PPAI Greatest Companies to Work For

Magellan Promotions Named a PPAI Greatest Company to Work For for Fourth Consecutive Year

August 26, 2026

Magellan Promotions has been named one of Promotional Products Association International’s (PPAI) Greatest Companies to Work For in 2026, marking the fourth consecutive year Magellan has received the recognition. The annual program recognizes branded merch distributors and suppliers that foster outstanding workplace cultures. The recognition is based on direct employee feedback evaluating factors such as leadership, communication, benefits, and professional development. For Magellan, the fourth consecutive recognition is a reflection of the people behind the company and the culture they have built together. “We’re proud to be recognized by PPAI

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higher education branded merchandise

New Research Confirms What Higher Ed Marketers Already Suspect About Branded Merch

August 13, 2026

Just like companies, higher ed marketers don’t have unlimited budgets. Every branded merch decision involves balancing cost, reach, quality, and impact. A new consumer study from the Promotional Products Association International (PPAI), based on responses from more than 3,400 U.S. consumers, reinforces something many enrollment and advancement teams already know: people keep branded merch that’s useful, relevant, and fits into their lives. For colleges and universities, that’s an important reminder. Success isn’t about buying the most expensive item. It’s about choosing the right item for the right audience and purpose.

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higher education branded merchandise ROI

Why We’re Becoming a Data-Driven Partner

August 7, 2026

At Magellan Promotions, we’ve always believed branded merch should do more than create excitement. It should help colleges and universities achieve measurable outcomes. That’s why, in 2026, we’ve made becoming a more data-driven company one of our top priorities. Why It Matters  Our clients come to us with important challenges: increasing yield, reducing summer melt, encouraging giving, strengthening alumni engagement, and creating memorable campus experiences. Branded merch is often one piece of a much larger strategy. To recommend the right solutions, we need to understand not just what was produced,

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branded merch for higher education admissions

Enrollment is Built Through Moments

July 18, 2026

A single interaction rarely shapes a student’s decision to enroll. It’s built over time through the moments that help them understand a campus, imagine themselves there, and feel connected to a community. A campus visit. A follow-up after an inquiry. An acceptance package arriving at the door. A welcome event before move-in. Each touchpoint contributes to the larger enrollment experience. Strategically planned branded merch can help institutions create meaningful moments throughout the admissions journey, giving students tangible reminders of connection long before their first day on campus. Creating Connection Before

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higher ed rebranding branded merch checklist

Rebranding Your Institution? Don’t Overlook Your Branded Merch Strategy

June 30, 2026

Rebranding in higher ed is never just a logo change. It’s a coordinated effort to realign perception, unify messaging, and create a consistent experience across every touchpoint. From admissions to advancement to campus life, a new brand only works if people actually encounter it in meaningful ways. That’s where branded merch plays a much bigger role than many institutions expect. Branded merch is one of the most visible and tangible expressions of your new identity. It shows up in offices, at events, in mailboxes, and in the hands of students,

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Best Places to Work 2026

Magellan Promotions Named a 2026 Milwaukee Business Journal Best Places to Work Honoree

June 29, 2026

We’re excited to share that Magellan Promotions has been named a 2026 Milwaukee Business Journal Best Places to Work honoree. This recognition celebrates organizations that create exceptional workplace environments, and we’re honored to be recognized for the culture our team has built together. At Magellan, creating a strong internal culture is intentional. As a remote-first company, we prioritize connection through team events, celebrations, employee recognition, and opportunities to give back to our communities. Our culture teams help create meaningful ways for employees to build relationships and stay connected to Magellan’s

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Variable Data Best Practices

  • At the quoting stage of your project, please let us know how many fields of variable data your piece will have as this can affect pricing.
  • Data should be provided to us as an Excel spreadsheet with only the applicable data included.
  • Verbiage for variable data fields on artwork file should match up exactly with data fields on spreadsheet.
  • Spacing on artwork must allow for longest data entries. We recommend that your designer tests this in advance to confirm that the fields in the design can fit your longest pieces of data.

Postage Permits

We are happy to mail using a client’s USPS non-profit number. Here are a few best practices for this to go smoothly. Let our team know up front on the project so we can make sure to get the information we need right away. 

While our mail house does prefer to use their permit number for the mailing, we can use the client’s permit, If using their permit number, ensure there is enough postage to cover the mailing.

The information we need to in order to use a client’s nonprofit number includes the following:

  • CRID (customer registration ID)
  • Non-Profit Authorization Number (with USPS, not their nonprofit number for the university)
  • Non-profit indicia
  • Return address that is on file with USPS for the non-profit authorization number
  • Permit number

Formatting the Mailing List

Our account team will advise on specific requirements for your project’s mailing list.  We generally recommend these best practices to format the mailing list:
  • Send your data in a spreadsheet, saving it in the comma-separated values (CSV) format
  • International addresses must be separated from domestic addresses
  • Domestic addresses should at least contain data fields for “first name”, “last name”, “address 1”, “address 2”, “city”, “state” and “ZIP code”