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Back to School Shopping Tips at Marketfair Mall

August 23, 2017 By Hilary Morris

S P O N S O R E D

There’s no denying the back to school shopping can be a stressful process. Between school supply lists, shoes that your kids have grown out of, and the clothes that they need vs what they want, your wallet is taking a hit before the school year even starts (not to mention that it's probably been quite active with all.the.food the kids eat during the day)! The good news is that it doesn’t have to be! We have some tips to help reduce the stress and the spending involved with the back to school shopping season. Princeton Online partnered with Marketfair Mall on Route 1 in Princeton to show how much you can accomplish for your first day needs at stores like Gap, Athleta, Barnes and Noble, and more. Keep reading below to see what I was able to pick up for my 3 girls and to learn some tips that have helped me through the years to make this process so much easier, especially on the wallet. On top of my experience, we also share what two other local Princeton bloggers accomplished on their sponsored shopping trip at Marketfair (Scroll to the end for links to their hauls).

The first step before you even hit the stores is to take inventory of what your kids need to start the year (new backpack? new shoes? school supplies?) and then set a budget for yourself. Make it very clear to the kids what you will and won't spend money on. Allow some wants as well- and let the kids tell you what they like. Don't waste your money on clothes that they won't wear. There are bigger battles you will encounter as they get older. Having boundaries always helps set expectations, but let them be part of the process so you can get to know more about their personal style. They will appreciate having some choice (and honor your rules) in the long run. Browse the directory of stores at the mall and pick out the top stores you want to hit. If the stores have a website, let your kids browse and pick out the products and styles they like. The stores at Marketfair that were on our list were (in the exact order): Pottery Barn Kids, Athleta, GapKids, Barnes & Noble and Francesca's. It took us about 3 hours to tackle our list and the budget, but we were very pleased with our results! Keep reading to learn how I applied my shopping tips to our visit.

1. The first item on our list was a new backpack from Pottery Barn Kids. One of the mistakes I made this school year was to get my middle daughter a bag without a side pocket. Most schools require the kids to bring a water bottle to school every day. And where do they carry it? On their backpack!. There was nothing wrong with her current bag, but no pocket is a deal breaker. We stopped at Pottery Barn Kids, whose bags have been recommended many times in the past for their durability and staying power. With so many prints, colors and, themes to chose from, it was easy for my daughter to find her favorite (future vet in the house ????). In addition, they also have a small selection of supplies, plus bags and books for your little learners.

Back to school shopping at Pottery Barn Kids Princeton

Back to school shopping at Pottery Barn Kids Princeton

2. Next on our list was clothing! Now here is where it's easy to lose track of Operation Back to School. We stopped at Athleta, which carries Athleta Girl, and then my GapKids for everyday essentials. The girls had a gift card for Athleta, which we used to grab some stretchy headbands - great for keeping hair out of their face for dance and sports. After that, it was off to Gap. I love all.the.things for my girls at Gap Kids, and so I have to stay laser focused on my goal. As I mentioned earlier, it's important to set boundaries with your kids. My girls know that they always get one outfit to start the new year, on top of the other must-haves that we need. In the past, we have always gotten a First Day outfit, but then it would sit in their closet and gather dust the rest of the year. This year, their new outfit would be something for when the weather turned. It's important not to over do it on the cold stuff though; it is still warm out and new trends will pop up among their friends after school starts anyway. Get what you need now and then wait to pick up other things like coats, sweaters. At Gap, we picked up a Minnie Mouse dress for my youngest, jeans + a plaid button-up shirt + cold-shoulder tee for my middle, and a "cocoon" cardigan + graphic T for my eldest. We tried on a few jeans for her, but the styles she liked didn't fit right. Brands will fit your kids differently, and that's another important part of the shopping process. If you know what fits your kids well, stick with that store/brand.

3. The last two stops on our list were more like WANTS. We hit Francesca's for accessories and Barnes & Noble for fun school/desk supplies and Legos (with their gift cards). Francesca’s is geared more for high school through millennial women, but they have a great accessories and gifts section. It’s one of the first places I think of if I need a fun gift for a friend. And if you feel like your head spins when you go into accessories stores in other malls, the nice thing about Francesca’s is that it’s a small selection, but still the stuff they love. I also appreciate all of the motivational and empowerment motifs on the notebooks, mugs and more. At Barnes & Noble, it’s like the candy shop of books and gifts. My girls get so excited to go there and I never mind spending some money on something I know they want. B&N also has a section of fun desk supplies by kate spade NY, bando. and more, plus art supplies and lap desks. We did pick up a few desk stuff, but the girls were there to use gift cards on Lego toys. You can bet I used my membership for our purchases AND the snacks we got at Starbuck towards the end of our shopping endeavor.

At the end of our adventure, I felt like we accomplished a lot! The biggest payoff was staying on budget, resisting temptation, and getting the girls ready for school with things they love!

If you want to see eactly what the girls got, below is our Facebook Live broadcast, which we did as soon as we got home.

I also mentioned that we partnered with two Princeton bloggers on this assignment. Check out their experience below:

The Boy Mom Perspective: Jamie aka Not a Rose Girl <<-- Her video teaser will make your day!

The One of Each Perspective: Sarah aka Smart Simple Savvy <--- she snuck something for Mom too (we need a reward for all this hard work!)

What are your tips for getting back to school shopping done?

Hilary Morris is the community manager for Princeton Online. Get a peek into her life as a marketer, NJ influencer, girls fashion blogger and mom of 3 girls at @itshilarymorris.