellent exposure for your business: Promotional bags of any kind have greater value as advertising tools than promotional items like pens, note pads and similar items. This is because items like pens tend to be used and seen by only the person who received the item. Promotional bags, on the other hand, are a bit like walking billboards: they are seen every time they travel with the recipient, like at the gym, on the golf course, etc.
Customized sports bags come in a number of styles. “Sports bag” may refer to:
* Duffel bags: This type of bag is barrel-shaped, and may range in size. Duffel bags are ideal for taking to places where a full change of clothes is required (i.e. the gym, pool, etc) as well as sporting equipment. They usually have a lot of room, and are even practical for travel.
Duffel bags are perfect for heading to the gym or pool.
* Shoe bags: Shoe bags make great promos for athletes who need only carry a pair of shoes and/or small accessories to participate in his/her chosen sport or activity. Shoe bags make practical business giveaways for golfers, especially when you purchase shoe bags with pockets designed specifically for golf accessories.
* Drawstring bags: This type of bag is fairly simple. It is shaped like an ordinary rectangular bag, with a string that is pulled through a casing in the top. Drawstring bags are good for carrying extra changes of clothing, but are smaller than duffel bags and so are sometimes preferred because they tend to be lighter, more compact, and easier to carry than a duffel bag.
As already mentioned, customized sports bags are more costly than promotional items like pens and mugs. However, business owners should still be able to find quality sports bags for less than ten and even five dollars each. Since the return on investment is potentially larger, it’s usually worth it for businesses to purchase promotional items like customized sports bags at least once, especially businesses that deal regularly with athletes or physical fitness buffs.
What to Look for in a Promotional Trick-or-Treat Bag
Posted by: pixiejen on: September 9, 2009
Early late summer/early fall is the time to plan for Halloween advertising. It’s the time of year that many businesses are planning their promotional trick-or-treat bag orders.
Businesses order promotional trick-or-treat bags for a variety of reasons. Some retailers purchase them as part of an annual mall trick-or-treat event. They distribute the bags to customers and children in the days and weeks preceding the event and/or October 31. Some invest in them even though they aren’t part of an organized event like a mall trick-or-treat. Instead, they simply hand them out to children or parents as a free service and as a means of spreading their name around the community during the Halloween season. One creative business has even created a successful annual Halloween safety campaign, which includes free trick-or-treat bags. The promotional bags are printed with its own advertising and the advertising of other local businesses. (Read the full story.)
If your business is participating in a Halloween event, or is looking to simply take advantage of the trick-or-treat season as an advertising opportunity, here are a few tips to consider when choosing promotional bags intended for use by trick-or-treaters:
* Choose reflective bags if possible: Safety on Halloween night is critically important. Promotional bags which are ultimately intended for use by children going door-to-door on Halloween should aid in keeping them safe while they do so. Reflective bags will help ensure that children can be seen by oncoming cars. They will also reflect light cast by streetlights and porch lights. All of this means trick-or-treaters will be more visible in the dark and less likely to become the victims of accidents.
* Choose larger bags: Larger bags have two distinct advantages: one for the child, and one for the sponsoring business(es). First, larger bags hold more candy. This is of utmost importance to the trick-or-treater! If you supply bags that are too small, they will probably not get used at all and may end up being a waste of your advertising dollars. Secondly, larger bags mean more room for your advertising. You can request larger print, and may even have more printing options when it comes to colors, etc. Larger promotional trick-or-treat bags simply provide more bang for your buck.
* Choose bags with handles that are easy to hold for small hands and make carrying large loads less difficult: You can expect that your promotional bag will be filled to the brim by the end of Halloween night! The best kind of bag handles for heavy loads are typically loop-handles or patch-handles. Both are easy for even the littlest of fingers to grasp, and both offer extra durability and support for filled bags.
Remember, plastic bags may present a small safety risk, particularly for younger children. Be sure that you get permission from parents before you hand out any kind of a plastic or disposable-type promotional bag to very young children. This will help to avoid any accidents with the bags, like choking or suffocating. You’ll likely find that most parents are very appreciative of the free gift and your thoughtfulness in asking permission ahead of time.
Flat or V-Bottomed Customized Tote Bags: Which is Best for You and Your Business?
Posted by: pixiejen on: September 1, 2009
A V-bottomed tote bag (The Promotional Canvas Tote from Lift Promos.)
If you’re a business owner looking for customized tote bags, it may never have occurred to you that you have a choice when it comes to shape. It may not be your number one consideration, but the shape of the tote bag does make a difference when it comes to the type of cargo your customers will be carrying in it.
Tote bags come in two basic styles/shapes. The most common style is the V-shaped bottom. A V-shaped tote is constructed by taking two squares of fabric of equal size and stitching them together on three sides, leaving one end unstitched for the opening. The result is that the bottom of the bag is shaped like the letter “V.” The tote bag itself is relatively flat and compact.
The second basic style is the flat-bottom. This type of customized tote bag is less common. While the body of the V-shaped tote bag is constructed with two pieces of fabric, the flat-bottomed bag is made with five pieces. The front and back pieces are of equal shape, and are stitched to two rectangular side panels and a rectangular bottom panel. The resulting shape is box-like with a flat bottom instead of a “V.”
A flat-bottomed tote bag (The Canvas Tote from Art Promos.)
The style of customized tote bag that you choose for your business should depend upon how most of your customers will likely be using the bag. For example, if you are a grocery store purchasing bags that you will re-sell to your customers for use while shopping in your store, a flat-bottomed tote bag is your best choice. Flat-bottomed bags are roomier and have more flex in the sides. They also distribute cargo weight more evenly. This type of bag is ideal for grocery and other moderate to medium-heavy items. Using a flat-bottomed bag to carry groceries or heavier items is also easier on the back, shoulders and arms and results in less physical strain and lower risk of injury.
The V-shaped tote bag is best suited for cargo which is smaller, lighter and/or flatter. For example, V-shaped bags are excellent for carrying books. They are also an ideal choice for handing out at trade shows.
The ultimate goal when choosing the right style of customized tote bag for advertising your business is to invest in bags that your customers and potential clients will actually use on a regular basis. Advertising promos that get stuck into the back of a closet and forgotten are little more than wasted money for you. The more often customers use your customized tote bags, the more your business is advertised, and the more likely those customers will be to remember your name.
Business Promotional Gifts: More business advertising ideas.
- Branding Your Business: Promotional Products a Critical Part of Your Marketing StrategyPART THREE: LESSONS FROM LANCE ARMSTRONG: BRANDING FOR THE NON-PROFIT In Part One and Part Two of this series we examined the crucial role that promotional products play in branding a business. The examples of companies like Coca-Cola, Disney and McDonalds are powerful persuaders of the tremendous benefits of brand marketing. These three companies and othe […]
Bookmark Me
