Despite economic headwinds, 64 percent of surveyed consumers will use their smartphones to make back-to-school purchases this fall, per a study by Deloitte. Additionally, nine out of ten back-to-school shoppers are expected to spend equal or more than they did last year. Deloitte also found that mobile shoppers will use their devices for price information and to download discounts and coupons.
In addition to consumers just using their smartphones while shopping, the Deloitte study found that users are primarily using them to comparison shop. Sixty-one percent of consumers will use smartphones to get price information. Additionally, 43 percent of consumers are expected to download discounts, coupons or sale information on their smartphones.
This need of smartphones and mobile devices for prices ties into bigger consumer issues in the study. For example, 65 percent of consumers surveyed said low prices are the most important retailer factor when back-to-school shopping. Additionally, 55 percent of shoppers said they will only buy products their family needs this season. Twenty-six percent say they will reuse items from last year instead of shopping.
Social networks will play a greater role in back-to-school shopping this year, according to the survey. More than one-third (35 percent) of parents plan to use social networking sites to assist in their back-to-school shopping, up from 29 percent last year. Among these respondents, nearly seven out of 10 (69 percent) plan to do so to find out about promotions. Additionally, 44 percent plan to visit social networking sites to browse products and 28 percent to read reviews and recommendations.
