Grocery Bags

The Rise of Grocery Totes

Customized reusable grocery bags originated many years ago, and have become one of the most popular promotional products of today. Back in 1912, grocer Walter H. Deubner was looking for a way to advance his small grocery business in St. Paul, Minnesota. He noticed that his customers were limiting their purchases to only what they could conveniently carry home. Thus, he set upon a task to help them carry more items at once, eventually developing a paper grocery bag with a cord running through it, giving it the ability to hold up to 75 pounds. Now while the basic design of these grocery totes has not changed significantly in the past century, public perception of them has. With the influence of environmental studies and the scientific developments about the consequences of human actions on the world around us, the adoption of reusable grocery bags has sparked a revolution in the way we shop today. Grocery totes, like the Laminated 100% Recycled Grocery Tote are ideal alternatives to disposable paper or plastic bags. Because of their added endorsement by celebrities and the apparel industry, customized reusable grocery bags are even considered to be a fashion trend with famous designers promoting their own designs on these grocery totes!

Promote Your Brand with Assorted Grocery Tote Bag Styles

Do you want your company to profit from this customized reusable grocery bag trend? Then choose customized reusable grocery bags as your next promotional giveaway item! Grocery totes are great mechanisms to promote your brand because they are cost effective and provide such a large imprint area on which to customize your company name and logo. Each time the recipient uses your grocery tote, they will be increasing visibility for your brand. And by aligning your company with an eco-friendly product like grocery totes, you can further promote a positive conception of your brand in the eyes of consumers, especially those dedicated to the environmental movement. Many of our grocery totes also belong to our category of EarthSmart™ items. An EarthSmart™ grocery tote is made from natural, organic or recycled materials and inflicts little or no harm on the environment. In addition, one percent of the sales of EarthSmart™ reusable grocery bags go to 1% for the Planet, a non-profit organization dedicated to helping the environment.

Customized Reusable Grocery Bags: So Many to Choose From!

At Pinnacle Promotions, we have a wide variety of customized reusable grocery bags to choose from in a variety of colors, shapes and sizes. Our selection of customized reusable grocery bags includes everything from grocery totes with zipper or button snap closures, to water resistant grocery totes, to reusable grocery bags made with insulating polyester fiber and coated thermal film to keep food and drinks at the perfect temperature. We also have grocery totes at different price points, depending on your personal needs. Whether you are a small grocer purchasing grocery totes to give to your customers, or a large corporation using grocery totes as a giveaway at a tradeshow, Pinnacle Promotions has the perfect customized reusable grocery bag for you!

Some refer to customized reusable grocery bags as "bags for life." Made from either cloth, canvas, woven synthetic fibers, or woven polypropylene, the bags can be used for very long periods of time and have the ability to hold more items than the standard paper or plastic bag one may retrieve from a grocery or retail store. Even though reusable grocery bags require more materials and money to produce than their thinner plastic and paper counterparts, it is said that the usability of reusable grocery bags outweighs the extra cost of production as well as the environmental ramifications of disposable plastic bags. Today, more and more grocers and retailers promote the use of reusable grocery bags. As more and more people have become aware of their carbon footprint, as well as their concern for their health, customized reusable grocery bags have become a trend.

For years, plastic and paper shopping bags monopolized bagging at grocery stores. However, around 1990, customized reusable grocery bags were introduced to the grocery and retail industries. The distribution of disposable plastic bags became an environmental concern. In an effort to cut down on waste production, the government imposed taxes on the distribution of disposable plastic bags. Along with the reusable grocery bag, supermarkets and retailers also included information about how the customized reusable grocery bags were integrated into retail shops in order to minimize further environmental damage.

Consumers are creatures of habit. Similar to most newly integrated concepts, it took shoppers some time before they fully embraced the idea of carrying their food in reusable grocery bags. Some, contrarily, were using canvas reusable grocery bags long before retailers even promoted the customized reusable grocery bag. Once supermarkets, in particular, began encouraging the use of these reusable grocery bags by marketing them with custom designs and connecting them to the environmental cause, consumers began trading in their paper and plastic for reusable ones. For only $.99 to a $1, shoppers can choose from one of the many designed reusable grocery bags to tote around their items! Despite the increased costs to produce these reusable grocery bags, grocers encourage their use because they have found that the bags increase their over all sales. Now that more retailers and even designers are utilizing these customized reusable grocery bags, some predict that disposable plastic bags will be phased out of the shopping process.

In an effort to minimize pollution and trash, many stores have fully integrated customized reusable grocery bags into their bagging systems. On Earth day in 2008, the certified organic grocery chain, Whole Foods Market, completely eliminated the option to bag groceries in disposable plastic bags. Instead, shoppers only had the choice of selecting from their reusable grocery bags called, "better bags", or paper bags made from 100% recycled paper. Whole Foods' mission for integrating the recycled bottle constructed- reusable grocery bags, is to reduce the amount of pollution and waste through out the US. As an incentive, when shoppers use their "better bags" they receive a $.5-.10 refund.

Customized reusable Grocery Bags are available in a myriad of colors, styles, and materials, so when you are selecting your reusable grocery bags, it is important to evaluate its' primary use. Reusable grocery bags that are lamented are often ideal for those using the bag to carry perishable or breakable products. For example, if an egg breaks and seeps onto a laminated reusable grocery bag simply spray the bag with disinfectant and any bacteria will instantly die. However, just because an egg cracks on canvas reusable grocery bags does not mean that the bags are no longer functional. Canvas reusable grocery bags can simply be tossed into your normal laundry cycle, killing any lingering bacteria. Even the synthetic fiber reusable grocery bags or polypropylene bags can come clean. These bags are meant to be used, washed, and then re-used!

As reusable grocery bags were integrated into the retail world, artists became interested in featuring their customized designs on company bags. The apparel industry, in particular, greatly contributed to the reusable grocery bags "fad" by making it trendy to carry your very own "statement" reusable grocery bags. Some reusable grocery bags bore symbols of sustainability, environmental efforts, and words of wisdom, and other more cheeky designs but highly effective messages included a canvas bag that simply stated, "I'm Not A Plastic Bag," by British designer Hindmarch. Still, depending upon the season, holiday, or promotional event you can find grocery stores re-designing their reusable grocery bags so shoppers have the opportunity to purchase the latest design.

Reusable grocery bags are an extremely versatile product. Whether you work for a health food store and want your shoppers to promote sustainable living or you are interested in promoting your brand, reusable grocery bags can promote both sustainability and your product. Many individuals even associate these reusable grocery bags with the environmentally conscious. So, if you want your company to be perceived in this manner, you should consider bagging your products in custom designed reusable grocery bags. With all the chores and activities that consume our daily lives, reusable grocery bags help organize all the clutter; pack an extra pair of shoes or a jacket for after work dinner, or tote the egg casserole your bringing over for brunch in your reusable grocery bags. If you specifically are carrying food, the laminated reusable grocery bags make the perfect carrier in case of spills. Any beverage or gooey mess can be wiped clean, effortlessly. Whether you're planning a trip to the super market or packing an overnight bag, you can use your reusable grocery bags for every event.

Everywhere you look businesses have scrapped their plastic shopping bags for reusable grocery bags. Not only are companies hoping this change will protect the environment, but they are also hoping it will increase their profitability. Due to their reusability, consumers are using these bags to shop, carry their every day items, and pack a lunch! All of these uses are creating impressions that stores never accumulated when they were distributing disposable bags. And, by aligning your business with these environmentally appropriate items, your consumers have a positive conception of your company. Similarly, these customized reusable grocery bags are an extremely cost efficient way to positively promote your brand. For just a few cents more, businesses are able to produce these carry-alls. Now, your company is supporting a sustainable environment and promoting your brand all at once.

Any individual, non-profit, or company can benefit from custom printing on reusable grocery bags. However, if you need some ways to utilize these functional items here are some examples of how to use them:

• -Catering companies:

When catering companies throw an event they have an overwhelming amount of products, props, dishes, food, and the list continues. These event planners can use laminated reusable grocery bags to carry all their products to and from event locations. Not only will they ensure stability when carrying heavy objects, but the lamination will help fight potential leaks or spill from reaching other bags. These functional reusable grocery bags also make the catering company look more professional since reusable grocery bags can be custom printed with their store front logo!



• -Grocery store:

Grocery stores were the originator of reusable grocery bags. Not only were these bags more durable than their plastic counterparts, but they allowed for more items to be held in one bag. These two factors began the reusable grocery bags trend that has infiltrated stores today. Consumers will appreciate that your store is environmentally conscious, bagging efficient, and responsive to their customers needs.



• -Outdoor store:

Outdoor enthusiasts are efficient and environmentally conscious, so it only makes sense that outdoor companies distribute reusable grocery bags to their customers. When people head out into the wilderness they only bring what is absolutely necessary. Reusable grocery bags can act as a multipurpose bag; many reusable grocery bags have compartments, can be folded up, or attached to a carabiner for maximum efficiency. And, for the environmental enthusiasts, some reusable grocery bags are also made from organic fibers.



• -Hotels:

People tend to accumulate more items when they travel. To help visitors organize and store their products, hotels can place customized reusable grocery bags in their rooms. Hotels can also use these bags for dirty laundry, a storage bag for hosting trade shows, a shopping bag from the gift store, a to-go bag from the hotel restaurant, or even a thank you package. With so many divisions within a hotel, the hotel industry can really get creative with their use of reusable grocery bags.



• -Beverage store:

Often you see people leaving beverage stores struggling to carry big, bulky boxes. If a store created custom reusable grocery bags with a plastic base, customers can easily carry their purchased beverages comfortably and efficiently wherever they are traveling. Similarly, if a red wine bottle were to break the customer does not have to worry about staining their clothes other car. Another option is to use the customized reusable grocery bags as a gift bag. If a customer is interested in giving a beverage as a gift, they can place the beverage in the bag and then adorn it with tissue paper and a bow; it's like two gifts in one!