November 14, 2026
The best school open day giveaway is a useful, low-cost item that carries your school name and a way to find you, and that a family will still use in a month. Think pencils, bag tags, drink bottles and small stationery sets, ordered early and branded with your crest and website. We are PromoShop, and our free artwork service and express service make it simple to get a clean, on-brand item in time for the day.
This guide is for school marketing and enrolment staff, P&C members, and the event planners who support them. It covers what to give, how to match items to each audience, how to set a budget and how to order without a last-minute scramble.
TL;DR
- Choose items parents and kids will use daily: pens, pencils, crayons, bag tags, drink bottles and tote bags.
- Put the school name, crest and website or enrolment contact on every item. A giveaway with no way to reach you is only a gift.
- Set the budget per family, not per head, then pick a tier of items to match.
- Order four to six weeks ahead where you can, and brief the supplier on your logo files and colours at the start.
- Check age labelling on anything handed to under-threes, and keep small parts away from toddlers.
Table of Contents
- What a giveaway needs to do at an open day
- Who is walking through the gate
- Giveaway ideas that work, by budget
- Make the giveaway part of a bigger plan
- How to brand your giveaways
- A simple ordering timeline
- Safety and good practice
- Why a specialist supplier helps schools
- Our view on school open day giveaways
- Plan your open day giveaways with PromoShop
- FAQ
- Sources
What a giveaway needs to do at an open day
An open day is often the first time a family sees your campus in person. Guides for schools stress that facilities and the experience on the day carry the most weight, and that sharing an agenda or a map beforehand helps families plan their visit, according to one Australian school marketing guide. A giveaway supports that visit. It does three jobs:
- It marks the day. A small item in a bag says “we visited this school” long after the tour ends.
- It stays in use. Items on a kitchen bench, in a school bag or on a desk keep your name in front of the family while they compare schools.
- It carries your next step. A web address, phone number or enrolment prompt turns a keepsake into a lead.
A giveaway does not need to be big. It needs to be sensible, well printed and matched to the person receiving it.
Who is walking through the gate
Open day visitors are not one group. Plan items for each.
Prospective parents
Parents are the decision makers. They respond to practical, tidy items: a quality pen, a notepad, a lanyard or a tote bag. A pen is especially useful on the day, because parents fill in enrolment interest forms and sign in at the front desk. Pens are one of our categories, and a good one in school colours gets used long after the open day.
Children of primary age
This group enjoys items they can use straight away. Crayon sets, pencils, erasers, stickers and activity items work well. A small crayon set such as the Norva 6CT Crayon Set can be branded for the school and keeps a child busy while parents talk to staff.
Prospective high school students
Older students notice design. A plain, well-made item beats a novelty. Think drink bottles, shoe bags, bag tags, sports gear and caps. Our Corporate Bag Tags and Shoe Bag are practical school-bag items that students carry daily.
Staff, volunteers and student guides
Your tour guides and volunteers are the face of the day. Branded apparel or caps make them easy to spot and show a team that is organised. Our range includes promotional clothing and caps and headwear for this purpose.
Giveaway ideas that work, by budget
Fix a budget per visiting family first. Then choose items that fit. Our site has price-banded pages for the education sector and for general giveaways, so you can browse by what you plan to spend.
| Tier | Typical items | Best for | Where to browse |
|---|---|---|---|
| Handout at the gate | Pencils, erasers, stickers, small confectionery | Every visitor, large crowds | Promotional products under $1 |
| Take-home item | Pens, crayons, bag tags, notepads | Each family on the tour | Promotional products under $2 |
| Enrolment pack item | Drink bottles, tote bags, shoe bags | Families who register interest | Promotional products under $20 |
| Premium or thank-you | Caps, gift items, awards | Guest speakers, donors, scholarship families | Promotional products under $50 |
Most schools do best with a layered approach. Hand out a low-cost item to everyone. Give a more useful item to families who book a tour or submit an enquiry. Keep premium items for the people who help the school, such as guest speakers and donors.
Stationery: the safe default
Pens, pencils, notepads and crayons fit every age group and every budget. They are easy to store, easy to pack in bulk and welcome in any school bag. Branded pens also carry a web address clearly, since there is a long, narrow surface for your text.
Drinkware and bags
A drink bottle is something a child uses daily. A tote bag does double duty at the open day: families use it to carry the prospectus, forms and other handouts. Both place your crest in public, at the park, the sports field and the supermarket.
Confectionery
Sweets are an easy crowd pleaser at a welcome table. Our range includes promotional confectionery that can carry your branding. If you offer food, keep an eye on allergies. Many schools ask families about allergies, and a sealed, labelled item is easier to manage than loose lollies. Check packaging details with the supplier before the day.
Items for sport and active programs
If sport is a selling point of your school, a branded item from our sports gear range shows that program in a practical way. Think sports bottles, towels and drawstring bags.
Make the giveaway part of a bigger plan
Items are only one part of a good open day. Pair them with a draw or a competition, and you also collect contact details. A prize draw gives families a reason to leave an email address or enrolment interest. If you want ideas for structuring a draw, these ticket giveaway ideas are not the right fit, so use the approach below.
A simple draw works like this:
- Place an entry card at the front desk with a name, email and the child’s year level.
- Ask for permission to contact families about the school. Follow your school’s privacy policy.
- Draw the winner at the end of the day and announce it by email.
- Use a branded hamper or a premium item as the prize.
For more thinking on prize structures, read these ticket giveaway ideas written for event promoters. The same logic of a clear prize, a simple entry method and fast follow-up applies to a school open day.
How to brand your giveaways
Good branding is simple. Follow these rules.
- Use your crest and one colour. Fewer colours cost less and print cleanly on small items.
- Add one line of text. Use your website address or enrolment phone number. Do not add a slogan, a list and a date.
- Keep the year off long-life items. If you leave the date off, leftover stock can be used at next year’s open day.
- Supply vector artwork if you have it. A vector file keeps the crest sharp at any size. If you do not have one, our free artwork service can prepare your design for production.
- Match the item to the surface. A crest with fine detail suits a flat surface such as a notepad or bag tag. A small pen barrel suits a name and web address.
A simple ordering timeline
Giveaways run late when the brief is vague. This timeline avoids that.
| When | What to do |
|---|---|
| 6 weeks before | Set the budget per family and choose item tiers. Confirm the crest files. |
| 5 weeks before | Request a quote and artwork proof. Check the quantities against expected attendance. |
| 4 weeks before | Approve the proof and place the order. |
| 1 to 2 weeks before | Receive the stock, check counts and pack the welcome tables. |
| Day of | Keep spare stock at the front desk for late arrivals. |
If your timeline is tighter than this, our express service is there for short deadlines. Contact our team with your date and quantity as early as you can, and we will advise what is possible.
How many to order
Open day attendance is hard to predict. Look at last year’s sign-in numbers. Then add a buffer for siblings, grandparents and walk-ins. A low-cost item should be ordered in larger numbers than a premium one. Stock with no year on it is not wasted: keep it for the next event, such as a school fair, a new-parent evening or a transition day.
Safety and good practice
Schools welcome children of all ages, including toddlers and babies who come with their parents. Keep this in mind when you choose items.
- Check age labelling. NSW Government guidance explains that a “not suitable for children under 3” label means an item has small parts that could be swallowed. It also suggests that anything smaller than a 20 cent piece or a ping pong ball is too small for a child under 3 (NSW Government).
- Choose larger items for the youngest visitors. Bag tags, crayons and tote bags suit most ages. Keep small erasers, buttons and tiny toys for older children.
- Handle food with care. Ask about allergens and keep confectionery sealed.
- Include the age range. If a pack has mixed items, write the suitable age on the pack or hand items out by age group.
If you are unsure whether an item suits young children, speak to your school’s workplace health and safety officer before you order.
Why a specialist supplier helps schools
School open days sit on a tight calendar. Staff are busy, budgets are limited and the brand must look consistent. Working with one supplier for the whole job saves effort. Our education sector page sets out what we offer to schools. Our range spans stationery, bags, drinkware, apparel, caps, office items and corporate gifts, so one order can cover the gate handout, the enrolment pack and the staff uniform extras.
Our view on school open day giveaways
Schools often ask us what to hand out. Our answer is almost always the same: choose something useful, brand it simply and order it early.
We source products through a trusted global supply chain with factory-direct sourcing. Our aim is consistent quality at a competitive price, which matters when a school is buying hundreds of items on a fixed budget.
We also offer free artwork design. A school crest has to look right on a pen, a bag tag and a bottle, and our team prepares your artwork so it does. If you find a lower price on the same product, our Price Beat Guarantee applies.
Our advice is to spend on the item families keep, not the item that looks big on the table. A pen or a bag tag that is used every day is worth more than a novelty that is lost by the weekend.
PromoShop
Plan your open day giveaways with PromoShop
We supply custom branded merchandise to businesses and organisations across Australia, with more than 25 years of experience. For a school open day, we can help with pens, crayon sets, bag tags, shoe bags, drinkware, caps and apparel, and our team prepares your artwork at no charge.
Tell us your date, quantity and budget through our website and we will recommend items to suit. If your open day is close, ask about our express service when you get in touch.
FAQ
What is the best giveaway for a school open day?
A pen, pencil set or bag tag is the safest choice. These items suit every age, cost little and are used daily. Add a drink bottle or tote bag for families who register interest.
How much should a school spend per family?
Set a total budget first, then divide it by expected family numbers. Use a low-cost item for everyone and a better item for families who book a tour or enquire. Our price-banded pages, from under $1 up to under $50, help you compare options quickly.
How early should I order?
Plan on four to six weeks before the open day. This leaves time for artwork, a proof and delivery. If your date is closer, our express service is available, so get in touch with your deadline and quantity.
Are there safety rules for giveaways handed to young children?
Yes. Check the age labelling on products, and keep items with small parts away from children under 3. NSW Government guidance says anything smaller than a 20 cent piece is too small for that age group. Larger items such as bag tags and tote bags are a better fit for toddlers.
Can I keep leftover giveaways for next year?
Yes, if you leave the year off the branding. Use your crest and website only. Leftover stock then works for school fairs, transition days and new-parent evenings.
Sources
- Unlocking the Potential of Your School Open Day
- Children’s products and toy safety, NSW Government
- Ticket giveaway ideas for Australian promoters