Catching the attention of Gen Z, known for their 8 second attention span, is more crucial than ever.
This generation is digitally savvy and socially conscious. They want more than just products; they want experiences, and they want to know your values resonate with their own.
Which means just relying on traditional swag isn’t enough. As higher education marketers, we need to provide experiences through our swag that showcase the values our school promotes.
And that is why we have created a follow-up to our popular blog on Gen Z swag, diving into 15 fresh, innovative ideas that align with the ethos and preferences of today’s college students.
1. Eco-Friendly Tech Accessories
Gen Z’s awareness of environmental issues makes eco-friendly tech accessories an ideal choice. Products like solar-powered chargers align with their eco-conscious values and cater to their tech-savvy lifestyle.
Brands like Pela Case offer biodegradable phone cases, providing a perfect blend of practicality and environmental responsibility, a combination that resonates deeply with this generation.
2. Fidget Toys
Offering these toys in a variety of shapes, colors, and textures, possibly even branded with the school’s logo, acknowledges the unique challenges students face in today’s academic environment.
By incorporating fidget toys into your swag, you are offering a tool that supports their mental well-being and academic success. Check out places like 4imprint to customize these toys.
3. Reusable Straws and Utensils
With a strong inclination towards sustainability, Gen Z appreciates practical items that reduce environmental impact.
Reusable straws and utensil sets, like those from FinalStraw, provide a sustainable alternative to single-use plastics.
These items serve a practical purpose and give college students some great starting utensils.
4. Fitness Gear
Fitness gear taps into Gen Z’s focus on health and wellness.
Offering branded items like custom jump ropes shows support for their active lifestyles. Especially knowing that for many college kids it can be hard to make time to hit the gym.
So having these items on hand resonates with their preference for a holistic approach to life.
5. Customized Stickers and Decals
Stickers and decals offer a cost-effective way to make a big impact. They are perfect for personalizing laptops, water bottles, notebooks, and more.
Gen Z values self-expression and customization, so providing stickers with inspirational quotes, trendy designs, or school logos allows them to personalize their belongings and showcase their identity.
Sites like Sticker Mule offer bulk customization options. This swag is not only budget-friendly but also highly shareable!
6. Eco-Friendly Tote Bags
Eco-friendly tote bags from companies like Baggu cater to Gen Z’s environmental concerns.
Tote bags are stylish and durable bags perfect for carrying books or groceries and reduce reliance on single-use plastics.
Plus having a good bag to carry all your college books is key around campus! And if you get a QR code added to said bag you’ll get a whole lot of free advertising.
7. Vintage-Style Posters
Gen Z loves retro aesthetics and personal space customization.
Why not offer vintage-style posters to help them decorate their dorm room or apartment with your mascot or school logo?
Plus this is another great place where you can sneak a QR code in the corner!
8. Plant Kits
Plant kits from The Sill cater to the growing interest in indoor gardening among Gen Z.
Plus plants are known to promote mindfulness in a living space, which can make caring for them a therapeutic activity.
And with the high demand of college life, this peaceful break is often appreciated by stressed students.
9. Seed Paper Products
Seed paper products, like bookmarks and coasters, are eco-friendly, and align with Gen Z’s environmental concerns.
These items, made from biodegradable materials with seeds embedded in them, can be planted to grow herbs, flowers, or vegetables.
And companies like Botanical PaperWorks provide various seed paper options that can be customized with educational messages or school branding.
10. Wireless Earbuds
Brands like Custom Logo It provide quality audio accessories that you can customize with a school logo or encouraging quotes for students.
This is a swag item that will be highly valued for its convenience and utility!
11. Mental Wellness Apps Subscription
Subscriptions to mental wellness apps like Headspace reflect an understanding of Gen Z’s growing focus on mental health.
These apps provide resources for mindfulness and stress management, essential in the fast-paced, high-pressure environment of college life.
And offering these subscriptions shows a commitment to supporting students’ overall well-being.
12. E-Book Vouchers
E-book vouchers from platforms like Amazon or Barnes & Noble cater to the digital-first nature of Gen Z.
And if your school gives e-book vouchers to commonly required freshman textbooks or workbooks, it shows you care about the affordability of your school.
By embracing such initiatives, your institution demonstrates a commitment to both technological advancement and student-centric approaches, which are vital for attracting and retaining the new generation of students.
13. Sustainable Fashion Vouchers
Vouchers for sustainable fashion brands like Everlane or Patagonia resonate with Gen Z’s preference for eco-conscious and ethical clothing choices.
These vouchers encourage sustainable consumer habits and help students to express their personal style in an environmentally responsible way.
Plus we all remember what it was like to be a college student with no money, help them get some great coats for winter!
14. Art Supplies
Art supplies cater to the creative and expressive side of Gen Z.
But you can’t just provide a box of crayons. Providing quality materials for artistic endeavors shows support for their hobbies and potential academic interests in the arts.
This swag encourages creativity and personal expression, key aspects of Gen Z. And you can use it to your advantage by encouraging art submissions for a bigger prize, which you can then use on social media to promote the artwork of your students!
15. USB Flash Drives
USB flash drives are practical and highly valued in an academic setting.
Despite the cloud-based storage trend, the convenience and reliability of having a physical backup for important documents make flash drives a relevant choice.
They can be branded with the school’s logo and preloaded with useful resources like campus maps, academic calendars, or orientation information. This makes them not only a tool for data storage but also a means of disseminating important school information.
Keep Gen Z Values In Mind
Gen Z, more than any previous generation, places a high premium on authenticity, sustainability, social consciousness, and digital innovation.
They seek out brands and institutions that not only understand these values but actively incorporate them into their practices and products. When Gen Z students see that a college is thoughtful about the swag it offers, understanding their needs and priorities, it sends a powerful message, subtly reminding them why your college is the best place for them.
If you’d like more in-depth marketing strategies to help your college attract students, let’s chat!
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Featured image by Oneinchpunch via Adobe Stock
Girl with Earbuds image by Drobot Dean via Adobe Stock
Fidget Spinner image by Farknot Architect via Adobe Stock
