It's the actual height summer, nevertheless inside of many Baltimore-area stores, fall has arrived.
While shoppers sorted through racks discounted shorts and tank tops, retailers placed at White Marsh Mall began displaying school backpacks and uniforms. Area Target stores provided plenty summer picnic gear nevertheless devoted extensive display space to notebooks, pencils, folders and glue. And while some consumers said they can't think just about school purchases until right after family vacations, office supply stores such just as Staples began promoting back-to-school computers, laptops and iPads.
After a new disappointing start to summer as for some retailers, many hope as for a new boost coming from back-to-school shopping, the actual second-biggest sales period the actual year. nevertheless consumers, weighed straight down simply by economic woes such just as high unemployment and elevated gas prices, likely will wait as for last-minute sales, comparison shop more than general or just make do with what they have, some experts said.
"Most middle-income consumers are going to be very selective within what they purchase," said Ken Perkins, president Retail Metrics, a new Boston-based research firm. "Consumers are still feeling cautious and uncertain just about where things are headed. as for a new vast majority households, they're going to buy what they need and not a new lot beyond the bounds that."
Tanasha Siena, an Edgewood resident whose family was reduced to a new single income when she began staying home with her 16-month-old son, said rising costs as for food and other necessities have made her even more price conscious. When it comes to getting her 13-year-old son ready as for eighth grade, her strategy is to buy only what he needs, supplement with leftover school supplies and shop placed at off-price chains such just as Marshalls to get brand names placed at a new discount.
"I'd rather dig through the actual racks" to find a new bargain, Siena said. "As they get older, it's more expensive, because now I'm buying men's clothing and men's shoes, and $120 calculators. If I see something on sale ... and I think the actual price is good, I'll get it."
Though the actual season that starts just as early just as July and runs through mid-September is much less a new make-or-break time as for retailers than end-of-year holiday shopping, it's still important to discounters, department stores, teen and children-oriented specialty shops, and electronics and office supply merchants.
U.S. retailers were expected to have back-to-school and back-to-college sales $68 billion last year, four to five times the actual sales typically generated simply by the actual next-biggest annual holiday, Mother's Day, according to the actual National Retail Federation. the actual group, which has not yet released a new 2012 back-to-school forecast, had said the actual average family with students within kindergarten through high school would spend just about $600 last year, just about the actual same just as within 2010.
To drive spending mid low consumer confidence, retailers have been barring more than general this summer, said Nancy Liu, a new retail strategist placed at Kurt Salmon within New York.
"I think a new lot retailers are looking toward back-to-school and back-to-buying," Liu said. "Retailers are hoping to see a new resurgence just as consumers are forced to go back" to stores.
To bring shoppers through the actual doors, retailers are expected to compete with heavy promotions and discounts.
"It's a new crucial selling season as for them, and they are going to do just as much just as they can to leverage it and drive sales within their stores and online," Perkins said. "It will be a new pretty promotional back-to-school shopping period. Retailers will have to be aggressive within markdowns and offering incentives as for consumers to come in."
"Door-buster" deals coming from Wal-Mart Stores Inc. and other retailers have started, with deals such just as packs pens and crayons as for a new penny — until supplies run out.
"These things are used to get people through the actual door, and it works," said Maggie Miller, a new frugal living expert and blogger coming from Centreville within Queen Anne's County.
More consumers are becoming aware that competing retailers often will match a new low price if shoppers bring them a new circular advertising a new sale, Miller said. "More and more people are price-matching. the actual trend is to save more money now because people are so worried just about the actual economy."
Denise Ruby, a new Bowleys Quarters resident shopping Wednesday placed at White Marsh with daughter Megan, 13, said she'll likely take her to some favorite stores — Aeropostale, Hot Topic and Spencer's, nevertheless will look as for sales and stick to a new budget. And she's within no rush, preferring to wait until closer to the actual start school.
"I have a new certain amount money put off as for school purchases — and that's it," Ruby said.
Retailers can only hope that the actual improving optimism noted simply by one forecast released last week pans out. According to a new consumer survey simply by PriceGrabber, a new website that tracks and compares retail prices, 63 percent the actual respondents said they plan to spend up to $500 this year on back-to-school gear, compared with 48 percent last year. Twenty percent said they plan to spend $500 to $1,000.
Read more here
While shoppers sorted through racks discounted shorts and tank tops, retailers placed at White Marsh Mall began displaying school backpacks and uniforms. Area Target stores provided plenty summer picnic gear nevertheless devoted extensive display space to notebooks, pencils, folders and glue. And while some consumers said they can't think just about school purchases until right after family vacations, office supply stores such just as Staples began promoting back-to-school computers, laptops and iPads.
After a new disappointing start to summer as for some retailers, many hope as for a new boost coming from back-to-school shopping, the actual second-biggest sales period the actual year. nevertheless consumers, weighed straight down simply by economic woes such just as high unemployment and elevated gas prices, likely will wait as for last-minute sales, comparison shop more than general or just make do with what they have, some experts said.
"Most middle-income consumers are going to be very selective within what they purchase," said Ken Perkins, president Retail Metrics, a new Boston-based research firm. "Consumers are still feeling cautious and uncertain just about where things are headed. as for a new vast majority households, they're going to buy what they need and not a new lot beyond the bounds that."
Tanasha Siena, an Edgewood resident whose family was reduced to a new single income when she began staying home with her 16-month-old son, said rising costs as for food and other necessities have made her even more price conscious. When it comes to getting her 13-year-old son ready as for eighth grade, her strategy is to buy only what he needs, supplement with leftover school supplies and shop placed at off-price chains such just as Marshalls to get brand names placed at a new discount.
"I'd rather dig through the actual racks" to find a new bargain, Siena said. "As they get older, it's more expensive, because now I'm buying men's clothing and men's shoes, and $120 calculators. If I see something on sale ... and I think the actual price is good, I'll get it."
Though the actual season that starts just as early just as July and runs through mid-September is much less a new make-or-break time as for retailers than end-of-year holiday shopping, it's still important to discounters, department stores, teen and children-oriented specialty shops, and electronics and office supply merchants.
U.S. retailers were expected to have back-to-school and back-to-college sales $68 billion last year, four to five times the actual sales typically generated simply by the actual next-biggest annual holiday, Mother's Day, according to the actual National Retail Federation. the actual group, which has not yet released a new 2012 back-to-school forecast, had said the actual average family with students within kindergarten through high school would spend just about $600 last year, just about the actual same just as within 2010.
To drive spending mid low consumer confidence, retailers have been barring more than general this summer, said Nancy Liu, a new retail strategist placed at Kurt Salmon within New York.
"I think a new lot retailers are looking toward back-to-school and back-to-buying," Liu said. "Retailers are hoping to see a new resurgence just as consumers are forced to go back" to stores.
To bring shoppers through the actual doors, retailers are expected to compete with heavy promotions and discounts.
"It's a new crucial selling season as for them, and they are going to do just as much just as they can to leverage it and drive sales within their stores and online," Perkins said. "It will be a new pretty promotional back-to-school shopping period. Retailers will have to be aggressive within markdowns and offering incentives as for consumers to come in."
"Door-buster" deals coming from Wal-Mart Stores Inc. and other retailers have started, with deals such just as packs pens and crayons as for a new penny — until supplies run out.
"These things are used to get people through the actual door, and it works," said Maggie Miller, a new frugal living expert and blogger coming from Centreville within Queen Anne's County.
More consumers are becoming aware that competing retailers often will match a new low price if shoppers bring them a new circular advertising a new sale, Miller said. "More and more people are price-matching. the actual trend is to save more money now because people are so worried just about the actual economy."
Denise Ruby, a new Bowleys Quarters resident shopping Wednesday placed at White Marsh with daughter Megan, 13, said she'll likely take her to some favorite stores — Aeropostale, Hot Topic and Spencer's, nevertheless will look as for sales and stick to a new budget. And she's within no rush, preferring to wait until closer to the actual start school.
"I have a new certain amount money put off as for school purchases — and that's it," Ruby said.
Retailers can only hope that the actual improving optimism noted simply by one forecast released last week pans out. According to a new consumer survey simply by PriceGrabber, a new website that tracks and compares retail prices, 63 percent the actual respondents said they plan to spend up to $500 this year on back-to-school gear, compared with 48 percent last year. Twenty percent said they plan to spend $500 to $1,000.
Read more here
PLEASE HELP US SHARE THIS ARTICLE
About the Author
Posts
0Awesome Comments!