Shopping bags that matter as much as what is in them

Boston Globe: Over the past two years, a growing number of merchants have increased their investment in shopping bags, selecting heavier, more durable materials, handles made of silk, cord, and plastic, and designs featuring embossed or stamped foil accents. Something originally intended to hold products has become a product itself.

"It's almost competitive now, who can have the latest and greatest bag," said Paul LaCerda, vice president of sales and marketing for PAK 2000, a New Hampshire company which designs and manufactures shopping bags for brands like Cartier, Bulgari, and Ralph Lauren, along with the Patriots. "People tend to save these nicer bags, and consumers become walking billboards for these companies."

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