This page covers the rising trend of personalised tote bags and how you can make your own to sell.
Tote bags have enjoyed a boom in popularity in recent years with their simple design and reusable nature. But personalised tote bags combine this timeless but on-trend style with something unique to the wearer.
They’re more than a bag – totes are a fashionable accessory that blend style with practicality and space, allowing you to carry essential items in a stylish way.
Want to know how to create and sell your own personalised tote bags in the UK? Get the know-how with Adobe Express.
Totes are simple, over-the-shoulder bags, great for daily use. Let’s break down why they’re so popular:
You can easily learn how to design and sell your own tote bags. Let’s break it down into a few easy steps.
Analyse trends and identify preferences in your market. Choosing a niche means you can cater to a select target audience, which can solidify your brand identity, and help you thrive. Targeting specific needs can enable you to gain competitive advantage as there could be less competition in these niche areas.
Branding is more than just visuals – it’s also value, voice, and vision. Having a brand reputation that precedes you makes it easier for your tote bags to get noticed, especially in crowded markets. If you’re able to develop brand loyalty with customers, they’ll keep coming back for more.
Decide on what materials you want to use for your tote bags. Also think about sizes, will you offer just one size, or a range of sizes? You’ll also want to consider the handles – will they be the same colour or will you add a bit of flair?
Now it’s time to get creative and work out your tote bag style and designs. What colours do you want to include on your tote bags? Is there a specific theme you want to focus on? Are there going to be images, slogans, or both?
Looking for inspiration? Check out our guide to Unique tote bag design ideas.
The production process can be vinyl transfers, embroidery, or direct to film (DTF). You can make them yourself at home using an embroidery machine. Or you can have them made for you by a supplier.
If you’re thinking of doing it as a business, you might prefer to try a print-on-demand model or invest in machinery that will let you produce on a larger scale.
Although not essential, it’s still a good idea to order a sample to check for quality before going ahead with full production of your custom design tote bags. This is especially true if you’re liaising with suppliers, in case of miscommunication. To avoid them misinterpreting instructions, it’s best to order and thoroughly check a sample – prevention is better than cure, not to mention less costly.
First decide if you want to sell online, in-person, or both. There are online platforms that let you do this, such as Etsy. On there, you can set up your own store and sell your tote bags from it. You can also design your own website to market and sell your products. Running your business online, you can establish stronger branding opportunities with, for example, the use of influencers.
Use social media platforms like Instagram to promote your tote bags and drive traffic to your stores. If you’re thinking of a physical store, consider where this would be. Is it a shop? Would you need to rent a space? Is it a stand at a crafts fair? You could even consider a pop-up shop to test the waters.
Ready to start crafting your tote bag designs? Here are some top tips to consider before you get started.
If you can find a niche for your tote bags you will likely face less competition than if you were targeting the mass market. Look to what you know, for example in popular culture like music, fashion, food and art, to see what people are wearing, what they’re interested in and talking about. Do you see things you could channel with your tote bag designs?
If the font is hard to read, it could distort your brand messaging. The rule is to keep it simple and clear. If the words in your designs are important then people should be able to read them from a distance, so prioritise clarity. We’ve got free fonts you can choose for your design. Experiment and see what works for you.
If you use any images or icons with your totes, make sure they’re high resolution to ensure the best quality. If you are using images, try to get a sample of your tote bag with the image printed onto it so you can see how it transfers onto the material. We’ve got a stock photo library for you to choose an image.
Proof, proof, then proof some more. If you’ve got words on your tote bag design, make sure they’re correct. If you’re producing a large batch of bags based on one design, a single typo can be embarrassing and costly. Get others to check it for you too – an extra pair of eyes can bring objectivity, helping to spot potential errors you may have missed.
Adobe Express offers a range of tools and templates to help inspire your tote bag designs. Try out some of the following ideas for a seamless business process.
You don’t need to be a professional graphics designer – you can make your own logo using the free logo maker. It’s an easy-to-use interface, giving you full control of the creative process, making logo design a breeze.
Create a custom label in minutes using Adobe Express. Start with one of the editable templates and customise it to your liking. Or you can start from scratch with a blank canvas and make it your own entirely.
Want to share your totes with the world? You can design your own Instagram stories or posts using Adobe Express. You don’t need to be at the helm round-the-clock either – use the content scheduler to post at times when you might not be available. This can streamline your social media process, freeing up time to be used elsewhere.
Add a thank you card for each customer. This shows you’re grateful for their business, and can go a long way in encouraging them to come back. The card can be digital or physical: it’s the thought that counts.
