| It's only July, but it's never too early to start planning back to school events to increase traffic to your stores. Schools are back in session beginning in August so, no matter what state the economy happens to be in and/or if money is tight, parents may need some extra lead time to make all their Back to School purchases in order to send their little darlings on their way.
What’s on the list? Clothes, School Supplies, Food (lunches and snacks), Furniture, (for college bound students) and the Latest Tech Gear (phones, notebooks and I-tunes).
Here are a few ideas for retailers looking to make the grade on Back to School Sales:
Straight A Strut: Good for teen clothing stores, mass merchandisers and department stores. Register students in your store for a chance to Strut their Smarts when they make straight A’s. Reward students with a gift card - $25 – for each straight A report card. Get their email addresses to send updates about the store’s pre-teen/teen events.
Reading, Writing and Rapping: Rap is officially 25 years old and is part of America’s music culture. The Concert Group offers a unique tour and school assembly music program that spotlights rap as an important part of American music development. A retailer could buy the 50-city urban tour for $2 million, re-sell it to key suppliers for $5 million and provide customized school prize packages, (school concert, “how I got my start” stay-in-school motivation, etc.) along with in-store signings and photo opportunities, signed merchandise give aways, etc.
The Student Body: Provide quality lunch and snack choices that are low calorie, nutritious and delicious to nourish a student’s body.
A private label: teen cuisine – line could help kids make the right food choices. Sampling Events: One of the best ways to get children to like it is to get them to try it. Have a special student food sampling event in progress during peak back to school buying times.
Action Awareness Program: Customers/Teachers can nominate students who are making a difference in their community. This could be any 8-18 year old from a Boy Scout to candy striper. Weekly/Monthly selections can be published on the store’s website/twitter accounts. Rewards - $5 gift card.
Teacher of the Week Program: same as above, but the students do the nominating.
Shape the Future with Technology: Tech gear stores should think about sponsoring a local Science Fair that gives today’s students a chance to show how they are creatively using new tech gear to improve their life, studies, the world, etc.
Other Ways to Make the Grade:
Gas Guzzler: College Bound Kids will either drive or fly to their universities - a good opportunity for a Gas Rewards Program – buy 20 fill ups and the 21st is free
Student Priced Luggage: luggage companies to display the current approved for travel suitcases/steamer trunks at student prices.
The Back Pack Give Back – Every time school supplies are purchased, the store matches one item on the customer’s list which is then allocated to students who can’t afford clothes and supplies. Retailer can negotiate with back pack companies for bag donations.
To learn more about these ideas and how SampleSecure.com can help you fulfill all your Back to School marketing needs, contact Retex Member Care. |
