10 Common Questions about the Kraft Paper Bag

We get a lot of questions pertaining to each of our packaging products. The more knowledge the better, so we thought we’d share some of the more popular questions about the Kraft paper bag – please feel free to add on if you have any questions that aren’t answered in this blog!

How do you complete quality checks of paper bags?

There are a lot of components of the paper bag – and a lot that can go wrong. So it’s very valid to ask how we complete quality checks for these products as you have to trust them to carry your goods to their final destination. There are various tests that our quality assurance team conduct with regards to the following aspects:

Glue – we conduct what is known as a “peel strength test”. Since paper bags are essentially sheets are paper held together by adhesives, it stands to reason that the glue used by our company needs to be strong. The peel strength test is used to determine the amount of force that can be applied to the bag before the adhesive fails. With this test, you can confidently estimate how much weight the bag will be able to hold before the adhesive gives way. Our team also pays special attention to the amount of glue used; we do our best not to apply too much glue or too little which may lead to debonding.

Handle – there is nothing more frustrating than walking somewhere and the handles of your bag fall off with its contents scattering all over the floor. We would never want to put your customers through that, and go to extreme lengths to keep bag handles secure. Throughout production, our quality assurance team conducts spot checks specifically for handle strength.

Print – During production, we use top-of-the-line machines to transfer images from digital constructs to physical products. However, we always suggest getting a tactile sample to ensure that the print placement is exactly where you want it. Samples are also a great way to get feedback on your design – stay tuned to our blog for next week’s post on that!

Thickness – thickness level of paper is a crucial factor when considering which packaging product is right for you. You want something sturdy yet flexible, and so we offer a standard thickness of 120g for our Kraft paper bag. Bags of this thickness level can hold about 10lbs comfortably, but we do have higher thickness levels available upon request. You may consider a higher thickness level if you want your packaging to appear more luxurious.

How can I ensure the colour is the same as my existing brand and packaging?

To combat colour inconsistency, a Pantone or CMYK code are necessary. If colour is important to your brand, then we would suggest giving us the code of the colour using in your existing logo for example. That way, we can include the exact shade in our design and let the factory know for printing.

How do I determine what size is right for me?

Do you have a best-selling product at your business? Are all of your products roughly the same size or do they vary drastically?

Your existing products will determine what size you should get. You need to ask yourself how many products you want to be able to place in one bag, and what that product’s dimensions are.

For example, if you have a product that is 6 inches wide, then you probably want a bag larger than that, otherwise the product won’t fit. Don’t overthink it – it’s as easy as that.

In the event that your business offers an array of products in different shapes and sizes, you can always provide us with individual dimensions and our custom packaging specialists at LeKAC can advise on which size would be best.

How do I determine the quantity for my order?

Firstly, you should decide how often you want to reorder your packaging – do you plan on holding packaging inventory for 3 months at a time? 6 months? or would you prefer ordering an entire year’s supply in one go? You would also have to take into consideration how much space you have to hold this inventory. Our lead time is roughly 3 months, so we would recommend 3 months’ inventory being the minimum order you place.

If you are an existing business, then the equation to determine your quantity should be easy.

First, calculate your average daily number of sales (e.g. 100). Next, multiply that by 30 (average days in a month) to get your average sales per month (e.g. 100 daily sales x 30 days = 3,000 sales). Finally, multiply your average monthly sales by the number of months you need supply for (e.g. 3,000 x 3 months = 9,000 units).

If you are a new business with no data to calculate average sales, then you may want to contact us first to let us help you with that. We may have other clients in your industry and can help you hammer out those details.

What are the printing options for paper bags? Is it more expensive depending on the number of colours I want to include?

Yes and no.

Our pricing structure is unique in that you can either have a simple one-colour logo, or have unlimited printing where you have an endless possibility of colours at your disposal.

Once your design has more than one colour, we would consider it ‘unlimited printing’ – the add-on of unlimited printing can range from $0.05 to $0.15 depending on the quantity of your order. We even have the possibility of FREE unlimited printing, and one-colour logo printing depending on your order. Click here for more information.

Is it the same price to print different designs on each side?

Yes, it is. The difference in pricing really comes in to play with the aforementioned colour structure. Depending on the size of your order, your printing may even be free (typically between 5,000-10,000 units depending on the printing option).

What are the sizing options?

LeKAC has developed 8 standard sizes that are great for retail, food, kitchenware, and other industries.

Our flyer detailing the different sizes and pricing for each bag by quantity can be found here.

However, we pride ourselves on our custom packaging, so if there is a specific size of Kraft paper bag that you need, contact us to get a custom quotation.

What is the lead time for each project? are there paper bags in stock for shorter lead times?

Depending on the option you choose, the lead time will vary.

If you choose to receive a tactile sample, then there will be about a 2-week wait period while the sample is produced and delivered. If not, then we can do a 3D mockup to show you what your paper bag will look like – this would only take a few days.

Once you approve the design or sample, and give the go-ahead for production, it typically takes about 8 to 10 weeks to receive your packaging.

If you do not need a custom design added to your paper bag and would like to receive a non-printed Kraft paper bag, then the process time would decrease. Contact one of our specialists to determine what the lead time would be in this case!

Can LeKAC help me design my bag? How costly is this service?

We do have an in-house designer to help with any graphic needs you may have. There is an additional fee, but it would depend on the intricacy of the design.

Let us know what you want, and we can let you know what our designer can do for you!

What is included in the price of my Kraft paper bag order? Are there any additional charges?

When we give you a quotation, we only charge you for what you use – it’s very straightforward. Our quotation will include the following:

• design fee (if applicable)
• plate charge
• first time sample fee (if applicable)
• ocean/air freight
• customs clearance

We do recognise that each order is specific and different, so costs may fluctuate depending on your packaging needs.

For the most accurate quotation, be sure to contact us directly and speak with one of our custom packaging specialists!

We look forward to helping you soon.