No student (or teacher) wants to think about the start of the school year. However, with that being said, there are quite a few marketing strategies, ideas and tools that your business can add to its toolbelt this fall surrounding one high-stress topic: back to school spending!
Got sales?
It may sound hard to believe, but nearly every business owner, company or product can anticipate a potential sky rocket in purchases this summer/fall in preparation for the school year. You may be asking yourself, “but how, Taylor?” Well, I’ve got your answer!
Understanding the trends in Back to School Spending can help businesses align their strategies effectively.
It’s important to remember that there are many different facets of the back to school season that are important to a variety of students at a variety of grade levels. Whether your company sells sports equipment, technology, hair masks, microwaves or stuffed animals, there are hundreds of students who are in need of your product, it’s just whether or not you utilize this to your advantage or not.
Say cheese!
In this day and age, kids are always thinking about the latest trends and keeping up with what is in style. Of course this pertains to clothes and accessories, but what if I told you that by targeting your audience with trends in advertisements or aesthetics, you may be able to branch out to a whole other set of consumers and enhance revenue in the blink of an eye?
A great example of this would be increasing a social media footprint or marketing your product in a social-media-like-way. An example of this would be taking realistic photographs of your products that emulate an instagram picture. If you’re a clothing company, stop hiring models and start reaching out to regular, everyday people (like influencers) or have your current employees take pictures with your products in a trendy way. A way to do this would be having your employees sitting on a bench in a park, drinking coffee and laughing in your brand’s apparel. This will automatically reach a great length of people because the picture is not posed and looks like a regular girl’s social media post. Watch the likes, follows and purchases increase with a consistent change in how you market your clothing line!
Xoxo, School Girl
Remember when the CW released “Gossip Girl?” Another idea for apparel could be to do a time capsule of your brand from previous back to school seasons or if your business is on the newer side, think back to what was trending back in 2007 and incorporate it into the new releases. Lately, the look for many young girls has been baggy sweatshirts and sweatpants, but an argyle skirt and sweater is bound to make a comeback soon. A great way to advertise this comeback would be having young girls taking pictures by an art museum or even in one if you can get permission. Think Blair and Serena on the MET’s stairs.
A New Wardrobe Isn’t The Only Thing Students Need
Clothes and laptops are usually the first set of items on a back-to-school list, but what about everything else? Don’t worry, I’ve got you covered!
Like I said at the beginning of the article, nearly every product can be enhanced for the back-to-school season, and a few other examples are as follows.
Don’t Let the Bedbugs Bite!
When students finally leave the comfort zone of mom and dad’s house for college this fall, they want to make sure that their new bedding is the best they’ve had thus far. That’s when your marketing campaign comes in!
A great way to market bedding is to focus on twin bedding, oversized blankets and silk pillowcases. Incorporate a variety of trendy colors, materials and pop-culture into your company and your bedding will sell like it never has before. If your business is not necessarily a bedding company but it has a variety of options, try and add some nice bedding to your collection and see what happens! This would work even better if your company is in a town where a busy college is already. Who says it’s only freshmen that want new bedding?
Add To Cart
Another business tactic that could work great is giving student discounts for delivery services. Whether you’re a restaurant, grocery or drug store, this is a great opportunity to reach new consumers, perhaps enhance delivery services if you already utilize them or allow your company to branch out and acquire a new aspect that separates your business from the others in town. It could be a one-time discount of something small or a discounted monthly subscription/package that keeps revenue flowing in whether purchases are made consistently or not.
Another idea for local restaurants would be a happy hour for students specifically. Instead of discounting appetizers and alcoholic beverages, have a happy hour menu that consists of easy meals and fun mocktails that get students coming in your door as soon as they move into town. You will create long-lasting relationships and customers that will consistently spend money at your establishment over the next four years. Maybe they’ll even spend their 21st birthday with you!
Final Thoughts
No matter what your business sells, back-to-school can easily bring in paramount revenue that you’ve never seen before. Clothes are always a go-to for students, but don’t forget about comfortable bedding, stuffed animals, athletic supplies, student discounts and happy hour. These are all fantastic marketing strategies that will consistently amplify revenue each and every year from future customers as well as current ones.
FAQ
When does school go back in session?
School is always back in session by mid-September, but usually by Labor Day. In some states, students start in the middle of August – which is only a matter of weeks away, when you reall think about it!
How do I market my product?
There are so many ways to market products for back-to-school. If I didn’t mention your product in this article, think about the products listed above and how to incorporate student discounts, colors or generationally appropriate additives to your current product. (Example: cartoon shaped macaroni).
