The countdown to summer vacation is in the rearview mirror. Now, we’re counting down to the new school year. As an admin, you’ve got a lot on your plate these last weeks of break. One to-do item you might be overlooking? Ordering custom school supplies.
Why Invest in Custom School Supplies?
We know what you’re thinking: Your school is always running on a tight budget, and buying branded school supplies isn’t cheap. But—at least in our estimate—the cost is worth it. Over and over, we’ve seen that this is an investment that pays off.
Reason number one branded school supplies pay off? School pride. Everyone loves receiving a gift; when we do, we develop positive feelings for the gift giver. And in this case, that’s your school. Students will automatically feel better about school when they get their start-of-the-school-year kit. It’s a great way to kick off student buy-in and set the foundation for school spirit.
Another benefit of custom school supplies is that everyone has the same items. This develops a sense of community, ensuring all your students have something in common and visual cues that they belong. It also cuts down on the competition that develops when some students have top-of-the-line supplies and others still use their worn-down pencils from the previous year.
And that brings up our final reason a start-of-the-year supply kit is a great idea: not all families can afford to buy new items. This investment ensures families feel less strain, students are ready from day one, and teachers don’t need to spend extra just to kick off the new school cycle.
Your Prep
Before ordering your personalized school supply kit for your students, you need to do some homework. We suggest you start by surveying your teachers. They are the boots on the ground at your school. They’ll know better than anyone what supplies are the most practical and in demand—and suggest how many of each item you should order per student.
Next up? Review your branding! Custom school supplies should sport more than just your school’s name. Think about school colors, logo design, motto, mascot, and more. If you are already working on a rebrand, place your order with your updated items. And if you are keeping things the same for another year, think about things like making your motto fit on your supplies, how you want to position your mascot and logo, and anything else related to the overall look of your kit.
Finally, you need to make sure you purchase from the right companies. For most school supplies, it’s a good idea to order them all from the same company. This can help you access discounted rates, and they’ll likely create an attractive bundle that your students will be super excited to receive on their first day back. Just be sure to opt for specialized companies for more complex items, like custom student planners and spirit apparel.
The Essentials
Time to brainstorm the items to include in your custom school supply kit. As you well know, tons of school supplies are on the market—and your budget can’t accommodate them all. That’s why you should start your planning with the essentials. Below are the basic items that almost every student will need to achieve success and navigate day-to-day life at your school.
- Lanyards
- Student Planners
- Pens
- Pencils
- Erasers
- Crayons, Colored Pencils, and Markers
- Highlighters
- Scissors
- Binders
- Folders
- Notebooks
The Booster Items
Got a little wiggle room in your branding or school supply budget? With the right school spirit items, you can boost your start-of-year kit’s impact. We suggest you consider these bonus items that, while maybe not essential, will surely be appreciated by your kids.
- Laptop and Tablet Sleeves
- Portable Chargers
- Pencil Cases
- Rulers
- Sticky Notes
- Distance Learning Kits for Snow Days
A Bit of Fun
There are many options if you’re looking to go a little further with your school spirit gear. The items below might not enhance student performance directly, but by boosting school spirit, they can help your students reach further than they otherwise would.
- Water Bottles
- Lunch Boxes
- Bookmarks
- Book Lights
- Blue Light Blocking Glasses
- Pins and Stickers
- Dry Erase Boards
- School Pride Apparel
- Key Chains
For the Teachers
Of course, we don’t want to leave the teachers out of the fun. And their sense of school spirit and pride is just as important as the kids’. Show your educators that you care by supporting them with a start-of-year kit, too. We suggest the items below.
- Teacher Planners
- Dry Erase Markers
- Dry Erase Erasers
- Executive Folders
- Yard Sticks
- Mouse Pads
- Desk Mats
- Mugs
- Name Plates
- Clipboards
- Posters
- Grading Stamps
- Tote Bags
Now’s the Time to Order Your Custom School Supplies
Don’t sleep on ordering your custom planners and other school supplies. The school year will be here before you know it, and it takes time for school supply kits to be manufactured and shipped. Ensure you are ready when the kids walk through the doors for the 2023-2024 school year.
Mimeo offers high-quality branded student planners featuring durable materials paired with thoughtful and intuitive designs. To get started, request your sample pack today.