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Last-Minute Planning & Optimizations: Back-to-School Partnership Playbooks

Aug 28, 2025

Chrissy Kammerer

Director of Content

The 2025 back-to-school season is a massive opportunity you can’t afford to miss. With the National Retail Federation (NRF) projecting a record $128.2 billion in spending, it’s a critical time for marketers to get a piece of the pie. Shoppers are already getting a head start, with two-thirds of consumers beginning their shopping by early July to beat price increases and snag the best deals during key events like Prime Day.

The race is on, and a successful strategy hinges on a smart, well-defined plan. To help you win, we’ve created two essential guides to help you navigate this high-stakes season.

Our School’s in Session: How to Deploy an Effective Back-to-School Strategy eBook is your ultimate last-minute playbook for optimizing your partnerships. It’s not enough to just have partners; you need to engage with them strategically based on their specific type. This eBook provides actionable tips for maximizing your partnerships, whether you’re working with buy now, pay later (BNPL), coupon, or content partners.

You’ll learn how to:

Capture high-intent shoppers with BNPL promotions, especially for big-ticket items.
Attract savvy shoppers with exclusive deals and discounts through coupon and voucher partners.
Inspire purchases by leveraging content partners to promote full-priced items and create engaging lookbooks.

Meanwhile, Your Complete Back-to-School Partnership Planning Strategy eBook is a comprehensive guide that gives you the critical insights and tactics needed to navigate the changing consumer landscape. With economic shifts and ongoing tariffs making shoppers more price-sensitive than ever, it’s crucial to adapt. This ebook reveals the top spending categories for both K-12 and college students and offers a clear strategy for success.

Key takeaways include:

Understanding spending habits: K-12 families will spend an average of $858.07, with electronics, clothing, and shoes being the top categories. College students will spend an average of $1,325.85, with top spending on electronics, furnishings, and clothing.
Focusing on value: Consumers are prioritizing deals and promotions. You should, too, by crafting a well-defined plan to reach value-driven shoppers.
Leveraging social media: Younger shoppers are using platforms like TikTok to find deals and compare prices. In fact, consumers who use social media in their shopping journey spend 1.8 times more than those who don’t.

Get ahead of the competition and refine your strategy by downloading our eBooks today! Or, feel free to contact us today right here.

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Last-Minute Planning & Optimizations: Back-to-School Partnership Playbooks

Chrissy Kammerer

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