Back to school is here and this year, families and teachers are watching their budgets tightly. According to Deloitte’s 18th annual Back-to-School survey, shoppers are expected to spend less in 2025 than in any of the last five years but this doesn’t mean they’re buying less; it means they’re shopping smarter. Whether your consumers are students, parents, or educators, they need supplies that meet the needs of their wallet and their timetable. Be prepared to deliver value promptly and efficiently by stocking the right mix of paper products or you’ll find yourself on the outside of the second-biggest shopping season of the year.
Do Your Homework back to school
The data makes it clear, the BTS shopping window continues to shrink with most purchases made in a compressed timeframe:
Back-to-School spend by shopping periods (Millions)
Source: 2025 Delotte Back-to-School Survey
Copy paper may not be the flashiest item on back to school lists but it remains one of the most essential tools for your customers. Private label brands are seeing increased interest. 42% of shoppers say they’ll choose private label if no discount is available on name brands (Ibotta, May 2025). This opens the door for businesses a variety of options, both branded and private label, to capitalize on spend—if the products are available. Make sure you are ready for your customers with:
- Deep inventories of copy and color paper
- Versatile sizes for signage, promotions, and organization
- National brand and private label options for a diverse range of shoppers.
Do Your Customers Know This? back to school sale
Despite the big push during the back-to-school season, not all shoppers will spend their entire budget at once. Many are spreading purchases over several months to help absorb the financial impact of rising costs. This means that while early promotions are essential, there’s still opportunity to capture attention and sales later in the season. Encourage your customers to maintain a strong paper presence throughout the back-to-school period, not just in July and early August. By staying stocked and visible, they’ll be ready to meet the needs of late or staggered buyers who are still checking items off their lists. Whether they’re shopping for their home, classroom, or dorm room, make sure you have your consumer bases covered with reliable paper products from brands you trust. Domtar offers several options:
Xerox® – Premium quality paper crafted to provide superior results and preform flawlessly to meet the demands of professional office environments.
Lettermark™ – A brand that delivers exceptional everyday performance for home, office or in high-volume environments.
EarthChoice® – A line of sustainability-focused papers, created to help individuals and businesses meet personal and professional responsibility goals.
