Looking for a market with millions of prospects who snatch up everything from erasers to apparel? Then consider elementary-school and secondary-school teachers, says Anne McManus, account executive for Newton, PA-based MKTG Services.
There are 3.4 million educators teaching grades kindergarten through 12 in the United States, according to the National Education Association (NEA). Teachers make many buying decisions each day on items related to their careers. What’s more, they often reach into their own wallets to buy. The NEA states that teachers spend an average of $443 of their own money each school year on products for their classrooms.
But be careful. Keeping the names of educators current is a challenging task. According to McManus, each year about 20% of teachers change schools, teach a different subject, or leave the profession entirely. Be sure to check when the list you’re renting was updated, and above all, make sure you mail teachers before the summer because that’s when they’ll likely fall off your radar screen.