Promo products are an essential part of the college experience, whether it’s the welcome kit that greets an incoming freshman or the rally towels given out to entice students to the stadium on game day. And, of course, there are the hoodies, beanies and tees for sale at the campus bookstore.

In this episode of Promo Insiders, Theresa Hegel, executive editor of digital content, chats with Trey Reed, an editorial intern with ASI Media, about the hottest promo trends he’s seeing on campus. Reed is a senior at Northwestern University in Evanston, IL, where he’s studying broadcast journalism at the Medill School of Journalism, Media and Integrated Marketing Communications.

Trey Reed

Among the biggest trends Reed is seeing are cozy Sherpa fleeces and stylish beanies to beat the chill of Chicagoland weather. High-end drinkware, laptop stickers and drawstring backpacks are also popular. “I decked out my laptop freshman year with some Northwestern stickers as well as some Medill-specific ones,” Reed says.

In addition, tech-related promo products are also welcome, whether it’s a branded PopSocket, a phone wallet to store ID – since young people rarely carry cash anymore – or a portable speaker to ensure there will be music anytime or place.

Podcast Chapters (Available Only on Desktop)
5:30 Trends in college apparel
7:08 Popular drinkware styles
9:15 What kind of logos/graphics are hot?
10:59: Swag categories to keep an eye on

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