Total Merchandise is now closed for Easter. Our team will be back to assist you again from 8.30am on Tuesday 2nd April.

Best Back to School Marketing Campaigns

Parents love it. Kids dread it. What else could it be but… back to school?! The Summer holidays are well underway, which means that with September right around the corner, many businesses have major marketing opportunities within their reach. There’s a bit of time to think about how you can target this young demographic to get them excited about putting their school blazer back on, so we thought we’d help you out by showing you three examples from some amazing brands and how they promoted the start of another school year.

Staples

Staples, the stationary brand, supported educated by creating the #StaplesForStudents campaign which offered students the chance to win one of two prizes when they made a purchase:
1) Win a trip to meet Katy Perry in Los Angeles
2) Win a trip to meet Katy Perry and receive a £38720 ($50000) scholarship for their University
As well as this amazing competition, Staples also teamed up with DonorsChoose.org in order to create more support for teachers and students. Staples pledged $1million to DonorsChoose and encouraged other people to donate. We love this campaign because it clearly shows that Staples care about education and the welfare of teachers and students and are not just trying to be overly consumerist.

Victoria’s Secret

The lingerie brand launched a ‘college’ and University inspired collection under their PINK branch in 2010 and is now hosting ‘Campus Showdowns’ whereby one campus every year is chosen to host a PINK party. The winning campus is chosen through an online voting system – a smart move considering the digital world we live in. The Campus Showdown is promoted through social media and by using lots of hashtags and likes. The social engagement that Victoria’s Secret receives during this time is really through the roof, making them the ‘real’ winner.

Kleenex

Yes, we’re serious, Kleenex tissues can be associated with going back to school. Kleenex launched their ‘Commitment to Care’ – although we think ‘Kommitment to Kare’ would have worked just as well – which was focused around a video they created showing real students discussing their feelings about entering secondary school. Whilst Kleenex tissues are present in the video, the main focus is on the children and how they come to understand that they are all facing the same fears. Whilst this isn’t your traditional marketing campaign, it definitely handled a delicate situation in a memorable way.

Which campaign was your favourite? Most major back-to-school campaigns are often launched in the US, so could your company bring a viral back-to-school campaign to the UK?

Written by

Total Merchandise | Editoral Team

Our editorial team is drawn from a pool of experienced promotional merchandise product team members, account managers, marketers and other contributors. With such a wide range of skills and experience, they write about many aspects of promotional merchandise, wider marketing and business matters, as well as company news updates.

Connect with Total Merchandise on LinkedIn Connect with Total Merchandise on LinkedIn

Total Merchandise
Huge Savings for Your Business this Autumn and Winter

Huge Savings for Your Business this Autumn and Winter

Are you looking for promotional products at prices that will have management lost for words? Yes? Then you've come to the right place. Here at Total Merchandise, we

Brand Awareness At Bargain Prices with Our Offers & Discounts

Brand Awareness At Bargain Prices with Our Offers & Discounts

If you're looking to stretch your marketing budget that bit further, Total Merchandise is here to help with our selection of offers, discounts, and sale items. With up to 83

The TM Edit: Our Most Popular Products Of 2020

The TM Edit: Our Most Popular Products Of 2020

With the end of the year edging ever closer, we've decided to shine a light on our most popular promotional products of 2020. These aren't just any old merchandi

The Best Promotional Football Products To Kick-Off Euro 2024

The Best Promotional Football Products To Kick-Off Euro 2024

Want to get your business involved in Euro 2024? For the uninitiated, UEFA's iconic international football tournament will kick-off in June 2024 and be watched by mi

The 10 Best Branded Pet Products For National Pet Month

The 10 Best Branded Pet Products For National Pet Month

April is officially National Pet Month - so what better time to shine a light on our amazing array of pooch-approved promotional products? From walkies-friendly water bo

In Honour of World Book Day: 5 Page-Turner Promotional Products

In Honour of World Book Day: 5 Page-Turner Promotional Products

Hey: let's talk about you for a moment. You and reading, to be precise. Are you a fiction fan or a biography lover? A self-help buff or a sci-fi enthusiast? A