So the big thing right now that all the buzz is a bout is back to school.  Most schools in the metroplex are starting the week of 8/24 so it’s pretty much down to the wire for back to school parents.  You have so many stores advertising like crazy.  The competition is big right now for back to schoolers from school supplies, clothes, to cell phones even.  There’s sales up the wazoo for everything and anything dealing with school.   And there should be since this back to school season is more than likely going to be the lowerst it’s ever been.  Parents are buying what is needed now.  Social media is even going big on back to school…

So who has some of the most effective back to school marketing strategies.  HMMMM let’s see!!!  Off the top of my head and from commercials and direct mail…definetly Kohl’s, Walmart  and Target are on the top of my list fore sure.  Kohls has the cool Avril Lavigne commerical where the girls have the Abby Dawn clothes on and the school bus drives up the Avril Lavigne’s tour bus and the girls see her with her guitar and it’s like WOW!  Kohls also has the mail outs that are gears towards juniors.  Even the 15% or 20% cards that I get in the mail had a teenage boy with a skate board and the girl on my other coupon card was dressed in the Abby Dawn clothing.  As for Walmart well come one it’s Wal-mart.  Their direct mail out is gear again for teenage and college bound kids.  They have flashing through out bright colored items for a dorm or tween room.  They advertise on the cheap school supplies and back to school “roll backs.”  They even sale school uniforms now that the majority of the elementary and middle schools are now uniform.  Not to mention the commercials for the back to school labtops in a variety of colors.  Target pretty much evolves their commercial around the all around experience where you can get all of your back to school items plus items for the home such as snacks, groceries, etc.  Also for all 3, their websites are back to school themed.  It’s pretty neat. 

I would like to say as far as the Office Depots and Staples kind of store, I really haven’t hear much.  I mean yeah you hear about the Staples “First Bell” promo.  But really I didn’t get much advertising or see many commercials from them this year.  Maybe it’s a word of mouth thing or they are depending complety on social media.   But even at that Office Depot is the only one I’ve seen by far that is doing the whole back to school theme as far as office supply stores.  They just didn’t really do it for me this school season

Now in my opinion the reason some of these back to school pitches don’t make are simple they dont’ advertise enough.  I mean come on, you got to get you stuff out there if you want it bought.  Also not having everything you need at one stop.  The thing one hates most is having to go to different stores to get what you need.  For example Walmart, not only do they have the cheap school supplies but they have the labtops, undergarments, shoes, plus the uniforms that start at about $6.  That a one stop shop unless of course they don’t have the size you need. LOL!  Another thing is the pricing.  You have to have a reasonable price.  I’m sorry I’m not going to pay $40 for a white shirt at Aeropostle when I can buy at Walmart for $5.  These competitors have to make it better.  The main thing especiall right now when everyone is struggling is pricing.  I’d make sure that the pricing is at a reasonable price to not only have them during back to school season but all year round.  I’d also promote towards the tween age.  Come on after all they are the top buyers right now, well the parents are but the tweens are the reason for the spending.  And definitely more social media.  Alot of these tween are turning to the web for the coolest trends, etc.  Back to school…gotta love it!!!!