Trader Joe’s has once again quietly released a new tote and the Internet immediately took notice. Without much warning, the grocer has restocked its wildly popular mini canvas totes and released a new larger bag for the holidays, sending shoppers into the aisles at a brisk clip.
If you’ve been burned before by missing a tote drop, this one’s worth paying attention to.
After seasonal colorways for Halloween and Easter earlier this year, Trader Joe’s has brought back classic house colors in its covetable minis: yellow, green, red and blue handles, each with the Trader Joe’s logo embroidered in red. They’re small—about 13 inches long—but deceptively useful, equally suited to lunch duty, quick grocery runs or stuffing with gifts instead of a stocking. The price, as always, is a very Trader Joe’s-friendly $3.
The catch, of course, is availability. A first wave of restocks hit select stores a couple of weeks ago and some locations have already sold through their allotment. Still, others may have a few stragglers left on the rack. As always with Trader Joe’s, stock varies by location and there’s no central inventory checker, so your best bet is asking at your local shop.
Past mini tote drops have inspired resale listings climbing into the hundreds, but this release isn’t tied to a rare or limited-edition colorway. That means resale prices, while still inflated in places, will generally be far less unhinged than previous launches.
There’s also a second tote in the mix. Alongside the minis, Trader Joe’s has introduced a larger green reusable canvas tote, about 20 inches wide and 14 inches tall. It’s sturdier, more traditional in size and designed for full grocery hauls rather than novelty appeal. It’s just $3.99, making it cheap enough to justify grabbing on impulse—if you can find one.