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The Evolution of Back to School Shopping

by Bill Sweeney
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Office Depot sponsored this post, but all thoughts and opinions are my own.

Our Back to School Shopping Evolution

Back to school shopping means different things to different people at different times. I know there’s a lot of different in that statement, but if you have experienced it (or are in the midst of it like me), then you know exactly what I’m referring to. From year to year, the kids need drastically different products based on school year, classes, grade, and their interests and preferences.

Take my kids to example. I have a 14 year old, Natalie, entering high school, a 12 year old, Liam, entering seventh grade, and a 6 year old, Caleb, entering first grade. They all need very different back to school supplies, so the back to school shopping is just as varied. Caleb needs a ton of glue sticks and crayons, for example. Natalie needs binders and a fancy scientific calculator! I’ve also noticed that as kids get older, their school supply-shopping list gets more complicated with many more goodies needed.  Natalie and I (and Liam, too) spend a ton of time in the electronics department, looking for tools beyond pens and folders.

It’s not just that, either! LOL! It seems that the older the kids get, the more they need certain items. I guess they have to fit in more and be “cool,” because my little guy is generally much easier to please!! This all boils down to me and my family going back each and every year to the same tried and true stores that always seem to get the job done and that have all the back to school supplies we need to have success at every age! Our main spot for back to school shopping has to be Office Depot or Office Max.

It’s About The Experience

Yes, I know, back to school shopping is mostly about getting all the back to school supplies that are needed by your child or children to succeed in the upcoming school year. It’s tools of the trade, offered to you by the school supply store of your choice. The tools are unique and special to each child for each class. But, as with most things with parenting and with life, school supply shopping isn’t always about the most efficient way to obtain your kids’ school supplies. It’s also an experience and a time, not to sound too cliché, for bonding in a way.

Back to school shopping can also be a time to talk about the upcoming year and what they expect from it. You have time to ease their minds if they are nervous, like when Caleb was starting “big boy school” last year in Kindergarten or when Liam started Middle School (lockers and class changes). It’s also a big deal this year with Natalie starting, gasp, High School. Stop this train, I want to get off, but I won’t cry too much here.

The TI-84 Plus CE

While there are aways sone required items, there typically is enough room in those lists to really have your kids get supplies that are personal. Take Natalie’s Texas Instruments TI-84 Plus CE Graphing Calculator for example. This is an amazing calculator with a slim design that’s easy to carry, a high-resolution color screen, and preloaded apps that help with logarithm functions, hyperbolic functions, matrix functions, forecasting functions and more!! It can be used for pre-algebra, algebra 1 and 2, geometry, statistics, pre-calculus, calculus, biology, chemistry, physics and business and finance a well as during the SAT, ACT and AP exams.

The TI-84 Plus CE is a really sophisticated and intimidating item for most kids, but I love that the local Office Depot we went to offered a ton of different color options! Once she saw that she could get a Rose Gold calculator, she quickly became a big fan and couldn’t wait to get it home and try it out!! That put my mind at ease for sure.

Back to School Supplies

My kids actually really love to go back to school shopping, mainly because of the massive amount of options available today at places like Office Depot and Office Max. I’m not going to go down the “when I was young” old man routine, but I will just say that I really do not remember all the amazing selection and options available for even the most basic products. I mean, when I bought a calculator, it was black. Not Rose Gold, teal, black, gray, and more! Nor were there so many options for pens and erasers and glue! I recall black and blue basic pens and yellow pencils. That was pretty much it. Now, it’s a back to school supplies wonderland in Office Depot and OfficeMax, man! It’s awesome.

Having such a massive selection really makes the entire experience so much better. We get to check off the boxes on the needs list. I really love preparing my kids with the tools, supplies, and support to be able to walk into school with the confidence and self-esteem to take on a whole new year of challenges! Plus, there are just so many ways to personalize supplies now, with paint, stickers, and a seemingly infinite array of colors and styles! They grow so fast, I just want to make sure they are happy and ready to rock!

Office Depot/Office Max

There’s so much to think about when it’s time for back to school shopping, it can make your head spin. That’s why I need to make the best use of my time and shop at places I know I can get the job done. From crayons to computers and dorm furniture – Office Depot and OfficeMax help my kids and I prepare for every step of their education journey with quality tools and resources.

I also love the professional assistance we get from Office Depot and OfficeMax associates! It’s nice to have people that know about the supplies and even act as advisors, listening to what we need while recommending solutions that will best help my kid succeed.

Office Depot and Office Max also makes back to school shopping easier in other ways! Check off that list with the the Office Depot/Office Max School List with a Click, a database of over 1.7 million teachers’ school supply lists from over 70,000 schools across the country!

If you can’t get out to your local store, that’s ok, too! Office Depot/Office Max is there for you 24/7/365! with the Office Depot mobile app, Buy Online Pickup, In Store in one-hour option, free next business-day delivery on purchases of $45 or more on supplies, and same-day delivery in select markets!! It just can’t get any easier than that, can it??

Best Values for Back to School

In addition to all of the above awesomeness, Office Depot and OfficeMax are offering weekly doorbusters on everyday essentials and up to 80% off its best-selling school supplies! Talk about perfect timing, right? It also offers low prices all summer long on a what you need. There’s a really great selection of top-brand school supplies plus exclusive fashion accessories like backpacks, stickers and charms. And you just can’t forget about all of this important tech products like Chromebooks and educational learning tools like Scholastic and Juku brand STEAM kits. That’s a lot, I know, but I now you will love it as much as my family does!

Find Out More

To get yourself ready for back to school shopping, check out officedepot.com right now! Get all those back to school supplies like Natalie’s scientific calculator and more from my family’s favorite school supply store!!

Office Depot sponsored this post, but all thoughts and opinions are my own.

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The Evolution of Back to School Shopping was last modified: August 23rd, 2019 by Bill Sweeney

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8 comments

Stacie August 23, 2019 - 1:29 PM

We love back to school shopping at Office Depot. If you can’t find it there, it doesn’t exist.

Reply
Kelly Martin August 23, 2019 - 10:26 PM

Office Depot is great for back to school supplies. So much to choose from.

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ananda August 24, 2019 - 12:55 AM

wow! now i just learned quite a few things i never knew about back to school shopping! it is great that you can incorporate so many things into the experience!

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Surekha-dreamingloud August 24, 2019 - 5:45 AM

I love back to school shopping, and you have so many great points in here.. Nice blog..!

Reply
Emman Damian August 24, 2019 - 10:57 AM

Texas Instruments TI-84 Plus CE Graphing Calculator sounds like a great buy! I hope to get one too. Great deal!

Reply
Steph Social August 24, 2019 - 8:23 PM

Back to school shopping has changed so much over the years, since I was a kid! But it’s always something I look forward to every summer now as a parent!

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katrina Kroeplin August 24, 2019 - 10:47 PM

great finds! ive done some back to school shopping at office max. it’s been a bit since i needed that calculator but i will soon for my oldest. second semester i’ll have to get one.

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Shannon Gurnee August 25, 2019 - 11:35 PM

Office Depot had a lot of different school supplies to choose from. We got all our school supplies before school started thankfully.

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