The students are back. Make sure your business benefits

As the season matures from a startling summer to early autumn, there will be changes on the horizon for many people. September is synonymous with new beginnings – school and university years start again and local university towns can enjoy an influx of business thanks to all the students populating the area.

Local club nights, restaurants and shops will also see a rise in sales. But most businesses in the area will be able to get involved in their own, unique way too.

Maximise your business opportunities

If you are a local business such as a green-grocer you could offer weekly deals of fresh fruit and vegetables, when buying in bulk. Attract attention by advertising a recipe for soup of the day show how to feed your house, healthily and easily for only a few pounds per person. This is an incentive for students with limited budget, who don’t want to trek to the supermarket.

If you own a café you could gloat about the quality and reasonable price of your full English breakfast. You could soon make a name for yourself with the local students, garnering such a reputation that sees a queue at your door every day.

You could become a landlord and rent out a property in the local area where demand is high. Some people are cautious because students are not known for their high standard of living, but this isn’t the case with every household! The landlord should always protect themselves with suitable property owners insurance.

Think of how you can help students too

Maybe your business has some opportunities for students? Charity shops could advertise for a student to come in and do work experience, if they are completing fashion maybe they could help out with the window displays. This is a good way of enticing other students in – if you have a savvy collection of clothes pinned by the next big catwalk queen, then word will soon get around and your customers will

If you are a local printing and binding shop, make it known that your services are available. Some universities have an in-house service but this can get extremely busy around the time essays and dissertations are due, so having an alternative can be useful. Make your business known and enjoy the influx of demand the students return brings.

So embrace the increase in local residents and think about a way that you can maximise your business, and make your services indispensible.

 

[Dhruv Bindhani]

As the season matures from a startling summer to early autumn, there will be changes on the horizon for many people. September is synonymous with new beginnings – school and university years start again and local university towns can enjoy an influx of business thanks to all the students populating the area.

Local club nights, restaurants and shops will also see a rise in sales. But most businesses in the area will be able to get involved in their own, unique way too.

Maximise your business opportunities

If you are a local business such as a green-grocer you could offer weekly deals of fresh fruit and vegetables, when buying in bulk. Attract attention by advertising a recipe for soup of the day show how to feed your house, healthily and easily for only a few pounds per person. This is an incentive for students with limited budget, who don’t want to trek to the supermarket.

If you own a café you could gloat about the quality and reasonable price of your full English breakfast. You could soon make a name for yourself with the local students, garnering such a reputation that sees a queue at your door every day.

You could become a landlord and rent out a property in the local area where demand is high. Some people are cautious because students are not known for their high standard of living, but this isn’t the case with every household! The landlord should always protect themselves with suitable property owners insurance.

Think of how you can help students too

Maybe your business has some opportunities for students? Charity shops could advertise for a student to come in and do work experience, if they are completing fashion maybe they could help out with the window displays. This is a good way of enticing other students in – if you have a savvy collection of clothes pinned by the next big catwalk queen, then word will soon get around and your customers will

If you are a local printing and binding shop, make it known that your services are available. Some universities have an in-house service but this can get extremely busy around the time essays and dissertations are due, so having an alternative can be useful. Make your business known and enjoy the influx of demand the students return brings.

So embrace the increase in local residents and think about a way that you can maximise your business, and make your services indispensible.

The article from September 2013 focuses on how local businesses can capitalize on the annual influx of students as autumn arrives and university towns become re-populated. It emphasizes that this period presents unique opportunities for various businesses to boost sales and establish themselves as indispensable to the student community.

Here's a breakdown of the key strategies for businesses:

• Recognize the Seasonal Opportunity: September marks new beginnings with students returning to universities, leading to an increased local population and potential customer base for club nights, restaurants, and shops.
• Maximize Business Opportunities with Tailored Offers:
  
  • Green-grocers: Offer bulk deals on fresh produce and provide recipes (e.g., for soup) demonstrating healthy and affordable meals. This appeals to students on a budget who might prefer not to travel to larger supermarkets.
  • Cafés: Promote affordable and high-quality offerings like a "full English breakfast" to build a strong reputation and attract daily queues.
  • Landlords: Consider renting properties to students, ensuring proper protection with "suitable property owners insurance" despite some concerns about student living standards.
• Think About How You Can Help Students:
  
  • Work Experience: Charity shops, for instance, could offer work experience opportunities (e.g., in fashion for window displays) to students. This not only provides valuable experience for students but also helps attract other students to the store through word-of-mouth.
  • Printing and Binding Shops: Advertise services to students, especially around essay and dissertation deadlines when university in-house services get busy. Making your business known provides a valuable alternative and capitalizes on high demand.

The overarching message is to "embrace the increase in local residents" and proactively identify ways to "maximize your business" and "make your services indispensable" to the student population.

 

[StartupTalk_KG]

Students Are a Market — But Also a Movement

Absolutely love this reminder — the return of students isn’t just a seasonal sales spike, it’s a huge opportunity for long-term brand building if businesses play it right.

Here’s what I’ve observed from working with startups targeting Gen Z:

1. Students Are Value-Driven Buyers

Today’s students don’t just care about discounts — they care about **alignment**. They’re more likely to support a brand that reflects their values (sustainability, inclusivity, transparency) than one that just offers 10% off.

If your brand has a mission, make it visible. Whether it’s local sourcing, mental health support, or educational access — students notice.

2. Be Where They Scroll — Not Where You Sell

This audience lives on Instagram, YouTube Shorts, Reddit, and TikTok. Traditional ads won’t cut it.

Smart brands run:

* Micro-influencer campaigns on campus
* UGC contests (“Post your study setup using our coffee!”)
* Referral programs through WhatsApp or Discord

You’re not just trying to *sell* to students — you’re trying to *enter their digital world*.

3. Make the Experience Shareable

Whether you run a coffee shop, app, bookstore, or tutoring service — design with social sharing in mind.
Think “Instagrammable corners,” QR code treasure hunts, or limited-edition student-only rewards.

If 10 students love you, they’ll bring 50 more — not with ads, but with stories.

Question to the group:

* What’s the most effective campaign you’ve seen that truly resonated with students?
* And for local business owners: are you collaborating with nearby universities?

This demographic has short attention spans but long brand memory — get it right now, and you build loyalty for years.