When is the best time of the year to target schools and colleges?

January 2009
Take advantage of this prime month for targeting schools. Expenditure of the 2008/9 budgets are now beginning to play on heads of departments minds so teachers are definitely prepared to buy for their department.

February 2009
The high level of response should sustain through into February. Marketing should fade off during the week before half term. Do not email or post during the half term holidays w/c 16th February.

March 2009
A great month for selling to schools. Responses are high as schools are now forced to use up the remains of their 2008/9 budgets, and are also planning what to buy with the 2009/10 budgets received in April.

April 2009
Most schools will be breaking up for 2 weeks for Easter w/c 6th April, so avoid this holiday period. Final two weeks should see results increase.

May 2009
Prime time to target schools. Easter is over, and budgets should now be available and ready to spend. Remember the bank holiday when scheduling your marketing.

June 2009
Once again it is prime time. Excellent period to market to schools as exams have begun and teachers now have far more time on their hands to respond to your emails/mailings.

July 2009
Scotland and Northern Ireland schools have now broken up for the summer. But English and Welsh schools maintain a surprisingly good level of responses right up to the second week of the month as exams and now school trips are still freeing up teachers valuable time. Teachers are now purchasing for delivery of items for new school term in September. England and Wales schools break-up mid-July for summer.

August 2009
Schools are shut. It is best to avoid all email and postal marketing until final the week of this month if you feel the need to beat the rush of September/October/November. Scottish schools return last week of the month.

September 2009
New school year kicks off. Emailing results are extremely impressive and postal is also effective. Schools are now buying for the new school year, out with the old and in with the new!

October 2009
October sees September’s responses increase further as schools are now settled into their lesson/class rhythms and are organised and ready for considering what you can offer. Post and emails maintain a great response but remember to avoid the autumn half term at the end of the month.

November 2009
Another very strong month for responses. However many people will plough through their marketing in a rush to get it out before December. Be careful with mistakes when time is against you and don’t always see December the 1st onwards as a no go area. If others are not targeting schools then that gives you a clear path to your market.

December 2009
We would advise marketing to schools early but avoid dates after the second week for the Christmas break. We found Dec 08 actually got very impressive emailing results, but postal was generally quieter.