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You know how back-to-school shopping is important for retailers and wholesalers? There are huge opportunities every year. Americans are planning to spend an estimated total of nearly 40 billion U.S. dollars!
This year, school supplies trends focus on tech, sustainability, and fun. You'll see items like e-notebooks, cute keychains, tumblers, lunchboxes, personalized backpacks, and eco-friendly crayons flying off the shelves.
Sourcing from China gives you access to a huge variety, competitive prices, and fast shipping, making it easier to keep up with what students want. Okay, let's dive in.
According to the NRF report, families with children in elementary through high school plan to spend an average of $874.68 on clothing, shoes, school supplies and electronics; total back-to-school spending is expected to reach $38.8 billion in 2024, which is the second-highest amount in the survey's history. This number is expected to continue increasing this year.
You may notice that the back-to-school market feels a little different every year. But we must tell you, there are big changes shaping what students, parents, and schools want in 2025. If you want to stay ahead, keep an eye on these trends. Let's break down the main trends so you can spot the best opportunities.
Children's personalities are often revealed through their belongings, so they want unique school supplies. You can find custom backpacks, name-engraved stationery, and branded notebooks flying off the shelves. Online shopping data shows that more than 60% of shoppers prefer personalized stationery.
In fact, back-to-school shopping starts earlier every year. As The Outcome reported, just 14% expect to wait until closer mid-to-late August to start their shopping. Please wholesale sourcing back-to-school products quickly, it's not too late. E-Commerce now accounts for over a third of all sales, and social media will highly influence purchase decisions. So you need to start or expand online shopping to catch this opportunity.
Sustainability has been one of the hottest topics in the world in recent years, so more families care about the planet. You will see a big push for eco-friendly products and many parents now look for recycled stationery, reusable lunchboxes, and green packaging. According 2024 Deloitte back-to-school survey, four in 10 parents (across income groups) are expected to purchase a used or refurbished item this season. This shift means you should consider adding sustainable options to your product lineup.
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The keychain is the best product to show the personality of children. You can find keychains in all shapes, like animals, food, or even mini gadgets.
From Google Trends, we can see that the popularity of keychains has been steadily increasing, and there is a peak every six months. The peak in summer is back-to-school. These small items can boost your sales because students like to collect them to show their style.
Tips: Please confirm before wholesale sourcing! This small gadget can easily cause IP infringement.
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A reusable tumbler is a must-have for students. It keeps drinks cold or hot all day. Google Trends shows that the search volume for Tumblr is relatively flat, but it reaches a new peak around the start of each back-to-school season.
You can offer them in bright colors or with custom designs to show kids' personalities.
Tips: Custom designs often take more than two weeks longer than direct sourcing, so please pay attention to the logistics timeliness.
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Lunchboxes are not just a tool for carrying food. They help students eat healthy, save money, and protect the environment. Many schools now encourage zero-waste programs. This school supply perfectly fits the concept of sustainable development
Lunchbox is similar to Tumbler: their sales explode every year during the back-to-school season. We suggest you source lunchboxes with fun prints, built-in compartments, or even smart features like temperature control.
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A backpack is another good way to show off personality. Personalized backpacks are trending. Backpacks are popular all year round, and the back-to-school season is the best time to sell backpacks.
You should source backpacks that combine fun with functionality, such as those made from recycled fabrics with custom embroidery. These backpacks stand out and make students feel special.
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Crayons are a classic school supply. Search trends for crayons have remained relatively stable over the past five years, but they became popular last year during the back-to-school season.
Crayons are still being promoted by a large number of merchants this year, so we predict that sales will be high this year as well. You can sell crayons in recycled packaging or with fun shapes.
Yiwu is famous for its massive wholesale market, Yiwu International Trade City. It is the best choice for retailers who want to see thousands of school supplies in one place. You can walk through rows of suppliers and find everything from cute keychains to personalized backpacks here.
What's more, the products here usually offer decent quality at lower prices, so you can enjoy the profits of wholesale sourcing from Yiwu.
You might not have time to visit China. No problem! E-commerce platforms like Alibaba let you source school supplies online. You can search for thousands of suppliers and compare prices with just a few clicks.
Of course, the disadvantage of sourcing from Alibaba is that you cannot see these products and understand their quality in person, which may lead to some unnecessary losses.
The platform helps you find verified suppliers and read reviews from other buyers. Remember to choose gold suppliers verified by Alibaba when screening suppliers, this can reduce risks and help you avoid scams.
If you want a smooth sourcing experience, consider working with a professional agent like EJET Procurement. Partnering with us, compared with sourcing from Yiwu and sourcing from Alibaba, you get more than just products; you get a partner who helps you grow your business.
• 20 + years of sourcing expertise let us integrate our own strong supplier network, provide you with the highest quality products at the lowest price.
• With a global logistics system, we offer streamlined transportation solutions and promise your products will be delivered by the most reliable and efficient carriers
• We have 100 + experienced procurement experts who can provide you with real on-site procurement services.
• We also offer product branding, product development, Amazon FBA prep, etc services.
You have seen how back-to-school trends shape the summer market. Cute keychains, tumblers, lunchboxes, personalized backpacks, and safe crayons will lead the way!
Are you ready to start your wholesale business with EJET? Just contact us, our sourcing experts will offer 24/7 services.
A: The best time to start sourcing school supplies is in May and June. Most shoppers begin buying by early July, and about two-thirds of all back-to-school spending happens before August. You are advised to start early to grab the best products and avoid running out of popular items.
A: You have great options for sourcing from China. Yiwu is famous for its huge wholesale market, where you can see thousands of products in person. Alibaba is perfect if you want to compare suppliers online and read reviews. You can also work with a China sourcing agent who knows the market and can help you find the best deals.
A: Popular choices include cute keychains, tumblers, lunchboxes, personalized backpacks, and safe crayons. They sell well because students and parents want supplies that stand out and are eco-friendly.
A: A China sourcing agent can save you time and money. They help you find reliable suppliers, check product quality, and handle negotiations. This can help you lower costs and avoid mistakes. If you want to work with a reliable China sourcing agent, EJET Procurement is a choice.
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