UNDATED - It may not seem like it right now, but the first day of school is just over a month away.

With this in mind, businesses have already set up and organized their back-to school displays, and parents like Julie McHugh are busy knocking items off the shopping list.

McHugh has two grade-schoolers and she says the supply lists she gets from the school have gotten longer every year.

McHugh recommends getting started with shopping early in order to stay organized, find everything on your list, and take advantage of sales.

Area businesses, like parents, are catching on that back to school shopping isn't as easy at it once was.

Crossroads Target Assistant Manager Mike Mitzel says his store receives supply lists from every area school, which they display in a case near the back-to-school area.

Mitzel adds, while the early summer shopping from parents and grade-schoolers is a large part of their business, they'll see a push at the end of August from students heading off to college.

The 2012-2013 school year begins on Tuesday, September 4th.

 

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