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The most coveted bag of the summer will only cost you $2.99.
The Trader Joe’s tote bag craze separates casual shoppers from devoted fans, with customers waiting in lines wrapped around stores to get their hands on the newest editions.
The retailers announced a new line of mini-tote bags that will drop in select stores on Wednesday, June 17, with a limited supply. Just last month, Trader Joe’s announced an expansion of 25 new stores across 14 states, with 2 in NY.
The first look of the summertime design has totes in 4 different color schemes: striped muted pastels of green, pink, blue and brown, sizing 13 inches long, 11 inches tall and 6 inches wide.
The beloved grocery store released its first reusable bag in 1977 as a sustainable alternative to paper and plastic grocery bags.
Over time, the bags became less about their environmental lure and more about snagging the newest version of the viral phenomenon.
These muted striped summer bags are a new collectible for customers who continue to add to their viral tote lineup. Some of the most popular Trader Joe’s tote releases include their micro-totes, cooler bags, and sporadic themed bag lineups like their Halloween tote.
The original mini blue, green and red tote was first released in February 2024, and its popularity prompted the release of different designs and sizes.
The bags have since become Trader Joe’s most viral product, with influencers and YouTube content showing crazed grocery shoppers waiting in lines outside for varying limited-edition totes.
TJ’s scarce supply of product is what keeps frenzied consumers hooked. A new social media discourse is users sharing their stories of how they were able to get their hands on new totes.
Shoppers are already staking claims to the new product, as one Reddit user writes, “If you already have one, you probably don’t need another one.” Other users on the thread note the popularity of the totes is in their versatility, and use them as lunch bags, personal items on flights, purses or yoga bags.
Their last summer-edition release was the new Mini Insulated Tote Bags that dropped on May 20 for $3.99, featuring palm tree designs and zippers to be used as a lunch box.
To get your hands on these collectibles, one influencer posted her tips on how she was able to snag 16 bags in a Trader Joe’s in LA, saying she got in line before it opened at 6:20 a.m.
Purchasing the product in person is virtually the only way to ensure spending the retail price, as Trader Joe’s acknowledged an online market of knock-off bags and inflated prices from resellers becoming more prominent.
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