Back to school isn't just a big deal for students; it's a big deal for retailers too. In fact, it's second only to the winter holidays when it comes to sales.
Clothing stores were very busy on Saturday, but so were barber shops and hair salons. We spoke with Susan Smith who owns the shop Once upon a child in Roanoke. “All summer long, retailing bumps along. [It's] Kind of scary and so back to school is our book time,” she said.
At Cost Cutters on Williamson Road in Roanoke, customers are getting ready to go back to school. Whether it's high school or beyond, it's all about that first impression. Paul Divers will be a freshman in college next year. “[You've] got to look your best when you meet new people. [You've] got to look sharp,” he said.
This year, college students are expected to spend $53 billion as they prepare to go back to school. That's an increase from $46 billion last year.
And parents of K-12 students will fork over $30 billion dollars this year, an increase of $7 billion over last year.
