Shopping Bags Pricing and Costs

Consider all avenues for shopping bags
By Shalleen Mayes If you're considering opening a retail store, you'll need to have an ample supply of shopping bags on hand for your customers' purchases. But what may seem like a simple decision can be surprisingly complex when deciding what type of bags to purchase for your store.
 

There are several different styles of bag, such as the grocery store bag and a handled bag, which is what people often mean when they refer to a shopping bag. Shopping bags are especially useful for mall shops, so shoppers can consolidate their smaller bags into a larger bag and carry it around the mall. This can mean free advertising for you.

It's important to have a clear picture of the prices of shopping bags before you open your store. Consider the following factors for shopping bags pricing and costs.

1. Decide which size of shopping bags to buy. There are several sizes, ranging from "cub" size to the giant "queen" size.

2. Determine what type of bag you would like to have for your store, such as a plastic handled bag or kraft paper bag with handles.

3. Explore the option of custom printing your store logo on the shopping bag.

Purchase shopping bags in bulk to save money

You can find a carton of 200 large size bags for a price range of $50-$63 for plain brown kraft paper to $84 for tinted paper. The smallest size of kraft paper bag is available for a range of $35-$48 per carton.
Try: Purchase kraft bags of all sizes from Uline, a shopping bag and packaging supplier. Nu-Era offers wholesale prices on kraft paper bags.

Get the lowest cost shopping bags for your business

Your budget may only have room to purchase lower-priced plastic shopping bags. You can order a gross of 12" x 3" x 18" bags in any color you wish for a range of $29 to $41. Alternatively, you can find frosted plastic shopping bags in 8" x 5" x 10" at $30 per 250.
Try: Victory Store sells a variety of shopping bags, including die-cut plastic bags. Store Supply gives buyers plenty of choice in terms of color and sizes for their frosted plastic bags.

Take the environmental costs into account when pricing shopping bags

Consider the environmental footprint your business makes upon the earth. Providing a resusable bag (with your logo on it) can speak volumes about your business and your values. Your costs for reusable cloth shopping bags are a range of $1.00 - $1.50 per piece when you factor in logo set-up and printing.
Try: SPS Group offers 8 1/2" x 14" non-woven polyurethane bags that the company can custom silkscreen with your logo. Bags on the Run produces logo shopping bags for both small quantities and large orders.

• Don't forget to factor in the costs of getting your company logo on your shopping bag. Most companies charge a set-up fee and add an additional cost per bag.