Create yourself

General Mills brand Nature Valley yesterday (Aug. 2) launched its back-to-school rewards program on TikTok to give users the chance to win free back-to-school gear, according to a press release.
To be eligible, users must add the hashtag on a video showcasing their sustainable efforts. If selected, they will receive a promo code granting them access to Nature Valley’s “ReTok Shop,” featuring items from brands like L.L.Bean and Stasher. Users can win up to three free items through Sept. 11.
To promote the program, Nature Valley is partnering with popular TikTok creators who also focus on sustainability. The move signifies a potential theme in back-to-school marketing as consumers push for eco-friendly products.

On October 1, Meta will shut down the live shopping feature on Facebook, according to a company post.
The company stated that “consumers’ viewing behaviors are shifting to short-form video,” pushing Meta to focus more on the video format Reels on Facebook and Instagram. However, live shopping functionality will remain on Instagram, per the post.
Users will still be able to use Facebook Live video, but will no longer be capable of creating product playlists or tagging products in the live feed.

Inflation is a top concern for parents this back-to-school season, but signals are mixed on how big an impact this will have on purchasing decisions. As a result, brands and retailers are focused on finding a message that promotes value without sacrificing sales.

The beginning of 2022 teased a sunnier outlook for this year’s back-to-school season following years of pandemic related challenges, but health stressors have been swapped for fears of a recession. Still, projected spending doesn’t reflect a hurting economy, with the market forecasted to hit $34.4 billion, 24% higher than pre-pandemic levels, according to Deloitte’s 2022 back-to-school survey.