Sales to the educational market are conducted through both retail and institutional avenues.

Retail: $2.5 bn. Market served by office superstores such as Staples and Office Max and small regional retail school suppliers.

Institutional: $3.6 bn. Marketers reach this segment through sales forces targeting school and school district procurement.

School supplies market for non-textbook educational supplies and equipment was valued at $6.1 billion in 1999. (source NSSEA, quoted in SCHS 10K 1999 report)

Peak buying season is June through October, with most deliveries required at the start of the school year.