Back to school supplies can be fun, stylish, and get students and teachers excited to start a new school year. The season is here, and so are the huge profit opportunities for businesses.
Did you know that in the US, the back-to-school shopping season is the second-largest seasonal consumer-shopping period of the year?
According to the National Center for Education Statistics, “About 19.7 million students are projected to attend colleges and universities in fall 2020.” Of those students, 11.3 million are estimated to be female, and 8.3 million are estimated to be male.
And distance learning continues to be the preference for millions of students. According to the NCES, “Of the students who were enrolled in any distance education course, 3.7 million students were enrolled in distance education for at least one but not all of their courses, and 3.3 million were enrolled exclusively in distance education courses.”
Not only that, the National Retail Federation estimates that “spending is expected to total $33.9 billion, up from $26.2 billion last year and breaking the record of $30.3 billion set in 2012.”
These expenditures are primarily in apparel and consumer electronics —but electronics are still growing.
And one of the biggest customer segments for back to school is Gen Z.
Gen Z consists of the population born in or after 1995. According to the Statista, the individuals of Generation Z make up 20.4% of the US population—the third largest percentage—and they have the fastest growing income of any population segment.
The first generation to be completely digital and mobile since birth, Gen Z expects their lifestyles to be as fast and mobile as their data. After all, technology capabilities are important for the generation that’s grown up with the Internet, mobile devices and instant gratification.
Gen Z is one of the largest customer segments for back to school without a doubt. However, they are not the only ones going back to school. College welcomes people from all walks of life, whether they are Gen Z, Millennials or Baby Boomers.
Where Do Students Shop?
Where do these college students, and their families, shop?
A 2020 Deloitte survey explains where students will be shopping for their back to school supplies, as well as a breakdown of the most important categories. While clothing and accessories and school supplies are still the biggest categories, families and students are also spending money on new items—home learning accessories and health supplies.
What’s on the parents’ and students’ checklists?
Most colleges and universities have their own lists based on dorm accommodations, and many can be found online.
You can consult many generic lists to be found on the web. Bear in mind that more women than men are enrolling these days, as noted above. So regardless of gender, many college students will choose this time to invest in a new computer or electronic device. And if students continue to choose distance learning, a computer or tablet is an absolute necessity.
In other words, how can you get students the back-to-school supplies they need for success this year?
Keeping Up with College Customers’ Checklists
Powerful Learning Devices
Tablets provide great opportunities for accessory sales and are the ultimate in portable computers. Petra offers a wide variety of tablet stands and mounts, universal cases, styli, cleaning kits, and more.
Dorm Room and Safety Necessities
Dorm room and safety necessities are back to school supplies must-haves. A jolt of morning energy may be necessary to get students to that 9 a.m. psychology class on time. Help make this happen by stocking affordable, easy-to-use coffee makers. And don’t forget the microwave to warm up those breakfast Hot Pockets!
Students living away from home for the first time will need a way to keep drinks and food cold. That’s why compact refrigerators have been a dorm-room staple for decades!
Your customers also want to always stay safe and secure. For example, bicycles serve as a reliable mode of transportation between classes, but theft is a very real concern.
Assault remains an unfortunate reality on campus. Students in general and young women should take precautions. Products like personal locks and pepper spray stand the test of time as an effective means of thwarting attacks.
And if students are returning to a physical classroom for the first time this Fall, they’ll need a variety of personal protective equipment as well—including UV sanitizers, hand sanitizer dispensers, and hand wipes.
How Petra Can Help
Students have lots of needs to get prepared for the new school year.
But it’s also ideal for finding the products you need for any back-to-school campaign, including things like audio accessories, data storage and memory, and more.
This one-stop shop can help you be prepared to pass the back-to-school test. And if you ever need a tutor, don’t forget to contact your sales representative!