Relatively speaking, nylon is a “new” material.  It has only been around since 1935, when it was first developed by DuPont.  Nylon was a revolutionary invention, with applications so far-reaching that even DuPont couldn’t have conceived of how it would change the world.

Nylon is a synthetic polymer, often referred to as an “elastomer.”  Polymers are large molecules consisting of repeating monomers.  The term “elastomer” refers to polymers that are flexible, or in other words, have elastic properties.  Today nylon is one of the most commonly used polymers in the world.

Its very first application came in the form of a toothbrush in 1938, three years after its invention.  DuPont began mass-manufacturing toothbrushes with nylon bristles.  It replaced other types of toothbrush bristles previously known to man, including Siberian hog hair, which were expensive, inconvenient, and not altogether sanitary or tooth enamel-friendly.  Today it would be difficult to find a toothbrush with bristles made of anything else.

DuPont soon found another revolutionary use for its newest invention: stockings.  Prior to the 1930′s, women’s stockings were typically made out of woven natural materials, like wool.  Stockings were considered an essential part of a woman’s wardrobe in the early 1900′s.  Yet the only ones available were often bulky, uncomfortable, inconvenient, and overly hot in warmer weather.

By contrast, nylon stockings, which first became available around 1940, were lightweight yet durable, and considerably less bulky and uncomfortable than traditional stockings.  They conform easily to the shape of the leg yet can withstand a significant amount of pressure.  They quickly became the norm for stockings, all but replacing entirely every other type of stocking.

1930's-era nylon stockings revolutionized women's clothing

Women were enjoying a new kind of recognition and independence in the early 1900′s, particularly as the “Roaring 20′s” dawned.  The advent of nylon stockings were one more step toward female emancipation, so to speak.  Not only were they more comfortable and convenient, they were also far more aesthetic than their woolen predecessors.  They revealed more skin and hugged more tightly, accentuating the leg far more readily than wool stockings did.  Nylon stockings soon became a symbol of feminine beauty and self-expression.

Today, nylon is used in thousands of products and applications, including tote bags.  Because nylon has a high strength-to-weight ratio while still maintaining great flexibility, it makes an ideal material for items like tote bags.  It’s lighter and thinner than other popular tote bag fabrics like canvas and polypropylene.  It offers a significant amount of “give,” so that bags made of nylon can literally be stuffed full of items (and then some) without tearing the fabric.

The properties which make nylon such a useful material for producing tote bags also makes it an excellent fabric for other more stringent applications.  Some of these include military supplies, parachutes, tires, ropes and tents.  Nylon is used in so many everyday items that it would be impossible to go through a typical North American day without encountering a product or item containing it.

Tote bags made of nylon are ideal for uses such as book bags, overnight bags, travel and more.  Nylon tote bags have universal appeal and are perfect for almost any situation imaginable.

Check out two of our favorite nylon promotional tote bags on our “Promotional Tote Bag of the Week” page.

Striving to help businesses grow through the use of promotional products, like the Atlas Nonwoven Grocery Tote

Over the past year we’ve received numerous insightful comments and questions from our readers that have helped us to better serve our readers with relevant articles and topics.  We welcome input, comments and suggestions from our readers.  We especially enjoy hearing about our customers’ experiences with using promotional tote bags to advertise their businesses or organizations.Taking a look back over the past year since creating our blog, we have some definite article favorites, including:

*Responsible Companies Promoting Tote Bags as “Green” Solution (Dec. 08): In this article we featured Wal-Mart’s reuseable tote bag, that company’s effort to do its part for the environment.

* The Two Types of Canvas: How Each Affects Your Promotional Tote Bag (Dec. 08): Canvas is one of the most popular materials in the production of promotional tote bags.  Canvas comes in two major varieties.  This article examined these canvas types and how they affect the final product.

* The Responsible Promotional Tote Bag: Smaller Retailers are Doing Their Parts Too (Jan. 09): Wal-Mart isn’t the only retailer to encourage the use of reuseable tote bags.  Smaller retailers, such as Whole Foods Market are also customizing and selling promotional tote bags in an effort to preserve the environment and raise awareness for a cause.

* Thinking Outside the Bag: Choosing Unusual Promotional Tote Bags Helps to Make an Indelible Impression (March 09): This article offered advice to business owners on how to choose promotional tote bags that would make a lasting and unforgettable impression on their customers.

* Five Ways to Quit Plastic Bags for Good (Apr. 09): This article featured five tips that individual consumers can use at home to stop using plastic bags and make the switch to reuseable tote bags for shopping.

* Has the Fanny Pack Gotten a Bum Rap? (July 09): Remember when fanny packs were a fashion statement?  They haven’t lost their practical appeal.* What to Look for in a Promotional Trick-or-Treat Bag (Sept. 09): Thousands of retailers have taken hold of Halloween as an advertising opportunity, recognizing that it’s the perfect time of year to invest in promotional tote bags.

* Mall of America Trick or Treating: A Business Example to Follow (Oct. 09): Minnesota’s Mall of America has perfected the art of advertising events and offers a number of lessons that other businesses can follow.

This list of favorites is just a small sampling of the helpful information we’ve been able to offer to our readers over the past year.  We continue to strive to help business owners choose promotional tote bags that will best advertise their particular businesses, and we look forward to continuing to serve our readers over the months to come.

Celebrate with us by checking out some great sale-priced tote bags on our “Promotional Tote Bag of the Week” page.

Brand marketing isn’t just for businesses though.  Organizations, including non-profits, can also benefit significantly from using promotional products to achieve brand awareness.  While non-profits tend to have much smaller advertising budgets than businesses, many times their motivation for achieving brand awareness drives them harder to brand themselves due to the benevolent nature of non-profit organizations.  This zealousness has lead to some very successful brand marketing campaigns by organizations such as the Lance Armstrong Foundation, World Vision and others.

The Canadian Bible Society recently took steps to enter the brand marketing game when it sent out hundreds of thousands of promotional tote bags to its supporters and contacts.  The Canadian Bible Society and its U.S. counterpart, the American Bible Society, (both are members of the international organization United Bible Societies) are devoted to the cause of placing Bibles into the hands of every person in the world who wants one, regardless of the ability to pay.  The United Bible Societies organization funds translation of the Bible into foreign languages and making Bibles available and accessible to all persons.

The Canadian Bible Society's latest tote bag, part of its brand marketing campaign.

The Canadian Bible Society’s recent tote bag marketing campaign was undoubtedly another step toward branding the society’s name, image and mission.  The tote bag came in the form of a thank-you letter and gift to supporters of the organization’s work in dozens of countries around the world.  The hope is that receivers will actually use the bags, further spreading the name of the organization and raising awareness for the cause.

Promotional tote bags make a convenient, easy and stress-free solution to the gift-wrapping problem.  Promotional tote bags accomplish two purposes for the gift wrapping challenged boss:

1. They reduce or eliminate the need to cut, fold, tape or otherwise get fancy and complicated.
2. They serve as advertising for your business.

Using promotional tote bags, like the Euro Tote Paper Bag from Art Promos, to wrap gifts saves time and energy.

If you choose to use cloth or cloth-type promotional tote bags for gift wrapping, a third purpose is accomplished: your “gift wrap” is re-useable.  Anytime you can recycle anything and/or re-use it multiple times, you reduce your and your business’ carbon footprint.

Using promotional tote bags makes gift wrapping as simple as putting the item in the bag.  Next, simply cover the gift over with colorful tissue paper (see above picture.)  Each gift can literally be wrapped in less than 30-60 seconds.  The end result is a simple yet beautiful presentation that reflects not only your care and generosity but also the professionalism of your business/company.

So, gift wrapping-challenged employers need not fear holiday giving anymore.  Promotional tote bags can take away all fear and let your staff know how much you appreciate their hard work all year long.

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.

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 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.

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.

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.

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!