Exhibiting at trade shows this Autumn? If so, you will be investing time and money on designing and staffing your stand, but have you thought about how you're going to attract potential customers to the stand on the day? 

Trade fairs are big, busy places and it can be tough to get noticed. Prowling the hall pouncing on people is confrontational and doesn't make a good first impression. 

Eye-catching promotional bags, that are well designed will act like beacons alerting attendees to your presence. Often people that see other attendees with a bag will actively seek out your stand to find out more.This spares you from either sitting on the stand twiddling your thumbs, or running around harassing people. It also gives you the opportunity to talk to more potential customers, engage and generate leads. 

A reusable bag continues to work long after the show too. It goes back to the office (or home) and will be a physical reminder of your business after the stand has been dismantled. If the bag is practical and well-designed it will be reused many, many times and it will be an advertisement for your business each time it is reused. 

August and September are busy periods in the Trade Fair calendar. If you plan to use a promotional bag as part of your trade show marketing campaign make sure you leave enough time to process your order. Made to order promotional bags take around 8 weeks to produce and deliver at the lowest cost. Last minute orders mean express pricing. 

To find out more about producing an eco-friendly reusable bag for promotions, browse our product range or contact matt@smartbags.co.uk to find out more.  

Trade Shows - Autumn 2012

When Essex County Council were planning how they could promote their work with WRAP’s ‘Love Food Hate Waste’ campaign, they choose smartbags to produce a stylish and robust eco-friendly reusable bag. 

Working with Smartbags, a bespoke Non-woven rPET Shopper Bag was produced out of rPET or 90% recycled plastic bottles.  The bag is proudly emblazoned with the words: “I’m made from recycled plastic bottles”.

According to Lisa Cross, Waste Prevention and Recycling Officer, at Essex County Council the reusable bags are so popular they have to limit their appearances to ensure they aren’t snapped up too quickly.  

“We’ve received a terrific response to the bags.  Not only are they attractive and eye-catching, but they are durable and strong, making them a real crowd pleaser”. said Lisa.

The Council cleverly uses the eco bags as part of its integrated marketing strategy and uses them as competition prizes and incentives for people signing up to receive its online newsletter for instance.  

Smartbags guided Essex County Council through the process of ordering a reusable bag from advising on the best material to meet their objectives to the most appropriate stitching and handle as well as its design, print and the final delivery.  

“Smartbags made what was quite an in-depth process simple and straight-forward, “ said Lisa. “They also ensured that I was completely satisfied at every stage. “I can only describe the Shopper Bags as brilliant.  The value that we have got from them has been great. There aren’t many marketing tools that would have achieved all our objectives better and for such a reasonable cost.”

Essex County Council’s rPET Shopper Bag is a strong, robust bag at 150grams and has the look and feel of cotton or canvas.

See Wrap UK and Recycle for Essex for more information on these initiatives.

To find out more about producing an eco-friendly reusable bag for promotions, please do browse our reusable bag product range or contact matt@smartbags.co.uk to find out more. 

 Smartbags are proud to announce that they are one of the official sponsors of the UK's first ever Independent Retailer Month 2012. 

 The campaign will run throughout July 2012 and will highlight the important role that small, local, independent retailers play in their  local communities, economy and the retail sector as a whole. 

Smartbags will be producing the event bags (we'll post a picture as soon as the bag is ready!). Look out for Leanne from Smartbags at the launch conference, she will be on hand to answer any questions you might have about creating a reusable bag for retail. 

The campaign will be launched on 1st July at the Independent Retailer Month UK -  Launch Conference 2012. The conference is the first of it's kind and is designed for the UK's independent retail community. The day will be packed full of workshops, speeches, disussions, 'ask the expert' sessions and networking opportunities. See the event brochure for a full timetable and booking information. 

If you'd like to create a branded bag for your retail store and want to find out more now view our range of promotional bags or contact matt@smartbags.co.uk