Economists’ forecast for the 2013 back-to-school shopping season make it clear that the economy still has a tight grip on the wallets of students and parents nationwide. It’s predicted that Americans will spend almost 8% less on clothes this season compared to back-to-school last year due to the slow and rocky recovery from the recession. Some 90% of American consumers state that they’ll more likely shop in discount stores, such as Wal-Mart, for their clothing and supplies, and when it comes to the items they choose, half of shoppers say that price is the most important factor.
This, of course, will benefit the discount stores as they’ll be seeing more back-to-school action than ever. Meanwhile, smaller brands and independent designers will be struggling in the competition. Retail consultants assert that it’s going to take much more encouragement and excitement for shoppers to want to buy back-to-school clothing; clothing, services, and sales will have to be more unique and intriguing than ever.
Many states have offered tax-free shopping weekends in order to make the endeavor more affordable and manageable. Retailers are doing their part as well. Sam Sisakhti is the founder of UsTrendy, an “online fashion marketplace” where independent designers can open up individual storefronts and sell their products, and he’s in the fight to try to get college students excited about back-to-school shopping again. “New clothing is an aspect of going back to school that gets a lot of students excited about the school year. It shouldn’t be stressful. I think students might find that buying from independent designers has a few benefits – they get affordable prices, quality designs, and styles that you can’t find anywhere else.” He’s also taking on a few projects to help make fashion remain accessible to college students.
According to Sisakhti:
· The key to smart back-to-school shopping is knowing where to find good quality and trendy designs at good prices.
· UsTrendy will be hosting a fashion design contest on UsTrendy.com exclusively for student designers so they can win prizes and get their names in the limelight.
· The site will also be donating clothing to colleges which students can use to hold fashion shows.