Back to School
REUTERS/Mike Segar/File Photo
COURIER LIFE, AUGUST 20-26, 2021 29
Back-to-school shopping
sales have long been indicators
that the summer
vacation season is coming
to a close. Students and
their parents may visit area
stores or browse online looking
for items to make the coming
school year a success.
Those lists have looked similar
for decades, but shopping
for school supplies in the pandemic
era may prove to be a
unique experience.
Though hundreds of millions
of adults and adolescents
have now been vaccinated
against COVID-19, there fi gures
to be some lingering effects
of the pandemic during
the upcoming school year.
That could affect which school
supplies families buy in the
weeks to come. Here’s a look at
some of the latest trends.
A shift from physical
stores
According to data from
IBM’s U.S. Retail Index, the
pandemic has accelerated
a shift away from physical
stores to digital shopping by
about fi ve years.
It’s likely that school shoppers
will turn to the internet
for their supplies, which
means local brick and mortar
shops should increase their
web presence and digital shopping
capabilities to reach online
shoppers.
This includes omnichannel
fulfi llment, such as buy online
and pickup in store (BOPIS)
options.
Reassessment of what’s
essential
The pandemic may have
changed which items consumers
consider essential. For example,
clothing became less
signifi cant as a greater number
of students were enrolled
in virtual learning.
Back-to-school shoppers
may purchase less clothing
and focus more on tech items,
among others.
Traditional supplies
become less necessary
In 2020, Deloitte forecasted
that a shift in preferences and
intentions would result in
parents buying fewer traditional
supplies, such as notebooks
and offi ce supplies, as
they chose to invest in digital
resources to supplement children’s
education. That shift
likely will continue into this
school year.
Support for local
retailers
Community spirit grew in
the early days of the pandemic
and continues now. Many people
prefer to shop in locally
owned stores. Eighty percent
of customers surveyed feel
more or as connected to their
communities, according to
the business industry consultant
company Accenture.
Customers are trying
new brands and products
Shoppers are trying new
products out of curiosity as
well as necessity. Back-toschool
shopping may include
novel brands and other items
that may not have been readily
purchased in years past.
Back-to-school shopping
may continue to look a bit different
than in previous years,
spawning trends that may ultimately
become the new normal.
– Metro Creative Connection
Changes in school shopping
Homecoming NYC
Our Classrooms
Our Community
Our Future
Safe and healthy learning for all.
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Back to
SCHOOL
2021
/Homecoming