Back-to-school shopping is the second most important apparel season in the U.S., expected to reach an estimated
$857 billion
1
in 2017. With BTS purchases accounting for almost a fifth of retail sales (17%)
1
, brands and retailers
can gain part of this growing market by ensuring their clothing items are favorites in and out of the classroom.
TOP BTS PURCHASE INFLUENCES
27%
$267 is the amount
shoppers plan to spend on
BTS apparel in 2017 compared
to $265 in 2015 & $231 in 2013.
rath n alone ) or
ALREADY OWN & LIKE FRIENDS SOCIAL MEDIA FAMILY
PREFERRED BTS RETAIL CHANNELS
mass specialty chain off price department
69%
54%
49%
41%
31%
65% 50% 29% 23%
Clothing tops the list of BTS purchases with
91% of shoppers planning to buy, followed
by shoes (87%), school supplies (86%),
accessories (32%) & electronics (28%).
Although only 27% of
plan to purchase online, 66%
prefer to conduct their clothing
research online.
BTS apparel shoppers
INSIGHTS
COTTON INCORPORATED
SUPPLY CHAIN
BACK-TO-SCHOOL (BTS) APPAREL
Sources: Cotton Incorporated
Lifestyle Monitor
TM
survey, an ongoing consumer survey among 6,000 U.S. consumers annually; External Data Source:
eMarketer
1 *
All back-to-school data is among those who plan to purchase back-to-school items.
52% of parents make
BTS clothing purchase
decisions
with
their kids
rather than alone (38%) or
leaving it to their kids (11%).
Among parents who have
taught their kids to check
the label, 95% have also
taught their children to
check for cotton.
WHEN DO SHOPPERS PURCHASE BTS APPAREL?
68%
18%
14%
before the first day of
school
1-2 months after the
first day of school
a few weeks after the
first day of school
of parents prefer their children wear cotton-rich clothing.
81%
BTS SHOPPERS PLAN TO PURCHASE...
tops
87%
59%
81%
76%
72%
pants socks jeans shorts
95%