Leftover budget can create a tricky challenge for your college. Departments often need to spend remaining funds before fiscal deadlines hit. However, rushing to buy random merchandise rarely leads to products students actually want.
The better approach? Use that budget on practical, quick-turn items that support summer events, incoming freshmen, and back-to-school initiatives. For example, you can use these items for orientation and campus tours. In addition, they work well for move-in day and welcome week. The right products can make your budget go further. They create a better student experience as well.
6 Smart Products for Summer and Back-to-School Planning
We curated six quick-turn, deep-inventory products for summer and back-to-school events. Plus, these items are useful, meaning that students will keep and use them. As a result, your branding (and care) stays top of mind all semester long.
1. Drawstring Bag
A quick-turn favorite that works for just about every campus department, this classic-cinch drawstring bag is an easy win for end-of-year budget spending. It’s lightweight, budget-friendly, and available in a wide range of school colors. That makes it ideal for your orientation giveaways, summer camps, athletic events, student welcome kits, and campus tours. Students can use it for gym clothes, event handouts, dorm essentials, or everyday errands. This gives your school long-lasting visibility long after move-in day.
2. 9" Flyer
Need a low-cost item that can stretch across multiple campus events? This USA-made flyer is an easy addition to end-of-year budget orders because it works for orientation events, summer camps, residence life programming, athletic giveaways, and welcome-week activities. It is lightweight, affordable, and easy to hand out at outdoor events. Therefore, it’s a fun way to create engagement while keeping your school brand visible throughout the summer and start-of-school season.
3. Malibu Sunglasses With Microfiber Pouch
Summer orientation events, campus tours, outdoor admissions events, and welcome-week activities often happen in the heat — and practical giveaways go a lot further than products students toss aside. This sunglasses set includes a microfiber pouch for added value and gives your college an easy, budget-friendly option for outdoor events, student ambassadors, summer camps, and freshman welcome programs. It’s fun, seasonal, and useful well beyond move-in day.
4. SPF 30 Sunscreen Sunstick
From summer orientation sessions to move-in day and outdoor admissions events, campuses spend plenty of time outside during warmer months. This sunscreen stick is an easy, budget-friendly addition to welcome bags, student event kits, and campus tours. It is compact, practical, and easy to customize. In particular, it’s the kind of useful giveaway students and families will appreciate immediately, especially during long days in the sun.
5. MagClip Type-C Rechargeable Fan
Move-in day, campus tours, summer orientation, and outdoor events can mean long hours in the heat. This rechargeable fan gives students and families a practical way to stay cool while navigating campus. With a built-in clip, magnetic backing, and a portable design, it’s an easy addition to welcome kits, summer event giveaways, or orientation bags. This is especially true for schools looking for something more unexpected yet genuinely useful.
6. Phone Screen Cleaner
Incoming students use phones for everything, from navigating campus maps to checking schedules and staying connected during move-in and orientation. This compact screen cleaner is an affordable add-on for welcome bags, admissions events, and student giveaways. It is portable, practical, and easy to keep on hand. Thus, it’s one of those small products students will use long after orientation ends.
Need Fast Product Ideas? Let Us Do the Hunting
Running out of time doesn’t mean you need to settle for random products that students won’t use. If your department needs to spend your remaining budget quickly, our team can help you find practical, quick-turn items that fit your timeline, audience, and budget. Whether you’re building orientation kits, ordering summer event giveaways, or stocking up on back-to-school essentials, we’ll help you move fast without sacrificing quality. Reach out to Campus Stop today to explore quick-turn options!
Make Every Dollar Count
End-of-year budget spending shouldn’t feel like a race to buy “stuff.” The right products can support orientation programs, student life initiatives, admissions events, alumni outreach, and everyday campus life long after summer ends. Need help finding quick-turn products students will actually keep? Campus Stop can help you source practical, high-impact merch before deadlines hit.
