Last fall, we spotted a bit of a comeback trend. In our blog post talking about a variety of ideas for small and medium-sized businesses to highlight their brands, we deliberated on the re-emergence of the tote bag as a promotional product. Why has the tote bag made a bit of a comeback? The reasons are probably simpler than you think.

• First, tote bags are perfect for promotional efforts. Whether they are setting up trade show booths for product demos or just to connect with new and existing customers, SMBs should know that attendees need something to help them collect and carry business cards, brochures, promotional products and other giveaways that they are bound to pick up.
• Second, convenience is a feature of tote bags and something that people value. One of the more durable promo products which SMBs can use to brand their business, the tote is useful and practical, making it a nice giveaway that builds customer relationships.
• Third, the tote bag is reusable and good or the environment in that it cuts down waste or temporary-use plastic and paper bags.
• Fourth, the item goes beyond reusability and appeal for environmentalists to be stylish. This month, New York Magazine heralds the tote in “11 Tote Bags You’ll Actually Want to Reuse”, with examples of every kind from the “sparkly, pink and festive” tote bearing the Hello Kitty logo, to others cleverly touting Whole Foods, Chipotle and Kate Spade designs.

Totes have had a reasonably long history but, for whatever reason, seem to find favor and a bit of nerd chic with National Public Radio listeners, self-proclaimed technology geeks and comic book show enthusiasts. Fans of zombie television shows dig totes too.

We hate to spoil the fun, but tote bags appeal also to the mainstream. They are popular with realtors trying to make home sales, as well as millennial celebrity news junkies. Last year, even the New York City public service department used totes as part of its effort to tug on the heart strings of busy New Yorkers to get them to volunteer.

Because of the tote’s simple, practical usefulness, ASI thinks the tote bag is growing in popularity and is perhaps the best promotional product available for SMBs wanting to promote their business.

Moreover, this basic and yet sometimes bold luggage item is evidently influencing fashion and Americans’ daily use of accessories. The Boston Herald calls the tote “adorable” and useful for “schlepping all your office-to-beach stuff”. The newspaper highlighted that, much like NPR — which offers an NPR-branded tote as an incentive for listeners to support member stations — both vogue fashion designers and non-profits are following suit and latching onto the trend.

An online magazine called The Fuss went so far as to demonstrate how men should take up the tote and, like smart women everywhere, start embracing it as part of everyday modern life. Supposedly, even Beyonce is on board with the tote’s dominance in the accessories department.

If you are a distributor of specialty advertising and promotional products, you are already talking with SMBs in a variety of sectors about giveaways. Promo products act as excellent reminder advertising for those familiar with a brands. And thanks to this post, you can show your customers that totes are not only useful, they can even be considered cool!

When it’s time to brand them, we’ll help you with top-notch vector artwork files or even custom designs that will wow your customers and encourage their prospects to covet the great-looking bags.