Acing the back-to-school shopping season

With shoppers expected to surpass last year’s total spending of upwards of $25 billion, the 2019 pre-K-12 back-to-school shopping season promises to be a lucrative opportunity for retailers – if they position themselves to win. But making the right decisions to capitalize isn’t so simple.

In the face of relentless disruption of the retail space, retailers are grappling with difficult choices. How are consumer preferences for infinite choice and access impacting their back-to-school shopping habits? As the digital and physical worlds merge, how will it change where and how consumers spend their money? How are the highest value back-to-school shoppers—those planning to spend $1,000 or more—altering their behavior in response to changes in the retail landscape?

Back-to-school shopping trends

Read about how:

• The race for market share is already on
• Online shopping will drive incremental spend increases
• All desitinations and categories remain relevant
• Strong online presence is fundamental
• Consumers will actively seek value
• Retailers can leverage their data to position themselves to win

KPMG surveyed more than 500 U.S. back-to-school shoppers to uncover the key back-to-school shopping trends retailers need to know this year, uncovering practical insights on timing, spend, channels, products, categories, activities, and more. The key findings shed light on how retailers can adapt their strategy and approach to profit off this back-to-school season.