Custom tote bags are incredible marketing tools for many reasons – they have a huge imprint space, they’re reusable, and they’re one of the most versatile promo items around. Bags printed with a logo also get an average of almost 6,000 impressions – more than any other promotional item. Click through ePromos' Slideshare to learn all about promo totes – from various styles and materials to decoration options and the latest trends.

1. What You Need To Know About
Custom Tote Bags
www.epromos.com

2. Welcome to ePromos’ overview of custom tote
bags! Here, we’ll share everything you’d want to
know about tote bags – from styles and
materials to decoration options and trends.

3. What is a tote bag?
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• Quite simply, a tote is a large bag with parallel handles
emerging from the pouch. It can be fastened or open.

4. Why use tote bags in a promotion?
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1. Tote bags are ready-made for logos and messaging. Three
top reasons marketers turn to them:
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3. 1. Large imprint space
2. Reusability
3. Versatility
4. Fact: Custom bags imprinted with a logo get nearly 6,000
impressions – more than any other promotional item.

5. Top three styles
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1. 1. Grocery totes
2. Convention/meeting totes
3. Boat totes

6. Top three materials
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Choosing a material for custom tote bags depends largely on the purpose of the
promotion (for example, will they be tradeshow giveaways or client gifts?) and your
budget. The top three materials for totes are:
2. 1. Polypro
2. 600d polycanvas
3. Cotton

7. What are some other material options?
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1680d ballistic nylon – Tough, thick, synthetic nylon fabric
210d polyester – Light, supple fabric
Bamboo – Light, strong fabric that boasts antibacterial and antimicrobial properties
Canvas – Strong and durable with a soft feel
Cotton canvas – Tightly woven and heavier weight for durability and strength
Cotton duck – Weighty but strong material
Faux leather – Less expensive, more durable alternative to real leather
Felt – Resilient fabric that retains its strength and properties for years
Leather – Natural fabric that’s soft and features interesting textures
Mesh – Thin material with an open-weave, net-like construction
Microfiber – Durable, lightweight and strong material
Neoprene – Stretchable, waterproof, protective material
Nylon – Strong, lightweight material that can withstand a lot of wear and tear
Paper – Ideal for gift or shopping bags
PET – Polyethylene terephthalate (PET), one of the most common plastics, is strong and lightweight
Polyester – Extremely durable and strong material
Polypropylene – Lightweight, recyclable, plastic fabric
PVC – Low-cost, clear plastic
Rayon – Cost-effective alternative to cotton
Vinyl – Low-cost, strong and durable material

8. Top decoration methods
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A variety of factors – such as the material of the bag and number of colors to be printed –
come into play when choosing the best decoration method for custom bags. Here’s a
look at the top three customization methods along with pros and cons for each.
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1. Silkscreen: This method, which uses a piece of mesh stretched over a screen, is
cost-effective and produces a colorful imprint, but it’s not as crisp and clear as some
other options.
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2. Transfer: In this process, images are put on to special paper and then transferred to
the fabric via a hot press. It’s cost-effective and produces a highly detailed image, but it
can sometimes have the appearance of a sticker.
3. Embroidery: This method creates a high-end look, but it can only be done on certain
fabrics and it’s more expensive than other decoration options.

9. Other decoration options for tote bags
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Four-color process: A color image is separated into four different color values (called a
color separation) via filters and screens. This process is typically done by transfer.
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Deboss: Certain bags are made with patches that can be debossed. Here, the material
around the die impression is raised and the logo is sunken into the surface of the fabric.
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Hot stamp: The logo or design is transferred to the surface of the material at a high
temperature.
Image bonding: The imprint is reproduced onto the material’s surface layer in an infinite
number of colors in perfect registration. This is a form of transfer.
Screenprint: In this technique, a woven mesh supports an ink-blocking stencil to receive
the logo. A fill blade or squeegee is moved across the stencil, forcing ink into the mesh
openings for transfer.

10. Top sizes for tote bags
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• Although they vary slightly from style to style, there are three
classic sizes for tote bags:
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1. 1. Grocery/shopper: 15”H x 13”W x 10”L
2. 2. Convention: 15”H x 15”W x 3”L
3. 3. Leisure: 13”H x 19”W x 9”L
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• Handle lengths vary from 10” to 14.” Cross-body styles, which
are especially trendy now, have much longer lengths.

11. Top colors for tote bags
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• Whether you want to make a bold statement or you want to
be more subdued, there’s a color for every campaign when
it comes to promotional tote bags. Here’s a look at some of
the top color options:
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• The classics: Black, royal and red
•  The jewel tones: Cobalt, emerald and magenta

12. Top trends
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Here are the top three trends in the tote bag market:
1. Clear PVC
2. Mobile technology features
3. Patterns, prints and pops of color

13. Want more?
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• 1. Read ePromos’ article on custom tote bags.
• 2. Watch an interview with ePromos’ CEO, Jason Robbins,
and Nicole Ruccio, Category Manager for Leed’s, a top
supplier in the promo products industry.

14. ...............................................................................................................................................................................................................................................
• Check out all the options
• for promotional tote bags and more
• at ePromos.com
• or speak to a Brand Consultant
• at 877-377-6667.