Officeworks is spending a ton of money right now advertising that they offer the best back to school deals. They have clever wording to buy them coverage one direct price comparison. Like Bunnings, they are the master of making it look like they are cheaper. That’s to get you in and spending, knowing you’ll pay above the odds on other items.
Local retailers like newsagents and local stationery shops, family businesses, businesses integrated with the local community, will provide more genuine value if you support them.
While I don’t offer back to school supplies in the newsagencies I own, I surge all Australians with kids heading to school this year to shop local, shop with the shop you are likely to call on to support your community group or charity. They can’t help if you don’t support them.
Support the local business with no TV ad spend telling you how cheap they are because someone pays for the TV ads and that someone is the shopper. TV ads are expensive. The Officeworks ads are excellent at nurturing the impression that you will save if you shop with them.
Newsagencies are among the first businesses approached by local community groups, schools and others for support for raffles and other fundraisers. If every member of the local groups and clubs asking newsagents for help shopped with newsagents ahead of big business competitors, more help could be forthcoming.
For back to school needs for then 2020 school year I urge families to shop local and I urge newsagents to get this message out, to encourage people to think before they shop.