Retailers Forum September 2022 EMAG

From the
PUBLISHER
Back-To-School Sales To Top $37B
ONE of the most exciting things about being
a retailer or vendor is ushering in each new
season and enjoying the possibilities that it
brings along with it.
THE back-to-school season is now well
underway and the industry is expected to
generate almost $37B for this year’s sales. That
number is very close to last years and shows
an average spend of around $864 for each
family.
HOPEFULLY your business will benefit by
this season that is the start of the busiest
times to come for our businesses. If you were
with us last issue you got on the gravy train
by planning ahead and profiting from those
plans.
WHILE the bulk of back-to-school sales have
been done, or are winding up now, there is still
a great deal of residual sales to be made. Once
students start class, they will be making lists of
additional items that they need. Additionally,
as college students settle into their dorm room,
they will realize that having an extra pillow or
set of sheets isn’t such a bad idea after all. So,
there will still be good opportunity to make
more sales before we wind up the season and
move onto Halloween.
LATELY most retailers have been reporting
spurts of sales with no rhyme or reason. The
economy continues to send mixed messages.
We are told we have low unemployment rates
and wages are up but then we deal with
inflation, which hopefully will start on the
downturn. Consumer confidence has been
bouncing up and down and many retailers
>> ON-LINE SOURCING
see their profits bouncing along with those
numbers.
HERE is what we know. We are seeing more
people than ever opening their own businesses
than ever before. There has been a resurgence
of entrepreneurism that had been stifled by the
past ill-advised covid lock-downs. Many new
local stores have been opening and there is a
big increase in new online businesses as well.
This is all great news for our industry.
WHOLESALERS will benefit with the new
buyers and retailers will benefit by having their
local neighborhoods liven up with activity
at a time when downtowns are needing the
infusion of new businesses and energy.
THE low and mid-price point markets
are increasingly strong with shoppers in all
economic brackets looking for value in their
purchases. Make sure your business is stocked
with a big selection of popular priced variety
goods. Keep your inventory low but your sku
selection high and you’ll remain profitable.
ON a closing note, I am sure most of
our industry is aware that our formidable
competitor had recently ceased print
publication of Independent Retailer and
American Merchandiser. They were an asset to
our industry and our two magazines, Retailers
Forum and Swap Meet Magazine welcome
their readers and advertisers where we will
continue servicing our industry, now as the
lone monthly magazine and voice of retailing
and flea marketing.
GET ready for the excitement of the season.
The holidays will soon be here!
The entire issue of
Retailers Forum Magazine
is posted on-line at
www.RetailersForum.com
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