Back-to-school season is one of the most powerful windows in branded merchandise — and one of the most underused. A quality branded backpack travels to school every day, for years, generating thousands of impressions. Here's everything you need to know to choose the right one before the season peaks.

Most companies spend their branded merchandise budget on cheap items that end up in the trash within weeks. But what if your branded merch lasted ten years? Discover why quality branded merchandise is one of the most powerful — and most overlooked — marketing tools available, and how one OGIO laptop bag changed the way we think about brand loyalty forever.

Branded merchandise is a proven way to build recognition. Businesses and organizations invest in custom-branded items to make an impact, establish goodwill, and ensure their name stays top-of-mind. However, recent revelations about a U.S. government expenditure show that branding can sometimes backfire—especially when the purpose behind it is unclear. According to Joe Rogan, USAID (the United States Agency for International Development) allocated $27 million of taxpayer money