Rakuten Rewards in Montreal Gazette: Dog days of July mean planning for fall shopping adventures

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We may be in the dog days of summer, but parents are already gearing up for the stress-filled season known as Back-To-School. Which explains why many have already started doing their shopping.

According to a recently released Ebates.ca poll, 85% of Canadian parents say that if they get the shopping done early, they’ll actually enjoy the back-to-school season – making for a much more relaxed end of summer. The poll also revealed that more than three quarters (77%) of Canadians shop for back-to-school supplies early, up slightly from last year. When it comes to spending, 67% of parents expect to fork out more than $100, at an average of $168 per child, an increase from $155 in 2014. This average spend varies across the country, with a high of $179 in Atlantic Canada and a low of $164 in the West, as well as by age of child.

“Getting back-to-school shopping out of the way earlier leaves time for families to focus on enjoying uninterrupted summer activities without the last-minute scramble,” said Belinda Baugniet, v-p of marketing and resident shopping expert at Ebates.ca. “In addition to getting great deals, shopping early reduces the stress and anxiety everyone tends to feel as summer comes to an end.”

Meanwhile, wearemiq.com reports that  73% of Canadian shoppers will make multiple trips to ensure getting the best items for kids heading back to school. And school items are trendy – Staples Canada is forecasting sequins, pastels, animals and motivational messaging among this year’s trendiest items, along with the latest and best technological tools needed in the schoolroom, at home and, of course, the workspace.

This piece was originally published on Montreal Gazette.

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