TOTE BAG BAR · BRAND EVENTS · NEW YORK CITY
A tote bag bar,
pressed while guests wait.
PrintAWorld runs a staffed tote bag bar at brand events in New York City. Each guest picks a 12 oz canvas tote and one of up to 6 event-branded designs, or up to 2 iron-on patches, and can add a name in pressed letters. Our crew heat-presses it in about a minute while they wait. A tote bag bar for 100 guests over 3 hours is $4,900; 250 guests over 5 hours is $8,500; 500 guests over a full day is $13,500, with the totes included. The activation starts at $2,500, plus $18–$24 per guest. Minimum 100 guests.
01 / WHAT GUESTS MAKE
One tote each,
made their way.
Guests walk up, choose, and leave with a finished tote. We bring the totes, the designs, the presses and the crew.
- The tote
- A 12 oz canvas tote, sturdy enough to carry home and use again. Premium totes are an add-on.
- A printed design
- Guests choose from a menu of up to 6 designs made for your event: your logo, the event name, a date or a line of copy. Each is a full-color printed transfer. More designs are $75 per design.
- Or patches
- Instead of a printed design, guests can choose up to 2 iron-on patches from the menu. A third patch is +$3 per guest. Patches can be made from your artwork with 4 weeks notice.
- Their name
- Guests can add a name or initials in pressed letters. It is included on totes.
- About a minute
- The crew lays out the design, presses it, and hands the tote back while the guest waits.
02 / THE PRICE
An activation,
plus a price per guest.
A tote bag bar for 100 guests over 3 hours is $4,900; 250 guests over 5 hours is $8,500; 500 guests over a full day is $13,500, with the totes included. The price has two parts: a flat activation for the crew and presses, and a per-guest rate that covers the tote and its design.
| On-site time | Crew and presses | Activation |
|---|---|---|
| Up to 3 hours | 2 crew, 1 press | $2,500 |
| Up to 5 hours | 3 crew, 2 presses | $3,500 |
| Full day, up to 8 hours | 3–4 crew, 2–3 presses | $4,500 |
| Each additional day | Same crew | $3,500 |
The activation covers the crew, the presses, setup and teardown, a menu of up to 6 designs, the display and a certificate of insurance. Add a live engraving station for $2,000 per day.
03 / PER GUEST
The more guests,
the less each tote.
| Guaranteed guests | Per guest |
|---|---|
| 100–149 | $24 |
| 150–249 | $22 |
| 250–399 | $20 |
| 400 or more | $18 |
Each guest chooses one item: a tote, a hat, or an engraved tag or keychain when the engraving station is added. The rate covers the item, the personalization and the extra stock. Minimum 100 guests.
04 / EXAMPLE EVENTS
What a station costs,
by event.
| Event | Guests | Total | Per guest, all in |
|---|---|---|---|
| Office party, tote bag bar, 3 hours | 100 | $4,900 | $49 |
| Launch party, tote or hat bar, 5 hours | 150 | $6,800 | $45 |
| Brand activation, 5 hours | 250 | $8,500 | $34 |
| Conference evening, 5 hours | 300 | $9,500 | $32 |
| Brand launch, tote bar plus live engraving, 5 hours | 500 | $14,500 | $29 |
| Trade show booth, 2 show days | 300 | $14,000 | $47 |
Totals are the activation plus the per-guest rate, before tax.
- 100 guests, 3 hours
- $2,500 activation plus 100 totes at $24 is $4,900, about $49 per guest all in.
- 250 guests, 5 hours
- $3,500 activation plus 250 totes at $20 is $8,500, about $34 per guest all in.
- 500 guests, a full day
- $4,500 activation plus 500 totes at $18 is $13,500, about $27 per guest all in.
05 / ADD-ONS
Add-ons
for a tote bag bar.
| Add-on | Price |
|---|---|
| Live engraving station beside the presses | +$2,000 per day |
| Extra hour on site | $500 per hour |
| Extra press with an operator | $750 per day |
| Third patch on a tote | +$3 per guest |
| Premium totes or hats | +$6 to +$12 per guest |
| Extra designs beyond 6 | $75 per design |
| Custom patches from your artwork | $150 setup per design, plus the patches |
| You supply the blanks | $12 per guest, press only |
| Rush, booked under 10 business days | +30% |
Custom patches need 4 weeks; the stock patch menu and printed transfers are the short-notice options.
06 / AT A GLANCE
Throughput, space
and the terms.
- Throughput
- 40–50 totes an hour per press. Two presses make about 80–100 totes an hour.
- Minimum
- 100 guests. Smaller events are billed at the 100-guest minimum.
- Lead time
- Four weeks or more is comfortable, and custom patches need 4 weeks. Booked under 10 business days, rush is +30%.
- Space and power
- Two 6 ft tables and two standard 20-amp outlets. We set up before guests arrive and clear the station after.
- Insurance
- A certificate of insurance for your venue is included in the activation.
- Deposit and balance
- A 50% deposit books the date and orders the blanks. The balance is due 7 days before the event.
- Guest count
- The guaranteed guest count locks 10 business days before. Leftover items stay with you.
- Where
- We run stations in New York City. Events outside the city are quoted case by case.
07 / PAIR IT WITH
More stations,
one crew.
The tote bag bar is run by the crew that runs the studio’s live engraving events. Stations can run side by side.
- Patch bar
- Guests choose patches and we press them on while they wait. Patch bar
- Hat bar
- Guests pick a hat and a patch for the front. Hat bar
- Live engraving
- Names engraved on luggage tags or keychains beside the presses. Live engraving
08 / THE STATION
Totes, patches
and the presses.
09 / HOW IT’S MADE
From your brief
to totes on event day.
4+ weeksahead is comfortable
- 01
Send the date and venue, the guest count, the hours and your logo or art.
- 02
We send a written quote and lay out up to 6 designs for your approval.
- 03
The deposit books the date, and we order the totes, transfers and patches.
- 04
The guest count locks, and we test-press every design in the studio.
- 05
On event day the crew sets up, runs the bar and clears the station.
- 06
Leftover totes stay with you.
Live event personalization · Patch bar · Hat bar · Live engraving · Personalized luggage tags · Live event personalization ideas
Who does on-site tote bag customization for brand events in New York?
PrintAWorld runs a staffed tote bag bar at events in New York City. We bring the canvas totes, a menu of up to 6 event-branded designs, the heat presses and the crew, and guests leave with a finished tote. Events outside the city are quoted case by case.
How much does a tote bag bar cost for 100, 250 or 500 guests?
A tote bag bar for 100 guests over 3 hours is $4,900; 250 guests over 5 hours is $8,500; 500 guests over a full day is $13,500, with the totes included. That is about $49, $34 and $27 per guest all in. Each total is the activation (from $2,500) plus $18–$24 per guest, before tax.
What do guests do at a tote bag bar?
Each guest picks a 12 oz canvas tote and a design from the menu, or up to 2 iron-on patches, and can add a name in pressed letters. The crew heat-presses it in about a minute while they wait.
How many totes can you make per hour?
40–50 totes an hour per press. With two presses, about 80–100 totes an hour. For long lines, add a press with an operator.
What is the minimum number of guests?
100 guests. Smaller events are billed at the 100-guest minimum.
How far ahead should we book a tote bag bar?
Four weeks or more is comfortable, and custom patches need 4 weeks. Inside 10 business days we can still run printed transfers and the stock patch menu, with a rush fee of +30%.
How much space and power does the station need?
Two 6 ft tables and two standard 20-amp outlets. We bring everything else and clear the station after the event.
Do you supply the totes?
Yes. We source the totes, the transfers and the patches, and the per-guest rate includes them. If you already have blank totes, we press them at $12 per guest, press only. We do not press items guests bring from home.
Can guests add their names?
Yes. Guests can add a name or initials in pressed letters, included on totes.
How long do custom patches take?
Order custom patches 4 weeks before the event. Each design is $150 setup per design, plus the patches. On shorter notice, guests choose from the stock patch menu.
Do you provide a COI for the venue?
Yes. A certificate of insurance is included in the activation. Send us the venue’s requirements when you book.
What deposit do you need?
A 50% deposit books the date and orders the blanks. The balance is due 7 days before the event. The guaranteed guest count locks 10 business days before.
Do you do live embroidery?
No. We do not do live embroidery. Patches are made ahead and heat-pressed on at the event.
11 / START WITH THE DATE
Planning a
tote bag bar?
Tell us the date and venue, how many guests and how long the event runs. We’ll send a written quote and a plan for the design menu.
What to send
- The date and venue
- The guest count
- The event hours
- Your logo and art