plus consumer headlines back
over to you. I think something
about all of that. All right.
The thrill of a new school year
is mark. But you know what I
going to be? Yeah. Teachers and
shopping for supplies and
question club. It’s always
exciting shopping party.
And the big question is how did
the economy impact
back-to-school shopping this
year?
>> Joining us this morning to
talk about a new survey.
He’s director of corporate
strategy and insights for
Cotton incorporated. Melissa
Bastos. Melissa, Good morning.
>> Good morning to you. Thank
you for having me. Thanks for
being here with us or so right
off the bat. What are some of
the surprising results out of
this year’s survey?
>> Well, I think we’re all
aware of inflation. And so are
the parents who are putting
together their budgets to go
shopping for back-to-school
clothing this year. So what
we find from our research is
that about 85% of parents say
they do know that inflation
will impact their purchases
overall, but at the same time,
they have great intentions when
it comes to shopping, they plan
to spend an average of $520
on clothing and that some 40%
from last year. But we also
know that parents this year,
more than the past 2 years,
know that they plan to send
their kids back to in-person
school. So that’s definitely
changed some
of their they’re preparing for
back to school this year
compared to the past couple
of years.
>> So what are some of the top
needs? Upper back to Seoul,
school clothing.
clothing is the number one.
87% say that is on their list
of purchase. We also know that
I-83 1% say that they’re
planning to purchase school
supplies. So no books and and
pens and pencils.
>> And shoes about 81% plan
to purchase those. And we see a
boat like Tron Exporting
Equipment fall a little lower
on the list with a little about
a 3rd of shoppers planning to
buy those.
>> Now you mentioned that the
shoppers still expect to spend
quite a bit of money on whether
it’s clothing or whatever that.
But what about the supply chain
or our shoppers prepared for
maybe the item they want not
being there and not being there
on time.
>> Well, we definitely say that
shoppers are aware and 85% say
they’ve actually been impacted
by supply a supply chain
issues. Only 12%, though, say
it’s been pretty severe in
terms of them not being able to
find those items that they’re
looking for. So we do know that
shoppers are paying attention
to the news and they are
listening to you all the think
others around to hear, you know
what stores are offering
discounts, what items do they
have? So there’s been a lot of
news about some of those larger
retailers actually have a
little over stock and they’re
going to be offering some
discounts on some of these So
parents are prepared. They’re
saying they’re planning to buy
their kids items like some of
those staples that are going
to last them throughout the
years and things like socks,
shirts, T-shirts, hands, jeans.
Those of the items are really
looking for in the cotton,
heavy and the main goals of the
parent is for their kids to
be comfortable and 84% say
Cotton is what keeps her kids
comfortable. So that’s
certainly what we see them.
Do you know, looking for those
deals and planning to buy those
staples when they go shopping?
You know, it’s always important
list that Ed, the kind of
constantly editing that
wardrobe take not things that
have been hanging there for
months that no one’s warren.
>> What can you do if your kids
have outgrown clothing? Just
keeping sustainability in the
economy in mind? What can you
do with those items?
>> Well, we tend to see parents
are pretty quick to say that
they those clothing items or
they handed down to either
younger children or other
family members. But we also
know at least my kids and other
kids are really interested in
recycling and sustainability.
And these are are really
important things to them.
And there’s a program Cotton’s
blue jeans go green. That’s a
denim recycling program.
So if you have older denim used
that you can no longer wear
your kids can’t wear anymore.
There are many retailers and
brands that participate in this
program with us. And you can
take those back to to brands
and retailers and they take
them. And then we recycle them
into a building, insulation or
insulation for for shipments
as well as dog beds. Things
that keep these old items out
of the landfill. But on an even
more positive note from a
parent’s standpoint is that
those brands and retailers also
offer a discount on your new
purchase of denim. So I can buy
my kids some new jeans and I
can return their old ones to a
program that’s going to recycle
them into something that’s
That’s better for the
environment. Ice.
>> That’s great to know that I
didn’t know. I got a lot of
skinny jeans running the Banana
Republic after the Thank you so
much, Melissa. Best those