back to school is one of the best times to run a promotion for your business—according to the national retail federation’s 2017 study, back to school spending is on the rise, making it one of the biggest shopping holidays of the year. wondering when the season officially starts? while many parents start their shopping as early as the end of july or beginning of august, more parents are delaying their purchases until the end of august.

try these ideas for small business back to school promotions for retailers and other businesses.

(back to) college  

one of the fastest growing segments of the back to school shopping boom is college spending, as parents and their university-bound kids gear up to create a home away from home, as well as get equipped with the necessary school supplies. identify a few products in your store that are back to school essentials, and offer a discount. or, gather with your neighboring small businesses to create a back to school local shopping guide, that highlights college must-haves that can be bought in your community, giving parents amazon-free options for essentials that support their local economy.

thank your teachers

did you know that in setting up their classrooms, many public school teachers wind up purchasing many needed items from their own pocket? as budgets shrink across the country, show your support for your local schools—and their hardworking teachers—by committing to donate a portion of proceeds to a classroom in your area of your choice. go fund me’s education page is a great place to start looking for worthy causes to support.

reward early birds—help out procrastinators

help your customers get a jump start on their to-do list by featuring an early august back-to-school promotion! you can also do another one late in the season (end of august or even early september) to scoop up some more customers.

give parents an end-of-summer treat

for parents—especially working parents—summer is actually one of the most stressful times of the year and back-to-school calls for a celebration. bars and restaurants can consider offering drink specials during happy hour for the parent patrons to toast the end of summer and the welcome relief of school days. retailers can also get into the spirit with an informal happy hour with a few bottles of back-to-school champagne.

so don’t miss out on one of the biggest shopping events of the year! with these back-to-school promotions, you’ll be all set to help your customers usher in fall.