Introduction to Trader Joe’s Halloween Mini-Totes
Trader Joe’s just dropped its limited edition Trick-or-Treat mini canvas totes, and the spooky sacks are already vanishing. Shoppers bundled in sweaters started lining up outside the Trader Joe’s in Claremont, beginning at 4:45 a.m. on Wednesday. For weeks, cashiers had been tight-lipped about when the Halloween-themed mini totes would be available for purchase, but news spread quickly in recent days that Oct. 8 would be the big day, and mini tote fanatics planned accordingly.
The Frenzy Begins
“We were going to actually get here at 5:30, but then I was just tossing and turning, so I decided ‘Oh, let’s just leave,’” Sylvia Ramirez said. She and her roommate, Debbie, were the first in line at the location. “I missed the Easter ones with the pastels. I wasn’t gonna miss this one — they’re so cute!” Shoppers in line were trading stories of previous attempts to get in on the mini tote action. One shopper said that during the Easter drop, she made her husband fib that they didn’t live together so they could buy eight totes rather than the allotted four per household, and another shopper said she’d first tried the San Dimas location, but the line seemed to stretch on for a mile. At the Claremont location, the line wrapped around the exterior of the store nearly twice.
Preparation and Anticipation
Adrianne Martinez was also in line before 5 a.m., and although she waited alone, she quickly made friends with other mini tote hopefuls over the hourslong wait. “I am Halloween-obsessed, so I needed all of these,” Martinez said, adding that she’d been waiting and preparing for the limited edition totes to drop since September. The woman behind her, Dayleen, said all the hype on TikTok encouraged her to make the early morning commitment. Judy Nunez didn’t make it to the store until 7:45 a.m. and said she was intimidated by the size of the line, “I’m kind of freaking out. I came all the way from Hesperia,” she said. Nunez made the trek because she planned to visit the Claremont location and then stop at various Trader Joe’s along the way back to Hesperia to score as many totes as possible.
The Mini-Totes and Their Pricing
Trick-or-Treat Mini Canvas Totes are selling for $2.99 a pop at Trader Joe’s.
Trader Joe’s shoppers posing with their new Trader Joe’s mini tote bags.
Trader Joe’s employees passing out Trick-or-Treat Mini Canvas Totes to shoppers who waited in line before the store’s opening.
Trader Joe’s shoppers lined up around the exterior of the popular grocery store in Claremont, hoping to purchase the Trick-or-Treat Mini Canvas Totes.
On the Trader Joe’s website, the company wrote, “When it comes to our reusable bags, our customers have made themselves abundantly clear: the smaller the tote, the bigger the sensation!” The grocer started selling canvas reusable totes in 1977, but last year, the store released a tiny version (sized at about 13 inches long, 11 inches tall, and 6 inches deep) that caused mini tote mania across America, and even in Japan, where the bags became a status symbol. In the spring, TJ’s dropped pastel mini totes just in time for Easter. The especially sought-after Mini Trick-or-Treat Canvas Tote Bags come in classic Halloween black, pumpkin orange, ghoulish green, and a pop of purple.
The History of the Mini-Totes
Last year, the grocer’s Vice President of Marketing Matt Sloan, and Marketing Director Tara Miller discussed the frenzy on an episode of “Inside Trader Joe’s” podcast and said the company had printed hundreds of thousands of mini tote bags for the mini totes’ initial release. They expected the totes to last for months, but they sold out by the end of the week, and videos spread across social media showing shoppers circling in the mini tote displays. A cashier at the Claremont location said that while the first mini tote drop in 2024 was absolute chaos, the store has since perfected the art of peddling the popular minis, and on Wednesday morning, it was smooth sailing despite the hundreds of shoppers that gradually made their way through the store.
Resale and Demand
While the tote sells for $2.99 in store, some were popping up on eBay and embroidered and bedazzled versions on Etsy. Last year, they were listed anywhere from $100 to nearly $3,000. The Halloween edition has already made its way to eBay, and while a set of 4 cost $11.96 in store, the average price listed on the resale platform was around $55 as of Wednesday morning.
Conclusion
The release of Trader Joe’s Halloween mini-totes has sparked a frenzy among shoppers, with many lining up early in the morning to get their hands on the limited edition bags. The demand for these mini-totes is high, and they are already selling out quickly. The company’s decision to release a tiny version of their canvas reusable totes has caused a sensation, and the bags have become a status symbol in some parts of the world.
FAQs
Q: How much do the Trick-or-Treat Mini Canvas Totes cost?
A: The Trick-or-Treat Mini Canvas Totes are selling for $2.99 a pop at Trader Joe’s.
Q: What colors do the Mini Trick-or-Treat Canvas Tote Bags come in?
A: The Mini Trick-or-Treat Canvas Tote Bags come in classic Halloween black, pumpkin orange, ghoulish green, and a pop of purple.
Q: Are the mini-totes available on resale platforms?
A: Yes, the mini-totes are already available on eBay, with prices ranging from $55 for a set of 4.
Q: How long did the mini-totes last during their initial release last year?
A: The mini-totes sold out by the end of the week during their initial release last year.
Q: What is the size of the mini-totes?
A: The mini-totes are sized at about 13 inches long, 11 inches tall, and 6 inches deep.
