Back-to-School Marketing Campaign Ideas

1)Tried and true.
Back-to-school sales are a tradition now and can work well for you if you sell products that are obviously school related …. or obviously non-school related.

If the kids going back to school is going to cause your sales to slump, now’s the time for “last chance” sales. For example, a kayak rental business might offer “last chance” lessons and outings; a museum might offer discounted tours.

2) Reach for the tie-in.

If your products or services have no obvious back-to-school tie-in, you can still create one.

• Whether selling services or product, a nutrition-related business might offer information on preparing healthy school lunches.
• A business selling cleaning products might back-to-school market its products as great for cleaning dorm rooms and sell a special “studentpak” of products.
• A watch repair business might run a “be on time for school” special.

3) Don’t forget the parents.

Back-to-school means different schedules for parents, too, and for some, more time to do things for themselves or things they’ve been putting off.

• Personal care businesses, such as hairdressers, manicurists, and massage therapists can offer discounts on “they’ve-gone-back-to-school” appointments.
• Restaurants could offer special menus and/or dishes to encourage patrons to come in for lunch.
• Fitness studios and gyms could offer special workshops or session series in school hours.

The really great thing about targeting students’ parents in your back-to-school marketing is that your promotion can carry on right through September.

More Marketing Ideas:

• 10 Low-Cost Ways to Promote Your Business
• Attract More Customers through Cross-Promotion
• Back-to-School Specials that Any Business Can Offer (VerticalResponse Marketing Blog)

Fast Stat

$935.1 million — The total value of sales of stationery, office supplies, cards, gift wrap and party supplies (Back to school… by the numbers 2008, Statistics Canada).

Image (c) Justin Sullivan / Getty Images

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