When purchasing gift bags for your store, you may wonder if it’s worth paying extra to get your logo and brand name printed on the side of the gift bag. We take a look at some reasons for and against adding branding to gift bags
Brand promotion
If your shop is located in a busy shopping centre, adding your brand on the outside of a git bag can help to promote your brand to other people in the area. People that are passing may see your logo and become interested in what you sell. This could lead to new customers coming in to see what you have to offer if they haven’t already been to your store. This is a great reason why businesses should pay a bit extra to brand their gift bags.
Provide a premium service
When customers pay for an item and receive a branded gift bag, they’re more likely to look at the bag and appreciate the design. If you’re selling premium products, every touch point counts, including the point when the customer receives the item. A branded gift bag looks more premium compared to a plain bag, so your customer is more likely to perceive the product inside as premium.
Encourage repeat purchases
Customers like to keep and reuse gift bags, especially if they have an excellent design. When you include your brand name and logo on a gift bag, your brand is more likely to stick in the mind of the consumer. When they come to use the bag again, they will be reminded of your business and may be more likely to come back and buy again, so long as they have had a great experience.
Environmentally friendly
Most gift bags that can be printed on are made from environmentally friendly materials such as cardboard. Customers can recycle them if they no longer need them in the future. One alternative is to use plastic bags; these are not environmentally friendly and add to the pollution of the planet. Wherever possible, all businesses should reduce their environmental impact by choosing planet-friendly materials that can be recycled.
Promote events
If you have an event that you want to promote around the town or city where your shop is located, personalised gift bags are a great way to do this. You can add details of the event on the side of the bag. People will be drawn to read the information when they’re sitting in a cafe, on the train or shopping. This can help get more people to your event, including the customer that was given the gift bag with the products they purchased.
More expensive
You can buy standard gift bags in bulk for a relatively low price. When you add the design and printing of your brand logo or brand message to the bag, you’re increasing the cost of the bags. Every pound adds up when you’re running a small or medium-sized business, and the extra expense of branded bags might not be worth it for your company.
People may throw them away
If your bag is heavily branded, it might put off some people from using them again to send gifts to their friends or family members. However, this isn’t always the case; you need to find a balance between how much branding you add to the bag and if you want the customer to be able to reuse the bag again in the future.
Branding can change
Whilst it’s true that a business’s branding and message may change over time, it’s unlikely to change within a few months. When buying branded gift bags, make sure you order enough but not too many so that they will become outdated. Storing too many items could cost more money and result in damage. It’s best to consider the average number of sales and purchase enough gift bags to cover your business for six to eight months, as long as you have sufficient storage space.
Branded gift bags do have their advantages, but they are more expensive. If you have a luxury brand, it’s definitely worth investing in and creating a well-designed gift bag to enhance your customer’s experience.
Suitcase Publications 