Last year, consumers spent more than $55 billion on back-to-school shopping, according to the National Retail Federation, but retailers, nervous about the economy, are starting out of the gate earlier
and earlier to get consumers to shop for their kids. Toys R Us' "Pack to School" sale on backpacks and lunchboxes started as early as July 1 in some parts of the country.
"If they can
put the sale on and beat the competition to the punch, retailers can get consumers to buy before they normally would," says Marshal Cohen, chief retail analyst at NPD Group.
Walgreens
is rolling out back-to-school displays in the main aisles of stores with essentials from flash drives to tissues, spokesman Jim Cohn says. Walmart is also doing an early back-to-school program.
advertisement
advertisement
Read the whole story at USA Today »