Trader Joe’s will begin selling its new striped mini canvas tote bags in stores on Wednesday, June 17, bringing back one of the chain’s most sought-after low-cost accessories with a fresh look and a familiar warning: supplies will be limited. The bags will cost $2.99 each and come in four striped colors, but availability will vary by store.
The company said the striped minis are the first of its canvas tote bags to feature stripes, and it is pitching them for smaller shopping trips or for the items customers forgot on the first run through the store. Each bag measures about 13 inches long, 11 inches tall and 6 inches wide, with a pocket on each side and fabric made from 65% cotton and 35% polyester.
The release lands after a string of smaller-bag launches that have repeatedly drawn long lines and quick sellouts. Trader Joe’s sold pastel-colored mini tote bags in mid-March and insulated mini totes in six vibrant colors last month, following the company’s first confirmation in April that four new striped designs were coming.
What has changed this time is not just the print. Trader Joe’s said it has filed a lawsuit to protect customers from knockoff totes being sold online, and Nakia Rhode said the company wants shoppers to get what they pay for. She said Trader Joe’s only offers its products inside its own stores so it can ensure they are authentic.
That leaves the June 17 release with a simple reality shoppers will recognize quickly enough: the bags will be sold only in stores, the price is set, and the stock is not. Trader Joe’s has not said how many striped mini totes each location will receive, which means the first wave of demand will probably decide how far this release goes.
