School administrators across the nation are ramping up their fundraising efforts due to concerns about the availability of calendar-year and emergency funds. Many schools don’t receive enough federal or state support or charitable contributions. As a result, the sale of custom promotional items like t-shirts, sweatshirts, and custom hats has increasingly become a top fundraising method.

School spirit hats and other promotional merchandise do more than provide the school with one-time revenues. Items marked with an embroidered, leather, screen-printed or other decorative logo or motto are walking advertisements that keep the school and its financial needs fresh in the minds of potential event-goers and fundraiser donors in the community.

1- School Store

Custom hats and other branded apparel allow students and staff members to feel part of the school community and display their pride and support. One of the best methods for raising funds with custom hats is via an on-site school store and connected online e-commerce site that features social-sharing buttons. With these options, students, staff members, and their families, friends, and others can effortlessly find, buy, and share details about your school’s promotional headwear.

2- Special Days

Any day that is celebrated or set aside by the school for special purposes offers you the opportunity to sell custom hats. Commemorative and holiday celebrations aren’t the only times when you should hold a fundraiser or sale, either. Display the hats and price information in commonly used areas of the school during parent association, parent-teacher, staff, and student club meetings.

3- Sales Catalog

Many people like to have a printed or printable electronic catalog made available to them. You can generate sales and leads by sending a printed direct mail or emailed pamphlet-sized catalog to the families of staff, students, previous donors, local businesses, and others. If you include the URL for a school store website on at least the catalog’s cover and last page, you’re more likely to receive order requests and donations faster as well.

4- Sports Avenues

Home games, tournaments, friendly matches, skills clinics and camps, club meetings, and other sports-related events provide schools with many opportunities to promote and sell custom hats. At games, tournaments, and matches, for example, people are already primed to spend money and show their support of the school and community in some way from the stands, especially if they see the merchandise on racks or tables at an entry point or near the beverage and food area. Many schools also give coaches, assistants, cheerleaders, and band members custom hats for free in recognition of their efforts, which often results in everyday wear and associated advertising.

5- Host Event

Outside of sports events, you should set up racks and tables at other major events hosted by the school, such as during a musical performance, play, or talent show. Additionally, you should host events specifically with custom hats and other merchandise sales in mind, such as a community bake sale, car wash, fair, or picnic. For example, you might arrange a town trash cleanup in which all students wear the custom hats and talk to community members about fundraising and school spirit efforts, including the purchase of school merchandise.

6- Student Incentives

Lastly, a school can dramatically increase its revenues by providing students with incentives. For example, you might tell students that they will receive different prizes for reaching specific tiers of hat sales during a fundraising drive. You might give students who buy a custom hat a day pass that allows them to come to school without a uniform. A class that buys and sells the most hats might receive a themed or pajama day, or a treasure hunt.