The summer holidays will soon be upon us – which means now is a great time to think about Back to School merchandise, that’s ready and waiting when children or students return in September.
Branded merchandise can help promote your school, college or university, and be a great way to give a big welcome to new students (or a welcome back for existing ones). You can even use branded merchandise to help raise funds for your PTA or Club.
Whether you are looking for something fun, something practical or something unusual, we have a host of ideas to pass the test, and score ten out of ten every time.
Here are just a few to get you started.
Pens, Pencils, Pads and more
Remember that excitement of having a brand-new pencil case, pens or pencils ready for the start of a new year? (To be fair, not sure we’ve ever outgrown that – we all still get very excited about new stationery at M&M HQ.)
When it comes to stationery staples, we’ve got more than plenty to choose from, with items to match every budget and mirror your values. From pencils and pens to highlighters, rulers, calculators, sharpeners, sticky pads and notepads, planners and more, with plenty of sustainable options too.
One of our absolute favourites that deserves a special mention here is the everlasting ‘eternity’ pencil. This bamboo pencil features a specially produced 99% graphite nib, meaning it can be used over again without wearing down. Arguably the only branded pencil you will ever need!
Refreshing ideas
Whether your students bring a packed lunch to school or want to keep their water levels topped up during the day, why not look at branded drinkware or lunch bags/boxes. Both are useful everyday items and so they get used, well every day, meaning more visibility for your brand.
Being well hydrated can help boost energy levels, mood and concentration and even affect our sleep quality, whilst reusable drinkware reduces plastic and other waste. And we have a huge range of water bottles and drinkware for every budget, with countless sustainable choices too, from thermal metal to sports bottles.
Think reusable coffee cups made from waste coffee cups, or plastic bottles made from old single use plastic bottle waste. Or how about the Loop bottle, made from recycled milk bottles. It’s also made in the UK in a zero-waste environment.
Cool bags or lunch boxes generally provide a large branding area and there a multitude of styles and colours available. You could even team it up with a reusable cutlery set, such as this handy Lunch Mate set – a fully branded cutlery set in its own case, that’s made from recycled plastic, and both designed and manufactured in the UK.
Carry on carrying on
Whether it’s school books or sports boots, all students need a bag – or bags – and we have loads to choose from. Whatever the style, or the purpose, bags will generally have a sizeable branding area, meaning you literally get your school, college or university name out and about.
Drawstring bags are a great multipurpose choice, ideal for carrying everything from PE, swimming or club kits. Take your pick from colours to materials, including sustainable options like rPET or organic cotton. Opt for matching or contrasting corners or cords or even reflective bands or features to help keep students visible during the shorter days. And if time is short, then there are choices for a super swift turnaround.
Backpacks are another practical pick and again, there is plenty of choice, from size to colour and material to branding options. For older children or students, they are ideal for transporting laptops or tablets, books and folders, whilst for younger children, we have a selection of book bags and, of course, ever popular canvas and cotton shoppers.
And finally…
The M&M team loves a challenge and the chance to get creative too, and with so many products to choose from, why not challenge us to find something relevant, memorable and useful for your school, college, club or individual courses.
We’ve sourced bone shaped pens for an open day for a medical course and branded up nurses watches for a nursing course. Or how about a multipurpose pen, such as one with an integral spirit level, screwdriver and metric rules – ideal for construction or engineering courses.
If you are looking for something a bit different or you have an idea but aren’t sure where to find it, then get in touch with the team today.
