(ARA) - Gen Y is quickly becoming known as the Customization Generation. Their cell phones are programmed with customized ringtones, their MP3 players are stocked with customized playlists and their blogs are custom-designed for self-expression.
Meet Bob and Mary Jo. Bob is a student athlete. Simple, fast and easy is his mantra, because he's always on the go between school and practice. Mary Jo is an overachiever: she's an honors student, president of the student council and editor of the school newspaper. Her multiple commitments keep her busy, so she has to use her time efficiently.
When it comes to school and classroom tools, customization is the key to productivity. Finding an organizational system that fits a student's style improves the likelihood of use and often results in better performance.
So how do Bob and Mary Jo choose their school supplies? Like all of today's teens and tweens, they're looking for products they can customize to meet their needs with enough style and fashion to express themselves.
"We've seen customization as a growing trend in our classroom research," explains Brian Effer, MeadWestvaco marketing communications manager. "Students each have their own unique way they use products. And increasingly, we've seen that there is a demand for school supplies that allow students to customize them to meet their organizational needs."
This research has resulted in the development of products that are ideal for teens who want to express their individual style and their organizational savvy.
Mary Jo's best bet would be a tool like the Five Star Flex Hybrid NoteBinder. Featuring the storage capacity of a binder and the ability to flip the front cover over and lay flat like a notebook, Five Star Flex gives students the freedom to add what they need and take out what they don't. Paper, handouts, pockets and dividers can be arranged to their preference, making note taking and filing a cinch.
On-the-go students like Bob customize their supplies by drawing doodles and jotting to-do lists on the covers of their notebooks, folders and binders. For those looking for customization without commitment, rewriteable supplies such as Mead Zwipes are ideal. Featuring a unique plastic surface, Zwipes products allow students to jot down "permanent" notes using a special Zwipes marker. Once they want to remove their work, they simply use the unique marker system to unlock the ink and wipe it away.
Choosing the perfect school supplies can get kids more than a polished image and superior organization. Now, the more supplies they purchase the more students can get the things they really want - music, games and clothes. The national launch of Mead Money Madness - the first-ever loyalty program in its category - lets students earn points for every purchase of Mead and Five Star school supplies. Points can be banked in an online account by registering at www.MeadMoneyMadness.com. Shoppers can then spend points in weekly online auctions for MP3 players, video game consoles, gift cards and much more.
Now, curing the end-of-summer blues is easy with the promise of prizes and the chance to start off the year organized, in control and in style.
Copyright 2006, ARA Content
