Bags, Pencils and other "giveaways".

[KingdomOfAdventure]

I've started looking at the whole getting stuff printed and the like and the subject of "What sort of bags do you want?" came up. Considering the move that a lot of retailers are doing of no longer supplying polythene bags I have to consider whether I opt for them or opt for something more reusable.
Thoughts? Do you care what sort of bag you get your stuff in?

Add in other things like pencils (some of the game products I'll be selling involve note taking so pencils are used, a lot) and other stuff do people have any recommendations on where to get these sorts of things printed?

 

[Scottish Business Owner]

I dont personally see the attraction of a bag at all, i'm not going to keep it and I think doing anything bespoke would be a money sucking exercise. Keep the business as lean as you can when you start up.

I'm not a huge fan of personalised merchandise in anyway. I think it's nonsense to think people will buy from you again because you gave them a pencil. It's not something that differentiates you. I would leave all these type of things until the business is making real money. In my opinion these are luxuries pure and simple

 

[KingdomOfAdventure]

I dont personally see the attraction of a bag at all, i'm not going to keep it and I think doing anything bespoke would be a money sucking exercise. Keep the business as lean as you can when you start up.

I'm not a huge fan of personalised merchandise in anyway. I think it's nonsense to think people will buy from you again because you gave them a pencil. It's not something that differentiates you. I would leave all these type of things until the business is making real money. In my opinion these are luxuries pure and simple

I'm probably not making myself clear enough here.

This is for a brick and mortar retail business and so I presume I'll need a bagging solution of some sort for those who buy from the shop. Whether it be 1 comic or a big box board game the customer will need a way of carrying it.

The pencils is an idea from a marketing perspective really and I know it's not going to result in a huge return but if it's a return that covers the expense then is it not worth it?

So - Those of you who have had bags printed (poly/paper/other) where did you get them done or do you have any other recommendations?
Also - When it comes to getting a bag from a shop, are you likely to re-use that bag?

 

[Former Member 1]

Personally I'd favour an old fashioned solution... Paper bags for small items and old fashioned brown paper and string for bigger boxed items.... Maybe you could get this branded or use branded tape?

Bags WILL get kept and re-used if they're substantial and usefully proportioned. I'm thinking here about the sort of string-handled bags you get from certain up market stores. Or the bags for life....

And I've known some places give out hessian bags with more expensive purchases. Certainly when I was at school (which is a helluva long time ago) it was the done thing to carry stuff in a "Bloggs" or "Listen" bag... Those being two of the 'cooler' record shops that catered for the (nominally) more eclectic tastes...

Pencils; well if you're going to use, sell or include pencils with purchases then by all means have them branded. I usually get pens done as I find that on location people are always looking for one. I use quite an expensive pen myself which I never lend; so if anyone asks for a pen they get one to keep. And I know for a fact that it has caused people to keep me in mind, take a look at the web site and subsequently generated sales...

 

[Gordon N]

Personally I'd favour an old fashioned solution... Paper bags for small items and old fashioned brown paper and string for bigger boxed items.... Maybe you could get this branded or use branded tape?

What a brilliant idea, I am a great fan of the almost retro style of that. In a way it reminds you of a time when the people and businesses in Britain were polite and actually cared! This would be a really nice touch and a more personal service in my mind, especially if you could use recycled paper and get it branded (including something that says it's recycled!). I am sure it would become a real talking point for your customers and a great word of mouth marketing tool. The only down side is that it doesn't work as well for multiple purchases.

Pencils shouldn't cost the earth and I agree that they are a good form of subtle marketing, but surely they would be a giveaway with a game that needed them or a few pence on their own?

As far as bags go I know I would be stuck on that one. I guess it is really guided by budget aswell as your opinion on the 'carrier bag' issue you mentioned. If you can afford to I would go for a 'bag for life' style, mainly as people are more likely to keep it and use it again. Every time they use it again in public they are advertising your business for you, and I think that is where you justify the production costs.

Good luck with your decision...

Regards,

Gordon

 

[Gordon N]

Hows about that for timing Dave...

Allow me the honour of the introduction..... meet Anne from Go Green Bags

Regards,

Gordon

 

[nothing does]

Go for paper bags and push the point that they are environmentally friendly, I was in a well know supermarket the other day and they asked if I would pay the 5p for a plastic bag and they were trying to 'save the planet'. Forgive me for being cynical but wouldn't paper bags be better? But I suppose they then couldn't make any profit like they would for charging for plastic ones.

As for yourself you could get paper bags printed cheaply or get yourself a funky rubber stamp and stamp them (while the customer is there). Or you could seal them with a printed sticker. Chuck a free branded pencil into the bag too and customers will understand that you offer a personal service and respect your customers.

Hope this helps a bit.

 

[anned]

Thanks for the intro Gordon

Rather than push my own products, I can tell you that I have built up a vast pool of knowledge on eco-friendly bags -they all have plusses and minuses -and I'm happy to discuss what will be best for your type of business -and budget. Don't assume paper is best -it has a huge carbon footprint -but does have the advantage that it's the only one you can get manufactured in the UK and can buy small quantities to print yourself.

Anne

 

[Power Lunch Club]

Anne,

Your website is very interesting....I know as a family, when we come back from Sainsbury's we come back with mountains of plastic bag and I have realised for sometime...this is not a good thing.

Although during the week, my other half does uses a couple of visits to the shops she will take a couple of woven bags she has had for some time. We now have a rare wee collection of them....but we keep forgetting to take them when we do the weekly shop...

I think the habit should now be, get them in the car straight after we use them, so that they are there for the weekly shop.

 

[KingdomOfAdventure]

Thanks for the pointers folks.
Anne - Nice to see another East Neuk inhabitant on here too.
I'll take a look at your site and will likely be in touch, trying to get some market research taken care of this week and arranging a meeting with Business Gateway too.

Cheers,

Dave

 

[davidc]

If you are selling high value products then a branded bag makes sense. I find that I throw a lot of the usual( pens, calendars, key chains etc) away. If it was really different or good quality, then I would keep it. You have a million ways to market your business, and start with the most cost effective.

 

[Tirfuir]

I'm with Dave from "Nothing Does". Paper all the way, I'm a huge fan of brown paper and string for wrapping up as well. I find it frustrating when I come back for my 6 month stint in Scotland to find I have to either remember to lift carrier/bags for life/cloth bags into the car when going shopping rather than being able to pack into either boxes left by the supermarket or brown paper bags.