10 Creative Ways to Use Tote Bags at Your Next Promotional Event

Tote bags aren’t just bags – they’re walking billboards, conversation starters, and the most underrated marketing weapon in your event arsenal. Whether you’re throwing a corporate launch, heading to a trade show, or organising a community pop-up, branded tote bags are more than just freebies. They’re tactical. They’re practical. And when used right, they’re unforgettable.

Here are 10 creative ways to work promotional tote bags into your next gig to make sure visitors walk away with your brand in mind.

1. Turn Your Promotional Tote Bags Into Entry Tickets

Forget wristbands. Make entry exclusive with custom event tote bags as the event ticket.

Hand them out at the door, and make them part of the experience – only those with your tote get access. It’s sleek. It’s simple. And it gives people something to carry the rest of your event freebies in from the get-go.

It also gets your branding into every photo and every space at the venue. You’re not just handing out merch, you’re embedding your logo into the event.

2. Build Branded Tote Bag Stations

Here’s another great idea: set up a tote bag customisation station. Let guests add iron-on patches, stamps, or fabric pens to their bag. 

Your logo stays front and centre, but they get to add their own design on top of your own branding.

This is interactive, creative, and best of all, your branded tote bags are suddenly something people want to keep. As well as something people talk about during the event. That’s long-term visibility for your brand, long after the event ends.

3. Mystery Swag Bags & Creative Giveaway Ideas

Everyone loves a surprise. Load your event swag bags with mystery items – samples, coupons, branded goodies, even the odd golden ticket for a special prize. Advertise it in advance to drive footfall. 

Use social media to tease the mystery contents ahead of the event. And don’t forget to get them tagging and posting with their finds. That’s tote bag marketing with bonus reach.

4. Turn Your Tote Bags Into VIP Passes

Hosting a tiered event? Use high-quality, custom event tote bags as part of your VIP experience. Fill them with premium samples, early-access codes, or backstage passes.

The tote becomes part of the prestige, and the people carrying them become walking proof that they made the cut. Everyone else will want one. Next time, they’ll pay for the upgrade.

5. Use Them as Trade Show Toolkits

At busy expos and trade shows, attendees are overloaded. So why not be the brand that saves the day? 

Hand out roomy, strong branded tote bags near the entrance. Not only will people appreciate the gesture, they’ll carry your logo through every single booth, all day long. It’s practical and genius. Your tote becomes the bag that carries all the other marketing material.

6. Themed Tote Bags

Make it fun. If your event has a theme, your tote bags should follow suit. Hosting a wellness event? Design them with cheeky quotes like “Namaste in my lane” Launching a tech product? Try “Byte Me”. Maybe a bit cheesy, but you can think of something unique that fits the event and is on point with your own brand.

Promotional tote bags with humour or smart messaging spark conversation. They’re photo-worthy, and they make your brand memorable for all the right reasons.

7. Partner Up for Extra Power

Team up with other brands or local businesses and pack your event swag bags with co-branded goodies. That way, you share the cost and multiply the reach.

Include a QR code linking to a collaborative giveaway, or stuff in vouchers and mini samples. Everyone wins – but your tote is still the one carrying it all. Your logo is still doing the rounds.

8. Collect Leads – Through the Bag

Here’s a clever one: include a printed card or QR code in the bag that links to a giveaway, free trial, or sign-up page. Suddenly, your tote bag marketing isn’t just about brand visibility, it’s collecting emails and leads, too.

Make it short, snappy, and rewarding – “Scan to Win a Year’s Supply” or “Unlock Exclusive Perks”. You’re turning your tote into a sales funnel. That’s smart marketing wrapped in canvas.

9. Highlight Your Sustainability Ethos

If your brand has an eco-conscious edge, promotional tote bags are the perfect match. Shout about the sustainability – organic cotton, recycled materials, reusability or fair-trade sourcing – right on the bag itself.

People love brands with a conscience. They’ll carry that tote with pride, and your values will travel with them. Eco is powerful, and your tote is the perfect storytelling vehicle.

10. The Social Media Magnet

Let’s be honest, half the buzz of an event happens online. Use your branded tote bags to drive that buzz. Set up a selfie wall with bags hanging as the backdrop. Or create a hashtag and run a contest for the best “Tote and Tag” photo.

Make the bag Insta-worthy and you’ll watch your brand fill up feeds in real time. Make sure to include a call to action, such as asking them to follow your page and tag three friends to enter the draw. You’ve got engagement, new followers, and free content.

It’s Not Just a Bag – It’s a Brand Experience

When done right, tote bag marketing is more than a logo on fabric. It’s a full-blown moment. It’s practical, it’s promotable, and it sticks. Literally. People use totes for months, even years after an event.

So don’t just chuck in a few pens and call it a day. Be clever. Be creative. Be memorable.

Your custom event tote bags will work harder than any banner, stand, or flyer ever could. Make them interactive. Make them desirable. And most importantly, make them part of your story.