An $85 Billion Value Hunt, an Earlier Season, and Walmart's 80%

Back-to-school retail is worth just over $85 billion in 2026, but 81% of shoppers say they'd switch stores for a real discount, making loyalty up for grabs. Alex covers why 51% of families are buying early over tariff fears, why e-commerce readiness matters now, and how independents beat Walmart's record 80% reach by leading with specialization instead of price. Three stories, five minutes.