People lined up around the block and entered one of the local traders Joe. At first, some thought they might be people who might be panicking over potential tariffs. It turns out he was having a panic view, but it wasn’t a tariff. It was a new Trader Joe mini tote in pastel colours.
A few months after mini totes first created a trend and led them to the line at Trader Joe’s location, the Totes returned as cheap as $2.99.
They have been resold for over a few hundred dollars.
On Reddit, the user’s “Pickles Andrainbows” asked when Totes first appeared.
No, it’s not. Others are confused too.
In fact, we Googled “Why Trader…” and completed it with a top query, “Why Trader Joe’s Totes are so popular.”
According to Google’s AI overview, “Trader Joe’s tote bags, especially the mini canvas version, are extremely popular due to a combination of factors such as affordability, limited availability and viral social media trends, and brings shopping behavior and high resale value.”
Mini Canvas Tote Bag (Trader Joe)
They call bags “like a cultural symbol.” In fact, Totes is becoming a major news overseas as well, and is a “chic cultural accessory.”
Perhaps that’s because the Totes are considered affordable and simple and functional.
Claire Saul of Drexel University spoke to the Marketplace in 2024. “Many people feel in a pinch due to rent, groceries and other prices, but the $2.99 tote bag is something that most people can work on their budget.
Dr. Fran Walfish, a Los Angeles area psychotherapist, believes there might be something else at work.
“This is the power of the digital virus’ tendency to elicit anxiety among consumers who have to thrive or acquire the moment,” Walfish told KTLA. “Many Instagrammers and influencers target and appeal to the younger population of FOMO (“the fear of missing out”). ”
“This is not a new phenomenon. The difference here is that advertising is free, widespread and immediate. Popularity is instant.”
It’s a questionable mark how cheap, available and popular they are.
Trader Joe’s website states, “Note: Since posting, market prices, federal regulations, currency rates, drought, rush hour traffic, zombie apocalypse, taste product developers… The details of this item may have changed to contact the current price and get-go.”
But what do you think of David Lazarus from Consumer Confidential?
“It’s not good to scoff at other people’s obsessions. I’ve wasted all the allowance money as a comic book kid. But it’s a bit confusing that everyone lined up in a $3 mini tote bag from Trader Joe.”
Lazarus is clearly not impressed with the Totes.
“Reality check: It’s a tote bag, a small bag for that, limiting the totivity option. And for everyone who answers that I haven’t got it, I’m not funny, I just have two words: Beanie Baby.
This will bring you back to the Reddit comment and someone will ask, “Does my Stanley Cup fit that?”
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