A product as versatile as a tote bag cannot be easily categorized making it difficult to define a proper target market for it.
Tote bags can be used for a variety of purposes and by a variety of people. They are perfect for carrying items around, whether at the grocery store or on a day trip. They can also be used as a purse or for storage.
Tote bags come in a broad range of sizes, colors, and styles, so anyone can find the perfect one for their needs.
So, if you’re designing and manufacturing tote bags for sale, you will need to think carefully about who is your ideal customer and what they would look for in a tote bag.
In this article, we will review different segments of the target market for tote bags and understand why they are so popular. We will also discuss some ideas for marketing your tote bags.
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Who Is the Target Market for Tote Bags?
To understand the target market for tote bags, we need to understand what attracts someone to a tote bag instead of another type of bag.
Once we understand people’s motivation behind a purchase, we can design products that can satisfy their needs and develop marketing strategies that can appeal to them.
Such a needs-based segmentation approach gives us the following customers segments for tote bags:
- People who need to carry a lot of things
- People looking for a stylish bag
- People looking for an eco-friendly bag
- People looking for a durable bag
- Conferences and Trade Shows
- Stores and Boutiques
Let’s review each of these segments in some detail.
1. People who need to carry a lot of things
A Tote bag is ideal for this target market segment since it can hold a lot more than a traditional purse.
This is especially true for larger tote bags which can be used for carrying books, laptops, and other heavy items.
People who buy a tote bag for carrying a lot of things are looking more for functionality over style.
They are often willing to sacrifice style for the sake of having a bag that’s practical enough to carry and can fit everything they need.
2. People looking for a stylish bag
The target market for tote bags isn’t limited to those looking for practicality. For many people, a bag – any bag – like a purse is a fashion statement. This means that the target market for tote bags also includes people who are looking for stylish bags.
Tote bags come in many different styles, from classic and sophisticated to trendy and chic.
This target market segment is usually willing to spend more on a tote bag that makes them look good.
They are also likely to be influenced by celebrities and influencers who are seen carrying tote bags.
3. People looking for an eco-friendly bag
With the growing awareness of environmental issues, an important segment of the target market for tote bags is people who look for eco-friendly products.
Tote bags made from natural materials like cotton or jute are becoming increasingly popular.
This target market segment is also willing to pay more for a tote bag that is eco-friendly and sustainable.
If the bag is built overseas they will also buy bags that are made and bought following fair-trade practices.
4. People looking for a durable bag
When people who buy tote bags look for durability, they will often buy bags that are made from tough materials.
Leather tote bags, in particular, are seen as being very sturdy and able to withstand a lot of wear and tear.
This segment of the target market for tote bags is often willing to invest in a good quality bag that can withstand wear and tear and will last for many years.
5. Conferences and Trade Shows
Tote bags are also popular promotional items at conferences and trade shows.
They are often given away for free with the hope that people will use them to carry conference materials or items they’ve bought from the trade show.
This is also a good way for the conference or trade show to get its brand name out there.
This segment of the target market for tote bags can be good customers because they will often order bags in bulk as long as you can customize them.
6. Stores and Boutiques
Stores and boutiques will often give their shoppers tote bags to carry their purchases. A big logo of the store or boutique on the bag ensures that people will remember where they made their purchase.
Plus as these shoppers walk around the mall or in town with the bag on their shoulders, they are effectively advertising the store or boutique.
In some cases, stores and boutiques will charge for the tote bag as an extra way to make money. But in other cases, they will give them away for free as a way to promote their brand.
This covers the list of some of the most common segments of the target market for tote bags. While this list is not exhaustive, it can give you a good idea of who your target market might be. And with that information, you can start to customize your marketing strategy accordingly.
Now, let’s cover two more points. Let’s briefly discuss why tote bags are popular and then some marketing ideas that you can use for your tote bag business.
Why are Tote Bags popular?
One of the main reasons why tote bags are so popular is that they are very versatile. Tote bags can be used for many different purposes, from carrying groceries to going to the beach to carrying school supplies.
Tote bags are often seen as being more environmentally friendly than other types of bags. This is because they can be reused over and over again and they are often made from natural materials.
Finally, the popularity of tote bags can also be attributed to the fact that they can be quite stylish. As we mentioned before, tote bags come in many different styles, from classic and sophisticated to trendy and chic.
This means that there is a tote bag out there for everyone.
5 Marketing Ideas For Your Tote Bags
If you design and manufacture tote bags, you will need to develop go-to-market strategies to get your bags in front of consumers.
Here are 5 marketing ideas that you can deploy to attract customers to your tote bags:
- Offer stores your tote bags on consignment
- Give away tote bags for free at prominent locations
- Create an online store
- Find wholesalers to sell tote bags in bulk
- Offer customized tote bags
Let’s look closely at these marketing strategies.
1. Offer stores your tote bags on consignment
One of the things you will need to do is to get your tote bags in as many stores as you can that your potential customers are likely to visit.
Some stores may be willing to buy your bags outright but others may want to work only on a consignment basis.
This means that the store will only pay you if and when they sell your bags. This can be a good option for stores that are hesitating to carry your bags. By giving the bags on consignment, you can at least get them displayed in the store.
Just remember that when you’re offering your bags on consignment, you will need to price them accordingly. This means that you will need to factor in the cost of the bag, the cost of shipping, and the store’s commission when setting your price.
2. Give away tote bags for free at prominent locations
Another way to get your tote bags in front of potential customers is to give them away for free at prominent locations.
This could be at a busy intersection, in front of a popular store, or at a community event.
Giving away tote bags for free is an excellent way to get people talking about your brand. And as we all know, word-of-mouth is still one of the best forms of marketing.
3. Create an online store
You may not want to limit yourself to an audience that shops in-person in traditional stores.
Creating an online store is a great way to reach a wider audience with your tote bags. Not only that, but it’s also a great way to sell your bags at a higher price point.
When selling online, you can target customers who are willing to pay more for the convenience of shopping from home.
And because you will not have the same overhead costs as a brick-and-mortar store, you will be able to sell your bags at a lower price point and still make a profit.
Additionally, as you will eliminate the middle man (the store), you will be able to keep more of the profits for yourself.
4. Find wholesalers to sell tote bags in bulk
Another way to market your tote bags is to find wholesalers who are willing to buy them in bulk.
This can be an excellent way to get rid of excess inventory and make some quick cash.
It is also a way to benefit from economies of scale. When you sell in bulk, you will be able to lower your per-unit costs and increase your profits.
5. Offer customized tote bags
A great way to attract attention to your tote bags is to offer customization options.
This could be anything from embroidery to screen printing. Customers love to feel like they are getting a one-of-a-kind product, so offering customization is an excellent way to differentiate your tote bags from the competition.
Plus, it’s a great way to upsell customers who may not have been interested in buying a tote bag at the full price.
One way to automate this is to allow customization on your online store. This way, customers can choose their own design, color, and other options without you having to do any extra work. You could also allow them to upload photos to be printed on the bag.
This can be great for parents who want to put their child’s photo on the bag or for couples who want to put their wedding photo on the bag.
As you can see, there are a number of ways that you can market your tote bags. The best way to find the right strategy for your business is to experiment with a few different ideas and see what works with your target audience.