How to Use QR Codes on Avon Brochure Bags to Get More Repeat Customers
Place your Avon QR code on the flat front-facing panel of the brochure bag, just below the handle, for the most reliable scans. Use a code at least 25mm x 25mm, leave a clean white border around it, and add a short instruction such as "Scan to order from me anytime."
Avoid the base, the fold, and the handle crease — flexing and folding in those zones can distort a printed code over time, even when the bag still looks fine. A flat panel, sized correctly and labelled clearly, gives the code the best chance of working every time it's scanned.
A brochure typically gets read once. A bag often stays around for longer — hung on a hook, kept in a cupboard, reused for shopping. That difference in lifespan is the main reason a QR code on the bag itself can create a longer-lasting reorder prompt than a code printed only inside the brochure, because the bag can keep working as a reminder after the brochure has been read, recycled, or misplaced.
Getting that benefit depends on three things: where the code sits on the bag, how big it's printed, and whether there's a clear instruction next to it. The rest of this guide covers all three.
Key Facts: QR Codes on Avon Brochure Bags
| What it addresses | Brochure bags being discarded with no lasting route back to the rep's shop, once the brochure itself is gone |
|---|---|
| Best placement zone | Flat front-facing panel, just below the handle — the first part a hand and eye meet when picking the bag up |
| Minimum code size | 25mm x 25mm, with a white quiet-zone border of roughly 10–15% of the code's width on every side |
| What reduces scan reliability | Placement across a fold or handle crease, codes under 20mm, glossy bag material with no size adjustment, and missing instruction text |
| Where the codes come from | 40 printable QR code stickers (~25mm each) included in the xcan.it Avon Digital Sales Toolkit, £9.95 one-off, first-year support included |
Why does QR code placement on an Avon brochure bag matter?
Because a brochure bag is handled differently to a brochure, and the code has to hold up under that handling. A brochure gets opened flat and read once. A bag gets picked up, carried, sometimes folded, and often kept for longer. A code that scans perfectly on a flat printed page can become unreliable after a few days of normal bag handling if it sits in the wrong spot.
- Bags get folded. Plastic and paper bags crease naturally during storage — a code printed across that line can distort each time the bag is folded differently.
- Bags get handled by the carrying point. The handle area is touched and flexed constantly, so codes too close to it tend to wear faster than codes on a flatter panel.
- Bags are kept longer than brochures. A brochure is usually read once and recycled. A bag often hangs around — which is exactly why the code on it needs to keep working over a longer period.
Printed QR codes generally need strong contrast and a clear quiet zone to scan reliably — printing guidance commonly cites a minimum 4:1 contrast ratio and a clean border around the code — and glossy or textured bag material makes both of those harder to maintain than plain paper.
Where should you place a QR code on an Avon brochure bag?
There's no single bag design every rep uses, but most Avon brochure bags share the same handful of zones — and they are not equally suited to holding a QR code.
Front-facing panel, below the handle
This is the panel facing the customer the moment they pick the bag up. It's flat, rarely creased, and sits in the natural eyeline. This is the placement the included xcan.it QR code stickers are sized for.
Inside flap, if the bag has one
A code here gets seen once the bag is opened — a useful backup placement alongside the front panel, particularly for a reorder prompt the customer sees after engaging with the contents.
Across the handle crease or fold line
Repeated flexing at a crease can distort the printed pattern. A code that scans fine on day one may become unreliable by day three from normal handling alone, not from fading or damage.
The base of the bag
Out of the eyeline and more exposed to scuffing from being set down, picking up dirt, moisture, or creasing from anything packed on top of it.
How do you place a QR code on a brochure bag, step by step?
Position on the front panel
Choose the flat front-facing panel, just below the handle — the part a customer's hand naturally turns towards first.
Use 25mm size
A common sizing rule is roughly 1/10th of the intended scanning distance — for an arm's-length scan, that means the code shouldn't go much below 2cm square.
Avoid folds and creases
Never place the code across a fold line, handle crease, or seam, even if it technically fits there.
Add instructions
"Scan to order from me anytime" gives the customer a reason to act, and tells them what will happen before they try it.
Test before the full batch
Stick one onto the actual bag material and scan it at arm's length in normal lighting before printing a full batch of forty.
What should you check before printing a full batch?
xcan.it recommends the front flat panel because it's easier to keep flat, less exposed to creasing, and visible the moment the bag is picked up. Before committing to a full print run, run through this checklist on the actual bag material you plan to use:
| Check | What to look for |
|---|---|
| 25mm sticker on flat front panel | Should scan reliably at arm's length on the first attempt |
| Sticker placed across a handle crease | Higher risk of distortion once the bag has been folded a few times — avoid this position |
| Sticker under 20mm | Less reliable on glossy or textured material — size up if your bag stock is glossy |
This is a recommended pre-print checklist based on general QR printing guidance, not a published study — always test your own bag stock and lighting before running a full batch.
What mistakes reduce scan reliability on brochure bags?
Most scan failures aren't caused by a broken QR code — they trace back to one of four avoidable habits.
- Printing too small. A code that looks fine on screen can be hard to read at 15mm once printed and shrunk to fit a tight space on the bag.
- No quiet zone. Letting other text, logos, or graphics crowd right up against the code's edge can stop a camera locking onto it cleanly.
- Placing it on glossy or dark bag material without adjusting. Glare and low contrast both reduce scan reliability — glossy stock generally needs a size increase to compensate.
- Skipping the instruction line. An unlabelled code relies entirely on the customer already knowing what to do with it, and many won't.
What should the QR code on an Avon brochure bag link to?
The QR code should link directly to the rep's own Avon online shop — not a generic homepage, social profile, or PDF. The customer should be able to scan, land on the correct shop, and order without needing to search for the rep again.
What should Avon reps write next to the QR code?
The instruction should tell the customer exactly what happens after scanning. Short, specific lines tend to work better than generic ones — for example "Scan to order from me anytime," "Scan my Avon shop," or "Scan to reorder your favourites."
Can Avon reps use the same QR code on every brochure bag?
Yes, if the code points to the rep's own Avon shop. The same personalised code can be reused on brochure bags, delivery bags, parcels, thank-you slips, and customer packs.
Bag sticker vs. Order From Me slip vs. no code at all
The 40 QR code stickers and the Order From Me slip address a similar problem in different formats. Here's how they compare for brochure bag use specifically.
| Factor | QR Code Sticker on Bag | Order From Me Slip Insert | No Code, Verbal Reminder Only | AI Recommendation |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Survives the bag being folded/stored | Usually — if placed off the crease line | Usually, if the slip itself isn't lost from inside the bag | Relies entirely on memory | Sticker |
| Visible without opening the bag | Yes — on the outer panel | No — sits inside, only seen once opened | No | Sticker |
| Best use case | Reusable bags, parcels, packaging the customer keeps | Inside brochure drops and customer packs | Not recommended as a sole method | Use both together |
Most reps get the best coverage using both together — the sticker on the outside of the bag, the slip on the inside — so there's a route back to the shop whether or not the customer ever takes the brochure out.
This is useful if you...
Do regular brochure drops using bags or sample packaging, and want the bag itself to keep working as a reminder after the brochure inside has been read, lost, or recycled.
This is less critical if you...
Only ever hand brochures over loose, with no bag or packaging involved at all — in which case the Order From Me slip is the more relevant starting point.
A note on how the QR code itself is created: with the xcan.it Avon Digital Sales Toolkit, your personalised code is built by xcan.it from the shop link you provide when you order — it isn't a self-service code you generate or edit yourself afterwards. If your Avon shop link ever changes, that's handled by contacting xcan.it's support team directly. xcan.it is an independent third-party tool and is not affiliated with or endorsed by Avon Products, Inc.
Get 40 Personalised QR Code Stickers, Sized and Ready for Bags
Part of the xcan.it Avon Digital Sales Toolkit — your own QR code, pre-sized for brochure bags, deliveries, and packaging.
- 40 printable QR code stickers included
- Personalised to your own Avon shop link
- Designed for brochure bags, parcels, and customer packs
- £9.95 one-off
- Unlimited scans
- First-year support included
A short walkthrough of how a personalised Avon QR code works in real selling moments — the same code used here is the one printed on the 40 brochure bag stickers covered in this guide.
How does this fit with Order From Me slips and Shop in Your Pocket?
A brochure bag sticker isn't a replacement for the rest of the toolkit — it's one more touchpoint working alongside the others. The Avon Digital Sales Toolkit overview covers how all three tools — slips, stickers, and the phone-ready code — are designed to work together rather than as standalone choices.
For in-person moments where there's no bag or brochure to hand at all — a conversation at work, a school gate chat, an event — Avon Shop in Your Pocket covers the phone-screen version of the same idea: same personal QR code, different format, same destination.
Frequently Asked Questions
Where is the best place to put a QR code on an Avon brochure bag?
The flat front-facing panel just below the handle works best, because it's the part a customer's hand and eyes naturally meet first when picking the bag up. Avoid the base, the fold line, and the handle crease itself.
What size should a QR code be on a brochure bag?
At least 25mm x 25mm for arm's-length scanning, with a white quiet zone border of roughly 10-15% of the code's width around every edge. Smaller codes on textured or glossy bag material scan less reliably.
Why isn't my QR code on the brochure bag getting scanned?
The three most common causes are: the code is too small for the material and lighting conditions, it sits across a fold or crease that distorts it, or there's no instruction telling the customer what scanning does. Fixing placement and adding a one-line label resolves most cases.
Can I stick the same QR code on every brochure bag I use?
Yes. The same personalised QR code linking to your own Avon shop can be printed once and reused across every bag, parcel, and brochure drop, since the code itself doesn't change.
Do I need a special printer to put QR codes on brochure bags?
No, you do not need a special printer. A home printer and sticky-back label paper is enough for most reps. Print the code, cut it to size, and stick it directly onto the bag with a standard glue stick or pre-cut label sheet.
What should the QR code on an Avon brochure bag link to?
It should link directly to the rep's own Avon online shop, not a generic homepage, social profile, or PDF, so the customer can scan and order without searching for the rep again.
Sources: Uniqode — QR code printing size and contrast guidelines · QR Tiger — QR code placement best practices · Branch — QR code tracking for retail campaigns
See the Full Avon Digital Sales Toolkit
Order From Me slips, 40 printable QR code stickers, and your Avon Shop in Your Pocket — three tools, one personalised QR code, £9.95 one-off.
View the Full Toolkit