Back-to-school shopping starts

Kids may dread the words "back-to-school," but those words are good news for merchants.

"From our standpoint, it is very important," said Bill Crouse, store manager at J.C. Penney in the Logan Valley Mall. "August is our third biggest month of the year behind November and December because of the back-to-school shopping."

"Back-to-school season is a driving force for apparel sales this time of year," said Jeff Schwartz, store manager at Kmart on West Plank Road. "Kids have to buy clothes."

Back-to-school season typically starts around the middle of July.

"We started our back-to-school season July 14. We want to make sure everyone has plenty of time to find the products and our stores are stocked," Staples spokeswoman Karen Pevenstein said.

Schwartz said August is traditionally busy, but the season lasts beyond the month before school.

"It continues until after the first full week of school because when kids go back to school, they are told what supplies they need," he said.

When it comes to school fashion, Crouse said trends they are seeing are skinny jeans and oversized tops for girls and skateboarding and biking themes for boys.

Target in Sierra North Plaza has changed its clothing line toward "proper attire for students to wear in the classroom," Executive Team Leader Scott Guzic said.

Outside of clothing and school supplies, SillyBandz are a popular item.

"They are bands they wear on their wrists but when they take them off, they turn into the shape of what they are; they can be animals or cartoon characters," Guzic said.

Kids need more than clothing for back to school. Technology items are hot this year, Pevenstein said, including flash drives for easy portability of files and photos for school. She said they also need traditional supplies like backpacks.

"Some of the new backpacks have laptop sleeves and places for their flash drives and cell phones," she said.

Merchants advise parents and students to shop early.

"If you wait, you won't find what you want," Guzic said.

Mirror Staff Writer Walt Frank is at 946-7467.