The education industry counts on promotional items to inspire students, increase enrollment and staff, attract donors and much more.
The education sector spent more money on promotional products than any other industry in 2022. It has topped the list as the leading buyer of promotional products for eight out of the last nine years, according to a 2023 report from ASI Central.
The fact that educators are top buyers of promotional products isn’t surprising. We’ve all seen school names and mascots printed on customized candy, custom T-shirts, hats, water bottles and backpacks.
Promotional items in school colors are popular with students and booster clubs, and as teacher appreciation gifts. They’re sold everywhere on campuses at universities and colleges. School supplies and spirit items are often used for fundraisers.
Totally Promotional customizes a wide range of products for the education industry. Let’s take a look at how schools use promo merch and the benefits they gain.
Promo items help market the education industry
Education officials from grade school to college level rely on branded products as marketing tools. Trendy giveaways that are customized for schools provide long-lasting, affordable advertising.
Quick fact: Higher educational institutions spent between $429-$623 on marketing per enrolled students, according to the most recent data by Simpson Scarborough.
Why is marketing education important? One of the reasons is the increase in open enrollment. Students in most states can choose to attend a school not in their district without paying tuition. This puts school districts in direct competition for student enrollment.
Another reason educators use promotional products for marketing is to attract qualified teachers. More teachers will be needed in the years to come.
A teacher shortage is expected to exceed 200,000 by 2025. The U.S. will need to hire 2 million teachers over the next 10 years to maintain current per-student staffing levels.
Gitnux
Giveaways printed with your school name can be given to new faculty members to make them feel part of the team. Use our exclusive list of teacher quotes to customize your items.
Customized promotional products are also used as gifts to attract donors or investors to private schools. Items such as brand-name apparel and golf umbrellas in your school colors are perfect gifts for encouraging endowments.
How are promotional items used by schools?
Promotional items are used in a variety of ways by different entities within the education industry.
Perhaps one of the biggest reasons schools use custom merch is to encourage unity and pride among students and staff. School spirit can motivate students to do better academically and athletically. The feeling of being part of a school or team can foster strong relationships and boost self-esteem.
According to the U.S. Department of Education, students with high school spirit perform better than average. The vast majority of those students also felt more connected to their school and classmates.
Here are a few of the top ways educational giveaways and gifts are used:
- General marketing and branding
- Teacher/professor appreciation gifts
- Student orientation gifts
- Student achievement awards
- School spirit week
- Hydration needs
- Sporting event giveaways
- Tournament prizes
- School or club fundraisers
- Board member gifts
- Graduation awards
- Club gear
- Distance learning accessories
- Campus store merchandise
Top promotional items for the education industry
A wide variety of customized items are used to promote schools. However, the most popular are the practical ones! Students, teachers, sports fans and community members love to receive items they can use often.
Take a look at the bestselling promotional items for schools:
- Custom can coolers and Koozies®
- Promotional water bottles
- Custom-printed hoodies
- Bulk candy and snacks
- Bulk custom T-shirts
- Customized hats
- Bulk-priced backpacks
- Custom laundry bags
- Lanyards
- Promotional keychains
- Custom-printed pens
- Customized markers
- Wholesale notebooks
- Bulk-priced tech items
- Promotional Frisbees® and flying discs
- Custom rally towels
- Promotional hand sanitizer
- Custom-printed first aid kits
Yes, the list is long but that’s good news for you! A big selection makes it much easier to find the products that fit your needs and budget.
Didn’t see what you want? Browse our list of school supplies and spirit items or scroll through our entire site. We also have brand-name items!
Just remember this: Your school or university will receive positive and long-lasting exposure every time these gifts or giveaways are used. That’s why promotional products remain the most popular method of branding above all other forms of advertising.
Promotional products score an A+ with educators
Educational merchandise is effective and affordable for schools and universities. It promotes their brand, unites students and faculty, and paves the way for a bright future.
By choosing useful items and distributing them strategically, schools can increase brand exposure and create a sense of community and pride within their institutions.
If you’re in the education industry, think about incorporating promotional merchandise into your marketing plan to ensure future success.
Related stories:
Who are the top buyers of promotional products? Pt. 1: Healthcare Industry
