Canadians Do Their Homework in Preparing For Back-to-School
By Adam
August 17, 2014
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Canadians are nothing if not practical when it comes to back-to-school shopping. A survey by Vision Critical for Staples Canada reveals that nearly three quarters (74 %) of Canadian back-to-school shoppers prepare their own lists, while almost as many (71 %) make their own budget.
“Back-to-school is a special time of the year that stirs practically all of our emotions,” says Steve Matyas, president of Staples Canada. “It’s a time of relationships, encounters and new experiences combined with the strong and universal appeal of learning. It’s no wonder people take the time to prepare for the season.”
• Just short of one in two (49 per cent) of back-to-school shoppers reported that they find the season stressful;
• For those who considered the season stressful, the two leading stress factors were financial pressures (85 per cent) and finding all the items on a child’s school list (84 per cent);
• Sixty-seven per cent of adult students who find the back-to-school season stressful reported that the pressure to follow trends and fashions is a stressor;
• Canadian back-to-school shoppers have no qualms about shopping early: 54% of respondents would consider shopping in July, a surprising 36% in June (89% consider shopping in August);
• Seventy-six per cent of back-to-school shoppers who are parents prefer shopping with their kids;
• Half of respodents (50%) wished there were online resources available (up from 44% in 2013);
The survey also confirms what many adults already know: Students care about giving back, perhaps even more than adults. Fifty-four per cent of students surveyed were either somewhat supportive or very supportive of Staples’ new partnership with Me to We, the movement founded by Marc and Craig Kielburger to fund Free the Children and its life-enhancing community projects in developing countries.
In June, Staples announced a partnership with Acco and Me to We to create a line of socially conscious and eco-friendly school supplies. With purchase of a Me to We product at Staples, Canadian consumers direct a percentage of proceeds to a family or child from a Free The Children community in Latin America, Africa or Asia.
“We’ve done our homework,” says Matyas. “Back-to-school is one of our busiest times of the year so Canadian parents, students and teachers can rest assured we’ve got resouces, wide assortments and trained associates waiting for them in store and online at staples.ca.”
More than one in three Canadians (some 11 million) shop for back-to-school each year.
On July 18, 2014, Vision Critical conducted an online survey among 2,019 randomly selected Canadian adults who are Angus Reid Forum panelists, including 618 back-to-school shoppers. The results have been statistically weighted according to the most current education, age, gender and region Census data to ensure a sample that is representative of the entire adult population of Canada.
For information visit Staples Back to School Centre
“Back-to-school is a special time of the year that stirs practically all of our emotions,” says Steve Matyas, president of Staples Canada. “It’s a time of relationships, encounters and new experiences combined with the strong and universal appeal of learning. It’s no wonder people take the time to prepare for the season.”
Survey highlights include:
• Just short of one in two (49 per cent) of back-to-school shoppers reported that they find the season stressful;
• For those who considered the season stressful, the two leading stress factors were financial pressures (85 per cent) and finding all the items on a child’s school list (84 per cent);
• Sixty-seven per cent of adult students who find the back-to-school season stressful reported that the pressure to follow trends and fashions is a stressor;
• Canadian back-to-school shoppers have no qualms about shopping early: 54% of respondents would consider shopping in July, a surprising 36% in June (89% consider shopping in August);
• Seventy-six per cent of back-to-school shoppers who are parents prefer shopping with their kids;
• Half of respodents (50%) wished there were online resources available (up from 44% in 2013);
The survey also confirms what many adults already know: Students care about giving back, perhaps even more than adults. Fifty-four per cent of students surveyed were either somewhat supportive or very supportive of Staples’ new partnership with Me to We, the movement founded by Marc and Craig Kielburger to fund Free the Children and its life-enhancing community projects in developing countries.
In June, Staples announced a partnership with Acco and Me to We to create a line of socially conscious and eco-friendly school supplies. With purchase of a Me to We product at Staples, Canadian consumers direct a percentage of proceeds to a family or child from a Free The Children community in Latin America, Africa or Asia.
“We’ve done our homework,” says Matyas. “Back-to-school is one of our busiest times of the year so Canadian parents, students and teachers can rest assured we’ve got resouces, wide assortments and trained associates waiting for them in store and online at staples.ca.”
More than one in three Canadians (some 11 million) shop for back-to-school each year.
Methodology
On July 18, 2014, Vision Critical conducted an online survey among 2,019 randomly selected Canadian adults who are Angus Reid Forum panelists, including 618 back-to-school shoppers. The results have been statistically weighted according to the most current education, age, gender and region Census data to ensure a sample that is representative of the entire adult population of Canada.
For information visit Staples Back to School Centre