Educational Products has evolved into a pivotal SaaS player for schools, parent groups, and organizations needing to streamline procurement and distribution of classroom supplies and custom apparel. As we enter 2025, Educational Products stands out by modernizing not only the supply chain, but the entire experience for all stakeholders—schools, families, volunteers, businesses, and nonprofits—making back-to-school and spiritwear programs easier, more scalable, and more accountable than ever before.
From Launch to 2025: Platform Timeline
- Legacy Foundation: With decades of experience as a national school supply distributor, the company built operational trust with schools and groups of every size.
- Digital Transition: Early 2020s saw the SaaSification of EPI’s offering—secure web portals for group buyers and robust e-commerce for parents.
- Apparel and Spiritwear: By mid-2020s, the platform extended to custom apparel with integrated quoting, proofs, and design tools.
- 2025: Now positioned as a comprehensive group procurement platform, offering managed fulfillment, custom branding, tracking, and support for both recurring and ad hoc bulk orders, adaptable to schools, districts, businesses, and nonprofits.
Key Features & Capabilities
- Turnkey Supply Kits: Parent groups, PTOs, and administrators set up custom-approved supply packs for every grade with vetted brands, quality control, and guaranteed delivery.
- Custom Apparel Fulfillment: Manage spiritwear and branded clothing programs for schools, businesses, and nonprofits—choose from imprinted or embroidered items, get live proofs, and run multiple campaigns.
- E-commerce for Parents: Mobile-friendly interface for parents to purchase packs with school ID/zip search, integrated discounts, and ongoing support.
- Group Buyer Portal: Real-time status, order tracking, reporting, and historical archives for organizations managing recurring or seasonal purchasing.
- Supplier Quality Assurance: Access to leading brands (Crayola, Dixon, Sharpie, Avery) plus exclusive house brands, backed by a school-year guarantee.
- Dedicated Support: Account managers guide new program set-up, design, and trouble-shooting; help centers and onboarding for smooth transitions.
Workflow & User Experience
- Step 1: Program setup via web portal—define grade levels, item lists, apparel designs, and group-specific branding.
- Step 2: Share unique shop links or codes with parents/families, or run internal “bulk order” for corporate/nonprofit partners.
- Step 3: EPI manages order processing, fulfillment, shipping (to home or group), and support—freeing coordinators from manual tasks.
- Step 4: Post-delivery analytics and order reports, with time-saving tools for program reordering or year-on-year comparison.
Educational Products Pricing
| Program | Core Features | Pricing Model |
|---|---|---|
| School Supply Kits | Custom branded kits, grade-level lists, e-commerce parent portal, group buyer dashboard, nationwide fulfillment | Quote-based per school/year; parent-paid or group pre-pay |
| Custom Apparel | Imprinted/embroidered items, design/proofing tools, flexible sizing, batch or campaign ordering | Quote-based, per piece with tiered discounts |
| Bulk Supply Orders | Direct-to-district or bulk nonprofit/corporate shipment, custom catalog options | Volume-based pricing; negotiated on request |
Educational Products vs Alternatives
| Solution | Best for | Notable Differentiators |
|---|---|---|
| Educational Products | Schools, parent groups, large orgs needing kit/apparel automation | Turnkey setup, name-brand & house-brand selection, dedicated rep, end-to-end fulfillment |
| School Specialty | District bulk buyers | Office and classroom supply catalog, less e-commerce tailored to parent groups |
| 1st Day School Supplies | PTO/PTA-run kit programs | Seasonal kits, parent payment portal, fewer apparel/distribution integrations |
| Custom Ink / Printful | Small batch apparel | Flexible on-demand prints, less structured for large coordinated group orders |
Pro Tip: For maximum fundraising impact, leverage Educational Products to unite supply and apparel campaigns into a single portal—streamlining volunteer effort and parent engagement.
Integrations
- Secure payment integrations for parent e-commerce (major cards, digital wallets)
- Bulk/PO ordering for large orgs (invoice, ACH, school budgets)
- Logistics integrations with nationwide couriers for home and group delivery
- Email and reporting integrations; future roadmap includes SIS and ERP connectors
Pros & Cons
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
|
|
Final Thoughts
Educational Products is purpose-built for the needs of school groups, parent organizations, and multi-site buyers overseeing annual or recurring supply and apparel campaigns. Its end-to-end SaaS approach eliminates the core headaches of back-to-school logistics and spiritwear distribution, while offering a premium level of service—making it the platform of choice for organizations seeking accuracy, accountability, and peace of mind. To see if Educational Products aligns with your group’s procurement strategy, start with a demo or instant quote request.
Educational Products FAQ
Yes, it meets GDPR standards and supports HIPAA via a signed BAA on eligible plans.
Yes, white-label portals support your domain, favicon, and brand visuals.
Ideal for consultants, service firms, and SMBs needing streamlined collaboration.
No—integrates with both. Stripe powers payments; QuickBooks handles accounting.
All plans include chat/email; premium tiers add onboarding and 1:1 setup help.
This post may contain affiliate links and we may earn commissions. Learn more in our disclosure.