A shopping bag is often the last thing a customer touches before they leave your store, and the first thing other shoppers see when your logo walks down the sidewalk. A bag that tears at the handle or sags at the bottom does the opposite of what you want. So before you commit to a case (or several cases) of bags, it pays to know how to judge one.

In my years helping independent store owners find the right packaging, the mistake I see most is buying on price alone and then getting stuck with bags that compliment your brand. Below is the checklist I use when I evaluate a bag sample. Run through it before you place a bulk order.

Start With the Job the Bag Has to Do

There is no single "good" bag. A good bag is the one that fits what your customers actually carry out. A jewelry shop handing over a small box needs something very different from a boutique packing folded sweaters or a gift shop sending home a bottle of wine.

Before you judge specs, answer three questions:

• What is the heaviest, bulkiest thing a customer will carry in this bag?
• How far will they carry it (car in the lot, or a long walk and a bus)?
• Do you want the bag reused, or is it a one-trip carrier?

Your answers set the bar for everything that follows. A bag that is right for greeting cards is overkill (and overspend) for a candle shop, and underbuilt for a shoe store.

Paper Weight and Thickness

Paper weight tells you a lot about how a bag will hold up. It is usually measured in gsm (grams per square meter). A higher gsm generally means a thicker, stronger sheet.

Our Medium Thank You Kraft Shopping Bags are made from 120 gsm kraft paper, which gives them more strength than the 100 gsm bags you often see. That difference is easy to feel in your hand, and even easier to notice when a bag is loaded up.

When you have a sample, do this: hold the bag up to a light and look at the paper. Then run your fingers along it. A quality sheet feels substantial and even, not flimsy or papery-thin. If a spec sheet lists the gsm, use it. If it does not, ask, or check the product page for exact details before ordering.

Seam and Bottom Strength

The bottom of the bag is where failures happen. A bag can look great and still split at the base seam under a normal load.

Check these points on any sample:

• Bottom fold: Look for a wide, glued bottom panel, sometimes reinforced with a bottom board or extra layer. This spreads the weight instead of concentrating it on one crease.
• Side seams: The glued overlap should be neat and fully bonded, with no gaps or lifting edges.
• The load test: Fill the sample with items close to what you actually sell, at the weight you expect. Carry it around the store. Lift it a few times. Set it down and pick it up again. A good bag passes this without stretching at the handles or bulging at the base.

This simple test has saved more than one retailer from a bad order. Ten minutes with a loaded sample tells you more than any product photo.

The Gusset: Room Where You Need It

The gusset is the fold on the sides and bottom that lets a bag expand to hold bulkier items. A flat bag with a shallow gusset looks fine empty but pinches the moment you add a boxed item or a folded garment.

Open the sample fully and set a real product inside. Does the bag stand on its own? Does it hold its shape, or does it collapse and lean? A bag with a proper gusset stands upright on the counter, which also makes packing faster at checkout. Our Large Kraft Premium Folded Top Paper Bags are built to hold multiple items, which is exactly what you want for bigger purchases.

Handles: Comfort and Attachment

Handles get pulled on every single time a bag is used, so they deserve a close look. There are a few common styles, and each behaves differently.

Handle type	What to look for
Twisted paper	A comfortable grip that holds up on medium loads. Check that the handle is firmly anchored to the bag, not just tacked on.
Flat paper	Economical and fine for lighter items. Confirm the glue points are solid.
Ribbon	A dressier look for gift and boutique purchases. Check that the ribbon is knotted or reinforced where it enters the bag.
Die-cut (punched)	No separate handle to fail, but the paper around the cut must be strong or it will tear.

The real test is the attachment point. Pull firmly on each handle of your sample. On many bags, the handle is reinforced with an internal patch of paper where it meets the bag. That patch is what keeps a full bag from ripping through at the top. If the handle pulls loose easily on a sample, it will fail faster on the floor.

Print and Finish Quality

Your bag is free advertising, but only if it looks the way you intend. When you review a Custom Bag, check:

• Color: Does it match what you approved? Colors can shift between a screen proof and printed paper.
• Registration: Are the edges of the design crisp, with no blurring or ghosting?
• Coverage: Is the ink even, with no streaks or light patches?
• Rub resistance: Rub the printed area with your thumb. Ink should not smear or lift.

Even a plain bag has a finish worth noting. A clean kraft look, like our White Kraft Paper Shopping Bags, can carry a store's brand nicely with just a printed logo or a hand stamp. If you plan to stamp or sticker your own bags, test that on the sample too.

Size and Case Count

Buy the size that fits your typical purchase, not the biggest bag you can find. An oversized bag wastes money and looks half-empty on the way out. Many owners carry two or three sizes so packing matches the sale.

Case count matters for your budget and your storage. Paper bags often come in smaller case counts than plastic, so plan shelf space accordingly. Check the case quantity on each product page so you order the right amount for your turnover.

Paper or Plastic: Match the Bag to the Store

Both have a place. Paper reads as more upscale and is a natural fit for boutiques, gift shops, and apparel. Plastic can be the practical choice for high-volume or wet-weather situations.

If plastic fits your store better, look at density the same way you look at paper weight. Low density plastic bags have a glossy finish and run slightly thicker than high density bags, which gives them a more substantial feel in the customer's hand. You can compare options across our Plastic Merchandise Bags selection and full Kraft Paper Bags  range to see what fits your presentation.

Your Quick Sample Checklist

When a sample lands on your counter, run it through this in a few minutes:

• Feel the paper. Is it substantial for the load you expect?
• Fill it with real product and carry it around the store.
• Pull hard on every handle and its attachment point.
• Check the bottom seam and fold for a clean, full bond.
• Set it on the counter loaded. Does it stand and hold shape?
• Inspect the print for color, sharpness, and rub resistance.
• Confirm the size fits your typical purchase and the case count fits your storage.

One last habit worth keeping: request a sample or order a single case before you commit to a large quantity, and put it through a real week at the register. A bag that survives your busiest Saturday, packed by your actual staff with your actual merchandise, is the one worth buying in bulk.

Written by Kris Boettigheimer
Purchasing Assistant
Kris brings over 32 years of retail industry experience and more than 20 years at Store Supply Warehouse to every article he writes for storesupply.com. Since joining SSW in 2005, Kris has worked across multiple departments , including six years in Sales/Customer Service, where he helped independent retailers and small business owners find the right store fixtures, retail displays, and merchandising supplies to improve their store layouts and drive sales. For the past 15+ years in SSW's Purchasing Department, he has collaborated with suppliers, tracked market trends, and sourced products across all three Store Supply divisions. Today, Kris channels that hands-on experience into content that helps retailers enhance store presentation, discover new display solutions, and make smarter product decisions