Wear Your Brand: 8 Ways Beach Tote Bags Can Promote Your New Fashion Line

They're fun, eye-catching, and endlessly practical. They look as chic in the grocery store aisle as they do on the white, sandy coast. Oh, and they're a blank canvas just waiting for your brand's logo. We're talking about beach tote bags, the unexpected new way to promote your fashion line on the go. If you're a designer looking to showcase your name and label to the world, these offer an economical alternative to the traditional swag bag. Give these out as standalone gifts and turn recipients into the next shoreline superstars. Or fill them with similarly branded goodies for a promotional gift to remember. Unsure whether beach totes are right for you? We're breaking down eight reasons why they're a great idea, and how to go about designing your own today. Ready to learn more? Grab the SPF and let's go!

Why Beach Tote Bags?

Let's take a look at the numbers first. Studies reveal that, compared to all other promotional items, bags generate the most impressions, coming in at 6,000. Put simply, they're a small investment that can generate a ton of revenue from exposure alone. Yet, handing out a tote is hardly a revolutionary concept. In fact, one attendee from any given trade show around the country will likely come home with an armful of them in mostly monochromatic, neutral colors. This is where beach tote bags come in. These bags can be colorful, quirky, and intriguing because they aren't necessarily made for corporate use. Instead, they're designed to get wet and sandy. Rather than being filled with meeting minutes and conference schedules, they're stuffed with water bottles, romance novels, picnic blankets, and flip-flops. In short, they're just plain fun, and they're perfect for the fashion line that is equally hip. Here are a few ways to incorporate them into your next marketing campaign.

1. Stuff Them with Sunny Gear

If you're a swimwear designer, using custom tote bags with a nautical theme is an easy fit. You can give away a few size-neutral pieces from your latest line then stock the rest of the bag with a fun beach towel. If you have any extra room, fill it with some sunscreen and lip balm with your logo on them. This is a simple way to tie your theme together. It also helps your clients envision a day spent chasing the waves or relaxing poolside with all of their favorites within arms' reach. What's more, this is a sensible way to put your swimwear pieces directly in the hands of your shoppers. Once they get their hands on that patterned sarong or graphic visor, they'll want to see the rest of your line, which will lead them to your website or brick-and-mortar store in no time.

2. Create a Daydream Oasis

Is your fashion line more suits and slacks than bikinis and cover-ups? You can still benefit from custom totes! Branded beach bags also make ideal giveaways even if your fashion line is better-suited for land than water. Have the tote bag customized with your company name and logo. Then fill it with promotional gear that reminds your clients why they deserve a vacation. For instance, start by filling the bag with a small item or accessory from your line. Complete the gift with a planner, notepad, and pen set. On the strap, include a note that says, "From work to play, our clothes fit your day." You can also use this tactic to promote a line of formal wear. Include a simple boutonnière or corsage in your bag and then enclose a note that reads, "We formally invite you to soak up all of the adventures that life has to offer."

3. Tap into the Green Movement

Research shows that 29% of grocery shoppers used a reusable bag on their most recent trip to the supermarket. Today's shopper is more eco-conscious and green-friendly than ever before, and as such, disposable items including one-use plastic bags are falling by the wayside. In fact, many cities and countries around the world are banning them altogether. Now, reusable bags are all the rage. They are heralded both for their ability to offer a more secure hold as well as the benefits they pose for the environment. It might not feel like a major expense, but shelling out a few cents here and there to pay for cardboard bags at the store can add up. Conversely, these bags can be used over and over again while still maintaining their functionality and aesthetics. A beach tote makes an excellent alternative to traditional grocery bags, allowing your clients to expand its use. If you have the connections and the funds, attach a small gift card to a nationwide grocery store chain, and you're in business.

4. Build a Set

What's better than receiving top-of-the-line custom cotton tote bags? Receiving one paired alongside a colorful branded beach ball or umbrella! There will undoubtedly be a few items you can't fit inside the tote. Still, that shouldn't dissuade you from giving these inexpensive items away as promotional pieces. Sure, you could include a deflated, packaged beach ball in your bag and call it a day. Yet, it is more visually impactful to hand it out alongside a ball that's inflated and ready to be used. Take your outreach efforts one step further and include your logo on the beach ball itself! An umbrella is another item that packs a major punch for a relatively low price point. Hand it out with your beach tote along with a note to your clients that reads, "We see sunny days ahead"—or something similar along those lines. This type of handout is best suited for events that don't require attendees to walk around and speak to brands in a general setting. Why? No one wants to lug around a bulky piece of gear when the show is just beginning. Instead, look to present curated sets like these at smaller-scale fashion shows and gatherings of industry professionals.

5. Provide an Illustrated Local Itinerary

We live in a world where bots create playlists for us and websites recommend products that we might like. In short, we've grown accustomed to following the direction of the screen. Why not offer a refreshing twist on this autopilot attraction? Create a paper-based illustrated map of your headquarter city, pointing out places to visit, restaurants to try out and your favorite coffee shop around the corner. If you're promoting your swimwear line and you're based near the beach, include information on great local access points and prime times to surf, watch for dolphins, catch the sunset, and more. If you're inland, provide a quick note on how far away the closest beach is, even if it's 500 miles! A little dreaming never hurt anyone, right? Opt for a beach tote with a front pocket and slip this map in there. You can get as simple or complex as your budget allows for this one. If possible, hire a local graphic designer to draw the map and laminate it for long-term use. Label it "[Your Brand]'s Guide to Exploring What Lies Outside Your Front Steps."

6. Don't Forget the Straps

Your bag's straps are an ideal way to showcase an item from your fashion line. Even if they're minuscule, they still attract our eye along with the eyes of other passersby. Are you a jewelry designer? Slip a few adjustable bangles on one or both of the straps to add a little bling. Or add a pendant necklace around one and let it hang halfway down the bag. Are day dresses and floral blouses more your niche? Wrap a sash in your favorite fabric around one strap and allow it to hang loosely in a bow. You can take the same approach with a menswear belt or hairpiece. One rule of thumb: make sure to attach these items as tightly as possible to the straps or someone could risk losing one along the way or getting it stuck somewhere. It would be a shame for a client to hop online and buy a dress in a particular pattern to match the sash on her bag only to look down and find that it's gone for good. Include a notecard inside the tote that lets the recipient know where he or she can go to get the whole look, explaining that this is a teaser of your wardrobe offerings. An extra sweet touch would be to include a quick sketch of how each item could be worn as part of a full outfit. Make one original drawing of each ensemble and copy it in color to include in associated totes.

7. Hide the Surprise

To take your advertising efforts to the next level, you can use customizable totes as a surprise vessel to house a more extravagant and elaborate giveaway: a vacation! Slip the details of a getaway into one of the many beach totes you hand out at your next event. Then advertise through your other outreach channels that one of the totes is housing a secret! Chances are, you'll see an immediate uptick in how many totes are picked up after following that announcement. Keep in mind that this doesn't have to mean sending your clients halfway around the world on a two-week cruise. Rather, you can often build better and more meaningful exposure if you keep the trip's footprint as small and local as possible. Consider gifting a night at a nearby hotel, alongside a gift certificate to a great restaurant in the city. If possible, partner with other vendors in your city to create this vacation package. This is an especially appealing idea to small business owners whose reach is limited to those in a nearby physical radius.

8. Create Bag Themes

Is your fashion line more universal in theme? Why not create a few different bag themes and use them to appeal to your wide-ranging audience? Resist the urge to focus the themes on the physical characteristics of your clients, which could be ostracizing. Instead, create more overarching buyer personas centered on personality traits and ambitions. For instance, you may create an "Adventurer Tote" filled with outdoor and hiking gear. Or you could create a "Fashion Lover" one with accessories from your line and other small pieces alongside a "New Mom" bag stuffed with baby essentials including mini bottles, burp cloths, and more. As you approach guests, inquire about which of the bags best fits their lifestyle. From that small, one-question survey alone, you already have insight into your customers' preferences and buying patterns. This type of information can be useful in audience analysis down the road.

Find Branded Beach Tote Bags and More

It can be difficult and time-consuming to research all the available promotional pieces to find the ones that are just right for your company. From beach tote bags to sports-centric items and outdoor equipment, there is no shortage of options to choose from. The good news? These items are more inexpensive and readily available than you might think. When you're ready to look at your options and start shopping, we're here to help. We offer personalized promotional products designed to be ordered in bulk to meet your company needs. We'll work with you to make sure we create a look that's representative of your brand and all it has to offer. Ready to start shopping? Take a look at our inventory and feel free to contact us with any questions.