Kiva book bags/totes and lunch bags

[Guest]

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[cpbailey]

I think there is a growing market for those canvas bags.  I use them for library books.  My son's school used them for book check outs way back in kindergarten.  People try to go green and shop using a reusable bag.  A wow moment--Whole Foods will give you a nickel for each bag you reuse, OR you can apply it to a charity.  (Whole Foods has a foundation which does microfinance in areas where they do business.  See Wholeplanetfoundation.org if you are interested in seeing what they do.)  Smaller ones can be for lunches.  Bigger ones for the gym or beach. 

Soooo, I was thinking that after the calendars are sold for 2009, maybe a new product of a canvas bag to carry stuff in while showin Kiva pride would be a good product line.

I was googling bags and found this site.  THis is to illustrate options as I have no idea of quality, reliability or anything.  This is NOT to endorse but to illustration options and price points (which might be suboptimal in price, quality or service as I just have NO idea, but someone probably does).

http://www.enviro-tote.com/screen-printed-tote-bags.html

Colette

[Jane Sladen]

Collette, I think that is a wonderful idea.     

Plastic bags are on the way out in Canada - our Nova Scotia Liquor stores stopped using them on December 1st ... ever tried carrying glass in a paper bag, and feeling safe?? Some branches of our biggest grocery stores in Halifax have also stopped, and I was in a food store in Ontario a while ago, and they wanted to charge for a plastic bag.

So, as time goes on the canvas bag increases in popularity.  I was sent a really nice one recently from the SPCA, marked "LOVE is a four legged word" and that certainly carries the message as I shop.  There are lots of talented KF's who could design a logo-type thing for the bag, and some sheltered workshops make canvas bags to employ challenged people gainfully.  This could then be a double-win situation.

Jane Sladen.

[Buchanan Family]

Kiva already has a store on CafePress with a number of canvas tote bag designs available:

http://www.cafepress.com/kivastore/2244643

[Buchanan Family]

A wow moment--Whole Foods will give you a nickel for each bag you reuse, OR you can apply it to a charity.

Colette -

You're getting gypped!  Whole Foods near me gives you a dime for each bag.

[Liliane]

This is a great idea Colette. Whoever woks on this might look at www.clothbag.com. I know the guy who owns and started the company, and the prices look pretty decent, even perhaps slightly cheaper than the 1st link posted. His bags are pretty cool, because he somehow makes the cloth out of shredded aluminum cans.


Oops! didn't see the link to the bags Kiva already has. Oh well, if they are using someone more expensive to print their current bags, maybe they should look into this guy.

[waywardcats]

My preference for reusable bags is this one:  The Chicobag.



They also do custom bags.  I didn't have time to investigate costs, but this is a good alternative.  The Chicobag is compact enough to fit easily in a purse, which for me means I never forget about it and leave it in the car accidentally which I shop.  It is strong, holding up to 25 lbs, and large enough when unfolded to hold numerous grocery items.

-Kerry-

[saabnet]

Colette -

You're getting gypped!  Whole Foods near me gives you a dime for each bag.

We are too... "Whole Paycheck" only gives us a nickel per bag we bring in but we do get to choose which of three organizations that nickel goes to. We were supporting Girls on the Run while that was one of the choices.

-Scott

[P, B and J]

I really like those ChicoBags Kerry!  To me, how much weight it can hold is a good bit of useful info!  I don't have a car and travel by bus usually, so knowing that it will be strong enough to hold 25lbs of groceries is really good.  Plus I like the different colours they have. 

Edit: It's great that they also tell you it can be machine washed!

[cpbailey]

I wonder how much Kiva is getting from cafepress.  There seems to be a WIDE amount of difference between cost to produce and the sales price.  Wondering if the "do not profit" is a requirement for cafepress.  Did Kiva authorize the use of its logo...

Just wondering...

If Kiva wanted to have something for the Fellows to sell, the Chico Bag might work.  It is easy to stash a few dozen in a suitcase to bring back from training.  (Small, lightweight)

Colette

[saabnet]

I wonder how much Kiva is getting from cafepress.

Wow, I took a look and compared it to some of my own product prices... for example the golf shirt is $17.. wow, that's pretty much right on for a direct buy vs a cafepress price and I sell all my stuff at cost because really, it's free advertising. The hat is $10 and the value tshirt goes for $9. How much is cafepress getting is a good question too because I don't see much profit in these prices so perhaps they are doing the same thing - foregoing any profit in return for getting people to wear Kiva-wear.

-Scott

[Jan & John]

I love my 'wanna help buy a goat'  Kiva bag... and would think a smaller one with velcro fastening for lunches would be terrific.

I have used my one bag continuously for almost a year now...
It washes well and the logo hasn't faded - it could have started out darker though

It actually contains all my other (shh not enviro friendly) rip stop polyester bags that I have used for close on 20 years - we had a lady in town back then called herself The Bag Lady and she made them by hand in red, blue, white and green.   I think the Chico bags would probably be great because the polyester is very long lasting - as long as the construction is good.

jan
ps - Our grocery stores give only 3c per bag - and we have to actually remember to tell them up front that we want it to go to charity because 'someone was offended by being asked' and now the cashiers are required to assume a credit to the bill unless we speak up.  sad.

[JoanW]

I really like those Chico bags - I think that would be so much easier to deal with than the ones from the store. Thanks for the link Kerry.

If Kiva ever decides to go that way I will just have to buy more.  I have been unimpressed by CafePress items in the past so I have to pass on those.

[Unilove]

FYI - my personal experience: when I first signed up a year ago, I bought a bunch of the KIVA stuff: magnets, coffee mug, piggy bank, wristband, and tote bag, and they are all well made and of good construction.