Farewell 2016

2016 has been a tough year on a global scale aswell as a local one; most people are pleased it's over and we can move to 2017 with greater optimism.

That said, we always like to reflect on the past year with a view to the future too.

Our core business of custom-made bespoke reusable bags has been moving ahead nicely and we've assisted a number of businesses create a perfect product for their needs.

See our custom made Mini Series.

Growth in Australia has not been our focus this year, we've changed to being more customer centric.

We've put a lot more energy in to customer service.

It's an old fashioned saying, but worth repeating that our customers are the key to our success and making them happy is our mission.

We're not saying the customer is always right (see Optus story) and we'll always add our design and production knowledge – where needed – to every job.

See the Design and Production Disconnect.

We've put our expansion energy in to the UK and Europe.  Our small team based in the UK have excelled at supplying the impossible.  Delivering an amazing result to customers that were asking the impossible.

Once again, customer service has been the focus.  Excellent communication and delivery of information as fast and accurate information has made our customers' business life much easier knowing they can rely on the details they're given.

The UK team has been working double time on the back of the Govt. introduced the Plastic Bag Tax – 5p charged for each single use plastic shopping bag used by a customer.

Our other main focus this year has been our supply chain to ensure we can deliver on every promise.  Thus far we've reshaped a number of factors like shipping companies, warehousing and distribution.  There's a few more pieces to the puzzle to complete in early 2017

Lastly, new products have also made an appearance.  Aprons and Tea Towels.  Contrast Black Juco Bags and Heavy Weight Canvas Tote Bags have all joined our ranks.  Successes are too early to tell on some, but the Contrast Black Bags are doing very well – they've been around the longest, the others are fairly new.

As we fair well 2016 we look forward to 2017.

Simple Designs

There's no doubt that simple is best.

Ease of use.  Simplicity.  Directness.

No matter what you call it, you want to make sure people get the information they need or the message your sending.

It's the same with design.  Whether you're designing a logo or a physical item, you want it to be simple and to the point.

When you're designing a logo, have a think about what you're trying to say.

Usually a simple, non ambiguous, easy to read (simple font) is a good way to go.

Think of some of the most iconic logo's you know.  While most will use the name of the maker (Ford or Dell), or the name of a single product (Pepsi or Mars), you'll be able to connect with their product or service immediately.

It's this immediate connection that logo designers are seeking.

What are your designs like?  Simple... Complex...

If it's complex, how could you simplify?

Fairtrade. 2017 - Passed.

Bag People continues our commitment to ethical sourcing and ensuring equality for everyone.

We've passed our latest Fairtrade Audit.

There was one procedural portion of our supply chain that needed updating which is to include our invoice number on sales reporting to Fairtrade.

This addition will ensure simpler reporting of sales volumes and improve traceability of products if needed.

Our continued efforts working with Fairtrade are paying off and we have a number of customers committed to the cause too.

DuraPaper

DuraPaper is a brilliant reusable fabric gaining excellent tracking in Europe.

It combines the wonderful finish and feeling of paper with the extra long lasting base of laminated woven PP.

So what's good about DuraPaper?

• grown on tress
• super strong (carrying up to 18kg)
• ethically sourced
• long-life reusability
• 98% biodegradable
• water repellent

See the DuraPaper website for more details.

Heavy Weight Canvas

Our Heavy Weight Canvas Bags are on the edge of function and entering fashion.

The fabric is luxurious and clearly demonstrates a level of sophistication beyond the plain old Cotton Shopper.

A Heavy Weight Canvas Bags from Bag People will certainly surpass all your current thoughts on what a Reusable Shopping Bag might be.

These bags are a very simple way to add smile to your loyal customers' face while doing the right thing for the environment.

Email us now info@bagpeople.com.

Print Methods

We have a variety of print methods available when printing your artwork on a bag.

The 4 primary methods we use are :
  --  Screen Print
  --  Heat Transfer
  --  Sublimation
  --  Direct to Garment

Each print method has a range of positive and negative aspects.

When it comes to your print needs we will consult with you on the process to make sure you understand the virtues or each, but also to ensure you'll get the best result on the artwork you need and within your budget.

Contact us for assistance info@bagpeople.com.

The Toaster : A Great Design Tool

Is the humble toaster the number one design tool available in today's world?

It's a simple device with a simple purpose.

Whenever you're thinking about designing anything, always keep the toaster in mind.

There is no design question that cannot be boiled down and answered by the toaster.

Whether you're designing a logo, process or product be sure to relate your ideas back to the toaster.

The number one question to ask is "what is the desired result of my design?".

Toaster - bread goes in; toast comes out.

Advertising Campaign - reaching buyers interested in your product or service and getting them to take an action.  Sign-up, register for more details, go online and buy.

Ecommerce Website - getting users to buy the products (or services) you have for sale.

Logo - conveying the mood of the brand and getting customers to remember it.

You get the idea.

Keep this in mind when your thinking about the bags you need.

Is the most expensive bag sending the best message to your consumers?

Sometimes = Yes

Sometimes = No

Have a think about it.

Contact Us for some help if you'd like to.

Having Clarity Saves Money

If you are clear about what you want you'll save heaps of time and money.

Getting a clear picture of your needs requires thought and planning.

Imagine if you tried to build an office tower without a plan?  What would you end up with?

Chances are it would be a mess, not too stable and probably not suited to the task to be performed.

Also, it would probably be really expensive because you'd be buying materials at the last minute - just before you needed them.

You'd have traffic chaos and all kinds of workforce problems because no one would have any firm idea of when deliveries needed to be made nor when people were needed to actually do the work.

Worst of all, is the deadline.  Time is the one thing that no one can buy or get a refund/credit on.

So if you're working to a deadline there's a strong chance you'll miss it.

How does this sound?  Would you run a business, event or charity like this?

Would you even try to supply anything in this manner?  Does not need to be a building as with this example.  It could be wrist watches, shoes laces or lunch containers.

I'd say not.

If  it makes perfect sense not to supply in this way, why do so many people try to buy in this way?

Yes - believe it or not, we get plenty of customers that try to buy in this manner.

Imagine what kind of bags you'll end up with if you have :
  --  no plan
  --  no dates
  --  no firm idea of usage (target customer and what fabric is needed)
  --  no real idea of quantity

They'll most certainly be last minute, not suitable for the task, probably not the quality you'd expect and most of all they'll be very expensive.

When thinking about getting bags, try to answer these questions :
  --  is there a budget?
  --  when is delivery needed?
  --  what are they being used for?
  --  who will be the main user?
  --  what customisation (printing/decoration) is needed?

If you give us reasonable answers to these questions, we can narrow down the product selection to be sure you get something on time, on budget and suitable.

Contact Bag People Now to give us the answers so we can solve your problems.

The Rise of GREENWASHING

Check out Wikipedia (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Greenwashing) on the subject.

They basically say that Greenwashing is a deceptive marketing activity used to promote the perception that a product or service aims to be environmentally friendly.

They also make the observation that greenwashing can be spotted by making the comparison on spending.  Whereby more money is spent on advertising being "green" than is actually spent on environmentally sound practices.

Many suppliers of reusable bags will make all kinds of references to all the certifications and standards.

Your challenge is to test them.  Ask the question.

Their ACTUAL certification credentials are a matter of public record.  Ask the question.

They should be produced within minutes of making a request.  Ask the question.

If someone is making a statement or promise of something.  You owe it to yourself to ASK THE QUESTION.

Design Tips : Colour Match

GO OUTSIDE.

When checking the production colour against the Pantone Colour Chart.

Always check in filtered natural light, somewhere outside (or near a window) with some shade :
  --  not electric light
  --  not direct sunlight

Williams Real Estate

Williams Real Estate are the market leader and the Real Estate professionals of choice within their area.

Priding themselves on tailored service and specialist advice to the ever changing needs of their clients.

Knowing there is no single generic recipe for successful property sales is an important part to giving the the best service aswell as assisting their clients' achieve their real estate goals.

Williams know the key to success is consistency, predictability and dependability.

I guess that's why they choose Bag People for their reusable bags, since their first order in August 2010 we have supplied 20,000 reusable bags to Williams.

Across that time, every bag has been identical, so I suppose in a small way we're helping Williams maintain that consistency and dependability that makes them a great company.

You should contact Raelene (raelenem@williamsre.com.au) for a chat to find out more about us and perhaps buy/sell property with them too.

What's in a Price?

Did you know that the average consumer considers price as the number one determiner of quality.

It's not such a bizarre concept, think about it when you've made a comparison on products that you may not be familiar with.

Depending on the task at hand & whether or not you want the product to last - chances are that you do not select the cheapest amongst the options.

Think about clothing & your opinion on the quality of a pair of jeans.

If you're like most people, then the scale will look like this :

$20 / £12  ::  nope, they'll self destruct after the first time worn 

$50 / £30  ::  could be OK, but probably won't fit all that well

$150 / £90  ::  yes - this is the pair I'll choose

$350 / £220  ::  I'd buy these for a very special occasion

$800 / £500  ::  are you serious?

$1,200 / £700  ::  now we know your joking

The common perception is the first 2 pairs will be substandard in some way, probably poor construction & certainly low quality material.

The middle 2 pairs will be the best value & will be made from a nicer, longer lasting material & will fit nicely too.

The last 2 could be a practical test to see if you'll actually spend your money on such a thing?

Of course, these 3 price brackets are a random guide & while based on some fact, the numbers could be skewed to reflect a certain position.

The point is that most consumers use price as a guide for quality.

Does the cheapest price always win, or are some people more cautious of what actually goes in to a product?

Make a comment, or go to Facebook to give us your thoughts.

EXTRA SPECIAL OFFERS for our UK Customers

100% Bespoke Bags

Full Photographic Print

Contact Us for more details.

Polyester Bag Colours

If your preferred Polyester colour is not in here, it does not exist.

More Low Cost Improvements

A couple of simple ways to improve the look, feel and reusability of you bags.

Increase Fabric Weight
  --  use 90gsm Non-woven instead of 70gsm or 80gsm
  --  use Canvas instead of Cotton

Upgrade the Handles
  --  use Cotton Webbing or Nylon Webbing Handles

Edge to Edge Print

  --  get your printing or artwork to run off the edge of the bag

Use Different Colour Fabric

  --  use a different colour for the gussets or handles

These are a few little things that can add to the feel of your bags.

Take one or two of these ideas in to your next bag project to get your bags to stand out above your competition.

Contact Us for more ideas.

Over the Edge

Here's a few more layouts for edge-to-edge printing.  It costs no more, but adds heaps of value.

Design and Production Disconnect

There's a BIG difference between design and execution and there are times when the design cannot be completed to the exact specifications set out.

Only listening to the designer can bring about massive disappointment in some circumstances and we had one such a case a couple of weeks ago.

The designer had specified a print method that was not suitable for the logo when combined with the fabric option.

CMYK print was specified which works perfectly on gloss paper, but when printing on a fabric bag the level of complexity does go up.

With the designer adamant that CMYK was the only print method to achieve the desired colours, we took it upon ourselves to produce 2 pre-production samples.

Both CMYK Print and Screen Print... you be the judge of colour quality, clarity and alignment.

This is when the true value of a production expert can be realised.

Needless to say, the customer was pleased with our suggestion.

What hurdles do you face with production?  How can we help the process?

Contact Us with your questions.

Boomerang Bags

Bag People are proud to be involved with Boomerang Bags.  We have donated a variety of end-of-line bags which the Boomerang team convert for use with the program.

Boomerang Bags works to reduce the use of plastic bags by engaging local communities in the making of Boomerang Bags.

A Boomerang Bag is a community made bag using recycled materials.

Boomerang Bags provide a free as an alternative to plastic bags.

Our Coverage

Bag People is a full service company.

By full service I mean that every aspect of our business is managed by our own staff in the right places.

Sure, we don't have our drivers in our own trucks, but our logistics team does control who we use and which delivery method is selected.

The direct control extends to every operation aspect of our business.  Sales, marketing, production, finance, distribution, IT and administration.

You name it and we do it in-house.

For example : Product Management and Sourcing is managed from our Australian Office where the team have immediate contact with our factories (in China and India) because they're in virtually the same time zone.  This means fast responses and accurate data.

We have the right people in the right place.

Going to the UK and Europe - our dedicated sales and marketing people are based in North Wales to ensure customers get fast and accurate attention to their needs.

No matter where you are, Bag People have someone close-by to help with your bag needs.

Be sure to keep your money

Since 1993 we've been making reusable bags.

Sooooo many things have changed in the world since those early days.

The advent of the internet has made the biggest difference to the way we do business.

It's not only about communication with customers, but also the supply channel.

Now it is so simple for buyers to contact factories directly to source products and place orders.

While it's easy to get a reply to a query or get a quote for something.  When time comes for production it's a very different situation.

How can you be sure that the deposit you pay will actually become a reality - which is to say will the supplier actually deliver?

While the number of people you can easily contact has opened up, so too has the number of people that are willing to take your money and then disappear.

It makes me sad to hear that anyone has been taken advantage of, but the harsh reality is that it does happen.

All too often, we hear the stories of suppliers that have taken the money and run.

How can you be sure to get what you pay for?

Since 1993 we've made millions of bags for thousands of customers.

You can trust us.

Laminated Non-woven Fabric

The next generation of reusable bags is made from Laminated Non-woven Polypropylene, also known as LNWPP.

LNWPP has all the characteristics of regular Non-woven Fabric with the added capability of reproducing photographic print.

Although it looks complicated, don't be afraid.

Bag People are reusable bag experts and produce millions of bags every year.

Contact Us now.

Custom Made - Yes

When you're looking around for the perfect bag for your business, event or product what are some of the things you look for?

Our question is "tell us what your perfect bag looks like?"

No matter what you answer, our reply will be "that's great, let's make that".

It's a simple equation.  Bag People Custom Make Reusable Bags.

It's not complicated, it's not arduous, there's nothing difficult about it.

Get your thinking caps on and let us know what you want.

Contact Bag People now.

What's the Catch? It's the Supply Channel.

My Grandfather always said "if something seems too good to be true it probably is".

Very wise words from a man who had seen just about everything in his 94 years and I cannot agree more.

He also said "make sure you investigate every angle before making a decision on anything".

Again, very wise words that have saved me (and the family) a lot of time, effort and money over the years.

When buying reusable promotional bags, you should always look at what you're getting for your money.

Everyone always looks at the Product and the Supplier :

Product :

 - fabric type and composition

 - size and shape

 - print method
 - etc, etc, etc

Supplier :

 - ethical sourcing policies

 - environmental policies

 - fairtrade and carbon offset initiatives
 - etc, etc, etc

WHEN WAS THE LAST TIME YOU INVESTIGATED THE SUPPLY CHANNEL?

Supply Channel is the method of how your products eventually get to you.

  How many hands does your order go through?

  How many people are involved?

  How much money does each party add to the cost of your goods?

Again - HOW MUCH MONEY DOES EACH PARTY ADD TO THE COST OF YOUR GOODS?

I'm perfectly comfortable if each party is adding value, but when they're just shuffling your order along the line and taking a cut.... do you think that's good value for money?

Here's the simplest way we can explain the regular Supply Channel you'll know about.

Then compare the Bag People method.

Have a look for yourself and see where the value might be?

Our prices might seem too good to be true, but in reality they're just a reflection of the complexity of our supply channel.

Another Edge to Edge Print

Here's nice one that follows on from our last post about simple design ideas.

Again... it costs nothing extra and takes no more time to deliver.

What do you think?

Made to Order

Your an individual.  Your business is like no other.

Why would you follow the crowd and get something that everyones else has?

Bags can be boring and can quite easily become just more of the same when compared to your competitors.

There's no need, you can very easily create something that is individual and specific to your business.

Something as simple as running the print off the edge, or a different colour handle.

Both these ideas cost nothing extra - but what do they do for the impact of the bag?

You be the judge...

* talk to Bag People
* take a fraction more time to design
* spend nothing extra
* get a much better product

Contact us for more details.

Edible Six Pack Rings

Must love this.

Step Back to 1912

OK history boffins - here's one you probably did not know.

In 1912 Walter H. Deubner introduces the concept of shopping bags to his small grocery store in St. Paul, Minnesota.

It's an old concept/idea.

UK Plastic Bag Tax

Shop Lifting is on the rise in the UK with £26.7m plastic bags stolen

We love Canvas

What's not to love about Canvas?

Strong - Durable - Nice Look - Easy Clean

There are literally 1,000's of options for size, shape and print.

Almost Waterproof

Our Laminated Woven PP Bags are the closest thing to waterproof that you'll get.

The fabric that creates the structure of the bag is sandwiched tightly between 2 thin films of durable plastic to completely seal the cloth.

This lamination process makes the cloth 100% water-tight and it's the stitching that reduces the water tightness.

"So what" you might ask.

Well, this means the finished product will not soak up moisture or spills, plus the laminated surface leaves a 'wipe-clean' finish.

Hygiene is the unseen benefit.

Because the bag is virtually a sealed unit, it really minimises the possibility of "nasties" developing in the fibres of the fabric.

A spill or leak in the bag will be almost 100% contained.  Only a little bit will leak out through the stitching, but it's nothing when compared with the alternatives.

Contrast Black Juco Bags

Here's a new one that looks great.

What could you do with a Contrast Juco Bag?

Is there a Cost to Cheap

You bet there is.  So, let's get straight to it.

We'll use a subject that everyone can understand.

Underwear, yes... underwear.

Even though you may not admit it; we've all had the experience of great fitting underwear aswell as really bad fitting.

What's the difference between them?

Design, Fabric Type and Production.  All these have a price.

Design : How much thought has gone in to the use of the item.  Are they suited to the task?

Fabric Type : Will the fabric be suitable for the task and will it be durable enough to last?

Production : How has it been put together?  Are the seams done 'properly' or have they been sewn together using the simplest and cheapest method?

How will these 3 factors stand the test of time (and wear).

Whether it's underwear or reusable bags, all these factors have an impact on price - simply because it costs more to do thing properly.

BUT the extra cost is not double or triple.  It's a really small percentage.

Think about the price difference on 500 bags.

  $1.29 vs $1.32
    =  $0.03 per bag
    =  $15.00 overall

  62p vs 64p
    =  2p per bag
    =  £10.00 overall

How much longer does a well designed and well made product last?

Think about your own experience.

Apply that thought to your next bag purchase; and maybe underwear too  :-)

Fairtrade UK

Fairtrade Cotton Bags available from Bag People are going from strength to strength in the UK.

As one of the more socially and environmentally aware groups in the world, UK consumers are aware of the importance and absolute need for fairness and equality amongst the community.

The Fairtrade movement is focused on exactly that and their website has a wealth of information about the structure www.fairtrade.org.uk.

Bag People UK can create a bespoke solution to meet the specific needs of businesses within the UK, not only the product, but also the key deliverables of the messages to be conveyed.

Almost all consumers are acutely aware of their obligations to humanity and the environment.

Unfortunately, corporations can sometimes make it difficult for consumers to do the right thing because of the choices they are presented with.

Bag People UK are committed to the proposition of fairness and this flows throughout our entire business operation.

Our Corporate Responsibility Policies are the clearest display of our focus.

Fairtrade features strongly in our business.

Contact Us for more details.

Aprons and Tea Towels

Cotton.  We've been using Cotton to make bags since 1993.

We know a few things about Cotton and with that, here's Aprons and Tea Towels.

Contact Bag People for more details.

Great service is controlled by You

So, we've said our bit about service, promises and communication.

Now it's your turn.

Customers are in control of the service they receive.

It all stems from knowing what you want.  If you've got it clear in your own mind then you can communicate your needs far more concisely and directly than if you're thoughts are all over the place.

Think to a time when you bought a new pair of shoes.

The shop assistant does not instantly run to the storeroom and start brining back shoes.

They ask bunch of questions before moving away from the front counter.

These questions are purely for the purpose of providing the best service they can.

Great service starts with knowing what you want.

It's in your control.  Use that power wisely and you'll get great service every time.

Good Service (Promises and Communication)

Quite often the very overused term Service will be thrown into everyone's marketing and company messages.

What do you think it actually mean?

It's a word we all use and try to live by, but it's a bit overused at times.

Great Service
Exceptional Service
Top Service
Quality Service

All nice buzz words, but still.... what does it mean?

We think it comes down to promises and communication.

• make a promise and stick to it
• have the quote emailed on time
• dispatch the goods when you have promised to

There are time's when things stop you from doing what you have promised.

That's OK.  It just means you need to do the 2nd part of Service which is Communication.

Readjust the exception of the person you've promised to.

In just about every instance your customer will be more impressed with the service you give by not delivering what you've promised.

Contacting them at 3pm saying that it's unlikely you'll be able to email their quote before the close-of-business.

It's so simple.

Make a promise and stick to it.

Mini-Series Summary

The Summary of our 3 part mini-series of Custom Made Reusable Bags.

Bags for Didgeridoo's
Bags for Candles
Bags for Sushi

In this series, we've shown you a very slim snippet of our capabilities for making reusable bags to suit an exact task.

No matter what you're needs might be, we can make a bag for the job.

Quite literally, our bags could cover your entire life.

Bags for new-borns.  Filled with nappies/diapers, lotions, moist wipes and baby formula.

Bags for the recently departed.  We make very large bags for Hospitals and Care Facilities to use when a patient pass-away.  These bags are used for personal items and clothing for the families to take with them.

From start to end and everything in between, we've got you covered.

Contact Bag People, we'll make a bag for every occasion.

Bags for Sushi

Part 3 of our 3 part mini-series of Custom Made Reusable Bags.

Bags for Sushi

This customer needed :
  --  low-cost customer loyalty
  --  small bags because of limited storage in their kiosk
  --  food safe fabric

Non-woven Fabric was used in this job (our NWPP has the best food safe characteristics).

The customer asks the question.  We create the concept and execute.



From idea to delivery - Bag People do it all for you.

Contact Bag People with your concept.

Candle Bags

Part 2 of our 3 part mini-series of Custom Made Reusable Bags.

Bags for Candles

This customer needed a bag to suit a couple :
  --  point-of-sale carrier for the bricks-and-mortar retailers
  --  light-weight and closable packaging for online orders
  --  washable and reusable as customers use the product

Cotton was used for this job.

The customer asks the question.  We create the concept and execute.



From idea to delivery - Bag People do it all for you.

Contact Bag People with your concept.

Didgeridoo Bag

Part 1 of our 3 part mini-series of Custom Made Reusable Bags.

Bags for Didgeridoo's.

This customer needed :
  --  user friendly
  --  sturdy and long lasting
  --  easy to ready branding

Heavy-weight Canvas was used for this job.

The customer asks the question.  We create the concept and execute.



From idea to delivery - Bag People do it all for you.

Contact Bag People with your concept.

Choosing Reusable Bags

Here's a list of questions to ask when thinking about getting reusable bags :

1)  how will the bags be used?
       carrying flooring tile samples or cotton balls

2)  how long should they last
       just make it home or still be used a year from now

3)  who is the target for the bags
       shoppers, residents, businesses, home owners, etc

4)  it is for marketing or as a service
       what are you promotion with the bag

5)  what budget do you have
       a simple question of cash-flow

It goes without saying that you're looking for a bag that is custom printed with your logo and artwork.  That's why you're here because here are Bag People, we custom make reusable bags.

We can produce just about anything for you.

We've got a mini-series coming up of purpose made products.

But first - ask the questions and let us give you the answers.

Contact Bag People for more details.

How are You setting yourself apart?

This is a point that keep coming up from our customers.

When selecting a reusable bag supplier there are literally a hundred things to consider.

Some people cross-off 30 things from their check-list in moments, other people take months to get to an order.

One thing near to the top of everyone's list is PRICE.

Ask yourself... "will the cheapest products be the best for ______________ ?"

______________  =  my business, my product launch, my brand, my customers.

You insert your own reason in the blank space and see what you come up with.

Yes - there will be times when the cheapest product will do the job and we're happy to supply that.

BUT, more often than not, most of our customers are looking for something that will set them apart from their competition and it's not very often that the cheapest will do that job for you.

Disclaimer : the cheapest product might set you apart from your competition; but not in the positive way you're looking for  :-(

Welcome 2016

Ecommerce is our push for this year, getting more of our products to more people, but the absolute focus of being "easy".

The internet is the place to connect, share, research and buy.  Our business does all that and now we're moving towards the buying part.

We've been making bags since 1993... we know about production and distribution.

Our customer service records speaks for itself... virtually all our customers are very pleased with their products (there's the off dud one, but it's very rare).

Our business has been 100% online for 8 years, so we know the internet part.

Now is ecommerce; this will take a couple of months, but we'll get there.

There's also a few new products we'll be bringing in to the range and we'll release them when available.

As always, we're exciting about bags, we're excited about the upcoming year and what it will delivery.