BURLINGTON, Vt. (WCAX) – When shopping for school supplies, parents must meet the needs of their children while also protecting their own wallets.
High school student Isabella Ausikaitis scoured the University Mall for an outfit for her first day of school.
“Oh my God, I’ve been thinking about this all last week and I have no idea what to wear… I want to start over this year,” Ausikaitis said.
She hopes to find it at Zumiez.
It’s been a busy few weeks for the clothing and skate shop, with families able to score special deals like the Outfit Builder, which offers four items for $125.
“We have all the hottest brands. We have stuff my parents wore in high school. We have stuff young kids have never even heard of. So there’s something for everyone,” said Riley Williams of Zumiez.
Back-to-school season is a critical issue for retailers; parents in the U.S. are expected to spend around $39 billion this year, according to the National Retail Federation.
In Vermont, 60% of families have already started shopping, according to Erin Sigrist of the Vermont Retail and Grocers Association.
“Thanks to online shopping and the numerous special offers in the summer, more and more people are shopping a little earlier. They are stretching out their spending. They are planning ahead,” said Singrist.
This shopping spree leads some shoppers to Plato’s Closet in Williston.
The second-hand store prides itself on helping shoppers save money and clothes at the same time.
At their location in Williston alone, four million items are said to have been saved from landfill since 2002.
“I think it’s really nice. It’s also very convenient if you’re a parent with your kids and you want to shop for all the brands you want in one place,” said Ellie Powell of Plato’s Closet.
Staff at Platos say baggy pants, cargo shorts and printed or oversized t-shirts are their most popular items this year.
Jessie Stringer is looking for brand name shoes for his boys and has a limited budget.
“This is a good place to start to see what they have so you can save a few bucks,” Stringer said.
St. Johnsbury Academy sophomores Kathryn Zajko and Effie Dunn are hoping to find a new wardrobe for the new year.
“The clothes are cheaper than elsewhere. They are second-hand. You can buy more. Then you have four wardrobes here,” said Zajko.
“I usually tend to go for pastels and cooler tones, but I’m trying to get out of my comfort zone, so I go shopping with her,” Dunn said.
With brick-and-mortar stores and online shops going head to head in customer traffic, Vermont retailers encourage you to shop local back-to-school deals when possible.
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