By: Sarah Loula
Back-to-school season is a time of new beginnings for students of all ages — from preschoolers to professionals advancing their careers. Whether it’s the first day of kindergarten, the start of a trade program, or returning to higher education, one thing remains constant: the presence of promotional products.
Branded items play a key role in education. Daycare and school apparel build community and pride, logoed water bottles and totes promote school spirit, and practical items like clipboards and pens support daily success. These products are more than just giveaways — they create identity, foster connection, and leave a lasting impression throughout every stage of learning.
No matter the stage — early childhood, K–12, college, or continuing education — promo plays a vital role in building a school’s culture and community. As students, staff, and families gear up for the year, branded merchandise becomes a tool for: Welcoming new students and staff Celebrating achievements and milestones Raising school spirit and visibility Promoting school safety, consistency, and communication Fundraising through attractive, usable gear
Preschool & Daycare Branded T-shirts & backpacks Water bottles & snack containers Parent folders & communication magnets
K–12 Schools Spirit wear & custom lanyards Safety vests, ID holders & bus tags Field trip gear & classroom tools
Higher Education Orientation kits with notebooks, lanyards & drinkware Campus club merch & alumni gifts Study supplies, bags, and hoodies
Adult & Trade Education Durable gear like tool bags or branded workwear Journals, badge reels, and sleek water bottles Recognition items for certifications & achievements
83% of people can recall the brand on a promotional product they received — even after two years!
Eco-Friendly Gear — Recycled materials, reusable drinkware, and sustainable packaging Tech-Integrated Items — Stylus pens, wireless charging pads, USB drives Bold Colors & Retro Styles — Think 90s throwbacks and modern pastels Clear Bags & Safety Wearables — Great for security and school compliance
At Bankers Advertising Company, we know what works — because we live it. We’re not just a distributor; we’re your strategic partner in building meaningful, useful, and memorable promo campaigns. With deep experience across all levels of education, we help schools and organizations find items that reflect their values, connect with their communities, and elevate their brand.
Whether you’re building a welcome kit, gearing up for a fundraiser, or just need help brainstorming fresh back-to-school ideas, we’re here to help.
Let’s create something students, teachers, and parents will be proud to use. Contact us today to start your custom back-to-school promo plan.
When it’s time to introduce a new product to the world, first impressions matter — and in today’s fast-paced market, standing out requires more than just a press release and a social media post. A strategic promotional campaign built around thoughtful, well-timed branded merchandise can create excitement, enhance visibility, and foster lasting connections. At Bankers Advertising Company, we have helped businesses across industries build buzzworthy product launches with smart, effective promotional solutions.
Whether you are unveiling a groundbreaking tech gadget, a seasonal service, or a rebranded classic, here’s how to structure a promotional campaign that elevates your launch and engages your audience.
Every successful promotional campaign starts with clarity. Ask: What do you want to achieve with your launch? Are you building awareness, generating leads, increasing pre-orders, or establishing brand authority?
Then, define your audience. Consider their industries, behaviors, and needs. The more targeted your campaign, the more impactful your promotional items will be. From trade professionals to tech-savvy consumers, the right products can connect on a personal level when thoughtfully chosen.
Seasonal timing can be a powerful ally in product launches. Aligning your promotional efforts with the rhythms of your industry or broader cultural moments creates relevance and urgency.
Launching in summer? Think outdoor gear, water bottles, or picnic blankets. Debuting a service in Q4? Cozy items like fleece blankets, calendars, or holiday-themed kits can add warmth to your messaging — literally and figuratively.
Plan ahead to ensure your promotional items ship on time and make the most of peak engagement windows. Bankers Advertising offers guidance on timing and product selection to ensure your launch aligns with key seasonal touchpoints.
The best promotional items don’t just carry your logo — they tell a story about your brand and product. Think beyond pens and mugs (though those are classics for a reason) and choose items that reflect your product’s unique value.
Launching a tech product? Consider branded charging cables or screen-cleaning kits. Releasing a wellness line? Branded yoga mats or eco-friendly water bottles may better reflect your message. A curated, cohesive package can deliver a branded unboxing experience that gets people talking on social media and beyond.
Our in-house experts can help you match product categories to your launch themes and audience interests, ensuring each item is useful, relevant, and memorable.
A product launch isn’t a one-day event; it’s a campaign. Building a launch calendar keeps your promotional strategy organized and sustained over time.
Start with teasers — branded mailers or samples can generate early excitement. On launch day, include giveaways at events or online contests. Post-launch, keep the momentum going with thank-you gifts for early adopters or branded reminders to encourage word-of-mouth.
Bankers Advertising can help you design a promotional campaign calendar that integrates touchpoints over weeks or months, maximizing ROI and engagement.
Promotional products are more than giveaways — they’re engagement tools. Use them to encourage interaction, whether that’s scanning a QR code, participating in a social media challenge, or attending a virtual event.
For example, include a branded item with a unique code leading to a landing page, exclusive video, or discount. Pair products with calls-to-action: “Post your new gear with our hashtag” or “Bring this item to our launch party for a surprise.”
This two-way interaction boosts your campaign’s reach and creates a more memorable, participatory experience.
One of the most powerful aspects of promotional marketing today is the ability to track impact. From web traffic to redemption codes to customer feedback, you can gain insights into what resonated — and what can be refined for future launches.
Partnering with a trusted expert like Bankers Advertising gives you access not just to great products but also to decades of campaign-building experience. We help clients across industries analyze results and evolve their strategies for continuous improvement.
Your product launch is a critical moment, and promotional products can help it take flight. With the right planning, the right timing, and the right partner, you can create a memorable campaign that engages your audience, enhances your brand, and builds lasting momentum.
At Bankers Advertising Company, we bring over 125 years of experience, in-house production capabilities, and a commitment to long-term client relationships. Whether you are planning your first launch or your fiftieth, we are here to help you make it a success.
Let’s talk about the humble pen. You know, that little stick of ink we often take for granted. But what if I told you that for less than 90 cents per pen, you could create loyal customers, spark conversations, and maybe even send people across the country? Sounds dramatic for a writing tool, right? Well, buckle up — because this is the story of how the simple pen becomes a marketing powerhouse.
And what better time to celebrate it than June 10th — National Ballpoint Pen Day! It’s the perfect excuse to give this classic promo item the spotlight it deserves.
Picture this: you’re at a restaurant, and the server brings you the bill along with a pen. You grab it, scribble your signature, and suddenly your handwriting looks like it belongs on a wedding invitation. It writes so smoothly, no smudges, no skips. You instinctively turn it over to see what kind of magical pen this is — and just like that, you’ve engaged with a brand.
Now, imagine that pen had your business’s name on it.
That moment right there — that tiny pause where someone takes a second look — is exactly why branded pens work. We all have a drawer full of pens at home, most of which never see the light of day. But that one pen that writes like a dream? That pen becomes the chosen one. It goes into the purse, the car, the work bag. It gets passed around. It becomes part of someone’s daily life. And every time they click it open, your business is there. Boom — brand awareness.
Still not convinced? Let me tell you about my magical color-changing pen. I picked it up at a museum in Arizona, and yes, it literally changes colors when you touch it. I brought it back to Iowa with me, and now it lives in a cup on my desk. Every time someone borrows it, I get the same reaction: “Whoa, what kind of pen is this?” And then they notice the branding — “Why do you have a pen from a museum in Arizona?”
That’s when I get to say, “Oh, you have to go if you’re ever in Phoenix. It’s one of the coolest museums I’ve ever been to.” Suddenly, I’m an unofficial brand ambassador for a place over 2,000 miles away, just because of a pen. And who knows — maybe someone I told will actually visit that museum. That’s how far a pen can travel — not just physically, but emotionally and conversationally.
So don’t underestimate the power of a pen. It’s more than just a writing tool — it’s a tiny billboard, a conversation starter, a traveling sales rep. For under 90 cents, you can hand someone something useful, memorable, and totally on-brand. That’s a small investment for a huge return.
Next time you’re thinking of promotional products, don’t sleep on the pen. Because sometimes, the smallest things make the biggest impact.
Shop pen ideas here.