Crafting Customization with Halsted’s Reusable Shopping Bags
As the leading provider of reusable and recyclable shopping bags or “totes” across North America, Halsted is proud to offer a wide array of options for distributors looking to place custom orders for their clients. With a focus on eco-friendly practices, Halsted’s line includes both woven and non-woven polypropylene shopping bags that can be customized with full-coverage BOPP designs, matte or glossy finishes, and enhanced with an assortment of inserts, handles, and custom tags.
This guide will walk you through the process of designing reusable bags to meet your client’s specific needs and budget, from material choices to printing options and ensuring government requirements are met.
Key Takeaways:
Customization is Key: Halsted offers a wide range of options for customizing a reusable shopping bag, allowing distributors to meet their clients’ specific needs and branding goals.
Material Selection Matters: The choice between woven and non-woven polypropylene depends on the intended use and desired durability. Woven polypropylene is more robust for heavy-duty applications, while non-woven polypropylene is lightweight and cost-effective for general retail use.
Durability is Essential: Reinforced seams, durable stitching, and reinforced handles contribute to the longevity of reusable bags. A well-constructed bag reflects positively on a brand’s commitment to quality and sustainability.
Printing Options Impact Appearance: Screen printing is suitable for basic graphics and logos, while BOPP printing offers superior detail and color vibrancy for intricate designs. The chosen printing method affects the final appearance and cost of the reusable bags.
What’s in a Bag? Understanding Dimensions and Capacity
With 12 states banning plastic shopping bags and over 500 cities following suit, many retailers have begun the transition to reusable shopping bags. The first step in this process is converting a brand’s existing bag dimensions to a reusable format. At Halsted, we begin by analyzing your current bags’ dimensions.
During this phase of the design process, we also suggest considering the goods your customers carry; this will guide the weight capacity of your newly designed reusable shopping bag. For instance, grocery shopping totes need to carry various items and withstand significant weight. It’s also important to consider load increases due to customers’ tendency to fill reusable bags more than single-use bags. This then plays into things like handle selection, but before we dive into the more specific details, let’s take a look at material selection.
Unweaving the Differences
As a leader in the packaging industry, we know a thing or two about woven and non-woven polypropylene. When distributors come to us with clients looking to convert from single-use to reusable shopping bags, we’re eager to share our knowledge and ensure they make well-informed decisions. We believe in turning ordinary packaging into a memorable experience.
Understanding the difference between woven and non-woven polypropylene is crucial. Woven polypropylene is more robust and suited for heavy-duty use, commonly found in grocery and big box stores where bags carry heavier loads. Its strength comes from the interweaving of threads, creating a resilient fabric that endures repeated use and lasts longer; however, this does raise the cost of the material. Advanced techniques like BOPP lamination can be used for high-quality graphics.
Non-woven polypropylene offers a lightweight, cloth-like texture and is more cost-effective, making it suitable for low-weight capacity uses like retail or promotional totes. Its softer surface is ideal for detailed screen printing, offering a clean canvas for brand messaging, and is the preferred choice among many in the clothing and general retail sectors.
Durability in Every Seam
Beyond material selection, opt for features like reinforced seams and durable stitching; measures like this prevent the reusable bags from premature wear and tear, particularly at stress points such as handles and corners. Construction techniques and thoughtful design enhance the strength and longevity of a reusable shopping bag. For higher weight capacities, reinforced handles are advisable to prevent breakage and ensure ease of use. Additionally, a rigid base insert can help maintain the bag’s shape. A well-constructed, reusable bag provides practical benefits and reflects positively on a brand’s commitment to quality.
Remember, a reusable bag is only as good as the number of times it can be used. Focusing on durability facilitates a sustainable cycle that benefits the environment and reinforces consumer trust. Furthermore, at Halsted, we’re proud to design our reusable shopping bags using 70% post-consumer recycled materials, playing our role in a greener tomorrow.
Printable Possibilities
Once you’ve created the physical bag and ensured its size and durability will withstand your customer’s needs, our in-house design team can use brand-specific designs or develop entirely new artwork for your reusable bags. However, the printing method you choose plays a significant role in the final appearance of your product.
Screen printing is a cost-effective way to communicate your brand, allowing for the application of vibrant, solid colors. It is best suited for logos, text, and basic graphics, making it economical for larger orders where the same design is repeated across multiple reusable bags.
The BOPP printing process is your best bet if your customer’s design includes high-resolution images. This process involves printing a high-resolution image onto a film and then laminated onto the reusable bag. BOPP offers superior detail and color vibrancy, making it perfect for intricate designs and realistic images. The lamination process enhances the visual quality and adds to the bag’s structural integrity and durability. While BOPP printing is more costly, it provides a premium finish that can elevate a brand’s perceived value, turning each bag into a portable billboard.
Preparing and Pricing Your Bags for Market
Halsted provides a wide array of enhancements for your products’ functionality as we prepare your reusable bags for the consumer market. Custom tags offer a way to display branding or UPC codes. Additionally, special packaging requirements for shipping can be accommodated to ensure that your bags are delivered in pristine condition.
Wholesale prices can vary significantly, depending largely on the design requirements and the materials used. If the primary goal is minimizing costs, the reusable “t-shirt” style bag is the most economical option. These bags are entirely machine-made, reducing labor costs and manufacturing time. However, their affordability comes with certain limitations. “T-shirt” style bags generally have a lower weight capacity, making them less suitable to carry or store heavy or bulky items. Additionally, their printability is limited, limiting their customization options for branding. Despite these limitations, these bags offer a cost-effective solution for businesses when budget is a top concern.
Halsted, Delivering Trust
Our Stock and Release program offers a consolidation solution that provides the economic benefits of bulk shipping without the need for massive orders. Distributors can take advantage of lower freight rates by combining smaller orders into Halsted’s 40-foot shipping containers. Since we manage all of our logistics in-house, we can offer these types of programs to our distributing partners, ensuring a smooth, efficient process from order placement to delivery.
Are you unsure what will work best for your customer’s unique reusable bag needs? Halsted is happy to collaborate as part of the “team,” from the initial consultation to warehousing and logistics. Contact Halsted today, your end-to-end packaging solutions provider since 1876.