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Meijer extends 15% teacher discount to full school year

Chain cites ‘many uncertainties’ due to COVID-19 as educators return to class

Russell Redman

September 11, 2020

2 Min Read
Meijer teacher discount extension.jpg
Meijer said it typically expects more than 80,000 teachers across the Midwest to use its teacher discount.Meijer

Supercenter retailer Meijer recognizes that “back to school” carries additional meaning this year.

With COVID-19 forcing teachers, parents and students to adapt to new learning environments — both in physical and virtual classrooms — Meijer yesterday extended its 15% teacher discount on classroom essentials to cover the whole 2020-21 school year, not just the back-to-school season. In August, the Midwestern chain also added face masks and hand sanitizer to the list of items eligible for the discount.

Other products available for the discount range from spiral notebooks and schoolroom essentials like Crayola, Elmer's Glue, Sharpies and Post-It Notes to planners, journals and memo boards. Teachers also can apply Meijer mPerks Rewards with the 15% discount for added savings, as well as take advantage of additional price drops on more than 400 items as part of the retailer’s daily back-to-school specials through Sept. 26. 

Meijer teacher discount coupon.jpg

Teachers can get the paper coupon for the 15% discount by presenting a current school ID at the customer service desk of their local Meijer store.

“There are so many uncertainties as teachers head back to classes, and we’ve heard the plans may change throughout the year. So our goal is to help them shop with confidence whenever they need to refill supplies,” Brandon Pasch, director of back-to-school merchandising at Meijer, said in a statement. “We hope that extending the 15% discount for the entire school year helps reduce the stress to their pocketbooks as they continue gathering supplies for their classrooms and home offices.”

Related:Meijer finds COVID-19 safety transforming back-to-school shopping

A recent Center of Education Statistics, Schools and Staffing Survey found that 94% of public school teachers spend their own money on notebooks, pens and other supplies without reimbursement, Meijer reported. Other experts have estimated that the average teacher spent more than $745 out of their own pockets during the last school year, the retailer said. 

Results of a Meijer survey released last month revealed that teachers expect to repeatedly adjust, refill and update their supplies multiple times in the coming months. More than 80% of respodents said they expect a mixture of virtual and in-person learning to become the “new normal” for students. Thirty percent of teachers surveyed said they plan to buy electronic items to set up virtual learning in their homes.

Meijer said it typically expects more than 80,000 teachers across the Midwest to use its teacher discount. Teachers can get the paper coupon for the discount by presenting a current school ID at the customer service desk of their local Meijer store. The coupon can be used only for purchases made in-store. Teachers can repeatedly obtain a new coupon each time they return to Meijer during the back-to-school shopping season. 

Related:FreshDirect sees back-to-school sales lift

Grand Rapids, Mich.-based Meijer operates 253 supercenters and grocery stores in Michigan, Ohio, Indiana, Illinois, Kentucky and Wisconsin. 

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About the Author

Russell Redman

Senior Editor
Supermarket News

Russell Redman has served as senior editor at Supermarket News since April 2018, his second tour with the publication. In his current role, he handles daily news coverage for the SN website and contributes news and features for the print magazine, as well as participates in special projects, podcasts and webinars and attends industry events. Russ joined SN from Racher Press Inc.’s Chain Drug Review and Mass Market Retailers magazines, where he served as desk/online editor for more than nine years, covering the food/drug/mass retail sector. 

Russell Redman’s more than 30 years of experience in journalism span a range of editorial manager, editor, reporter/writer and digital roles at a variety of publications and websites covering a breadth of industries, including retailing, pharmacy/health care, IT, digital home, financial technology, financial services, real estate/commercial property, pro audio/video and film. He started his career in 1989 as a local news reporter and editor, covering community news and politics in Long Island, N.Y. His background also includes an earlier stint at Supermarket News as center store editor and then financial editor in the mid-1990s. Russ holds a B.A. in journalism (minor in political science) from Hofstra University, where he also earned a certificate in digital/social media marketing in November 2016.

Russell Redman’s experience:

Supermarket News - Informa
Senior Editor 
April 2018 - present

Chain Drug Review/Mass Market Retailers - Racher Press
Desk/Online Editor 
Sept. 2008 - March 2018

CRN magazine - CMP Media
Managing Editor
May 2000 - June 2007

Bank Systems & Technology - Miller Freeman
Executive Editor/Managing Editor
Dec. 1996 - May 2000

Supermarket News - Fairchild Publications
Financial Editor/Associate Editor
April 1995 - Dec. 1996 

Shopping Centers Today Magazine - ICSC 
Desk Editor/Assistant Editor
Dec. 1992 - April 1995

Testa Communications
Assistant Editor/Contributing Editor (Music & Sound Retailer, Post, Producer, Sound & Communications and DJ Times magazines)
Jan. 1991 - Dec. 1992 

American Banker/Bond Buyer
Copy Editor
Oct. 1990 - Jan. 1991 

This Week newspaper - Chanry Communications
Reporter/Editor
May 1989 - July 1990

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