Back-to-School Shopping Trends

Mass merchants are the preferred back-to-school shopping destination for nearly 60% of shoppers, according to Breaktime Media.

Breaktime surveyed consumers on what they purchase, which factors are most important to them and where they shop. Walmart tops the list with 42% of those surveyed preferring the mass merchant. Target follows at 16% and then dollar stores come in at 14%.

In terms of timing, 35% of respondents indicate that they start shopping more than month before classes begin. Exactly half of the audience indicated that they will spend the most on clothing, compared to 28% for traditional school supplies.

Must-have supply items include notebooks (34%), backpacks/bags (25%) and pens/pencils (17%).

Brands can engage shoppers and drive sales during the back-to-school season in the following ways:

• Guide shoppers through the realm of back-to-school supplies by suggesting purchases tailored to their preferences through a personality quiz.
• Educate shoppers about your brand and products with back-to-school themed trivia.
• Use a list to engage shoppers with kid-friendly recipes, perfect for a lunch box or after-school snack.
• Incorporate a one-click add-to-cart integration so shoppers can easily add featured products or bundles to their digital shopping carts.