There are many types of consumers who need a backpack and your inventory can fluctuate with seasonal changes. Since students represent the largest market, your sales may peak at the end of summer when they’re searching for a backpack for school. Stock various styles and price points, including backpacks that carry a laptop safely for older students and professionals.

Although the majority of your clientele may need a backpack for school, other customers will be looking for backpacks to use outside the classroom. Many will need backpacks for work, trips and recreational activities. Catering to a wide range of customers will offer more consistent backpack sales throughout the year:

1. Offer a selection of backpacks for school to suit students from elementary school to college.

2. Display deluxe versions such as leather or laptop backpacks to attract older students and professionals.

3. Choose general use models such as backpacks for travel, day hiking and sports to accommodate additional customers.

Action Steps
The best contacts and resources to help you get it done

Give customers several options when it comes to backpacks for school

Although younger students are happy with a basic school backpack, older kids desire trendy designs, room for electronic gadgets or cool sling styles. Kids may also appreciate a larger, rolling backpack to tote textbooks on the long walk home.

I recommend: Check availability on wholesale school backpacks in diverse sizes and styles from School-bags.com. Pockets in the sling backpack, for example, will hold classroom essentials and other items like a cell phone or portable music player. Bag Republic offers stationary and rolling backpacks for students from kindergarten through college. Check out school backpacks from 15 to 18 inches at DollarDays. The site distributes plain styles, as well as versions in assorted prints and models with a telescoping handle and inline skate wheels.

Offer professional backpacks with padding for a laptop

Show customers that a leather backpack is a stylish and convenient alternative to a briefcase or messenger bag. Stock models designed to protect equipment like a laptop and that feature wheels to bear the weight of heavy books or files.

I recommend: CKBProducts Wholesale sells genuine leather backpacks at quantity discounts. Also check out the company’s rolling leather backpacks and deluxe rolling carts that convert into backpacks. Find a rolling laptop backpack with a removable computer sleeve at quantity discounts through EverythingBags. Evertek offers laptop backpacks in traditional and sling styles. Bags feature DropShield padding for added protection.

Reach additional customers with backpack styles to suit personal and recreational uses

Customers in need of a tote when they work, hike, sightsee or participate in athletic activities will appreciate a backpack that can hold the essentials while keeping their hands free. Ensure each type of leisure or travel backpack features a large compartment for bulky items as well as several smaller pockets for objects like keys, a cell phone and bottled water.

I recommend: WholesaleMart offers bulk prices on multi-purpose backpacks featuring sections and attachments to hold a variety of items. Get traditional and sling backpack styles at wholesale prices through Moda. Sturges Sportswear sells fabric, deluxe and printed backpacks by the case. Click on the desired photo for pricing details.

Tips & Tactics

Helpful advice for making the most of this Guide

• •  Cater to additional backpack buyers by stocking specialty models, such as a diaper bag backpack with a changing pad, a picnic backpack that holds dishes and utensils, or a framed hiking backpack for longer expeditions.
• •  Make your store's backpack display more enticing by showcasing the amount of items and types of equipment that each model can hold. Fill a school backpack with a variety of books, binders and tools, for example, so students can see how they'll actually feel when wearing it from class to class.