As summer comes to an end, the excitement of a new school year approaches, and with it comes the highly anticipated back-to-school season. This time of year comes with beginnings for many students, but also with shopping lists and many items to check off. Thankfully, many retailers run back-to-school sales so that both students and parents can get ready for the new school year.
Back-to-school sales bring noteworthy discounts and promotions for students, parents, and educators alike. Various products go on sale, including but not limited to notebooks, backpacks, and the latest tech gadgets. In this article, we’ll focus on when such sales run, the types of deals they bring, how much you can save then, and a few popular retailers that run back-to-school sales.
When Do Back-to-School Sales Run?
Back-to-school shopping usually starts in the early-to-mid July period, immediately after the 4th of July holiday. However, the Independence Day sales themselves can sometimes include price drops on school supplies, gadgets, and technology that could help both students and teachers.
Still, some retailers may roll out back-to-school deals later in the summer, somewhere in the second part of June. Others may run such promotions for a few weeks or so. For example, in 2022, Target ran back-to-school sales from July 14th to August 11th, while Best Buy rolled out the first back-to-school deals on July 8th, with the event wrapping up in late August.
If there’s a particular retailer you’re interested in, make sure to sign up for their newsletter so that you can be in the know when the offers go live.
Types of Deals and Discounted Items During Back-to-School Sales
Getting ready for school isn’t just about getting pens, notebooks, and other such items. It also calls for new clothing and shoes, technology, and dorm supplies, to name the most important product categories. Fortunately, many such items are included in these sales. So, here are a few products retailers have marked down in the last few years and how much you can save on them.
- Clothing and shoes
Kids grow fast, and new clothes and shoes are needed frequently. To keep up with your kids’ growth, it is worth keeping an eye on stores such as Amazon, JCPenney, Kohl’s, Nordstrom, Old Navy, Gap, and The Children’s Place. These retailers offered up to 80% off clothing in the previous back-to-school sales, therefore, they’re worth keeping an eye out for.
Previous Target and Walmart back-to-school sales included clothing starting at only $10. What’s more, if you’re part of these retailers’ loyalty programs, you may save even more or benefit from exclusive deals. For instance, these sales at Kohl’s can also include Kohl’s Cash, which can help you save even further as long as you spend it.
As far as activewear, sneakers, and sports gear are concerned, you might want to check out the following stores for noteworthy price drops: Academy Sports & Outdoors, adidas, Dick’s Sporting Goods, Nike, Puma, and Reebok. Most of them offer up to 50% off select styles, but we may see even greater discounts. For instance, Puma cut prices on select items by up to 60%. Plus, Finish Line’s offer included hundreds of shoes for under $50.
- School supplies
The Back to School season is a great time to stock up on various school supplies, as that’s when their prices get significantly lower. Pens, notebooks, and other basic school supplies get discounted by up to 85%, something we rarely see during other sales events.
Many school basics are available for under $1 each, which makes it worth stocking up on supplies for a longer time. Some retailers that offer discounts on school supplies include Amazon, Office Depot, Staples, and Target.
- Laptops, gadgets, and software
Back-to-school sales are a perfect time to get discounted prices on desktops, laptops, and tablets. Expect to save a few hundred dollars on computers and tablets from well-known brands. More significant discounts might be applied to refurbished models, which can be just as good as new.
Amazon, Best Buy, Newegg, Dell, and HP are some of the retailers worth keeping an eye out for, as they typically offer discounts on laptops, tablets, and various gadgets. For example, select laptops were a few hundred dollars off during previous back-to-school sales at Best Buy. Laptop manufacturers may run their own sales. For instance, HP offered discounts of up to 77% on select products and an extra 10% off select products over $1,099.
Given that software is needed to enjoy these products and carry out various school-related projects, discounts on software are also included in the back-to-school sales. Many popular retailers and manufacturers run education programs, offering eligible students discounts. For instance, Adobe offered 60% off Adobe Creative Cloud in some of the previous years.
- Backpacks and accessories
All those new school supplies require a sturdy backpack. Such items also go on sale, and given their variety, it shouldn’t be difficult to find something for every budget. Some retailers, such as Target, may even bundle backpacks with various supplies and even lunch boxes and offer them at affordable prices. Such bundles were available for just $20 during previous back-to-school sales.
However, prices on some backpacks may get even lower in late September. So if your kid still has a good-enough backpack from last year, and you want to score even greater deals, it might be worth waiting for September’s offers.
- Dorm supplies
The shopping list may also include furniture, bedding, and other such items if your kid is moving into a new dorm. What’s great is that you can find discounts on dorm supplies during other summer sales, such as 4th of July events. Target, JCPenney, and Kohl’s usually run promotions on bedding, cookware, and various accessories needed for decorating a dorm room.
Tips to Maximize Your Savings During Back-to-School Sales
As is the case with other sales events, there are a few things to do to make sure you get the best value for your money. Here are some of them:
- Plan – start your shopping before it actually starts. Make a list and set aside a budget so that you can avoid impulse purchases and stay focused on essential items.
- Compare prices – if you’re loyal to a certain retailer, you may be tempted to buy mostly from them, but it is worth researching the best deals and comparing prices across different retailers to ensure you’re getting the most value for your money.
- Timing is key – some retailers offer early bird deals and access, which can help you find the products you need still in stock and at good prices. Some items may sell out as soon as the sale goes live, which makes these early promotions worth seizing if your shopping list includes in-demand items. Plus, you might want to consider shopping towards the end of the season, when retailers may offer clearance sales to make room for new inventory.
- Seize newsletter- and app-exclusive deals – many retailers offer exclusive deals to their subscribers and app users. It is thus worth signing up for email alerts and using the store’s app, as you can save even further.
- Shop bundles – bundle deals usually help you get more value for your money, and some school supplies are a better deal when purchased in bundles.
- Price match guarantee – check if the retailers you’re shopping at offer a price match guarantee. If you find an identical item at a lower price elsewhere, they may match or beat that price, allowing you to secure the best deal.
- Take advantage of tax-free holidays – during the back-to-school season, certain items are exempt from sales tax in some states on tax-free weekends. To avoid paying taxes, keep an eye out for these weekends and schedule your purchases accordingly. These holidays usually run in July and August, and they typically include products from several categories, such as clothes, shoes, and school supplies.