There are two things that can complete an outfit — a pair of good shoes and a stylish handbag. Handbags and totes are essential fashion accessories that can perfectly reflect the wearer’s unique style. However, their true beauty is that they aren’t just something nice to look at. They’re also functional!
A good tote can serve as a sturdy shopping bag, a convenient way to carry gym clothes, or a classic book bag. It’s a must-have accessory for younger and older women to store all those essentials they need to take with them on the go. Plus, they come in a wide range of styles, shapes, and colours to suit everyone’s tastes. In this regard, there are no better bags than canvas tote bags!
Though it’s standard to buy canvas totes in physical stores, more and more people are shopping online for their favourite handbags. Buying bags from online retailers is both easy and convenient. However, it also comes with many risks all shoppers should be aware of before clicking that buy button.
Shopping for Bags Online 101
They say a picture is worth a thousand words. However, in the case of online purchases, that isn’t the case. Retailers frequently use photo editing and camera angles to make their products appear more impressive than they really are. Plus, when shopping online, it’s very easy to miss important information about the products, particularly if the site didn’t make it readily available.
And since shoppers can’t physically see or feel the canvas totes before buying them, it’s very easy for consumers to end up investing in a subpar product. Therefore, to protect themselves and their hard-earned money, customers must be vigilant and keep the following tips in mind.
1. The Strength and Capacity of the Bag
Many people view bags as fashion accessories. However, they’re, first and foremost, a tool for transporting items. Therefore, they must be durable enough to handle heavy loads.
Most quality lightweight totes like the Sandgate Natural Cotton Canvas Bag can handle around 7 ounces. This is the average weight of most basic necessities. Consequently, lightweight canvas bags are the most popular option among consumers, both because they’re practical and comfortable.
But, for those who want to use their canvas bags to transport heavier loads, there are sturdier designs available like the Ormesby Heavy Duty Natural Cotton Canvas Shoppers. Premium quality bags come with double stitched handles and a carrying capacity of 10 ounces. Granted, these bags are often slightly pricier, so it’s important for shoppers to keep in mind what they’ll be using the bag for when making the purchase.
Likewise, they should check customer reviews to confirm if the bags are as sturdy as advertised. They will often provide a much more accurate picture of how the bag fares after repeated use.
2. Weight of the Materials
Obviously, a tote will be heavy after it’s filled. However, depending on the design, canvas totes can be pretty bulky on their own.
On average, a well-crafted canvas bag can weigh around 2 pounds. This is enough fabric to make the bag easy to carry and durable enough to comfortably handle heavier loads. If the bag is of great quality, then it should be able to carry between 2-10 pounds of goods without tearing.
If the canvas is blended with cotton, it will probably be able to handle a bit more weight. However, if the bag is lighter than 2 pounds when empty, then it’s likely poorly made and not worth the investment. The same applies to heavier bags too.
A heavy canvas bag may be sturdier, but that won’t matter much if the wearer can’t comfortably carry it on their shoulder. Therefore, when shopping, buyers should look for bags that fall somewhere in the middle — durable enough to handle heavy loads, but still light enough to comfortably carry.
3. The Shape of the Bag
One of the most amazing things about totes is how versatile they are. They can come in a variety of shapes to appeal to everyone’s unique style. However, the shape of a tote isn’t just important for the sake of aesthetics. It also determines the kind of load it’s best suited to carry.
For instance, rectangular bags are ideal for storing bottles. But, since they usually come with multiple compartments, they can also house various small items, like keys, lipstick, and pens.
Round bags, on the other hand, are the best for transporting gym clothes, while foldable canvas bags make for the perfect shopping partner. Plus, since they’re easy to store, buyers can neatly tuck them into their pockets and whip them out in case of an emergency trip to the grocery store.
4. Strap Length
Paying attention to the tote’s straps seems pointless. But they actually serve an important role in determining if the bag will be functional or not.
For example, standard totes like the Broomfield Natural Cotton Canvas Bags have shorter straps, so it’s only possible to carry them by hand. Therefore, they work better as an everyday bag used for storing essentials. However, some more modern bags such as the Hereford Heavy Duty Natural Cotton Canvas Bags come equipped with a long strap, so users can hang them off their shoulders. These bags are ideal for carrying heavier loads like books, laptops, and even tools.
In short, straps matter, and users should pay attention and make sure their bag is functional enough to fulfil their needs.
5. The Price
Any responsible shopper knows that price matters when it comes to buying good-quality totes. This is especially true for companies that want to buy canvas bags in bulk for promotional purposes.
The good news is that canvas is a fairly affordable material. So, on average, a canvas tote costs anywhere between £1.29 and £8.34. However, brands which purchase their bags from wholesale retailers, like GoPromotional, will often find excellent discounts for bulk orders. Plus, they will also get an opportunity to customise their bags with their logo, company information, and other fun designs to make them pop.
It’s the perfect combination of quality and affordability all veteran online shoppers will appreciate.
Related content:
Why Branded Canvas Bags Are Ideal for Your Business
To Sum Up
Shopping online can be a fun and convenient enterprise. However, it also comes with quite a few risks — particularly for brands shopping for a good quality canvas tote.
To avoid wasting their money, buyers should always keep five simple tips in mind while browsing — the durability, shape, and weight of their canvas tote, along with strap length, and price. Armed with this knowledge, companies will be able to find the ideal bag to propel their brand into the public eye.
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Explore our range of promo bags which includes cotton bags, jute bags, sports bags, and travel bags. In doing so, you can provide your staff with a functional item that can increase your brand awareness. Contact us now at 0800 0148 970 or simply email us today if you have any questions regarding our selection. Our team will be happy to help you choose and order the perfect bags for your faithful employees!
