When students return to Boulder for the fall semester, everything from household items to school supplies becomes a hot commodity.
To avoid driving all over town, many students will shop at Target, located at 2800 Pearl St., to stock up for the semester.
Target offers clothes, cosmetics, office supplies, health and pet care products, groceries, electronics, books, luggage, home improvement supplies and one-hour photo development, all at affordable prices. And for the hungry and thirsty shopper, Pizza Hut and Starbucks are located right at the entrance.
“For the back-to-school season, Target offers a variety of products that are geared specifically to college students and small dorm spaces,” wrote Joshua Thomas, a Media Relations representative for Target in an e-mail.
But for Target, this influx means a desperate scramble to keep the shelves stocked and meet the demands of approximately 29,000 CU students.
“We strive to have our shelves fully stocked with the products our guests want and need during the busy fall season and throughout the year,” Thomas wrote.
Despite their efforts, by Aug. 27, the first day of classes, Target may be nearly sold out, as it was last year.
For students, this means either getting to Target before the shelves have been raided or finding alternative stores to meet their demands. And while Target offers a convenient one-stop shop, nearly all of its products can be found elsewhere.
For example, Office Max, located just a few blocks away at 1880 30th St., and Office Depot, located at 1905 28th St., offer all the school supplies available at Target and more. Students will notice no difference in price and may avoid long lines.
For household items such as bedspreads, lamps, chairs and more, try Bed Bath & Beyond, located at 1741 28th St. Students will find plenty of desirable items, though the prices may be slightly higher in some cases.
If Bed Bath & Beyond seems too pricey, various thrift stores offer second-hand items that may be just what students are looking for. Thrift store locations in Boulder include the Salvation Army Thrift Store, located at 1701 33rd St., the Human Society Thrift and Gift Shop, located at 2323 55th St., the HospiceCare & Share Thrift Store at 5290 Arapahoe Ave. and Savers at 695 S. Broadway.
For electronics try Circuit City, located at 2600 Pearl, or Radio Shack at 1895 28th St.
