The school year is not without its challenges for teachers, students and parents alike. For teachers and students, it’s time to get back to the daily grind and put the warm, carefree summer days behind them. For parents, it usually means shelling out money for new school supplies, clothes and extracurricular equipment.
Parents actually spent less on back-to-school items this year compared to last year, but the costs are still substantial. Parents of elementary through high school students spent on average between $635 and $1,355 on back-to-school items so far in 2018.
By shopping at resale stores, parents can save money on school-related items. From sports equipment to instruments and affordable clothing, Winmark brands have parents covered.
Dress to Impress with Affordable Clothing
With ever-changing fashion trends and children who quickly outgrow clothes year to year, parents typically find themselves buying new styles every school year. Winmark’s Plato’s Closet® and Style Encore® both offer affordable, on-trend clothing at 70 to 90 percent off retail prices.
This makes it easy for children, teens and young professionals to continue to have the best fashion while also finding clothes that fit well as they continue to grow. And with such comparatively low price points, Winmark brands have a constant stream of demand year after year.
Cost-Effective Sports Equipment is a Win-Win for Kids and Parents
Sports equipment and clothing quickly follow healthcare as a top child-related expense for parents. In fact, many parents spend more than $1,000 per child each year on sports clothing and gear. Since children quickly outgrow equipment and clothes, it’s hard for parents to justify these expenses.
At the same time, organized sports have been proven to help children with social and emotional intelligence, while teaching them discipline and the importance of regular physical activity. With these values at stake, it’s no surprise parents are reluctant to count out sports as an extracurricular for their children.
With brands like Winmark’s Play It Again Sports®, parents can buy their children new and used sporting goods at 40 to 90 percent off retail prices. This presents the perfect opportunity for kids who want to try a variety of different sports or who quickly outgrow their equipment. It also helps parents stay on budget without limiting their children’s extracurriculars.
Noteworthy Savings on Musical Instruments and Equipment
School band and music lessons are another beneficial and popular extracurricular activity that can also set parents back hundreds or thousands of dollars. New musical instruments average around $500, and with lesson and practice costs, that can quickly add up to thousands of dollars throughout the year. And for parents who aren’t sure how long their children will stay interested in a particular instrument, it’s understandable why they might be hesitant to spend that much money.
Music Go Round® offers significant savings for parents who want to buy gently used instruments for their children. This is perfect for first-time musicians who may not yet be ready to commit to one instrument. Before investing in a brand new instrument right away, parents can wait a few years and be sure their kids want to pursue music.
By giving parents plenty of opportunities to save on a variety of items, Winmark brand resale stores are a popular choice for parents during the school year. Although Winmark franchisees notice year-round demand for their products, parents find themselves especially in need of gently used school-related items every fall.
Are you interested in bringing one of our brands to your local community to help parents save? Learn more here.