3 Tips for Back-to-School Sales & Marketing

It’s that time of year again! Families are taking last minute vacations and enjoying end of summer BBQs with friends and neighbors. The long days of summer are quickly coming to a close and everyone knows that means back to school time is upon us! Moms and dads everywhere are prepping for the return of the school year shopping for a long list of essentials needed for a successful year and hoping they don’t forget a crucial item. Now, how can advertisers help back to school shoppers get everything on their list and capitalize on this huge retail holiday?

First, advertisers need to recognize the massive opportunity that back-to- school shopping presents. According to The Shelf, $828 billion is spent annually on back-to-school shopping in the U.S. alone! From the essentials like backpacks and a fresh wardrobe to items geared towards older kids like computers, tablets, electronics, and dorm room furniture, advertisers need to identify which of their products will be in high demand.

Second, consumers are becoming more and more discount savvy and are spending time hunting down the best possible deal. Ensuring that a discount is available is key to capturing the attention of shoppers and converting them into buyers.

Lastly, advertisers should also understand that the shopping path consumers take is evolving and changing. Consumers are relying more heavily on social sites like Pinterest and Instagram to get ideas, engaging in comparison shopping on their mobile phones while shopping, and are looking online for coupons they can easily take in-store to redeem. Because the shopping behavior is shifting, advertisers need to cover all their bases by working with bloggers and influencers, making sure their prices are competitive and launching omni channel deals that can be used both online and in-store.

For additional tips and tricks on making the most of your sales and marketing this back-to-school season, check out this fabulous infographic from The Shelf!