Promoversity ignites student orgs to design/sell promo products
Barnes and Noble is partnered with Promoversity, an online promotional products company that offers schools, organizations and corporations promotional products at a low price. Because the UHCL bookstore is owned by Barnes and Noble, UHCL student organizations have access to this service.
Promoversity advertises high-quality merchandise at a low cost to schools, student organizations and corporations. The program offers students a way to raise funds for their organizations through its IgniteCX program, which offers a way for campus groups to design their fundraising materials and sell them online. It also makes sure the logos are printed according to legal guidelines.
“Promoversity is a partner with the college bookstore to allow student organizations and departments to buy branded items with low minimums and cost,” said UHCL Bookstore Manager Laura Forgey. “They are a member of the Fair Labor Association – ensuring the ethics and quality of the merchandise sold on college campus throughout the country.”
The IgniteCX program is available to everyone. From non-revenue generating teams and alumni associations to residence life and student life, everyone is welcome to use it. Additional services include the ability to create fundraising web pages and to see the status of current, active fundraising web pages.
“Promoversity has the ability to set up fundraisers for student organizations – with no liability to the student organizations,” Forgey said.
Users keep full control of their brand. Before a campaign goes live, it will go through the licensing approval process.
“They have created over 1500 internal websites meeting the needs of the customer,” Forgey said. “They can create (pop up) stores for organizations to raise money online, work with the licensing department and the organizations to ensure the graphics are within guidelines.”
Customers’ merchandise is all sold online, so there is no need to worry about renting a storage room.
“The merchandise is all sold online, so there is no liability of having to own the merchandise in hopes of selling it,” Forgey said. “For departments wanting to order custom school spirit, they now can with this program with low cost and minimums.”
Through Promoversity’s IgniteCX program, student organizations can raise funds by selling products they design, as well as accepting donations via a crowdfunding campaign.
“Some of the products that the student groups usually work for, probably our number one product, would just be like a t-shirt, but we also do giveaway items (pens, mugs, cups) –pretty much anything you can think of and put a logo on it,” said Heather Roesslein, customer service representative for Promoversity.
Samin Ahmed, environmental science major at UHCL, said he would like to see student organizations at UHCL use this or a similar program to create and sell their merchandise.
“This would give organizations an opportunity to create their own identity,” Ahmed said.
Forgey said raising money and creating more spirit merchandise for low prices are some of the benefits this program has.
“Raise money with no overhead, get more spirit merchandise for clubs and organizations,” Forgey said. “Low minimums and low cost. Customized school – specific website, unlimited campaigns per school, pop–up stores with no cost or risk to student orgs, product shipped in bulk or directly to the customer.”
