How to Show Off Your Brand and Not Blow the Budget

How you package your product is important, and when it comes to promoting your business, the modest retail shopping bag is taking centre stage.
Paper packaging needs to keep your product secure and protect it from the elements. It also needs to be functional and convenient for your customers.
But the one thing that is often overlooked is the humble brown paper bag’s ability to promote your brand. A bespoke printed paper bag can speak volumes and is a versatile marketing tool in your business toolkit.
Why is Brand important?
Photo supplied by David Marriottt
Now, just take a moment to think about the big brands… McDonalds, Coca Cola, Chanel.

Each word evokes an emotional response.

Close your eyes when you think about these brands and a sharp image appears in your mind - a juicy burger; a frosty cold glass; a square bottle.

And, if you concentrate hard enough, you can even conjure up the aromas.

But that kind of recognition doesn’t happen overnight. Big companies spend big bucks on promoting their brand. They have teams of employees working 24/7 on just that.

But we have some good news for you. Your business doesn’t have to spend too much - spreading the word about your brand doesn’t have to cost the earth.

(And we can all agree, that, given the last couple of years’ business conditions, we’re all looking for bigger bang for our bucks.)

You don’t need to spend your hard-earned dollars on TV advertising, social media ads or giant billboards. Why not reduce your marketing budget and funnel those funds into other areas of your business?

For a simple and cost-effective way to promote your brand, look no further than a printed retail carry bag.

Think of your custom printed bags as a walking billboard – only smaller. Let a strong and sturdy paper bag carry your brand.
3 Inexpensive Ways to Bag your Marketing
1.Add your Logo to Custom Printed Bags
You can’t walk through a shopping centre or mall without seeing a sea of retail shopping bags.
Everyone is carrying a branded bag.
And while we can’t see what’s in the bags, we can see where they came from.
If your current bags aren’t shouting out your name, then keep reading…
Don’t be left behind, make sure your paper bags are showcasing your business name and logo in full, vibrant, colour.
But don’t just stop at your logo. Personalise your bags by adding your tag line or marketing message. What about your social media handles? How about a great image? You can even promote your latest sale or campaign on the side of your paper bags.
From Kraft brown paper bags to high-end bespoke laminated glossy bags , Smartbag has a bag that suits your needs and budget.
The biggest selling point for our Smartbag paper bags is their quality and durability. Plus they are reusable, which means your brand will be seen over and over again.
Your customer becomes an advocate for your business as soon as they leave your premises, as well as each time they reuse the bag.
2. Seal your Brand with a Sticker
Who can forget Rowan Atkinson’s gift-wrapping scene in Love Actually? A sprig of holly, anyone?
Employees in some of England’s finest department stores are trained in gift-wrapping to show off their products. You don’t need to invest in dried flowers and cinnamon sticks or fill your paper bags with messy glitter, but there is a way to make your packaging a cut above.
Sometimes a bit of tissue paper will do the trick. Add a branded full colour sticker and you have instantly added value by creating a professional look at low cost.
A quick and economical way to promote your business is to add a custom designed label to your paper bags. A sticker showing off your logo or slogan is a great way to promote your brand and increase sales.
Here are 5 ways a sticker can work for you:
    • • Apply bold colours to showcase your brand on the side of your white or brown paper bags.

    • • Seal the opening of the bag with a branded sticker.

    • • Wrap your product in tissue paper and use the sticker to securely seal the paper in place. It’s a much nicer finish than tacky sticky tape. Not to mention, they’re easier to apply than trying to find the end of the tape.

    • • Promote a sale or promotion. Stickers are cheap, so you can adapt your messaging depending on your current campaigns such as Black Friday promotions, Buy 1 Get 1 Free discounts, or seasonal sales.

  • •Add a QR code to your packaging – something that will direct customers back to your website or social media.
Smartbag offers full-colour square, matt-finish, rectangle and circle stickers for glass, plastic, paper and more to suit your needs.
You’re in complete control of the design. Send us your artwork and we can make up the stickers to your specifications using your colour palette and logo.
And lastly, don’t underestimate the luxury of tissue paper.
A new dress wrapped in tissue paper makes the unwrapping experience that more special. Smartbag offers a range of coloured and metallic tissue paper as well as acid free tissue paper is best used for delicate items such as silk and wool garments.
3. Stamp Your Name
Remember how much fun it was as a kid when you got your little hands on a stamp and inkpad?
Nothing was safe. Paper, cardboard, books, the dog – everything was satisfyingly stamped!
If you’re looking for a quick sustainable way to brand your products, a rubber stamp and inkpad may be the answer you’re looking for.
Our Wood Mount Rubber Stamps are hand crafted from sustainably sourced Tasmanian Oak.
The rubber stamp uses flash and precision laser technology for superior results.
These are an excellent way to stamp your name or logo, not only onto your shopping bags, but many other places such as invoices and receipts, swing tags, food containers, or anywhere really.
Stamps can be a terrific low budget way to get your brand out there.
Smartbag offers six stamp sizes and five coloured ink pads in our bundle buys.
And like the stickers and printed bags, the design is up to you. Send us your artwork and we’ll do the rest.
So, there you have it.
Plenty of ways to advertise your business without costing the earth.
The versatile paper bag is the perfect marketing tool for your business, shop, salon, market stall, or upcoming event.
Smartbag has a variety of stamps, stickers, and bags in all sizes to suit your needs.
Give us a call on 1300 874 559 or order online at www.smartbag.com.au
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