Target is kicking off its back-to-school promotions by offering more ways for shoppers to save amid shifting schooling-related lifestyle trends.
This year, back to school and back to college will come against a backdrop of critical changes including less remote learning as communities change approaches to the COVID-19 pandemic. As such, the season will offer major opportunity for those attuned to shifting trends not only in retail but also in education itself, where, for example, more people of traditional college ages thinking twice about entering college and more established adults planning a return to college.
According to the HomePage News report on the 2022 IHA Occasions Survey only 38% of respondents 18 to 23 years old and 12% of those 24 to 29 years old, typical college/graduate school ages, stated that they would likely leave for college in 2022. On the flip side, 28% of respondents aged 30 to 34 said they were likely to attend college in the next year. As such, what constitutes back-to-college merchandise will change as costs and alternatives prompt fewer young people to immediately embrace higher education and more older students, with somewhat different needs, attending. After all, older students are unlikely to need the kind of top-to-bottom dorm room outfitting required for teenagers going away to college for the first time, but they may need various office/study furniture pieces and may be inclined to look for more feature-rich items than their younger counterparts.
For its part, Target is boosting some of its ongoing back-to-school programs. The retailer has increased its Target Circle offer for college students and extended its popular Teacher Prep Event, the company noted. Target Circle collegians can save 20% off a one-time purchase through September 3, an increased discount from 15% in 2021. An extended Teacher Prep Event, offered through the free Target Circle loyalty program, runs July 17 to September 10, almost six weeks longer than last year, giving teachers the opportunity to save 15% on school supplies and related merchandise for the duration.
In another initiative, Target stores will offer tax free weekends. So, stores in states where the tax applies will not charge it on Saturday or Sunday. Then, from July 11 to 13, back-to-school shoppers can take advantage of the Target Deal Days event, the retailer’s major summer sales promotion with savings on tech, apparel, beauty and domestic merchandise among other categories, Target pointed out.
In terms of merchandise, college students who need them still will find dorm décor, household essentials, beauty, electronics and food and beverage items across Target private labels including Room Essentials, Brightroom, Wild Fable, Goodfellow & Co, Heyday, and Good & Gather, as well as national brands such as Apple, JanSport, Nimble and others.
Target’s School List Assist and College Registry can make shopping easier by providing access to classroom supply lists while offering an easy way to organize shopping for the return to classroom.
“We know the back-to-school season signals an important milestone for millions of families across the country, and we’re here to help by introducing even more ways for guests to save and find everything they need all in one convenient location,” said Jill Sando, Target’s executive vice president and chief merchandising officer. “From supplies and stylish apparel to snacks and the latest electronics, guests can count on Target to make the most of their budgets, with thousands of items under $10.”
