BrandedItems – Custom Tote Bags & Promotional Bags 800-827-2630 orderdesk@brandeditems.com
Category

Custom Convention & Trade Show Totes with Your Logo

48 products · typical minimum 150 · 5–7 business days

Convention and trade show totes are chosen on three numbers: cost per bag, how many bags fit in a shipping carton, and how large the logo reads across a hall. These are the bags handed out at registration, stuffed with literature and carried past every competitor's booth. Non-woven and lightweight cotton dominate here, with gusseted and zippered options for multi-day events.

What an attendee actually carries

A show tote has to take a folded program, a notebook, a water bottle and whatever collateral gets pressed on the attendee through the day. That means a gusset of at least 4" and handles long enough to go over a shoulder while someone holds a coffee. A flat tote with short die-cut handles looks fine in a photo and gets abandoned by lunchtime.

Buying for the freight, not just the unit price

Trade show quantities are large and the bags are bulky, so the shipping line can rival the print line. Non-woven and lightweight cotton fold flat and pack densely. Rigid laminated and gusseted styles take more carton space. If the bags ship to a convention center rather than your office, factor in the venue's drayage and material handling charges, which are billed by weight and frequently surprise people. Ask us for the carton dimensions and weight before you commit, not after.

Lead time is the real constraint

Stock styles here typically decorate in 5–7 business days after proof approval. Rush production is available on many items in this range. Overseas direct production runs longer but drops the unit cost significantly on quantities in the thousands. Show dates do not move, so work backwards from the date the bags must be on the dock, not the date the show opens, and add time for proof approval.

Making the logo work across a hall

A trade show tote is a walking billboard, read at ten to twenty feet. That rewards a single bold mark and a short URL, and punishes a tagline, a list of sponsors or a QR code. If you must carry sponsor logos, put them on the reverse panel and keep the front to one mark.

Where else to look

For the cheapest possible handout see Non-Woven Totes. For a bag attendees keep after the show see Cotton & Canvas Totes, and for venues with a clear bag policy see Clear & Stadium Totes.

Frequently asked questions

How many tote bags do I need for a trade show?
Plan on one per expected attendee who will reach your booth, not per registered attendee. For a registration-desk bag, order the registration count plus 5 to 10 percent for staff and late badges.
How far ahead should I order show totes?
Production is 5–7 business days after proof approval, plus transit. Add proof time and a few days of margin, and count back from the date the bags must be on the dock. Rush production is available on many items in this range.
What is the minimum order?
The typical first price break here is 150 pieces.