Sales Already Underway For Back To School Shopping
PITTSBURGH (KDKA) -- Have you started your back to school shopping yet?
Americans are expected to spend almost $76 billion on clothes, electronics and supplies this year, and the sales have already started.
It's July and 90 degrees outside, and we're talking back to school shopping.
"School usually starts the ends of August, so we try to get a month ahead," said parent Joe Porter.
"It's super important," says college student Shannon Stovar. "It makes me look forward to school, having new outfits to wear."
With 75 percent of families already shopping, the back to school signs and bargains are everywhere.
Even online.
Internet shopping sites, from retailers and places like Amazon, launched sales weeks ago and are steadily grabbing a larger piece of the back to school dollars.
The National Retail Federation says 46 percent of parents will at least make some purchases online.
"I do both," says parent Jessica Porter. "I find online I get better coupons and better deals and they ship for free."
"If I find something in the store and it's too much, then I'll look online; but if it's cheaper in the store, I'll get it there," adds parent Prudence Bruce.
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That's the key, click before you hit the bricks, because the better deals could be online.
"In some instances, yes, a lot of times for electronics you can get great deals online. Typically, for apparel, it's better to shop in stores," says Audrey Gusky, a marketing professor at Duquesne University. "I would say, overall, do a combination of both."
The bottom line is the sales are already underway in brick and mortar stores and online. Sure, they might get better the closer to school, but if you wait, you also run the risk the in-demand items will be sold out.
