PERSONALISED NAME LABELS // the most underrated essential on your uniform list

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It’s that time of year again – when you suddenly realise there are only a few weeks left of the school year (say what?!), and you really should be thinking ahead to the new one by now.

I’ve made no secret of the fact I’m not an organised person; I’m much more of a ‘deal-with-each-day-as-it-comes’ kinda girl. However, I’ve learned that – when it comes to school stuff – it’s much easier to sort it out sooner rather than later because all the people who ARE organised will get in there first.

Trying to source an elusive pair of socks the night before school starts is not fun. Trust me. 

The other thing I’ve learned after six years is that labelling is no joke. Seriously, when those teachers go on and on about labelling every single item, you need to listen. Because you can almost guarantee that the one item you don’t slap a sticker on will be the item that mysteriously disappears just days into the new school term.

Like the time I bought Big Sis a brand-new monogrammed school cardigan, and one week later she and a classmate accidentally wore each other’s home. We returned her friend’s one the very next day, but Big Sis’s never found its way back to us. Of course, I hadn’t gotten around to putting in a personalised name label, so I had to resign myself to the fact I just bought a brand-new – rather pricey – cardigan for someone else’s kid. Sigh. 

Water bottles also regularly disappear into the same abyss where bobby pins and single socks like to hide. Because by some strange retail enigma, 80 percent of kids will end up with the exact same water bottle that you’ve just bought for yours. It’s just one of those things.

I’ve found the easiest (and coolest) way to keep track of school supplies is with adhesive personalised name labels. You simply peel them off and stick them on the bottle, bag or book and you’re good to go. No more mix-ups, and if a lunchbox or a piece of clothing does accidentally get left behind, it will quickly make its way back to its rightful owner.

We’ve used several companies over the years, including STICKERYOU, a US company that ships to the UK for as little as $7.99 (just over £6), but if you spend over $US50 you’ll get free standard shipping across the pond and straight to your doorstep.

You can choose from a huge range of stickers, wall decals, iron-on labels and patches, so there is literally a product to suit every product and every occasion.

If you can’t find exactly what you want, simply make it yourself using the custom sticker option. StickerYou allows you to create personalised name labels in any size, shape and quantity, either by uploading your own image, illustration or logo or by customising one of the thousands of graphics available via their Sticker Editor.

Make sure you order well in advance, and cross one more task off your back-to-school checklist. 

NEXT READ: Caring for School Uniforms – Tips and Tricks to Make Them Last