Lunchbag Woes

This is Drew's lunchbag.  I bought it from Target at the beginning of the school year.  Sure, it was cheap - probably $6.95 or so.  But it only lasted a couple months before it started ripping.  Last year's lunch bag faired a little bit better - it lasted most of the year at least.  Anyone else out there sick of buying crappy products that fall apart quicker than you can blink an eye?

It's a disturbing trend.  The quality of stuff I've been buying at Target for years seems to be taking a nose-dive.  Take the new winter hat I just bought Drew (he loses them faster than I can buy them!)  It's the same style that I bought him last year, but the material is much thinner and less substantial.  Ditto for the pages in the photo albums that I usually buy at Target.  They used to be durable, but now they rip easily.  What gives?

I just started reading The Walmart Effect, by Charles Fishman.  It's a powerful look at Walmart's formula for success and the subsequent cheapening of products - everything from socks to seafood.  Any company that wants to compete (including our beloved local biz, Target) has learned to play by the same rules.  Sure to be an interesting read...I'll let you know more about it later.

Anyhow.... here's the lunchbag Drew will be getting for Christmas.  It's made of recycled billboards!!  How cool is that??  Relan is a Minnesota company that turns old billboards into stylish bags of all shapes and sizes.  They are water resistant and super durable.   It cost $26, which is a lot for a lunchbag - but I'm expecting it to last a good long time.  Heck, anything will be better than that piece of junk from Target.

Merry Christmas everyone!  And may all your gifts be durable!