School supply season starts earlier this year, Pigu.lt reports

The back-to-school shopping season has kicked off earlier than usual this year, according to online retailer Pigu.lt. The company has observed a nearly 50% increase in sales of school-related products over the past two weeks, a trend that began even before their primary back-to-school campaign was launched.

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We used to observe that interest in products for pupils and students began to grow significantly only at the beginning of August. This year, we see that buyers have started preparing for the new academic year earlier – and this is happening even before our main school supplies campaign.

Nerijus Mikalajūnas, Head of Communications at Pigu.lt, noted that typically, interest in student supplies significantly rises only in early August. This year, however, shoppers are preparing for the new academic year sooner. Pigu.lt expects even greater activity once their main campaign begins next week, promising a wider selection and special offers.

While the average order value remains consistent at around 24 euros, the average price per item has risen. Customers are spending between 15 to 19 euros per item this year, up from 8 to 12 euros last year. This suggests consumers are purchasing fewer items but opting for slightly more expensive ones. Currently, popular purchases include art supplies, backpacks, pencils, and sports bags.

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This shows that buyers are spending a similar amount, but are buying fewer and slightly more expensive items.

Mikalajūnas also highlighted that back-to-school shopping extends beyond traditional stationery. Sales of essential items like computers, smartphones, headphones, furniture, and appliances also increase as students prepare for the academic year, especially those moving into dorms or new accommodations. Pigu.lt, part of the PHH Group, operates e-commerce platforms across the Baltic states and Finland.

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Preparation for the new academic year covers much more than backpacks, pens, and notebooks. It is a period when sales of goods necessary for the daily life of learners increase – computers, smartphones, headphones, furniture, and household appliances.