Custom Tote Bags for US Companies: Billed in Denver, Delivered to Lake Garda
Short answer: yes, a US company can order custom tote bags from a European supplier and have them delivered anywhere in the EU.
On this order, the billing address was in Denver, Colorado, the delivery address was a venue on Lake Garda in Italy, and printed cotton drawstring bags went from order to doorstep without a customs form, an import fee, or a quote request.
What matters to us is where the order is delivered, not where you are.
In this article
- What was ordered
- Why not just ship from the US
- How VAT and billing work
- Printing in Europe vs shipping from home
- Why a drawstring bag rather than a tote
- How far ahead to order
- FAQ
What did this US company order?
- 38 pieces, one design
- Natural white cotton drawstring bag
- One-colour print
- Billing address in the United States, delivery address in Italy
- Ordered online, no quote request
Thirty-eight is not a round number, and that is the point. The quantity was what the event needed, not what a supplier minimum forced.
Why do US companies order custom tote bags from a European printer?
Because the alternative usually goes wrong in one of two ways.
Customs
Bags printed in the US and shipped to a European event have to clear import at the other end, and that clearance has no respect for your event date.
A shipment that sits for four days at a border is a shipment that arrives after the doors have opened. Producing inside the EU for an EU delivery address removes the border entirely.
Freight
Textiles are light but bulky, and transatlantic freight on a few boxes of bags routinely costs more than the bags. Add import VAT and a handling fee at the destination and the merchandise budget has quietly doubled.
Printing close to the destination fixes both. Shorter, more predictable delivery, and no paperwork waiting at the far end.
How do VAT and billing work for a non-EU buyer?
Prices on the site are shown in euros and exclude VAT.
VAT is handled at checkout based on the delivery country and your business status, and businesses receive a proper invoice for the order.
Your billing address can be in the United States while the delivery address is a European office, conference venue, trade fair stand, store or warehouse. The two do not have to match.
Send the delivery country and postcode, and we will confirm the cost before you order.
Full details are in our FAQ.
Natural cotton, one-side rope drawstring, custom print. Packs flat, ships light, from 25 pieces.
Printing in Europe vs shipping from the US
| Printed in Europe | Printed in the US, shipped over | |
|---|---|---|
| Customs | None on EU delivery | Import clearance, timing outside your control |
| Freight | EU shipping included on many orders | Transatlantic freight, often more than the bags |
| Import VAT and duty | Not applicable | Payable at destination, plus handling fees |
| Lead time | 10 to 15 working days after proof approval | Production plus unpredictable transit |
| Minimum | 25 pieces per design | Often higher, to justify the freight |
Why a drawstring bag rather than a tote?
Drawstring bags are lighter than a handled tote and pack completely flat, which matters when the delivery address is a venue rather than a warehouse and someone has to carry the boxes up a staircase.
They also suit anything worn on the shoulder through a day out, which a tote does not do as comfortably.
If the bag is meant to be kept and reused rather than worn for one day, a handled cotton tote is the better choice. Both start at 25 pieces, and both are priced on the page.
How far ahead should a US company order for a European event?
Count backwards from the day the bags need to be in the room, not the day the event starts.
Allow at least 15 working days for production and delivery after proof approval, then add the time it takes your side to approve the proof, which is usually the part that slips. Two to three weeks of margin is comfortable.
If the deadline is genuinely tight, contact us before ordering, and we will say honestly whether it works.
Common reasons US companies order this way: a European office move or onboarding kit, a conference or trade fair stand in Germany or Spain, a retail or gallery pop-up in Italy, a campus or study-abroad programme, or a campaign run by a US agency for a European client.
Frequently asked questions
Can a US company order custom tote bags with a US billing address?
Yes. The billing address and the delivery address do not have to be in the same country. On this order, the billing address was in Denver, and the bags were delivered to a venue in Italy, ordered through the normal checkout with no quote request.
Do I pay EU VAT if my company is outside the EU?
Prices are shown excluding VAT and VAT is calculated at checkout based on the delivery country and your business status. Businesses receive a proper invoice.
Which EU countries do you deliver to?
All 27. Standard EU delivery is included in the product price unless stated otherwise. Here is the complete list in alphabetical order: Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Croatia, Cyprus, Czechia (Czech Republic), Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Ireland, Italy, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Netherlands, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden.
Is there a minimum order?
25 pieces per design. This order was 38, which is exactly the sort of quantity that most suppliers round up, and we do not.
Can you ship straight to a venue or trade fair stand?
Yes. The delivery address can be an office, a venue, a stand, a store or a warehouse. We also ship blind at no extra cost, so the parcel carries no Prints and Bags branding and no pricing documents.
Ordering from outside the EU?
Prices in euros on every page, delivery to all 27 EU countries, and a proof before anything is printed.
How ordering from the US works →
From 25 pieces. Free digital proof. Blind shipping available.
About Prints & Bags
Prints & Bags is a European B2B supplier of custom-printed and embroidered pouches, jute bags and cotton tote bags, sold directly through our online catalogue. Choose a bag, upload your logo, and order online — from 25 pieces, with free EU shipping, a free digital proof, and production in 10–15 working days after approval.
