Brand awareness and promotion are just as important in the education sector as any other industry, and schools and colleges are faced with the challenge of standing out from their competitors. It’s crucial for institutions like these to showcase their qualities and achievements and one effective marketing strategy that can help to achieve this is the use of promotional products.
Offering a range of benefits for schools and colleges, promotional merchandise is a physical takeaway that leaves a lasting impression. Providing items branded with your school or college logo to students, staff, parents and other stakeholders helps to reinforce the brand, values and culture of your organisation and can foster a sense belonging and loyalty.
With promotional products having a higher recall rate compared with other forms of advertising, they are a great option for schools and colleges with a choice of products for every budget and occasion. Here are some of the reasons why.
When you attend school or college open days or fairs, the best way to engage with prospective students and promote your organisation is with something fun and memorable they can take away and remember you by. A mini torch, stress ball, key-ring, rubix cube, yo-yo, logo bug, or banana holder are interesting items that any prospective pupil will love. Why not offer a stylish, printed cotton shopper bag, drawstring bag or tote bag to take their things home in?
When it comes to choosing promo products remember items that are useful will have a longer lifespan, which means more exposure for your brand, such as a USB memory stick, bookmark or hand sanitiser. A card wallet is the perfect thing to keep their staff or student ID badge, bus pass, travel card or bank card in. Whatever you go for, choose high quality products to portray a professional image.
When pupils have the tools they need to learn, organise themselves and help them complete their homework or studies, they will become more motivated and their results will improve. Some effective promotional items that can help with this include notebooks, folders, sticky note pads and highlighters, which can be handed out as part of a welcome pack at the beginning of term.
Keep pupils equipped during the academic year with personalised stationary such as pens, pencils, pencil sharpeners, pencil cases and erasers and make sure they can excel in class with branded calculators, colouring books and pads. And don’t forget a drawstring bag for their sports kit so they’ll never forget to bring it again!
School budgets can be tight and resources limited, so whether you need to fundraise for the PTA, a new piece of equipment or to create a new facility, you will need to promote your activities to encourage people to participate and donate.
Advertising a fundraising event with badges, stickers or printed t-shirts, branded with your logo or design, for pupils and staff to wear is one way to attract attention. Custom printed wristbands and lanyards are also colourful and eye catching. They can be purchased for a small fee to help raise funds for your school or college and are a great way to promote your cause. Or why not hold a raffle with branded school products available to be won, such as a lunch box, cooler bag, drinks bottle or backpack?
When a student does well, it’s important to recognise their achievements and promote a good work ethic amongst all the pupils at your college. At special events, class presentations, sports days or end of year assemblies promotional items such as awards, trophies, medals or badges are the perfect way to say well done. If you are looking for a special gift for a member of staff a branded diary, notepad or power bank is a thoughtful way to commemorate the occasion.
And lest not forget the end of year celebrations! It can be an emotional time saying goodbye to students who have grown both physically and academically over the years and a parting gesture will be remembered and shared, which is all good in the name of advertising! A personalised mug, hoodie or sweatshirt printed with the year and class names is the ideal promotional gift and don’t forget that Recognition Express are also a nationwide supplier of school uniform, sports kits and clothing for school trips which parents can order online or through your school.
Everyone including teachers, supervisors, caretakers, administrative staff, catering staff and those who support health and wellbeing are important in your school or college. You can help them feel recognised, supported and appreciated with a number of useful promotional items. Planners, mouse mats, webcam covers, hi-vis clothing, thermal mugs, journals and clip boards are just a few items that will help them undertake their everyday duties and feel an important part of the team.
Whatever you need, Recognition Express Manchester are here to help with all your promotional merchandising needs. If you can’t find what you’re looking for on the website, don’t worry, contact us on 07810 121807 or email [email protected] and we’ll help you find just the thing to satisfy your imagination.
