Freshers: A Guide for Ecommerce Managers

After a year of socialising, learning and shopping from home, Freshers 2021 represents a pivotal moment in most students’ education. And we’re not just talking about the new starters. With 80% of second-years looking to get involved with Freshers in 2021, it’s clear that young consumers intend to make up for lost time. 

This guide will equip ecommerce managers with the insights you need to make a lasting impression on these young consumers. We know from over 15 years of marketing to students that Freshers is when lifetime brand loyalties are built – and in 2021, with multiple cohorts of students to reach, it’s more important than ever. 

In this guide: 

• Key themes and unmissable trends. Student spending has flipped on its head in the past year. We kept tabs on the key trends throughout lockdown – and we’ve included a section in this guide to show specifically how they’ll influence Freshers. 
• First-hand student stories. The best way to understand how students view your product? Hear from them directly. This guide brings together in-depth interviews with three students – Maliha, Marco and Joe – so you can use real perspectives to inform your strategy.
• Sector-specific snapshots. We’ve included sector-specific shopping lists for Fashion, Health & Beauty, Food and Drink, Homewares, Tech & Mobile and Entertainment. Find out exactly which products students are buying – including when they start shopping and where they look.