Shopify August sales skewed to back-to-school supplies, fall clothes, outdoor gear

The useful part

Consumer Behavior & Trends / Shopping Behavior & Preferences / Basket Size Trends The back-to-school shopping season hit its stride in August, according to the latest Shopify data shared first with Retail Brew. While an eclectic mix of school supplies and fall wardrobe items sold well in July, those trends sharpened in August as parents got serious about stocking their kids' desks. Sales spiked for label clips (up 606%), graphic calculators (56%), and kids' desks (47%), as well as desk calendars (up 31%) and sticky notes (up 25%).

How it works

• The summer isn't over, and shoppers showed an interest in getting outside and staying active before the cool weather arrives.
• A spirit of learning also extended into other categories, as parents leaned into educational toys ahead of the school year, with big gains for planetariums (up 346%), math toys (278%), and bug collecting...
• Bicycle lights (up 123%), bicycle trainers (66%), and kids' bikes (53%) were all standout sellers.
• late-season campers shelled out for tent awnings and annexes (up 392%), emergency radios (185%), and camping fire starters (up 180%).
• Looking ahead, there were also sizable bumps for classic fall wardrobe additions, including sweaters (up 84%), pea coats (76%), cardigans (75%), and school uniforms and knitwear (up 65%).

What to take from it

Some shoppers were even preparing for winter with purchases of thermal socks, which jumped 60% in August. Retail news that keeps industry pros in the know Retail Brew delivers the latest retail industry news and insights surrounding marketing, DTC, and e-commerce to keep leaders and decision-makers up to date. Copy About the author Alex Vuocolo Alex covers big box chains, discounters, and specialty retailers with a focus on store operations, supply chains, and retail economics.

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