Category Archives: Promotion Ideas

Maine Is Going Reusable!

November 11, 2009Bulletin Bag Products, Green Issues, Promotion IdeasPlastics Reduction, RetailBulletin Bag

On Monday, the Maine Merchants Association announced the “Got Your Bags, Maine?” initiative to encourage increased reusable bag use. Following a resolution passed by the Legislature last Spring, Maine Merchants Association, Maine Grocers Association the state Chamber of Commerce, Natural Resources Council of Maine and a growing number of Maine retailers and grocers have joined forces after being brought together over the summer by the Maine State Planning Office. The public education and outreach effort is aimed at encouraging Mainers to increase the usage of reusable bags for shopping and decrease the use of single use paper and plastic bags.

“The kick off of this campaign is a monumental achievement and we are thrilled to see the state of Maine taking leadership on this issue….” says Suzette Bergeron, owner of Bulletin Bag [.com] based in southern Maine. We first got involved in Maine’s campaign against wasteful paper and plastic when former Representative Ted Koffman put forth a bill to put a fee on paper and plastic in 2007.

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Jump on The Movement!

October 14, 2009Promotion Ideas, Reusable Bag TipsPrinting Ideas, RetailBulletin Bag

Still not convinced you’ll see a great ROI on a custom-logo shopping bag promotion? The last week has seen corporate giants reverse their stance on reusable bags and further their dedication to green by offering incentives to the end users for remembering their bags—meaning now’s the perfect time to be proven wrong.

Westport is the first town in Connecticut to ban plastic bags, which has resulted in a 70 percent increase in people bringing their reusable bags since the ban has been in effect. One of the sponsoring representatives of the bill, Liz Milwe, was quoted in the NY Times as saying, “The greatest thing that happened was after the six-month period was over, Stop & Shop, who originally opposed the ban, had people clapping when customers remembered their reusable bags.” Way to put aside your opposition to see the forest for the trees, so to speak!

Jeffrey Weiser, another of the four sponsors estimates 600,000 fewer plastic bags have been used since the ban started. Under the new regulation, the town can impose a $150 fine on businesses that distribute plastic bags.

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Bulletin Bag [.com] Launches School Eco-fundraising Program

August 26, 2009Bulletin Bag Products, Promotion IdeasFundraisers, Nonprofits, Printing Ideas, SchoolsBulletin Bag

Bulletin Bag [.com] , a provider of custom printed reusable shopping bags, today announced the launch of Cooperation Green. A cooperative fundraising effort between schools, their communities and vital program advertisers, Cooperation Green enables schools to maximize fundraising dollars by producing higher profits with less financial risk.

” Cooperation Green connects advertisers with interested audiences to share their environmental commitments, along with their products and services,” said Suzette Bergeron, owner of Bulletin Bag [.com]. “It provides funding for schools through healthy, inspiring activities while empowering students to be environmental leaders.”

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Big Ideas for a Small Planet: Damariscotta, Maine

August 17, 2009Bulletin Bag Products, Green Issues, Promotion IdeasCool Kids, Fundraisers, Nonprofits, Printing Ideas, Schools, SustainabilityBulletin Bag

Lincoln Academy’s Climate Action Club , located in Damariscotta, Maine, has been trying to raise awareness about reusable bags in their community for several years. Headed by Chloe Maxim, the CAC created a video about the problems with plastic bags . Subsequently, Chloe and the CAC gained recognition by the Sundance Channel, MTV, and others. The project began with a video, and then a pledge page (to pledge the use of reusable bags). From there, it blossomed into a full-blown campaign. Their goal? Reduce the use of plastic bags in Damariscotta by distributing town-wide custom-imprinted reusable bags.

The CAC, together with local businesses, organizations, and individuals, sponsor the bags in exchange for their logo imprinted on each reusable bag. The CAC led a very successful merchant’s meeting last March to discuss their campaign with local merchants Former Maine Representative Ted Koffman and reusable bag expert Suzette Bergeron of Bulletin Bag.

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Why Reusable Bags are Great Promotional Vehicles in Tough Economic Times

July 15, 2009Promotion IdeasPrinting Ideas, RetailBulletin Bag

Let’s face it: times are tough. You need to spend marketing dollars to get sales, but you need sales to fund your marketing budget. For a relatively inexpensive promotion with maximum staying-power, look to reusable bags. Custom logoed reusable bags are the perfect promotional vehicle for our tight economy.

For starters, you can’t beat the targeted marketing. The person buying, receiving, and using the bag is usually the person who does the majority of the shopping and therefore the person makes the majority of the household buying decisions. From which bank, a mortgage broker or insurance company the family uses; to which hair salon they frequent, to which brands and stores they are loyal to – this is a powerful demographic! Reusable bag advertising allows you to put your company name and message directly in the hands of the person of this person — and keep it there until they are ready to do business with you.

Reusable bags are used an average of one time a week and likely remain visible in the car and in the home when not in use. Most people will keep–and use–the bag for 5 years or more. What other imprinted promotional product can consistently claim that longevity? Added bonus: using a reusable bag saves an average of 12-16 plastic carryout bags per week.

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Reusable bags allow retailers to be remembered long after the shopping is done

June 18, 2009Promotion IdeasPrinting Ideas, RetailBulletin Bag

Reusable bags giveaways are a great way to increase your company’s visibility at shows, festivals, and public events. Since most people will make the most of a free reusable bag—no matter what is custom imprinted on it—your logo will find its way to other public venues and stay top of mind with who sees it (a good reason for an eye-catching imprint)!

Can you imagine handing your message to 8,000 captive recipients? Hilton Dinner is co-owner of the Bon Ton Bakery in Edmonton. Over the last year, he’s given away 8,000 reusable grocery bags as part of celebrations for the bakery’s 50th anniversary. On top of reducing the number of plastic bags the bakery gives away, Dinner’s business is also powered by wind.

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Trading Plastic for Power

May 27, 2009Green Issues, Promotion IdeasEvents, Plastics Reduction, RecyclingBulletin Bag

About a year ago, Colorado mountain towns Telluride and Aspen competed to see whose residents could consume fewer disposable plastic bags in favor of reusable bags. Over the course of the three-month challenge, the two towns cut back on almost 150,000 disposable plastic bags! The winner of the challenge was Telluride and as a reward they received new solar panels for the local high school. The solar panels come in the form of a grant issued by Alpine Bank.

Dave Allen, who spearheaded the effort with Aspen’s Nathan Ratledge, started contacting members of the Colorado Association of Ski Towns to see if a bigger challenge had yet to be born. Apparently, it was simply a matter of planting the seed and building momentum, because word of this eco-friendly rivalry spread quicker than skiers and boarders can cut first tracks and everyone wanted a shot at reducing their plastic bag consumption. Enter round two of the challenge.

Twenty-five ski towns throughout the Rocky Mountains are participating in the 2009 Colorado Association of Ski Towns (CAST) Reusable Bag Challenge sponsored by Alpine Bank. The contest runs now through September 1st, and the prize is the same (why change what works?)—solar panel energy for a public school in the winning town.

Towns like Durango are organizing their efforts through the towns Rotary youth groups. Bags are tallied every time someone brings in a reusable bag, so if one person brings 5 bags, 5 tallies are counted. What a great way to get an entire community to rally around reducing plastic waste and using reusable shopping bags. Just think of what we could accomplish in a worldwide contest …

Wholesale Reusable Bags for your Retail Store

February 15, 2009Bulletin Bag Products, Promotion IdeasPrinting Ideas, RetailBulletin Bag

Are you looking for logo printed reusable bags for resale in your retail store? Whether you’re looking for inexpensive non-woven grocery bags , organic cotton bags , folding nylon reusable bags or the latest in full color custom reusable bags — there are a lot of options out there and we want to help you find the best ‘fit’ for your brand.

Look for a reusable bag, or two or even three, that speaks to your retail store and your customer base. By offering your customers a few different styles of reusable bags you are able to further build your brand personality — while encouraging the reduction of wasteful plastic and paper bags.

Reusable Bags are becoming ‘the norm’ and over the next several years consumers across the country are going to be stocking up on reusable bags. The average family of four will need at least a dozen bags set aside for reusables. People are tired of the wasteful habits of our past. Current statistics show that we may be nearing 20% usage of reusable bags in grocery stores, but that leaves 80% of our population waiting to make the switch.

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Reusable Bag Fundraiser at Scarborough High School

November 5, 2008Promotion IdeasFundraisers, Nonprofits, SchoolsBulletin Bag

Scarborough teens involved in the high school ECOS club will be selling ‘limited edition’ reusable bags as an earth-friendly fundraiser . ECOS, which stands for the Environmental Club of Scarborough, is an after school club that strives to heighten the local community’s awareness of environmental issues and encourage more eco-friendly lifestyles.

The students held a design contest where they accepted submissions from fellow students. The bags have been printed with the winning design (–signed by “Brie” the artist).

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Free Reusable Bag Giveaway at Shaw’s

June 13, 2008Bulletin Bag Products, Promotion IdeasContests and Giveaways, Cool Kids, Cotton, Printing Ideas, SchoolsBulletin Bag

Bulletin Bags offered for free tomorrow. Limited edition Bulletin Bags will be available for free on June 14^th at two Shaw’s locations in Southern Maine. The bags will feature the winning design from the first ever Nurture Nature Design Contest.

Bags will be available at Shaw’s in Biddeford from 10 am to 12 pm and at Shaw’s in Scarborough from 1pm to 3pm. Children involved in the contest will distribute the free bags!