- Karaca Çanta
- 6 min read
Short answer: A corporate gift bag is chosen according to where the recipient will use it and what will go inside. For employee gifts and welcome kits, a cotton tote bag or an ultrasonic-welded bag stands out; for dealer meetings, a stitched nonwoven bag or a drawstring backpack stands out for light, high-volume distribution. For printing, screen printing suits a single-colour logo, embroidery suits a small, clean logo, and digital printing suits a multicolour image.
A welcome pack given to a new employee, a meeting bag handed out to dealers or a gift sent to customers at year end: in all of them the bag is the first thing the recipient sees, before what is inside. If the bag is not chosen well, the gift inside also looks as if it has lost its value.
This article approaches the corporate gift bag by recipient: employee gift, staff welcome kit, dealer meeting, anniversary and year-end campaign. In each scenario you will find which questions to look at when deciding on model, size and print. In our catalogue the Gift Bags category has 23 products and the Drawstring Backpacks category has 64.
How Is a Corporate Gift Bag Chosen by Recipient?
There is no single right model; the bag is chosen according to where and for what the recipient will use it. The table below offers a starting point for five common situations. You settle the decision according to your quantity, budget and brand guidelines.
Model and print tendency by use
| Use | Recipient | Model tendency | Print tendency |
|---|---|---|---|
| Employee gift | All employees; everyday use | Raw cotton or coloured cotton tote bag | Plain single-colour logo; embroidery optional |
| Staff welcome kit | New starter | Cotton tote bag or ultrasonic-welded bag sized to the kit contents | Single-colour logo in line with the brand guidelines |
| Dealer meeting | Dealers; carrying catalogues and samples | Stitched nonwoven or cotton tote bag; drawstring backpack on a busy day | One- or two-colour logo and event name |
| Anniversary | Employees and business partners | Cotton tote bag or ultrasonic-welded bag | Special anniversary mark; digital printing if multicolour |
| Year-end gift | Customers and business partners | Cotton or ultrasonic-welded model from the Gift Bags category | Plain logo; embroidery or a clean single colour for a gift feel |
How Is a Cotton Tote Bag Used in a Staff Welcome Kit?
In a welcome kit the bag is the packaging that gathers the contents in one hand. The kit usually consists of items such as a notebook, pen, mug, company handbook and card holder; these items determine the height and gusset of the bag. First finalise the contents of the kit and size the bag accordingly; doing the reverse leads to the bag not fitting the kit.
Because the employee can also use the bag on the way to work, a raw cotton or coloured cotton tote bag suits both a gift feel and everyday use. Have the printing done according to the logo usage in your brand guidelines; if the guidelines contain placement and spacing rules, pass them on to us at the design stage.
- The length of the longest item in the kit.
- The total width of the items that will be arranged side by side.
- The diameter of cylindrical items such as a mug or flask; the gusset is chosen according to this value.
- A small margin for items that may be added to the kit later.
How Is a Promotional Bag Chosen for a Dealer Meeting?
At a dealer meeting the bag carries the catalogue, price list, samples and the dealer handbook. Because dealers will also take the bag into the field, durability and size matter. The material is mostly A4 in size; the width and height of the bag are planned accordingly, and if there are also samples, a gusseted model provides volume.
If the meeting is a single session and the number of dealers is high, a light stitched nonwoven bag suited to high-volume distribution makes sense. If the meeting lasts more than one day or there is a programme in which dealers will get around and shop, a drawstring backpack leaves the hands free. Putting the name and year of the meeting on the bag alongside the company logo prevents dealers from mixing it up with later meetings.
How Is a Corporate Anniversary Bag Designed?
In an anniversary bag the aim is to convey the celebration at a glance on the bag: the founding year, an anniversary mark or a special slogan. When placing the mark next to the corporate logo, keep to the spacing and size rules in the brand guidelines; the anniversary mark should not look bigger than the logo.
If the mark is multicolour, digital printing is considered; if it can be reduced to one or two colours, screen printing. If you will give the same bag to employees and business partners, a single design is enough; if you want different designs for the two groups, state the designs and quantities separately in the quote. Get the design approval in writing before printing.
Which Print Suits a Corporate Gift Bag?
Three methods stand out. Screen printing is sharp and economical for one- and two-colour logos and stands out at high quantities. Embroidery gives a prestigious look on small logos with clean lines; it makes sense when you want to strengthen the perception of a gift. Digital printing suits multicolour and photographic designs and small and medium quantities. For stitched nonwoven bags the method is given on the product pages as offset printing.
If you are considering another method, ask at the quote stage. Whether the print colour matches the colour in the brand guidelines exactly depends on the material and the method; discuss this at design approval; after approval the process continues with production and printing.
- How many colours is the logo, and does it contain fine detail?
- Is the order quantity small, medium or high?
- Is the priority a gift feel or wide distribution?
- Will the print be on one side or both sides?
How Is a Bag Planned for a Year-End Gift Campaign?
With year-end gifts the schedule is often tighter than the budget, because the gift contents, quantity and recipient list change at the last minute. Build the plan backwards: the distribution date of the gift, before that shipping, production and printing, design approval and, at the very start, the set contents and quantity decision. The size cannot be finalised until the contents are finalised.
For example, consider a set going to 300 customers and business partners, made up of a box, a pen and a notebook. First measure a sample of the set, then match the bag to models in the Gift Bags category or to a custom size. Lead time and minimum quantity are confirmed at the quote stage; starting early leaves plenty of time for design and size decisions.
Frequently Asked Questions
How Do You Choose a Gift Bag for Company Employees?
Choose by thinking about whether employees will also carry the bag outside work: a raw cotton or coloured cotton tote bag for everyday use, a stitched nonwoven or ultrasonic-welded bag for a plainer, lighter distribution. Set the size according to the gift that will go in the bag. If you keep the logo single-colour and plain, you get a bag that every employee can carry comfortably.
How Are Brand Guidelines Applied to the Bag?
You can upload the logo file from the guidelines on the quote form as PNG, JPG, WebP, PDF or EPS; the file can be up to 5 MB. Write the logo's spacing and size rules in your message, and we prepare the design accordingly and submit it for your approval. Whether the print colour matches the colour in the guidelines exactly depends on the material and the method; discuss this at design approval.
Should I Choose a Handled Bag or a Backpack for a Dealer Meeting?
If dealers will only move around the hall, a stitched nonwoven or cotton tote bag with handles is enough; if they will be out and about all day, shopping or carrying a lot of items, a drawstring backpack is more comfortable. If catalogues and samples will also be handed out, set the size according to an A4 folder and the volume of the sample. In high-volume distribution, light fabrics stand out.
When Should a Year-End Gift Bag Order Be Started?
Start as soon as the set contents and quantity are finalised, because the size depends on the contents and design approval comes before production. We do not give a number of days; the production and delivery time is confirmed at the quote stage, once you state the desired delivery date. Setting up a schedule backwards from the distribution date and filling in the delivery date field on the form makes the plan easier.
