Finding the Perfect Desk Lamp (and Other Important Decisions)
We don’t need to tell you that it’s “that time of year.” At least in North America, the Sunday newspaper circulars are filled with ads from stores like Target and Bed Bath and Beyond touting the just right bed spreads, chairs, lamps, posters, rugs, shower caddies, and more for the college student heading out on his or her own. (And we didn’t even mention the computers, music players, televisions, etc.) Plus, plug “dorm” into the Google news alerts and you will find an endless stream of stories offering advice on what students need to bring to campus.
This time last year we saw stories about the sheer amount of stuff students bring to campus. And while we’re sure the mini-vans that drop the kids off this year will still be overflowing, the National Retail Federation reported that the struggling economy caused back-to-college spending to drop seven percent in the last year, down to an average of $599.38.
In a press release, the group explained that spending in most categories will drop or remain flat except for electronics like computers and cell phones. This year, parents will spend $151.61 on electronics purchases during the back-to-school timeframe, up from $129.24 last year.
Survey results also showed that it looked like the traditional college bookstore will suffer the greatest hit, as only 41 percent planned to buy from those stores, compared to 57 percent in 2007.
For more about move-in programs and trends, check out the cover story from the May+June 2008 issue of the Talking Stick magazine, available online in a convenient digital format.