Consumers tapping sales events in back-to-school shopping

Consumers appear to be cost conscious when it comes to back-to-school purchases as 66% held off until Amazon’s Prime Day, held in mid-July, and 73% plan to hit back-to-school deals offered during Labor Day sales.

Those are top findings from HubBox research which also revealed 71% of consumers view free returns as more important in back-to-school shopping and 84% said speed of fulfillment was important

The average household expects to spend $1,196.20 in back-to-school purchases, according to a press release on HubBox’s research. HubBox is an e-commerce shipping software provider.

The research, which polled over 1,000 U.S. shoppers, also revealed 65% will only buy discounted back-to-school items.

“After a prolonged period of price rises, U.S. shoppers have become much savvier in how, where and when they spend, meaning brands need to fight harder for share of wallet. With shoppers trying to make back-to-school budgets go further, this has put increased emphasis on discounting events, which means the extended back-to-school season is now bookended by Prime Day in July right through to September’s Labor Day sales,” Sam Jarvis, CEO of HubBox, said in the release.