Have you seen Easy Ways To Make Marketing Pay?

This is the marketing playbook that will help keep your business at the top of every customer's mind - and wallet - and help you increase Profits, Customer Satisfaction, Customer Retention, Customer Loyalty and Word-of-Mouth Advocacy, both online and offline.

Get it on Amazon (Kindle/Print)

Consumers say they're eager to 'get back to normal' soon

Back-to-school survey reveals 2021 plans similar to 2019

According to the study, back-to-school shoppers plan to spend an average of US$954 on school related items as compared to 2019 ($961) and 2020 ($1,053).

"As states across the country continue to fully reopen, the majority of consumers are returning to their pre-pandemic shopping behaviors," stated Tom McGee, President and CEO of ICSC. He goes on to say that: "Consumer confidence and spending will be the driving force that helps to reinvigorate the US economy; back-to-school and the upcoming holiday shopping seasons will contribute to elevating profits to the levels we saw prior to the pandemic."

Shoppers that indicated spending more this year on back-to-school purchases say that rise is due to additional COVID-19 supplies that are needed, such as masks, sanitizers and disinfecting cloths (33%); a need to replace wardrobe and/or school supplies or sporting equipment (32%); a change in the number of individuals attending school (27%); the items being more expensive (22%); and a change in job status or income (15%).

Promotions will play a significant role with 86 percent of back-to-shoppers saying sales will influence their shopping. Forty-seven percent mentioned that once they are in a store, promotions influence what they buy; 38 percent plan their back-to-school shopping around specific promotional events and dates such as sales tax holidays and big sales; and 32 percent plan to take advantage of the deals they receive from membership programs or loyalty rewards programs.

This year, shoppers will take advantage of both in-store and online shopping options with 38 percent planning to make more purchases online and 27 percent taking advantage of buying online and picking up their purchases in a store.

"The back-to-school survey confirms that planning, shopping, and spending habits among adults look much like they did before the pandemic," McGee continued. "Consumer spending will help bolster a reinvigorated economy as we emerge from our stay-at-home lives. Consumer traffic and spending continue to increase as regular activities continue to resume across the country."

The ICSC Back-to-School Survey was conducted online by Engine Insights on behalf of ICSC from July 9-11, 2021. The survey represents a demographically representative sample of 1,003 US respondents. Spending numbers are comprised of K-12 and college spending.

Have you seen Easy Ways To Make Marketing Pay?

This is the marketing playbook that will help keep your business at the top of every customer's mind - and wallet - and help you increase Profits, Customer Satisfaction, Customer Retention, Customer Loyalty and Word-of-Mouth Advocacy, both online and offline.

This 120+ page report distils a whole spectrum of marketing best practices, do's and don'ts, practical how-to's, research and wisdom from respected global marketing veterans, explaining both emerging and established marketing techniques, technologies, strategies and practices, and providing you with the data you need to support the best decisions for your new, more profitable, more engaging marketing strategy.

In this comprehensive report you'll find all the information and support you need to build and improve a profitable, effective Marketing Strategy that covers all aspects of your business and customer base.

It also highlights all the hard facts, practical know-how and trends drawn by our experts from the global Marketing Factbook's vast database of market data, studies, research and white papers, and presents you with an invaluable library of ideas and practical support you can call upon at will.

This is no average 'state of play' report; it's the only 'Fact Book' that helps you implement and manage meaningful and profitable change, and help you grow your bottom line despite a slowing economy.

You'll gain a true goldmine of easily adaptable and up-to-date strategies, walk-throughs, trends, research and market data, plus all the supporting arguments you need to build a solid, profit-generating marketing strategy.

Get it on Amazon (Kindle/Print)