CENTEREACH, NY — In order to stave off the growing trend of declining back-to-school sales, PJ Art Co. is offering discounts to schools and promoting sales specials for some of its high-quality art supplies available on its web site.
“Our customers consist of high school students who are very serious about becoming artists, as well as college students who are art majors,” said Dan DiSanto, President, PJ Art Co. “With many educators being obligated to pay for supplies upfront because of local schools and colleges facing severe budget cuts, we offer deep discounted prices to ease their financial burden.”
With adverse economic factors such as the weak job market, rising unemployment and the shift in the sales tax holiday season from July to August, many shoppers are holding more tightly to their wallets. According to data released by Retail Forward, an organization representing retailers and consumer goods manufacturers, retail sales for July 2009 fell 4.6%. In July 2008, sales were up 1.8%. The study adds that 24% of shoppers intend to spend less on back-to-school items this year, up from 19% last year.
Mr. DiSanto says his competition does not come from big-box stores, but rather from rival art supply retailers. To stay ahead of the competition, PJ Art Co. offers specials on its website (www.pjartco.com)
“In today’s economy, local businesses have to get creative and sometimes sacrifice to remain competitive,”
For more information about PJ Art Co., please visit their website at www.pjartco.com.
