School's Out

There are lots of reasons you should be selling into the education market—more than 100,000, actually. That's the total number of schools in the U.S., according to the U.S. Department of Education's 2013 report, each with promotional needs ranging from branded stationery to pep rally giveaways.

The sales opportunities are tremendous, but there's one caveat: not all schools are created equal. What works for High Point University may not work for University Point High, and vice versa. You'll need a different approach depending on where you're selling—but if you're looking for a place to start, Steve Woodburn, MAS, relationship manager, strategic accounts for Pinnacle Promotions, Norcross, Ga., has you covered.

Here, Woodburn shares how he tapped into college kids' love of all things smartphone to deliver an A+ promotion.

Print+Promo (P+P): Describe a promotion of yours that you consider one of Pinnacle Promotions' best.

Steve Woodburn (SW): I worked with the University of Georgia recently on a project for their business school and student orientation. This wasn't a huge promotion, but it was important for the product to be something the students would want and continue to use. It's always a high-profile event, so various ideas were offered that could resonate with the students and get them excited about the event and the school.

P+P: What items were featured in this promotion, and why were they chosen?

SW: The client chose to use the silicone iWallet, and planned on handing these out to students when they arrived for orientation, along with other material. This product is great for students as they can attach it to the back of their smartphones and carry their license, credit card and room key, and not have to worry about toting a wallet or purse. The school liked it because it was inexpensive but practical, and would be seen on the back of students' smartphones and be a conversation starter.