Smart School Store Ideas to Engage Students and Raise More Funds

Students and teachers spend a lot of time in school — great school store ideas can help them get the products they need (and want) easily and conveniently. But what do you stock in a school store? How do you make your school store a success? Keep reading for answers! 

This guide walks you through 15 great ideas to help make your school store a place where students, teachers, parents and even local community members want to shop. Find out how offering targeted, relevant and even some fun products in your school store can help you make it a place people will return to again and again. 

What Should a School Store Have? School Store Ideas to Get You Started 

A school store is a business that sells items to parents, students and staff members. These stores help schools and school organizations raise money for events and other operations. The inventory usually includes items like clothing, shoes, backpacks, umbrellas and other miscellaneous items. 

This section will explore school store ideas for high school and elementary school environments. 

School stores are a great way to raise funds for a school or organization. They can also offer students, parents, and staff members access to convenient items and a wide variety of products that students will enjoy. 

These stores can also raise funds for the school or sell tickets to fundraising events that help support the school. With the right planning and execution, opening a school store can be an incredibly successful venture. 

A well-stocked school store includes items such as: 

• Pens and pencils
• Notebooks and paper
• Other stationery and organizational items
• Calculators
• Stickers
• School T-shirts, sweaters and other apparel
• Promotional water bottles
• School-branded pencil bags
• Snacks and drinks 

These direct sales items can produce profit margins between 40% and 70%. Products with low wholesale prices and high markups yield the highest ROIs.  

You should also consider which items will appeal to certain grade levels. For example, elementary school store ideas include small toys and activity books. School store ideas for high school include tech accessories and branded apparel. 

Running a successful school store requires some trial and error. Over time, you'll learn which products sell best. You'll also figure out which items are the most profitable. 

Idea #1 - Offer Customization Services 

School stores offer a great way for students to show their school spirit. They can also express themselves through personalized products.  These customization services are perfect school merchandise ideas that build spirit. 

Customization services can help you create unique items for each student's style and taste. You can offer:

• Custom school gear, branded apparel, accessories, and other products that sport the school logo and colors. 
• Create custom designs for your school store products that feature the student's name or initials.
• Offer students the ability to customize items with their own artwork.

These are unique and customized products that customers won't find anywhere else. 

Idea #2 – Use Social Media and Promotions 

Schools can use digital marketing to reach a wider audience. Digital advertising, social media and online promotions can engage current students and alumni. School stores can use these tools to create an effective marketing plan, which will help them increase sales and strengthen their brand. 

• Share content that resonates with your audience on social media platforms like Facebook, Twitter and Instagram to build relationships.
• Promotions such as discounts and giveaways are great ways to get customers to purchase from your store.
• Digital advertising, such as Google Ads and Facebook Ads, can be used to reach potential customers, including grandparents and community members outside of your school. 
• Use student influencers and hashtags to drive traffic to your school store.

To succeed in the modern era, school stores must take advantage of digital advertising, social media, promotions and other creative school store ideas. School stores can use social media to reach out and promote their products. 

Idea #3 - Develop Loyalty Programs for Students and Staff 

School stores are an important part of the school experience for students, families and staff. They provide access to items that students and faculty need for school life. School stores should develop loyalty programs that reward customers and help them save money. 

Loyalty programs can fit different types of customers. For example:

• Student loyalty programs can offer discounts on certain items or free gifts with purchases.
• Families can benefit from special deals when they shop together at the store.
• Staff appreciation programs can provide rewards such as gift cards or discounts on items in the store. 

By creating loyalty programs for each type of customer, school stores can build great relationships that ensure their patrons will return. This will lead to increased sales and more satisfied customers. According to Zinrelo, members of loyalty programs generate 12% to 18% more revenue than nonmembers. 

Idea #4 – Try Community Outreach 

Partnering with local businesses, citizen groups and nonprofit organizations is a great school store idea that can build a stronger community. It also helps support the local economy. Partnerships are a great way to raise money for your school store! 

Community outreach is an important way for schools to form partnerships with local businesses. School stores can engage in activities that benefit the local community, such as nonprofit fundraising and special promotions. They can partner with local businesses on these activities, forming relationships that create a lasting impact. 

Outreach can also provide valuable support to those in need. It helps to foster a sense of unity between students, faculty and members of the local community. 

The power of local businesses and nonprofits helps schools create lasting relationships that will benefit everyone involved. This strategy works across elementary and high school settings to increase awareness and participation. 

Idea #5 - Sell Trendy Items Students Actually Want

One answer to the question, “What should a school store have?” might be unique and on-trend products. School stores can be the perfect place for students and staff to find trendy products that they can use every day.  With the right selection of products, you can easily create a store that appeals to students and staff alike. 

To stock trendy products, you need to keep up with trends! Research to determine what items students and staff find appealing. Many schools have their own micro-trends among students. Some hot items may surprise you! 

It may take some trial and error to find the top trending items, but the payoff of a sold-out school store is worth it! 

You can give students and staff a boutique shopping experience by selling trendy items in the school store. Offering fun and memorable items can help boost morale and spread the word about your store around campus. It also provides another diverse source of money for the school. 

Here are some things to sell at a school store: 

• Water bottles or Hydroflasks, which are stainless steel and insulated
• Tote bags-an eco-friendly way to store items, including lunches and school supplies
• School-themed jewelry, such as beaded bracelets and class rings
• Earbuds are ideal for students who want to listen to music or their favorite podcasts between classes
  
• Fidgets- these trendy toys are perfect for stress reduction
  
• Tech accessories- items like chargers and case protectors will fly off the shelves
• Snack Items: Choose snacks that are healthy and tasty

You can even use these products as promotional materials for the school itself. They can help spread awareness about activities, events and organizations. 

Idea #6 - Increase Student Engagement in STEM 

Schools are always looking for new ways to increase student interest in STEM. STEM items are great school store ideas to get students interested. By offering STEM-related items such as math games, robotics kits and coding activities, students can learn about the latest technology while having fun. 

These items can also help increase engagement in math and other STEM subjects by providing exciting and interactive ways to learn, boosting students' academic abilities. 

In addition to providing STEM items for sale, schools should consider offering discounts on select items or rewards for completing tasks related to STEM subjects. This will reward learning and interest in STEM subjects. 

With the right selection of items available for sale in the school store, students are more likely to engage with STEM topics and develop a lifelong interest in science and technology. 

Idea #7 – Get Creative with Fundraising Themes 

Fundraising is an essential part of any school's budget. An online school fundraiser, for example, can help cover the costs associated with running the school, including purchasing new supplies and equipment and paying for extra-curricular activities. 

To ensure the success of your fundraising efforts, it's important to come up with creative themes that will bring in money. When it comes to fundraising through your school store, there are many themes you can use to make it fun and engaging. Themed fundraising is a fun twist on traditional school store ideas and enhances student involvement. 

Consider pairing your themes with certain discounts. For example, if the holidays are coming up, offer a discount on monogrammed gift items. Raising money for homecoming? Promote school-branded athletic jerseys! 

Not all themes need to be related to the school calendar. For example, you can hold a silent online auction for donated items through your school store. 

Idea #8 – Offer Digital Student Accounts or Reward Points System

School stores are becoming increasingly popular in schools and universities. However, managing a school store can be a challenge. To make things easier, many schools are now introducing student accounts and school currency. 

With student accounts, parents can load cash easily online. Students can then convert cash into school store currency or reward tickets that they can use to purchase items from the school store. This is also a great way to introduce contactless payments to your school. 

Schools can also use this system to load student accounts with cafeteria money for their daily meals. Or they can offer discounts and special offers on certain items when students use school bucks instead of cash. 

Another idea is to develop a Positive Behavior and Interventions (PBIS) store. This model works on a token reward system. Students are given tokens when they display positive behavior, which can be spent on school store items. 

Student accounts and school currency offer a convenient way for students to manage payments at the school store without having to carry around large amounts of cash. This system is quickly becoming the preferred method for many schools around the world.

Idea #9 - Sell Homemade Treats and Snacks 

Snacks are the most popular things to sell at a school store, especially in high schools. Additionally, selling homemade treats and snacks in your school store can be a great way to fundraise. You get to offer delicious, homemade food for sale while raising money.

Here are some guidelines for stocking your school store with healthy treats: 

• Ensure that all the food is made with good ingredients and meets all safety rules.
• Know the legal requirements and obtain any necessary licenses or permits beforehand.
• Ensure that your food meets all health standards for your area.
• The food should be properly labeled so customers know exactly what they are getting. 

Homemade treats and snacks are a perfect answer to the question, "What do you stock in a school store?" If you have active parents who want to volunteer, have sign-ups to regularly stock the store with baked goods and homemade candies. With the right preparation, selling homemade treats and snacks at your school can be a rewarding school store idea for everyone involved! 

Homemade treats and snacks offer students something unique that they won't find anywhere else.  

Idea #10 - Offer Books, Course Materials and Media 

The school store is a great place to offer course materials, educational items, books and media for students. 

Textbooks and other course materials are essential for students to succeed in their studies. Offering textbooks through your school store ensures that your students can access the most up-to-date and relevant course materials. 

Your school store can also offer digital media such as e-books and audiobooks so students can access required reading material from any device with an internet connection. You can create a media library where students can purchase or rent books for sale at discounted rates. 

With an easy-to-use digital media store, students can quickly find what they need without searching multiple sources. This makes it easier for them to get the necessary resources to succeed in their studies. 

Check with publishers and content providers. Some may offer discounts to schools on books and other printed materials in bulk. Selling books, course materials and media through your campus store is a great way to make some money and provide students with a valuable service. 

Idea #11 – Sell Event Tickets 

Selling event tickets is a great school store idea to make extra revenue. Your school store can offer students an easy and convenient way to purchase tickets for any school event or function. With the right strategies, you can ensure your school store is successful and profitable. 

This system also makes it easier for schools to manage their ticket sales. It provides them with real-time data on who is buying what and when. It also helps schools keep track of who has purchased which type of ticket so they can better plan for future events.

With this system, schools can make sure that everyone has access to the events they want to attend without any hassle or confusion. 

Ensure ticket prices are competitive and the buying process is easy and efficient, so students have a positive experience purchasing event tickets from your school store. 

You can also offer ticket sales online. These can be a great way to engage with families and alumni ahead of time, and make ticket purchasing easier for everyone. 

While stores in any school can sell event tickets, this idea works best in a high school setting. High school students generally have their own money and can buy tickets to the events they want to attend, making it one of the best school store ideas for high school. 

However, selling tickets is one of the effective school store ideas for elementary school. Although younger children aren't as independent, stores still offer a centralized location for purchasing event tickets. 

Idea #12 - Recycle Used Items for Sale 

With the growing awareness of environmental issues, schools are now offering recycled used items for sale in their school stores. This is a great way to reduce waste and help the environment while providing students with quality products at affordable prices.

Recycling cuts down on manufacturing emissions. The BBC estimates it can reduce carbon emissions by 700 million tonnes annually (about 1,542,800,000,000 pounds).

The school store can be stocked with all kinds of recycled products, from used books and calculators to used bikes and furniture. This system helps reduce waste and provides students access to quality products they may not otherwise be able to afford. 

Here are some tips that guide recycled selling: 

• Have a system in place to check the condition of each item and quickly determine its price.
• Make sure you also have a way to clean gently used items before offering them for sale.
• Check your local and state restrictions on selling used items. Some items may need special permits or licenses.
•  Stick with items that students use for a little while, such as books, bikes, sneakers and gently worn school uniforms that students have outgrown.

Recycling used items for sale in your school store is a great way to promote sustainability while helping students save money on essential items such as textbooks or calculators. With the right approach, this initiative can benefit your school and its community. 

Idea #13 – Sell Stationery Supplies 

Even with the rise of technology, it is important to remember that stationery supplies are still essential in any school. Selling stationery supplies in your school store is an excellent way to ensure students can access all the necessary items for their studies. These items work especially well as elementary school store ideas, as young students tend to use these school supplies rather than digital platforms. 

Basic school supplies include: 

• Pens
• Markers
• Highlighters
• Erasers
• Rulers
• Paper clips
• Planners
• Notebooks

Don't forget that faculty need supplies too! Keep items such as tape, staples and pushpins on hand (and not available to students) to keep teachers coming back for more. Buy in bulk and offer them a good discount, as supplies are expensive for teachers! 

For school stores to stay competitive, they must go beyond the usual items like notebooks and pencils. Selling stationery supplies is a great way to offer students a wider selection of items that they can use in their studies and customize to make them their own. 

Examples include personalized notebooks and pencils with the student's name or logo printed on them. This will make the school store stand out from other stores and allow students to express their individuality through their stationery. 

Idea #14 - Offer Convenience Services 

Go beyond selling items in your school store. For a different school store idea, consider offering convenience services such as tutoring, paying dues and fees online, and print-on-demand services. These services can help students save time and money while still getting the items they need for their studies.

For example:

• Tutoring services can help students get extra help when needed.
• Paying fees online through the school store makes it much easier for parents. They won't need to go into the school to make a payment or send their child with cash.
• Printing services allow students and faculty to get documents and other materials without having to print at home or wait in line at a public store. Your store can even offer services such as lamination and binding. 

Set up your store for easy online scheduling, payments and print orders. Having a one-stop shop for everything is a great way to keep customers coming back for more easy-to-use options. 

Offering convenience services in your school store ensures your students have access to everything they need to succeed academically. 

Idea #15 – Use Online School Store Software 

Starting an online school store is a smart way to raise money, build school spirit and make shopping easy for families. The process is easier than you think. Follow these simple steps to get started:

1. Choose the Right Platform

Pick a school store system made for schools. It should let you sell items online, track inventory and collect payments securely.

Tip: Choose a trusted platform like RevTrak to simplify the process and boost school fundraising success.

2. Add Popular Items to Sell

Build your store with top-selling products. Good things to sell at a school store include:

• School spirit items (like lanyards and mascot keychains)
• Branded apparel (T-shirts, hoodies, hats)
• Custom school gear (notebooks, pencil cases, tote bags)
• Snack items (granola bars, juice boxes)
• Tech accessories (earbuds, chargers, phone holders)

These school merchandise ideas appeal to students, staff, and families alike.

3. Create Student and Family Accounts

Make checkout fast and easy. Allow parents to create accounts tied to their child so they can pre-load money or use rewards in systems like a PBIS store or token reward system.

4. Enable Secure Payment Options

Be sure your platform is secure and offers tracking for orders and receipts.

5. Launch Your Store and Spread the Word

Promote your store through school email, social media and classroom flyers. Show off new branded apparel, feature fun items like fidget toys and highlight limited-time offers to create buzz.

Want to create a one-stop shop for your students and families?

Request a free demo with Vanco  to see how easy it is to launch your online school store and grow your fundraising success.

FAQ

What are some good school store items to sell?

Good school store items to sell include school supplies, branded merchandise, healthy snacks, tech accessories, event tickets, and trendy items. 

How can I run a school store for elementary school?

Running a store for an elementary school involves stocking items that cater to younger children, like activity books and fun treats. You should also use a digital platform that tracks sales and inventory, supports secure payments, and enables you to create student and family accounts. 

What are some digital tools to manage school stores?

Schools can use various digital tools to manage school stores, including social media for marketing, and digital platforms that accept cashless payments, keep track of inventory, and ensure optimal security.