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Jul 23, 2025|Back to School

Back to School, Back to Brand Loyalty: Why Now’s the Time to Launch a Sweepstakes

Brands that speak to both parents and students can create memorable, loyalty-building experiences. The best way to do that is a back-to-school sweepstakes.

As the back-to-school season kicks into gear, families are preparing for more than just supply runs and early alarms. For brands, this time of year offers a massive opportunity to connect with consumers during one of the busiest shopping cycles of the year. In fact, according to the National Retail Federation, the year’s back-to-school spending is projected to top $41 billion, making it the largest biggest retail season except for the holidays.

But in a crowded market of sales and promotions, how do you break through? One proven answer: a well-executed sweepstakes.

Why Back-to-School Sweepstakes Work

Back-to-school promotions aren’t just about parents anymore. With teens and even tweens influencing household spending, brands that speak to both audiences can create memorable, loyalty-building experiences. Sweepstakes that offer desirable prizes, like laptops, school supplies for a year, dorm essentials, or even tuition grants grab attention and generate massive engagement.

And here’s the key: people love the thrill of a chance to win. When combined with smart targeting and strategic prize alignment, sweepstakes become more than just a giveaway, they become a brand experience that drives real results.

Driving Behavior Through Incentives

At Enteractive Solutions Group, we’ve worked with national brands to design sweepstakes that don’t just attract eyeballs, they drive behavior. Want to increase app downloads for your back-to-school meal planner? Offer a sweepstakes entry with every download. Need to move inventory on last year’s backpacks? Create a contest around social shares, reviews or referrals.

The goal is to attach real incentives to the actions that support your brand’s Q3 goals whether that’s data capture, sales lift or list growth.

Full-Service Sweepstakes Management Support, Start to Finish

Planning a sweepstakes may seem simple, but running one across multiple states, while ensuring you’re legally compliant, requires expertise. That’s where ESG shines.

We handle every detail of sweepstakes administration, including:

  • Creative consultation and strategic planning
  • Bonding and registration where required
  • Official rules and legal compliance in all 50 states
  • Winner selection and verification
  • Prize fulfillment and tax documentation

Whether you’re working with your in-house team or a creative agency, ESG ensures your sweepstakes runs smoothly and professionally.

Choosing Prizes? Make It Fun. Make It Count.

Back-to-school sweepstakes don’t have to be limited to school supplies or gift cards. Think bigger. Dorm makeovers. Yearlong subscriptions to student-focused services. College tuition offsets. Or even prize bundles aimed at the parents footing the bill.

The back-to-school season is short, but its impact is long-lasting. Brands that activate during this time stay top of mind throughout the year. Sweepstakes offer a fast, efficient, and cost-effective way to create impact, if they’re done right.

That’s where we come in.

Let’s Build A Smart Promotion – Together

If you’re thinking about launching a back-to-school sweepstakes (or wish you had), we can help you move fast. At Enteractive Solutions Group, we bring over 25 years of experience running promotions for some of the biggest names in retail and entertainment.

Want to talk ideas or get a quote? Visit Enteractive Solutions Group or message us directly here. We’d love to help you turn this season into something unforgettable.

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