Staples Teams with Bed Bath & Beyond for College Sweeps
The office supply chain is teaming up with Bed Bath and Beyond to offer a “Shop Smart for College” sweepstakes. Visitors to www.staples.com/ultimateprizefor2 or www.bedbathandbeyond.com can enter for a chance to win two Smart Fortwo Passion Coupes (one for the parent, and one for the college student) and $10,000 in gift certificates to both stores.
The sweepstakes, which runs through Sept. 2, is part of the company’s overall back-to-school campaign. The effort includes TV spots that play off consumers feeling about rising costs. It vows in its messaging to make school shopping more affordable.
“Like everyone, Staples is sensitive to the state of the economy and concerns of our customers,” Shira Goodman, executive vice president of marketing at Staples, Inc., said in a statement “Our entire back-to-school campaign underscores the fact that Staples offers a wide assortment of products at great prices. We’re offering parents an affordable solution to help save money for life’s other necessities—like gas for your car.”
Staples is using in-store, online marketing, direct marketing and PR to support its price campaign. Bed Bath & Beyond is marketing the sweepstakes online and via its in-store circulars.
In other news, Staples has launched a cause marketing program asking teens to collect school supplies and drop them off at their nearest store as part of its Do Something 101 campaign. It’s getting some star power from “American Idol” winner Jordin Spark, who is helping promote the effort. The campaign runs through Aug. 31.
