Back to School 2026 - Ancol

HOW TO BECOME THE GO-TO DESTINATION STORE

Back to School isn’t just another retail moment—it’s your power season. For Newsagents, it’s one of the busiest, highest-traffic, and most profitable periods of the entire year. Parents, students, teachers, and professionals are all shopping with purpose, and they’re looking for stores that make their lives easier.

This is your chance to showcase what you do best, drive strong sales across key categories, and build customer loyalty that lasts well beyond February. With the right preparation and smart in-store execution, you can turn this annual rush into a standout success.

Why This Promotion Matters More Than Ever

A strong Back to School offering positions you as a trusted local destination—not just for stationery, but for everyday essentials. When customers know they can rely on you at one of the busiest times of the year, they’ll keep coming back throughout the year.

This promotion gives you:

• High foot traffic from families and professionals

• Strong demand for essential and upgrade items

• Opportunities for upselling and repeat visits

• A chance to stand out from competitors through creative displays and a professional store setup

The more intentional your layout and storytelling are, the more value you’ll get from every shopper.

Maximise Every Zone of Your Store

Your store layout is one of your most powerful sales tools. Use each zone to capture attention and guide customers to the products they need—plus the ones they didn’t know they wanted.

1. Show-Stopping Window Displays

If you’ve got windows, treat them like your billboard.
Create a clear, vibrant display that speaks to parents and kids as they walk past.

This year’s bold, colourful stationery characters make the perfect heroes—fun, eye-catching, and instantly recognisable. They help tell a cohesive story customers will continue to follow once they walk through the door.

2. Entrance = The All-Important Strike Zone

First impressions matter.
Place a themed table, dump bin, or gondola at the entrance that continues the look and feel of your window display. Feature high-interest items like:

• Premium stationery

• Lunch items

• Tech accessories

• Trending character or colour ranges

This sets the tone and plants buying ideas early.

3. Clear, Easy-to-Browse Walkways

Clutter is the enemy of conversion.
Open, tidy aisles encourage browsing, reduce frustration, and help your team serve quickly and efficiently. When customers can move easily, they shop more freely—and spend more.

4. High-Impact Register Area

The counter is your last chance to increase basket size.
Keep it clean, organised, and clearly themed. Great impulse add-on items include:

• Pens and refills

• Sticky notes

• Highlighters

• USBs and phone cables

• Small calendars or diaries

Visibility + speed = more sales.

Build Displays That Sell (Not Just Look Good)

Turn your Back to School theme into a full in-store experience.

• Hang posters in windows or from the ceiling to add height and attract customers from different angles.

• Place banner posters near merchandise to highlight key categories and make shopping easier.

• Use this year’s stationery characters to inject personality, colour, and fun into your store. They help create a stronger emotional connection—especially for kids.

When displays feel cohesive and energetic, customers feel confident they’re in the right place.

Make Your Store the One Customers Remember

Back to School isn’t just a season—it’s your chance to excel. Every display, every aisle, every touchpoint is an opportunity to prove that your store is the easiest, most enjoyable, and most reliable place to shop.

By leaning into this promotion, you can:

• Increase sales across core categories

• Encourage multiple-item purchases

• Strengthen customer trust

• Position your store as the local Back to School specialist

This year, make your Newsagency the store parents, students, and professionals rely on—and return to, long after the bell rings.