Pricing and Costs of Plastic Bags

Setting a budget for your retail plastic bags

Plastic bags are one of those items that you may not have put much thought into for your business. However, personalized plastic bags may play a larger role in your marketing plan than you would have thought. Plastic bags are an inexpensive way to get your company name on the streets and into the homes of consumers everywhere.

You can purchase basic plastic bags for as little as a few cents a piece. Custom printed plastic bags will run closer to 10 or 15 cents a piece for plastic T-shirt bags. Larger bags, possibly with rope handles, run more in the 50 cents to $1 range. Consider the following when evaluating the pricing and costs of plastic bags:

1. Buying wholesale plastic bags can save you money.

2. Plastic bags with logos can be customized for your business.

3. Plastic bags come in a variety of styles, sizes and durability.

 

Buy plastic bags in bulk

Many suppliers of plastic bags require that you purchase a minimum number of plastic bags. If you know you are going to need the plastic bags eventually, it pays to buy several cartons at a time. Saving a few dollars per carton can add up if you are buying multiple cartons. The difference between ordering 1,000 and 5,000 plastic bags is approximately $3 per carton of 1,000. That equals a savings of $15 on one order. If you go through plastic merchandise bags quickly, ordering wholesale shopping bags will be helpful to your bottom line.
Try: Uline is a plastic bag distributor where you can buy plastic bags in bulk. Paper Mart, too, sells plastic retail bags in large quantities.

Have plastic bags customized for your business

One of the keys to having plastic bags work for you is to plaster your company name on the outside. Whether just your company logo is on the bag or the entire bag is printed with a picture or design that represents your company, plastic bags can be an important marketing tool. Custom plastic bags run slightly more than plain plastic bags. You can purchase custom plastic T-shirt bags for around 10 cents a piece. You will also have to factor in extra charges for multiple printed colors and setup fees. These fees can run upward of $50 per order.
Try: Places like Premier Packaging have several plastic bag options you can customize for your business. You can also have plastic bags made for your company at 4 All Promos.

Decide on the type of plastic bag you would like to purchase

The price of plastic bags is ultimately due to the durability of the bag and any accessories such as handles and drawstrings that you want on the bag. Frosted plastic bags can cost on average 50 cents per bag for orders of 1,000 or more bags. The same frosted bag would cost around $1 a piece for minimum orders of around 100 bags. Drawstring bags generally run around 50 cents a piece but aren't offered in as many colors as some of the other choices. Depending on the size, colored supergloss plastic retail bags can be purchased for around 30 cents a piece.
Try: Absorbent, Ink. carries several plastic bag varieties. Plastic BagMart, too, carries everything from clear plastic bags to drawstring plastic bags.

 

• Think about purchasing a few different styles of plastic bags for your business. You can use the cheaper 10-cent bags for small items and larger printed bags for larger items that people passing by are more likely to notice.

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