Ready, Writing and Retail Renegades

On July 14, 2009. By Fran, under Tech Talk.

It’s hard to think that September’s biggest season for back-to-school shopping is already underway. Maybe not on the minds of kids and teens but retailers are gearing up for fall 2009 in big ways. Lots of focus will be on the returning school year sales marking for the first time since the financial crisis went south last September.

Second only to the winter holidays, consumers spent $54.1 billion on apparel, shoes, electronics and other items for school kids and those heading back to college as of last year’s reports. Retailers are beefing up major marketing, promotions and anything possible to lure this year’s students into big sales for retail victory.

Consumers are holding off buying items until they really need it, and are hoping that they will get them at bargain prices, but will parents hold off all that much?

This question is quite significant, and if so, this will force retailers to slash prices when a season has just started usually when holding prices at full margin for a new season gains interest and demand. Moreover, retailers are up against a tough assignment since the 2008 back-to-school period got a boost from shoppers spending up to $600 in stimulus checks.

When it comes to children, parents often overspend when the new school year rolls around regardless of a set budget or economic blunders. New jeans and sneakers top the list for must have fashion wants and coming in close second are electronics. A lot remains to be seen, even though July is the official start of the back-to-school and only a month away.

Easy as A, B and C?

Speculation can be made along with polls and statistics, but the only ones with all the moxie are consumers, or is it? How and what we consider necessity or luxury determines everything.

I wonder sometimes, if we as a consumer ever stop to understand the power in consumption, or the other way around. Think about that next time, when your kids drag you under a trail of strategic marketing signs to the next & new must have necessity.

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