9/1/2013
Almost one in four high school students (22%) want to purchase cartoon character-themed back-to-school merchandise this year, according to Walgreens. The majority of students in grades K-5 (57%) and 50% of middle school students want to purchase cartoon character-themed merchandise.
Singer-themed supplies are slightly more popular for middle school students than merchandise featuring animated movies (43% vs. 41%). Half of elementary school students (51%) want animated movie-themed school supplies.
Students are heading back to the classroom with new paper/notebooks (83%), pencils (80%), pens (74%), binders (72%), book bags (72%), subject folders (70%), boxes of crayons (56%), glue (52%), scissors (49%), and electronics (43%). Nearly two in three parents will purchase tissues and hand sanitizers for their students.
Eight in 10 families (80%) use back-to-school lists. One in four parents (28%) say low price is the most important consideration when determining where to buy supplies. Almost two in 10 parents (18%) say it’s important that the retailer carries necessary items, 13% seek special sales, 12% go to stores that always have supplies in-stock, and 10% go to stores that are quick and convenient. However, parents of high school students are more likely than parents of elementary or middle school students to say it’s an important consideration to know a retailer has exactly what’s required from the student’s preparation list (32% vs. 18%).
Parents’ top gripes with back-to-school shopping include out-of-stock items (35%), crowded aisles (23%), checkout lines (18%), searching for products (15%), and impatient children (8%).
Meanwhile, 44% of parents wait until one or two weeks before school starts to get their children’s physicals, 70% of parents get their children’s immunizations the month before school starts, and 40% wait until the final two weeks.
SOURCE: Walgreens, Bryan Pugh, VP Merchandising, Store Design & Well Experience, 200 Wilmot Rd., Deerfield, IL 60015; 847-940-2500; bryan.pugh@walgreens.com; www.walgreens.com.
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