Back-to-School Ideas for Your Biz

Back-to-school promos started, I saw the reams of paper last weekend all shoved into my Sunday Chronicle and the back-to-school email marketing campaigns are starting to roll off the VR servers. Is this an opportunity for your business? The Washington Post reported that computers, printers, iPods and video games will lead the charge in the 2nd biggest shopping season of the year.

Does your product or service have a back-to-school slant? Remember, back-to-school isn't only for the kiddies and teeny-boppers, it's also for college kids. Here are a few I've found.

Retail

• Check out Dell, they're using a sweepstakes as their promo. Choose a notebook on their site and personalize it with a skin. They're giving away 12 computers a day in their promo along with a grand cash prize.

• Staples has a "Geared up for school" sweepstakes where they give away prizes each week, culminating in a grand prize $10,000 shopping spree with a famous teen idol.

• Target has a great "Off to college" section of their site. They even have a "Must Have For College Checklist" of things their student will need from furniture to clothing, and a "Countdown Calendar" for what you'll need to do in the months before the send off. My favorite is the "College Prep Test". You answer a few questions, and Target tells you in a humorous way what type of person you are, along with what you need for your room. Brilliant! Of course, you can forward the quiz to your friends. Viral marketing. A great way to start building a list of college students.

Hospitality

Offer something special for last minute, end-of-summer vacations. How about trying an offer from your spa or salon for "after" back-to-school, to give parents a little breather for a day.

• Catalina Island hypes last minute, end-of-summer vacation on their site. It's timely especially since it's so close to Labor Day.

• Check out the Dallas Convention and Visitor's Bureau. They offer a last minute adventure for the family before the kids go off to school.

• The Wellbridge Athletic Club and Spa takes a different approach by publishing articles on Back-To-School nutrition, heath and safety.

• Best Western in the UK touts getting you pampered now that the kids are away.

Non Profit Organizations

• Robert Wood Johnson Foundation launched a program called Back-to-School Covering Kids and Families encouraging parents to insure their children before the first day of school.

• The New American Dream, a site that helps Americans consume responsibly to protect the environment launched a back-to-school program where they list places to buy environmentally friendly notebooks, paper, computers and backpacks.

Publishing

• Family Fun Magazine launched a back-to-school "A+ Lunches and Snacks" guide for ideas on healthy food for kids.

You may not think you have anything that relates to this spending season, but you just might if you get a bit creative. Got any ideas for back-to-school? Let's hear them!