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COMPANY PROFILE
carbon footprint," Andy continues. use of plastic carriers. Wales is set to follow suit it's sold on the basis that it's reusable.
"We had a demand for quick lead times, but we next year. Cotton is the most environmentally friendly bag.
weren't able to fulfil them unless we brought a As a company, Crazy Bags actively promote to It's sustainable, 100% biodegradable and
range of eco bags in and were able to bespoke their customers the importance of recycling all reusable.
print them in the UK and deliver it in that time – packaging products they supply. "Where possible Crazy Bags is now so heavily involved in eco bags
and that's what we did. we promote the use of degradable and recycled that it imports unprinted stock to be finished in
"We dipped our toes into the market in 2008 products and the reusability of our bags and the UK. A company in the Midlands has been
and started bringing in the cotton shoppers – boxes," says Andy. contracted to handle storage and distribution.
and that's the biggest volume – and we got I wonder where Andy sees the market going? I ask Andy about Crazy Bags' origins.
everything organised in terms of getting "The whole market is going to consolidate for a "I have been in the carrier bags and packaging
everything printed in the UK. while now. One of the problems at the moment is industry since the late '70s so I know the industry
"We started off with the basic cotton shopper, that eco products are a lot more expensive so we pretty well," Andy recalls.
because that was where the demand was, before are actually seeing a surge in plastic bag sales "We started off as Crazy Horse Promotions
moving into different areas such as non-woven." because of price. We need to get through the because we were selling not just bags, but
Andy shows me an example made from recycled recession and once the market settles down and promotional merchandise. But my background
water bottles. money becomes available, interest in these was carrier bags, so I always pushed that side of
"The bottles are taken back to China in the products will start to increase again," he tells the business.
empty containers," he says. me. "We became very strong in the promotional
"It's incredible. I'm wondering where the "With reduced marketing budgets, companies merchandise industry, selling to the distributors
technology is going to take us." who can't afford an eco-friendly bag are opting who were then selling the product on to their
Andy admits adding eco products to the portfolio for the next best thing – a biodegradable plastic clients. Our strength was producing bags for
has been a learning curve. "We were offering bag," he adds. exhibitions and promotions."
products that we had never got involved in Crazy Bags is rare in that there are very few Identifying bags as a strength prompted a name
before." people who bring their own range to the market change from Crazy Horses to Crazy Bags.
The company could see what was happening in themselves. "Our biggest USP is that we don't In an industry that very much revolves around
the supermarkets. "They were spending tens of use another importer," adds Andy. keen pricing, I ask Andy how he responds to that.
millions of pounds on plastic carrier bags," Andy "We have the whole range, from the cheap and "We have to balance price as against value and
told me. "They saw the environmental issue as a cheerful plastic carrier bag that we can bring in also the ability to supply and the time constraints
perfect opportunity to reduce their costs and they from a factory in China, up to our laminated we have. In the promotional sector we are
are also seen to be incredibly green." canvas bags which are the best on the market at working to very tight deadlines. Our USP is we're
As a carrier bag producer, that had to be good £2.50 each and you can have them next week. able to bring the product in ourselves. We bring it
news for Crazy Bags, I suggest. There isn't one area we don't cover." in from approved factories that I have been over
"For us, it is potentially good news," Andy In the eco range alone, there are four types of and audited myself.
responds. "Instead of selling a plastic carrier bag bag. The non-woven polypropylenes are an oil- We're able to offer a range of bags in different
at 10p, we are selling an environmentally friendly based product, which is recyclable and reusable, materials to support either their budget, or what
bag at a £1." but not sustainable. they like in terms of look etc," Andy says.
With environmental issues so entrenched in Jute is the most popular bag, according to Andy.
people's minds, Andy believes that England could "It's great as a reusable product, but it's not For more information, call 01892 752154, email
soon follow Ireland which introduced a bag tax in completely sustainable because it's got a sales@crazybags.co.uk or visit
2002, resulting in a 90 per cent reduction in the polythene lining. It's not entirely eco friendly, but www.crazybags.co.uk
www.printwearandpromotion.co.uk March 2010 | 53 |
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