The back-to-school season changes each year as a new wave of college students storm the dorms and flock to campus bookstores to get what they need. We’ve compiled a list of trends to expect for the 2025 back-to-school season so you can stay ahead of the curve and meet your sales goals.
The Time is Now
The U.S. Chamber of Commerce found that most consumers conduct their back-to-school shopping from July to mid-September. This period is a unique time of year that allows businesses to build upon existing consumer trust and deliver on store expectations that consumers look forward to.
Bargains Win Big
Millions of consumers feel the strain of inflation and consequently reduce their budget for shopping trips. Offering lower costs will help consumers in your area feel more comfortable shopping at your campus retail location as opposed to large chain stores or online retailers.
Consumers Largely Shop Online
According to the National Retail Federation, half of all back-to-school shopping will be done online. The biggest reasons consumers choose to shop online are the convenience and ability to easily compare prices amongst multiple stores. Offering an online shopping option to your campus retail store is crucial for this back-to-school season and more going forward.
People Want Experiences
Shoppers are coming to expect more from retailers than just a place to buy what they want. Now, consumers across the country want retailers to provide experiences. Curating assortments of clothes for customers to try on or audio or game devices to play with in store can help satisfy this new expectation from consumers.
In-Store Pickup is Growing
Side effects of the pandemic are still impacting the retail market even five years later. One of these is the desire for flexible in-store pickup options after consumers make a purchase. 89% of consumers say businesses both small and large should continue to offer in-person pickup options that allow customers who make online purchases to quickly walk in and walk out with what they ordered.
Sources
https://www.uschamber.com/co/good-company/launch-pad/top-back-to-school-trends
https://rsmus.com/insights/industries/consumer-goods/2024-back-to-school-recap.html
https://nrf.com/research-insights/holiday-data-and-trends/back-to-school
https://www.emarketer.com/content/4-more-retail-predictions-2025
https://www.surveymonkey.com/curiosity/surveymonkey-study-hybrid-shopping-the-future-of-retail/
retailconnection 