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5 ways to help retailers ceipts, can tag back-to-school purchases so they can send
reminders for lunchbox items over weekends.
turn seasonal demand 3. Create bundles and short, predictable promotions Spotlighting companies that promote
into repeat business Bundles raise ticket size and cut decision time for hurried innovation in the payments industry
shoppers. For example, a "study session" kit pairing high-
lighters, sticky notes, and a caffeinated or herbal drink
solves a need in one pick. A "lunchbox basics" trio (juice
box, snack pack and napkins) speeds the morning rush.
Also, pricing bundles to clean round numbers helps ca-
shiers and customers move quickly.
It's smart for merchants to keep promotions rhythmic and
By Elie Y. Katz straightforward: an early-morning coffee-plus-bar combo,
National Retail Solutions (NRS) a consistent weekday two-for deal on popular snacks, or
an after-school drink special. And a short-run punch card
he back-to-school season is a prime window for or app-based reward just for September can drive repeat
convenience and small-format retailers in your visits without creating year-round liability.
merchant portfolio. Families pour money into
T supplies, snacks and daily essentials, and many 4. Fine-tune layout for fast trips
of those trips are last-minute.
During the first weeks of school, speed matters. With that
Winning the season means making the quick stop faster, in mind, merchants can build a small "school zone" near
clearer and more valuable for busy parents and students. the entrance so shoppers can find essentials immediately.
You can help merchants do that with five approaches Use clear, high-contrast signs to direct traffic to Morning
proven to turn seasonal demand into repeat business. Essentials, Study Snacks and Quick Lunch Items. Group
complementary products so the next choice is obvious:
1. Stock smart: Beyond basic school supplies breakfast bars near coffee, tissues near sanitizer.

Large chains cover the long lists; convenience retailers Additionally, merchants should keep high-demand items Custom pages on our high-tra c website showcasing
win on immediacy and forgotten items. Advise mom-and- at eye level and aisles open for strollers and backpacks. your company’s unique message
pop and small-format C-stores to build a tight assortment If traffic justifies it, merchants can extend hours briefly
of small but high-need products (pocket tissues, hand for early drop-offs and after-school crowds, and schedule
sanitizer, travel-size sunscreen, bandages, lip balm, stain their most efficient cashiers on those peaks. The goal is a • Your own, customized News from the Wire that highlights
remover pens, and mini deodorant) alongside grab-and-go predictable, five-minute trip that feels effortless for shop-
breakfasts, protein snacks and single-serve coffee or tea. pers. stories about your company

Pre-packed "emergency kits" with a couple of pens, pen- 5. Build community connections • Featured content: updated monthly, either by your in-house
cils, erasers and sticky notes make decisions easy for par-
ents shuttling kids to school. Keeping these items at the Seasonal goodwill pays dividends all year. To foster this, writers or by one of ours
counter or on an endcap near the entrance makes them merchants can offer small student discounts with a val-
visible and easily accessible. Merchants can refresh the id school ID, or donate a portion of supply sales to local • Custom infographics and videos
display weekly to keep it current without a full reset. programs. Also, a short "Teachers' Appreciation" day with
modest, well-publicized savings can create positive word

2. Use POS data to guide buying and pricing of mouth among educators. • Premier content placement in each issue of e Green Sheet
As a payments professional, you know modern POS sys- Merchants can use social channels to post a checklist of • And so much more...
tems do more than ring sales. Help merchants use past forgotten items and quick breakfast ideas parents can save
August through September reports to see which items on their phones; join neighborhood parent groups to share
moved by day-part: morning coffee and breakfast bars daily specials and store hours; and sponsor a youth team
versus after-school snacks and single-serve drinks. Next, or school event to raise visibility and position their store
identify attachments that grow baskets, and flag SKUs as part of the community, not just a stop on the way. 18
that stalled so they can trim or reprice.
Back-to-school traffic is predictable, but success isn't au- Rick@greensheet.com
Advise retailers to set low-stock alerts on fast movers tomatic. Helping merchants implement these five steps
to prevent outages during the first two weeks of school, will help them. Turn one-time purchases into repeat visits
when traffic spikes. Customer-facing displays can carry throughout the year.
simple promos tied to the season, turning checkout time
into a nudge toward a bundle or BOGO.
Elie Y. Katz is founder, president and CEO at National Retail Solutions 707-284-1693
They can also keep lines moving with contactless options (NRS), https://nrsplus.com. Contact him by phone at 201-715-5179 or
and clear training. Those who run loyalty or digital re- by email at ekatz@nrsplus.com.
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