Trader Joe’s said Wednesday that its striped mini canvas tote bags will go on sale June 17 for $2.99, and it is pairing the release with legal action over fake versions being sold online. The company also shared an image of the new bags in soft pastel colors, including mint green, pink, light blue and tan.
The tote is not just another seasonal item for the chain. Trader Joe’s says the mini canvas tote is its most popular bag type, and the new striped version measures 13 inches long, 11 inches tall and 6 inches wide. It is made from a heavy-duty blend of 65% cotton and 35% polyester and includes a front pocket for extra storage.
Nakia Rohde, a Trader Joe’s spokesperson, said the size is meant for smaller shopping trips and for picking up the few items a shopper forgot the first time around. She also said customers should move quickly because supplies are limited. That warning matters because the mini canvas tote has become a long-line item in some stores, with some locations selling out quickly when new bags arrive.
Trader Joe’s first confirmed in April that it would release four new striped designs of the canvas mini tote bag, but Wednesday brought the first clear sale date. The company said it also sells a large canvas tote, micro canvas tote, large insulated tote and mini insulated tote, though the mini canvas version is the one that has drawn the most attention.
The popularity has created a second market outside the stores. Trader Joe’s says some knockoff totes are being sold online, with listings that have reached hundreds of dollars and even more than $1,000. The company said it recently filed a lawsuit to protect customers from being misled, but it did not give details about the case or identify whom it is suing. It also said customers who buy the bags online risk ending up with a fake product, because Trader Joe’s products are sold only inside its stores.
That split between the in-store release and the online resale frenzy is what makes this launch different from a routine tote restock. Trader Joe’s bags have already gone viral overseas, including in Japan and the Philippines, and the company has leaned on limited drops before, including Halloween-themed mini totes in October last year. For shoppers who want the real thing, the next fixed date is June 17. After that, the larger question is not whether the bags will be wanted, but how fast they disappear once they reach the shelf.
