Promotional Products

What if the best part of your next branded merch campaign wasn’t the item itself? What if it was the moment before someone opened it? If you’ve been to a Target lately or scrolled through any social media feed, you’ve probably seen the Labubu craze in full force. Those quirky little vinyl figures come in mystery bags, and buyers have no idea which version they’ll get. Or maybe you’ve noticed Mini Verse blind balls popping up at checkout counters everywhere. These aren’t toys for kids. They’re collectibles that adults are

When a prospective student walks away from your campus visit, what do they actually remember? Not the PowerPoint about financial aid. They remember how they felt: the warmth of a welcome, the unexpected delight of a small gift. And if that moment came with a handful of color-matched gummy bears in a beautifully branded bag? That memory just got stickier. Candy by color (custom-branded confections matched to school colors, mascots, and messaging) has become one of the most strategically savvy promotional tools in higher ed. It’s easy to dismiss food

Live activations continue to stand out at events because they invite people to participate rather than simply receive something. When attendees participate in creating an item, it becomes more personal and memorable. The good news for higher ed teams is that these experiences do not require large budgets, outside staffing, or complicated logistics. Many can be set up and managed by your own team with minimal effort. Before looking at how admissions, alumni, and advancement teams can use them, here are a few activation formats that are especially easy to

On November 19, 2025, Magellan hosted Building Fans, True Impact: Unlocking the Power of Merch in Higher Education, a webinar led by Bobby Lehew and Michael Wolaver that explored how branded merch has evolved from a promotional afterthought into a powerful driver of connection, culture, and engagement. Drawing on examples across media, retail, sports, and higher education, the conversation revealed why merch now plays a central role in how organizations build fandom, and why colleges and universities are especially well-positioned to benefit from this shift. Here are three of the

Apparel decoration isn’t just about putting a logo on a shirt anymore. Today, the decoration technique you choose can determine whether branded apparel feels memorable or forgettable. custom apparel decoration techniques While embroidery and screen printing still have an important place in branded merch, expectations have changed. Across campuses, there’s a growing demand for apparel that feels elevated, intentional, and worth wearing beyond the moment it’s received. Decoration has become part of the design strategy, not just a final production step, helping apparel feel more like something you’d buy than

Over the past few months, we exhibited at several collegiate conferences. At our booth, certain products consistently stood out to attendees. Two key themes emerged: interactive products and self-mailers. For those who couldn’t attend, here’s a closer look at some of these standout solutions. Interactive Products Interactive products invite participation. These products invite students, donors, and alumni to engage, customize, or build something themselves, creating a more memorable brand experience. Pen Bar. Live activations are trending, and our Pen Bar fits perfectly. Attendees assembled pens from six pieces, with three