“Paper or plastic?” “Neither!” It’s becoming a popular catch phrase since all of the major grocery stores have started selling reusable canvas totes with their logo on the front. What makes them brilliant from a marketing perspective is that buying and using these bags makes customers feel good. Unless you’re Coca-Cola, it’s not often that you can get a customer to shell out cash to carry something with your logo on it.
In fact, most customers don’t really consider the marketing angle at all. The point is to do their part to help the environment and to appreciate the company’s efforts to do the same.
Then there’s the obvious benefit. As with any promotional tote bag, visibility is high. There’s also the potential for a long life. Promotional pens can run out in a couple of months, and pencils are eventually sharpened down into oblivion. A quality tote bag, on the other hand, can be used for years. A good example is the Heavy Cotton Canvas Boat Tote. When you purchase a sturdily-constructed bag, you could be getting years’ worth of advertising out of a modest one-time investment.
Here’s the great thing about this trend: you don’t have to own a brick-and-mortar retail store in order to take advantage of the canvas tote bag as a marketing tool. Service-oriented businesses, such as beauty salons and auto repairs, can also benefit from this approach, and so can retailers who don’t sell directly to the public.
There’s no rule that says a customer can only use a bag sold by Grocery Store X when they’re shopping at Grocery Store X. Every individual that currently opts for canvas bags, or has plans to do so in the future, could just as easily be carrying a bag featuring your company’s logo.
You can even go one better than Grocery Store X. Instead of selling the canvas bags for 99 cents at the checkout, you can give yours away for free. Free always trumps even the lowest of prices. You won’t have to break the bank to do it. For instance, the Classic Cotton Meeting Tote is available for just over a buck and a half.
Another way to top the grocery stores and mass merchandisers is to take eco-friendly to the next level with bags made from recycled material. Believe it or not, promotional tote bags made from recycled materials are actually out there and easy to get your hands on. For instance, you can order the Eco 51% Recycled Convention Tote, which is also a standout for its sophisticated black color in place of the traditional green. Should you find yourself in need of bag that’s more upscale and gift-appropriate, there is actually a stylish, full-size tote bag out there called the 100% Post Consumer Recycled Deluxe Tote Bag.
Next time a customer answers “neither” to the age old question of “paper or plastic,” make sure it’s a bag with your logo on it that they hoist onto the counter.
Brian Cerra is a recognized industry expert on promotional marketing with promotional products, and is Vice President of Sales for Best Promotions http://www.bestpromotions.com. Get the best deals on promotional products by calling Brian directly at 1-866-881-2378.
Published By: Indocquent.com- An online resource that allows businesses and individuals to promote their business, products and services in over 20,000 cities throughout 200 countries around the world.
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