Finding the right bag seals can make or break your business. You need to find something that will not only adequately hold your merchandise, but that will properly display it to the general public. You want self sealing bags that show off your product and not detract from it while at the same time, match the function to where it will be displayed. It has to be able to hang if the seller will be putting it on rack. It has to sit nicely if it is going in a display box or basket.

Self sealing bags come in many shapes and sizes, and finding the best deals can mean purchasing in bulk, as well as making sure that you have properly measured your dimensions correctly before placing your order.

To find out more about sealing bags types and styles:

1. Check out self sealing bags that lie or hang flat. These are great for photography or artwork.

2. Purchase gusseted sealing bags for items needing to expand out.

3. Consider the vacuum bag seal for special needs.

Action Steps
The best contacts and resources to help you get it done

Look for sealing bag manufacturers who sell flat sealed bags

There are many sealing bags types and styles including those that tape shut, those that hang and those with zippered ends.

I recommend: Purchase flat flap seal bags from ClearBags. Their bags come with an adhesive strip on the flap, and their bags are both acid and lignin free as well as USPS approved. Check out more flat sealable bags from Cello Bags. They offer lip and tape styles, hanging bags as well as zipper ends.

Purchase gusseted sealing bags for expandable needs

Gusseted sealing bags come in handy when the size of your item may vary from time to time such as a loaf of bread, or to hold a client's scoopful of candy. They have gusseted (expandable) sides or bottom, and this allows for more fillable space when you or the client open the bag.

I recommend: Purchase gusseted resealable bags form Uline Shipping Supplies to ship or store bulky items. Their bags have expandable bottoms as well as self sealing adhesive strips. Take a look at the quad-seal side gusset bags from Tenka.

Consider vacuum bag sealers for space optimization or to prevent freezer burn

Vacuum-bag sealers have many practical uses. They can give you massive amounts of extra storage space, or they can help you store freezable items long term while reducing their risk for freezer burn.

I recommend: Check out storage saving sealing bags like the Space Bag from Illinois Tool Works. It is a compressible vacuum-seal bag that can give you up to four times more storage space than boxes or bins. Take a look at the vacuum-sealer bags from ProVacuumSealers.com. These vacuum-seal bags are three layers and 3.5 millimeters thick to help prevent freezer burn in food items.

You have a lot of choices when it comes to sealing bags. Sealing bag manufacturers produce sealing bags in a variety of materials such as paper, Mylar and polyethylene. Self-sealing bags are mainly used for mailing and are generally made from paper or light weight cardboard. Heat sealed bags are made from Mylar and are heavy duty. Polyethylene bags are made for self-sealing and resealable packaging.

When it comes to long term storage, look to using vacuum packed or heat-sealed sealing bags. Heat sealing and vacuum packing offer long term storage options for both perishable and non-perishable goods. Self-sealing bags and resealable bags are a great option non-perishable goods storage. Whether you are simply using sealed bags for storage or if you are using them to package goods for resale, it is important to choose the packaging that is best suited to the preservation of your product.

1. Purchase self-sealing bags and resealable bags for non-perishable items.

2. Use vacuum sealers and bags for an air tight seal.

3. Rely on heat bag sealers to seal your dry goods in an airtight packaging.

Action Steps
The best contacts and resources to help you get it done

Purchase self-sealing packaging and mailers along resealable bags for non-perishables

Buy resealable and self-sealing bags when an air tight seal is not necessary for your business needs. Use resealable bags when you store items that are accessed frequently. Resealable bags are great for packaging items that are retailed.

I recommend: Shopping at Global Industrial for resealable bags. They carry anti-static bags for electronics and polyethylene bags in a variety of sizes. ULINE is the place to shop when you need self sealing bags. They carry anything from padded mailers to Tyvek envelopes. Purchase tamper evident bag seals from American Casting to secure items in your resealable bags.

Try vacuum seal bags for a variety of uses

Whether you are looking to seal perishable or non-perishable items, vacuum sealing bags offer an airtight seal to protect your merchandise. Use vacuum sealing to store anything from nuts and bolts to steaks and veggies.

I recommend: Look to SealerBags.com for all your vacuum sealing needs. Purchase vacuum seal bags and sealers from them or use their vacuum seal bags with your current machine. Find a larger variety of vacuum seal bags from ecplaza Global.

Use heat sealers and sealing bags for an airtight seal

Try heat sealers to package food items such as coffee, flour or dried fruit. Find heavy duty bag sealers and bags from the following manufacturers.

I recommend: Therm-O-Seal has heavy duty heat sealers as well as services for rebuilding or repairing your current sealer. Plastic Bags For You carries all the supplies you need for heat sealing. Purchase your bag sealer, bags and other supplies from them.

Tips & Tactics

Helpful advice for making the most of this Guide

• •  Have your logo along with your contact information printed directly on the sealing bags you choose for simple advertising purposes.

The most useful types of sealing bags are self sealing bags, vacuum sealing bags and shrink bag sealing using a heat bag sealer. Between these three options you should be able to find something that works for your business's needs.

Research and compare sealing bag types to choose the best type for your operations. When looking for sealing bags pricing and costs, consider the following:

1. Self sealing bags or reusable sealed bags are great for breakables and retail products that don't need to be packaged airtight.

2. Sealing bag manufacturers sell vacuum seal bags for perishable items, such as food.

3. Heat bag sealers can make your shrink wrap bags seal many different shaped items, such as gift baskets.

Action Steps
The best contacts and resources to help you get it done

Purchase self sealing bags for retail items that don't need to be stored airtight

Bubble self sealing bags are useful for retailers that need to package breakable items for their customers. A clear self sealing bag is great for retailers to package jewelry or hardware, such as nail and screws.

I recommend: Paper Mart sells bubble self sealing bags that are great for packaging breakables. These bags range in price from $40 to $90 per case. Fetpak sells self sealing bags that are great for retailers selling jewelry and other small items. These bags range in price from $8 to $18 per pack of 100 bags.

Store and display food in vacuum sealing bags

Vacuum sealing bags make a great way to store food in a freezer or display case. By sealing airtight, they keep food from getting freezer burn or spoiling. Look for sealing bags that are FDA approved.

I recommend: Sealers Unlimited sells vacuum seal bags in many, many different sizes for all of your food storage and display needs. Prices range from $45 to $155 per case. Check out SealerBags.com. It offers FDA approved vacuum seal bags in prices ranging from $18 to $70 per box with prices, depending on size.

Use shrink wrap and heat bag sealers to wrap items for display packaging

Heat bag seals are a great way to shrink wrap gift baskets, books, magazines soap, and parts. When used with a hand heat gun, impulse sealer, shrink tunnel or other heat shrinking tool, this a great way to package and protect different shaped items.

I recommend: Plasticbagsforyou.com offers shrink bags for your business to seal gift baskets, paper products and more with heat tools to attractively display your products. Prices range from $10 to $29 per case. Look at Doug Care Equipment, it offers shrink bags and shrink tubing to be used with a hand heat gun, shrink tunnel or impulse sealer. Prices for these sealing bags and tubes range from $11 to $115.

Sealing bags are used in many industries, but if you're new to purchasing them, you may be confused about which types are right for your business. Perishable goods would do well in a vacuum sealer bag or zipper bag. Gusseted sealing bags offer a bit more space than other types. Lip & tape sealing bags are resealable, but heat-sealed bags are not. Whatever your needs, consider learning these key terms to get started and make the right choice.

Action Steps
The best contacts and resources to help you get it done

Vacuum sealer bags

Vacuum sealer bags allow you to remove the air from the bag as you seal it. This is ideal for packing foods, as it allows them to remain fresh. It can also be used for storage, by making large items much smaller, as in the 'as seen on TV' bags.

I recommend: BCU Plastics and Packaging offers a number of vacuum sealer bags.

Lip and tape sealing bags

Lip and tape sealing bags, sometimes called self-sealing bags have a folded over 'lip' that uses double sided tape to close the bag. It is resealable. These are often used to store stationery.

I recommend: See a lip and tape bag at Cello Bags.

Gusseted sealing bags

Gusseted sealing bags have an extra piece added to the width of the bag to make it wider. The bags can seal in a variety of ways. These are used when you want to place many items in the bag.

I recommend: Pack Plus shows examples of gusseted sealing bags.

Zipper bags

Zipper bags have plastic grooves on either side of the opening that fit together to make a seal. They are a good solution for food items that need to remain fresh.

I recommend: Fastpack Packaging shows several sizes of zipper bags.

Heat sealer

A heat sealer can be used to seal bags. This machine melts the plastic of the bag, causing the two sides to meld together. In most cases, the seal needs to be cut or torn open and you are not able to reseal it. Heat sealers can be large industrial machines or small hand-held devices.

I recommend: See heat sealers at Office Zone.

Biodegradable bags

Biodegradable bags can break down naturally, meaning that they won't take up as much space in landfills. This is a 'green' option, which more and more consumers are favoring, even if it does come with a higher price tag.

I recommend: Visit Clearbags to see examples of biodegradable food bags.