2024’s Most Popular Back to School Displays and Planograms

According to Statista, Back to School shopping generated 41.5 billion dollars in 2023 in the United States.  

Retailer planograms and displays are strategized, drawn up, approved, and implemented months in advance of students going back to school. It’s important to track these trends that have lasting categorical impact.

In Field Agent’s final installment of the Back to School blog series, we utilized Shelfgram’s AI technology to pull the top photos of BTS planograms and displays for 2024.

The Colorful Planograms

Retailers are capitalizing on vibrant, eye-catching planograms that appeal to both students and parents. These displays are designed to attract attention and create a sense of excitement for the upcoming school year. By incorporating bold colors complimentary to the supply’s packaging, retailers can create a dynamic shopping experience that stands out.

In Walmart, HEB, and Dollar Tree alike, retailers are leaning into the Back to School planograms with colorful aisles.

A Theme of Solid Bright Colors

Bright, solid colors dominate the 2024 Back to School displays. These colors not only grab the shopper’s attention but also help in organizing products. Neon greens, electric blues, and vibrant pinks are trending—making the shopping aisles pop.

Our condolences to the beige and neutral designs, it seems your time has come and gone.

Large Shape Cutouts

Another popular trend is the use of large shape cutouts, particularly backpacks, rainbows, and pencils. (Plus, Target’s blue animation character in nearly every store.) 

These cheerful designs create a welcoming and fun shopping environment—getting kids excited about purchasing new school supplies year after year.

Long POP Displays

Long POP displays are making a significant impact this year. These extended displays allow retailers to showcase a larger variety of products in a single, cohesive setup. They are perfect for featuring a wide range of back-to-school essentials, from Elmer’s glue sticks to 94-count Crayola crayons, ensuring customers find everything they need in one convenient location.

Back to School POP display bins are being utilized to drive impulse buys by showing more inexpensive, grab-and-go materials like highlighters, markers, pens, and pencils. 

Field Agent Study Hall

It’s not too late: get in-depth Back to School insights from our previous two blogs. The first, Parents Are Planning to Outspend Themselves, shares survey responses from over 1,000 parents on their schooltime spending habits. 

The second, CPG Lunch & Learn, shows how the school year affects brands in the food and beverage categories for families planning to send their kids to school with a packed lunch.

Retail Solution Homework Help

Field Agent is an expert in capturing and analyzing in-store conditions—ensuring that our clients stay ahead of the trends. 

With our suite of audits, insights, and trial (read: store audits, price checks, ratings and reviews, planogram execution, planogram compliance, and more), we provide valuable insights that drive success in the retail industry—particularly with winning at Back to School.

Get instant insights from your desk with Shelfgram AI-powered store photos, or build a retail solution for the information you need.