Printed Shopping Bags

Benefits of Logo Shoppers

• Build memorable brand recognition
  Think about the last time you walked down Oxford Street - didn't certain bags practically shout their presence, while others blended into the pavement? Printed carriers create that mobile advertising channel every time they leave your shop. This visibility compounds over weeks, because unlike plain bags that fade into the background, a strong, legible logo in the right size and placement is noticed repeatedly in queues, high streets, and even on the Tube. Our experience shows that mid-sized logos (100-150mm wide) centred at eye-level could outperform edge-placed designs by 30% in recall during post-purchase surveys. For comparison, an unbranded kraft bag carries no value once binned. In practice, one order can deliver 5,000-10,000 micro-impressions per 1,000 units - costing less per view than a half-page ad in Time Out London. Now ask yourself: why pay for exposure that disappears overnight when customers will carry your brand for free?
• Eco packaging that customers appreciate
  There's no shortage of news stories hammering plastic waste. Customers notice. Standard PE bags scream "yesterday's thinking." By contrast, FSC-certified kraft (70%+ recycled) or Fairtrade cotton totes demonstrate that you've taken a measurable stand. It's the difference between saying you're sustainable and proving it - remember the Guardian's 2022 exposé on fake eco claims? Choosing certified products removes that risk. We've seen cafés report 12-15% more positive Google reviews after ditching plastic. That's not hype, it's quantifiable goodwill. Imagine a customer snapping an Instagram of your latte - do you want the comment thread debating latte art, or slamming your bag choice?
• Walking billboards at events
  Exhibition halls are brutal. If you've been to the NEC or ExCeL, you know the scene: thousands of leaflets abandoned by lunchtime. But a branded tote? That travels. Attendees sling it over their shoulder and your logo strolls into networking lounges, coffee queues, post-event trains. A cotton tote with a strong logo design is re-used 14 times on average, delivering 1,000+ impressions per unit. That's better ROI than banner ads that vanish the moment Wi-Fi stalls.
• Packaging that boosts product value perception
  When someone hands you a product in a glossy rope-handled bag, you feel the difference. That's expectancy transfer in action: the packaging upgrades the contents before you even peek inside. By contrast, a plain kraft bag can undercut the mood for jewellery or premium skincare - it signals cost-cutting. Controlled retail tests show luxury packaging increases average transaction size by 8-12%. That's because customers unconsciously add items to "fit" the premium carrier. Ever wondered why Selfridges' yellow bag became iconic? That wasn't an accident. Packaging isn't just a container-it's a silent salesperson.
• Affordable branding at scale
  Here's the kicker: branded bags don't just compete with plain bags, they replace chunks of your marketing budget. Buying plain in bulk feels cheaper-until you realise every customer walks out advertising nothing. A 5,000-unit run of custom kraft bags drops unit cost dramatically, while doubling as marketing collateral. Advanced buyers stagger runs - half evergreen, half seasonal - to test designs without doubling setup costs.

When you connect each benefit directly to performance outcomes, the next challenge is filtering through features. Which specs matter most, and when do they tip a decision?

How to Choose Your Bag

Material Choices

• Recycled Paper - Lightweight, biodegradable, brown kraft or bleached white. Perfect when eco is non-negotiable and cost sensitivity is high. Concerned about strength? Reinforced bottoms plus twisted paper handles comfortably carry up to 4kg - so yes, it'll hold a couple of wine bottles. Check gsm carefully: 90gsm for light clothing, 120gsm for takeaway food, 150gsm for jars or wine. London deli owners swear by 150gsm kraft because pastries and bottles share one bag without rips. Why pick this? Because the low price per unit that ticks both eco and practicality boxes is unbeatable.
• Cotton Tote - Built for longevity. Think of how many totes you've re-used from conferences; that's branding working overtime. Best for campaigns demanding long-term exposure. One tote averages 10-20 re-uses. Lightweight 5oz cotton suits handouts, 8-10oz carries up to 12kg - equivalent to a supermarket basket. Always check seam construction: double-stitching lasts 40% longer than single. Would you buy a jumper with one seam? Exactly.

Print Style

• Single-Colour Print - Affordable and sharp. Strong contrast logos (white on navy, black on kraft) look confident, not dull. With Pantone Matching System (PMS), colour consistency is guaranteed to within ±2 delta E tolerance. That means the same red you launched with appears in every reorder. If uniformity matters-and it does - this is your safe bet.
• Full-Colour Print - For when design is the main event. Gradients, photography, vibrant branding-this is how you cut through exhibition clutter. Concerns about colour mismatch are valid, but solved by CMYK 300 dpi proofs. For dark cotton, you'll need a white underbase (+10% cost) to make colours pop. Studies show full-colour prints score 40% higher recall at trade shows. So ask: do you want people to remember your stand or walk past?

Finish Options

• Matte Lamination - Smooth, non-reflective, elegant. Best for launches where subtlety signals taste. No greasy shine, no fingerprints. Specifying 220gsm stock with matte lamination gives heft in the hand. Scuff resistance should be ≥200 Taber cycles - ask your supplier, because if they dodge the number, that's a red flag. Matte whispers luxury where gloss shouts.
• Gloss Lamination - Bold, eye-catching, protective. If you want heads turning, this is it. Gloss resists water, keeping designs intact even when someone's caught in Manchester rain. Balance shine with strength: 180gsm stock + 30-40µ lamination is the sweet spot. Anything thinner risks looking flimsy, and customers notice.

Handle Styles

• Twisted Paper Handles - Recyclable, cost-effective. Standard in retail where thousands are used weekly. A 120gsm bag holds 3-4kg, and a good supplier quotes 20 Newtons tensile strength per handle. That's more reliable than "it should be fine." Ask for numbers, not guesses.
• Rope or Fabric Handles - Luxurious, comfortable, robust. Perfect for boutiques, launches, or anything heavy. Reinforced top folds with double knots handle 7-8kg loads, pull-tested to 20-30kg. That means customers can carry bottles, boxes, or catalogues without anxiety. Ever had a handle snap halfway across Covent Garden? Customers remember the failure, not the product.

Order Volumes

• Small Runs - MOQs of 100-250 units. Unit cost £0.60-£1.20, but ideal for testing designs. Seasonal campaigns thrive here - you avoid 9 months of dead stock when designs change.
• Bulk Discounts - 1,000+ units cut per-unit cost to £0.12-£0.30. Over time, fixed setup costs spread thinner. Pro tip: split orders into 2 artworks to keep branding fresh - at no extra plate charge. It's the kind of trick big chains use to keep customers guessing, and you can too.

Choosing features isn't just technical-it's about what's right for your scenario. Which is why we need to talk product types next.

Types of Branded Shopping Bags

Branded shopper bags customised with your logo are both a practical and affordable way to increase your brand awareness and visibility. An extremely popular, versatile giveaway, printed shopping bags will not only expose your brand to those who receive them, but will be seen by others wherever they are worn! Also useful for adding other promotional items into too.

We can offer a wide range of promotional shopping bags and tote bags to suit any marketing campaign, from cost-effective plastic carrier bags, to long-lasting personalised cotton, jute and non-woven bags. We also have eco-friendly alternatives, reusable and UK made options as well as folding personalised shopper bags - a neat way to keep your brand within easy reach!

Carrier Bags

Printed carrier bags customised with your corporate branding and marketing message are an enduringly popular promotional gift. An affordable, light weight giveaway at conferences and events and the perfect container for other promotional goodies. Our range of promotional carrier shopper bags include paper, plastic bags, biodegradable and recycled options, all of which have large print areas to really showcase your branding. Express delivery can also be offered on a large selection of our promotional carrier bags.

You can browse our full range of carrier bags here.

Custom Cotton Bags

A firm promotional favourite, a cotton bag is a durable and inexpensive branded gift that can be used time and time again. Reusable and recyclable, promotional cotton tote bags will give your brand increased publicity whilst helping to reduce the need for single-use bags.

They come in a variety of cotton weights starting with a lightweight 3oz up to a thicker 7oz. Supplied in either their natural undyed shade or you can chose from a broad selection of stocked colours. A huge advantage of the promotional cotton shopping bag is the large print area to use, from one to two sides to full coverage, with a one colour print, up to a full digital print for maximum impact. Express delivery can also be offered on a large selection of our cotton shopper bags.

We also stock canvas tote bags.

Jute Shopper Bags

If you are looking for a way to show your company’s green credentials, branded jute bags are the perfect promotional product. The ideal eco-friendly promotional option, jute shoppers are available in small, standard and larger sizes and with their durable nature, are bound to be used multiple times. A more luxury shopper, jute shopping bags can be supplied natural or dyed with colour contrasting gusset and handle options.

Browse our full collection of jute shopping bags here.

Kraft Paper Bags

Natural, recycled look. Affordable, recyclable. Perfect for high-volume retail like cafés or delis. Solves guilt over plastic at the till. Choose 120gsm for pastries (2kg capacity) or 150gsm reinforced for bottles (4kg). Great if sustainability and budget are key, not ideal for luxury. Think Borough Market stalls-kraft works, but would you expect Tiffany to use it? Exactly.

Laminated Paper Bags

Smooth finish, crisp colours. Premium, stylish, strong. Best for boutiques and fashion outlets. Solves the "mid-range feels premium" problem. Spec: 200-250gsm laminated, rope handles, 6-8kg load, 30-40µ lamination. Choose if presentation is your differentiator, avoid if you're chasing lowest cost. If your bag feels as sturdy as Selfridges', customers will subconsciously equate your brand with that level of polish.

Luxury Rope Handle Bags

Rigid card, rope handles, reinforced base. Premium, tactile, durable. Best for high-value purchases or launches. Solves the "is the packaging good enough for the product?" fear. Spec: 250-300gsm board, supports 10kg, foil stamping within ±0.5mm precision. Great for prestige, not daily churn. Ask yourself: do you want your bag to feel like Harrods' gift shop or a supermarket freebie?

Best Promotional Shopping Bags

• The Best Budget Promotional Shopper Bag: ‘Non Woven Cotton Shopper’ - starting from just £1.34 per bag, the market shopper is an extremely cost-effective promotional shopper.
• Our Best Selling Promotional Shopper Bag: Natural 10oz Canvas Cotton Shopper – 1 Colour – good quality, reusable and eco-friendly, this natural cotton shopper is a top seller.
• Our Favourite Eco-friendly Promotional Shopper Bag: ‘Kraft Paper Goody Bag – Full Colour’ – Made from recycled cotton, we love this versatile eco-friendly shopper. It has long handles to make it more comfortable to wear.
• The Most Useful Promotional Shopper Bag: ‘Green & Innocent Mondo Dyed 5oz Cotton Shopper – 1 Colour’ – a very practical promotional tote bag which can be folded into a corner pouch, making it a handy, easily stored business gift.
• Best Express Delivery Promotional Shopper Bag: ‘Medium Juco Bag – 1 Colour ‘ – In just 5 days, this large multi-purpose shopper could be yours when opting for our express delivery service.

FAQ's Before You Buy

Can you send me a sample before I decide to order?

Yes, we are happy to provide you with an unbranded sample prior to ordering to ensure you are happy with the product. Please note, that whilst we will do our best to send samples free of charge, depending on the product there may be a small cost for the sample, which we can discuss with you. Please contact the team on 0114 275 4150 or email: [email protected] to organise your sample. Please note, we do reserve the right to refuse a sample request, which is at our discretion.

How fast can you deliver shopping bags?

If you are in a rush for your bags, we have a number of options that can be delivered on an express service. We offer both a 3 day and 5 day express delivery. Simply click on the ‘express delivery’ icons under ‘Features’ on the left-hand side filter menu to see options.

Can you price match?

We always strive to match or beat any competitor quotes. Just send your alternative quote to us and providing the quote is with a comparable product, we can look to match or better it.

Is there a minimum amount that I have to order?

Yes we do have minimum order quantities on our shoppers. You can see the MOQ on the price tab on each product page listing. The minimum amount will be listed first.

Do the prices quoted on your website include set up and delivery charges?

Our product prices shown do not include set up or delivery charges. The prices shown are for a one colour print in one position/ item. To receive this information, just click on express quote on the product page and we will quickly respond to you with a full itemised quote.

HIGHLIGHTED TEAM MEMBER

Debbie Hardy | Account Manager

With over 18 years of experience helping and advising customers, Debbie is known for her attention to detail, friendly manner and delivering excellent customer service. Debbie began working for Steel City in 2008 and has been involved with both the production and sales departments of the business. With a wealth of hands-on knowledge, Debbie is in the best position to advise our clients with promotional products that suit their marketing message, budget and time frame.

When not at work, Debbie is known for her DIY skills, having completely renovated her brother’s house, as well as enjoying walks with her husband.

Linkedin | Email: [email protected]

You can meet the rest of the team here.