It's that time of year again, back-to-school emails and ads are beginning to flood in and every parent is out capitalizing on those summer back-to-school sales.
If you're selling dorm room furniture, electronics, supplies, or kid's clothes, you've got a pretty good message to start with. And you better be starting now, especially if you have to compete against the big guys.
But what if your business doesn't offer an obvious back-to-school promotion? Never fear! I went "shopping" around the web and found some pretty cool ideas you might be able to put to work for your business in your next email marketing campaign.
A dental office offered pre back-to-school cleaning specials touting tooth decay as the #1 disease in children.
An auto repair shop offered back-to-school student specials for repairs. Don't all students drive clunkers these days?
A few hair salons were offering discounts on haircuts for kids before the school year begins. Everyone wants the perfectly coiffed kid!
I found a winery that offered a back-to-school shopping night!
There are so many non profit organizations that do
back-to-school fundraising events to help children with clothing and
supplies for the new school year. Here are two, one that helps military families and one that is called Operation Backpack for those in need.
A popular nanny service offered a 15% discount off of their placement fees.
A hotel in NY offered a back-to-school shopping package with a bag of goodies, shopping discounts and breakfast for two.
A hotel in Chicago offered a great package: a $50 gift card to The Container StoreĀ® for supplies along with
a special edition college catalog with tips on how to organize a new
dorm room and a 15% discount off the next stay.
I found a restaurant offering this back-to-school special: kids eat free for the month of September (except Saturdays, bummer!).
Everyone can participate in back-to-school savings, what's your idea?

You know what I love about these ideas? They show that you don't have to be in a "school" related business to offer a back-to-school special. I always ignored the back-to-school season. Now I realize that I should be thinking about it -- luv the idea!!!
Posted by: Anita Campbell | August 11, 2009 at 03:54 PM
We sell Window Film and normally you would buy it for your house. We have a back to school sale for creating privacy to dorm windows - remove at the end of the year with no damage to the glass!
Posted by: Tim | August 11, 2009 at 08:50 AM
What really Great ideas! I have been trying to find some new ideas for HVAC . Kinda hard to market for HVAC but I may try some of these Thank You.
Posted by: Jamie | August 11, 2009 at 07:37 AM