Polyethylene plus burlap

Sears neatly combines the old and the neiv in a duplex hag for root stock.

Outer film carries sales message

and retains moisture, while burlap protects

the roots right into the ground

rhe sales impact of a printed polyethylene bag is combined with the utility of traditional burlap in colorful new packaging created for Sears, Roebuck & Co.'s ready-to-plant nursery items. This illustrates both the possibilities in combining old and established packaging materials with such newer materials as plastic films and the ease with which such cumbersome and awkward merchandise as balled nursery stock can be attractively packaged for impulse selling and easy handling.

An outstanding pioneer in developing good packaging to promote the sale of plants and garden supplies, Sears is using this bag-within-a-bag so that the inner burlap, wrapped around the bottom of the plant and buried with it, continues its traditional job of protecting the hair-root system developed in the nursery. The package is delivered to Sears completely assembled, with the burlap bag inserted in the polyethylene bag.

Previous packages used only a plain paper wrap over the burlap. Plant instructions and identifica-

Three-color design has informative selling copy on front, instructions on back. In the store, tags and display signs identify specific plants.

NeatBy bagged to protect both plant and handler, this package for ready-to-plant nursery stock has a burlap bag inside a printed polyethylene bag designed for impulse selling. The film retains moisture and the burlap, which is planted with the item, protects fine hair roots.

tion appeared on attached tags or stickers. The paper was protective, but had no display value.

In its place, the new package has a moisture-retaining outer polyethylene bag printed in dark green, white and orange for effective merchandising of Sears' Cross Country ready-to-plant stock. Copy on the front and back of the bag provides planting instructions. The design, opaque against the burlap, consists of horizontal color panels that carry a "ready-to-plant"� inscription along with the brand name and the informational copy. Illustrated hang tags and display signs in the garden stores identify the specific plants.

The bag-in-bag construction provides a package that stimulates impulse sales and is functional too. The customer merely removes the polyethylene bag and tag, and plants the shrub burlap bag and all.

In addition to flowering shrubs and similar plants, the company is also using the bag-in-bag technique for the packaging of its rose bushes. Supplies and Services: Bags by Chase Bag Co., 155 E. 44 St., New York 17.