Rite Aid gears up for back-to-school season

CAMP HILL, Penn. — With the National Retail Federation projecting back-to-school season to be the second-busiest shopping period of the year, Rite Aid is stocking its shelves in preparation, the company announced Wednesday.

Rite Aid said that its back-to-school assortment of pens, pencils, crayons, highlights, notebooks, rulers, glue and calculators would include basics from such brands as Sharpie, Five-Star, Bic and Texas Instruments. The company’s private-brand Home line of products includes multi-colored notebooks, index cards and erasers, among others, and many are available for less than $1. The retailer is also featuring lunchboxes, backpacks and sandwich and snack containers.

Going beyond essentials, Rite Aid will feature electronics that include an 8.95-in. Windows tablet and a 19-in. LED TV, as well as mini-towers with Bluetooth and Magnavox speakers. It also offers a selection of printers and cell phone accessories. For dorm dwellers, the company is highlighting its selection of essentials — hangers, lamps, laundry baskets and storage solutions — as well as such appliances as irons, coffee makers and toasters. Rite Aid also noted that it carries a selection of gift cards that span popular restaurant chains, website, coffee shops and online music and app stores.

Throughout August, Rite Aid said it would be offering 500 Plenti points when members spend $15.