Pinterest Tips for Inspiring Back-to-School ShoppersThe social bookmarking service dishes on back-to-school traffic and trends, even as new competition looms on the horizon.

[Collection]According to the National Retail Federation, shoppers funneled $83.6 billion in back-to-school purchases last year, most of which came from college-oriented merchandise, at $54.1 billion. So it’s no surprise if younger Millennials and their families flock to social media for shopping inspiration, especially around b-t-s season. According to Pinterest, about 47 million people scoured the site for b-t-s ideas in 2017. Pinners were 1.4 times more likely than others to buy kids’ clothes or home decor items, and they tend to plan earlier than others: Research can start as early as May, with high growth in July, before peaking in early August. Perennial staples like backpacks, home goods and groceries are no-brainers for students, but the company’s blog also offers advice for fashion brands and retailers. “Give harried parents some help with simple ways they can refresh their kids’ style, like piecing together mix-and-match outfits,” wrote Eric Alessi, Pinterest’s insights solutions analyst. “Staples like denim, trainers and solid tops paired with statement pieces like dusters, boho dresses and kimonos are what’s in right now.” Overall, 90 percent of Pinners hit the site for ideas on what to buy, the social bookmarking service said. It also claimed that 50 percent of college-age students in the U.S. flock

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