A Little Bit About The Sears/BlogHer Survey On Back To School Shopping
Sears Offers Back to School Fashion at Affordable Prices to Help Make This Year Amazing!
Nearly two-thirds of parents who responded to a new survey say they are inclined to spend more on apparel items, including jeans, tops and shoes, for this school year versus last year. Though they may spend more, parents will be using newspaper ads, circulars and loyalty programs to track down deals throughout the season, according to the joint survey by Sears and BlogHer, Inc. While the economic state of the nation continues to have an impact on spending—with the National Retail Federation finding that families will on average spend less on back-to-school shopping than last year According to NRF’s 2011 Back-to-School survey conducted by BIGresearch, families with children in grades K-12 will spend an average of $603.63 on apparel, school supplies and electronics, within a few dollars of last year’s $606.40 average. – the just-released survey indicates that what parents are looking for above all is value.
Highlights of the national survey of more than 700 respondents include:
- More than 60 percent of moms surveyed claim cash is the number one form of spending for back-to-school items, followed by credit cards (28 percent) and checks (four percent).
- Four out of 10 families will do most of their shopping right before school starts or after school is back in session, yet almost half (47 percent) are keeping an eye on all sales and specials throughout the summer.
- While online shopping and mobile apps serve as useful tools for moms on the go, eight out of 10 parents (83 percent) will conduct their back-to-school shopping in-store, with more than 60 percent using circulars and 31 percent relying on loyalty programs to get the most out of their budgets.
Shopping for jeans is an enduring back-to-school tradition that we’ll continue to see, with almost one-third (31 percent) of respondents to the Sears/BlogHer survey, citing denim as a primary apparel item they would be inclined to spend more on. Furthermore, nearly half (46 percent) indicated that they would buy two to four pairs of jeans per child, while more than two-thirds (68 percent) of moms plan to keep costs down by spending less than $50 per pair.
“Especially during this tough economic climate, Sears remains committed to providing aspirational, affordable fashions,” said Dave Friedman, SVP and president of marketing, Sears Holdings. “This survey confirms the back-to-school trends we anticipated—that moms are savvier shoppers, now more than ever. That’s why our goal for back to school is to provide a wide selection of brands and styles to match every kid’s personality at prices families can afford.”
From jeans to hoodies to graphic tees, Sears has all the “in” styles to match every kid’s personality and every family’s budget, with fashion brands such as BONGO, American Star, Dickies and U.S. Polo Association. Sears also has the latest styles in denim, including super-stretchy jeans (jeggings) as well as designer details like ”bling” back pockets.
The survey also found that while the rising cost of school supplies remains an issue of concern, there are several other considerations that parents rate as worrisome, including:
- Budget cuts, particularly to music and arts programs, were ranked as the top concern, with 27 percent of moms ranking that as their number one concern.
- Lack of nutrition in cafeteria food came next, with 20 percent ranking it as their biggest concern.
- Demanding homework load for kids came in behind these other economic and health-focused issues, with 19 percent naming it a top concern.
To help customers be on top of all the hottest trends and make this school year amazing, Sears recently launched a new fashion website, http://www.searsstyle.com/, which houses all the latest stories and trends from the world of fashion. While shopping in-store, families can also use convenient kiosks to order back-to-school items that are not in-store or in-stock. To help prepare for the shopping experience, moms can visit www.Facebook.com/Sears to check out the “Mom’s Amazing List” app, which allows them to create their own back-to-school shopping list and offers suggested lists based on gender and age.
Our Experience
Shopping for back to school can be a daunting task. First, with what to buy? Next, will the kid's like what is purchased enough to actually wear it? Yes, we've hit the glory day's in my home! You know, the day's when your children start voicing their opinions on brands...and dare I say it? What's "in" (gone are the day's when I could simply go in and scoop up what I thought was cute and affordable!).
Thankfully, Sears has made the ordeal of Back to School shopping easier on mom's this year, in more way's than one. With the chance to speak to a Sear's store manager before our Back to School shopping trip, it became clear just why parent's should turn to Sears when shopping for their children this Fall. Already low prices, are being made even more affordable with weekly sales (check your local weekly ad online before shopping), coupons, their "Moms Amazing List" app, and SearsStyle.com. Parent's can look forward to a full range of products, making it easy to shop for everything your children need and want, all in one place. With brand favorites such as Hoodie Buddies, Levi's, Kardashian Kollection (an exclusive Brand to Sears) Dockers, Lee, Joe Boxer, Disney, and Carter's just to name a few,children will find what they want, at affordable prices parents will love! From shoes, to backpacks, to full Fall wardrobe selections, Sears has it all covered!
Before shopping our local Sears last weekend, I set out to achieve maximum results on a set budget of $225 (total) for our two children.
Along with making a list of essentials, I browsed the local store advertisement which also included a coupon for 15% off the total purchase (including clearance items).
Next we browsed the boy's department, where Docker's, Canyon River Blues, and Levi's were being offered at incredibly low prices! We chose three Docker's dress shirts, a Dockers tie (convenient clip-on), a pair of jeans by Canyon River Blue's, a 3-piece Pajama set (2 bottoms and 1 top), and a Winter coat.
While waiting in line to checkout, I observed a young mother who was checking out just ahead of me. She didn't have the local advertisement, and was purchasing what also looked to be a full Fall wardrobe for her children. The friendly cashier graciously informed her of the coupon and provided her with a circular.By offering this young mother the coupon, it saved her an additional $37!
I really love (LOVE, LOVE, LOVE!) stores that show appreciation for their customer's, and this is a store clearly does!
The low prices, coupled with an additional 15% off coupon, easily allowed me to stay within my Budget of $225, the grand total for our Back to School shopping trip was $225.92!
Send your kid's Back to School in style this year, with Sears! Your kid's and wallet will Thank You!
Send your kid's Back to School in style this year with Sears! You can find the item's pictured at a Sears store near you, and online at http://www.sears.com/ . Plan your Back to School shopping trip http://www.searsstyle.com/ and with the "Mom's Amazing Shopping List" app by Sears which can be found on the Sears Facebook page at: www.facebook.com/sears
