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We know that when you’re starting a new boutique or business, you have a million different things to juggle. No, we really know…because we were there once too. MidAtlantic Packaging is home grown, and we spent hours, weeks, months, getting up and going. We started out of our home, and over 3 decades later, we’re proud of what we’ve built our brand up to. But that doesn’t mean we forget what it was like in the beginning. This is part of what makes us so successful with our customers.

We get it.

We want to take the guesswork out of ordering your customized shopping bags, so let’s get right to it. We’ve gathered and answered 7 of the most commonly asked questions we hear from our customers about customizable bags, so you can get back to business as soon as possible, with the perfect new bags to match!

7 Common Questions About Custom Shopping Bags

1. What’s the difference between hot stamped and ink printed?

Hot stamping lets us emboss your shopping bag by heating up a manufacturing die and placing a roll-leaf mechanism between the die and your bag. Once cooled, a raised impression is created for stamping, giving you a sleek, high-end look.

Ink printed bags print the logo or design of your choice in a two-dimensional, flat format.

Both ink printing and hot stamping can be done in small quantities. The difference between the two is that hot stamping has color limitations, and extremely detailed art work may not be able to be hot stamped. When you ink print, you can utilize any color and have even the most intricate art work. What works best for your company is up to you! Not sure? We can help you decide

2. What is the minimum quantity for custom orders?

While there is a $25.00 minimum order requirement for stocked products ordered off our website, custom bags can be ordered in as little as 500 bag-orders.

3. What format do you need my art file in?

We can take either Camera Ready Art Files or Illustrator Files (example: .eps files). You will supply us with the art work and give us direction on placement. We can work with you to potentially make some changes if the art is camera ready and you need something changed or added.

4. How long does a custom order take?

The exact turnaround depends on the product ordered and if you decide on having the bags made domestically or imported. However, we make a concerted effort to keep the whole process between 4 – 6 weeks domestically and 12 – 16 weeks for imported orders.

Please be sure you inform us at the start of your ordering process if you have non-negotiable and/or firm dates that your order must be ready by, so that we can do our best to work with you to accommodate your timeframe.

5. Can I get a sample bag before I commit to a larger custom order?

We are more than happy to provide you with a preview of your custom shopping bag before you order. We understand that if you’re planning to do a custom order, you want to be certain you’re satisfied with the design of the bag. As a result, we will provide you with digital art proofs so you can see all positioning and layout of the art before you place your order.

6. Do I have to pay for plates each and every time I reorder

We do all we can to keep costs down for our returning customers. As such, printing plates are kept for future re-orders. However, please keep in mind that if your art, logo, or branding is changed and you need to update your bag design accordingly, we must make all new plates and thus charge you for them.

7. What kind of printing do you do at your location?

Here at Mid-Atlantic Packaging, we offer in-house hot stamping on most bags and some boxes.

We hope we’ve answered some of the most basic, and important, questions you may have about ordering custom shopping bags with logo prints, re-upping an order, shipping, or the creation of a design. Need more help or have another question? Never hesitate to reach out to one of our customer service representatives – we’re here to answer any question you may have!