If you are a parent with kids about to head back to school, you're likely in the throes of back to school shopping. Before you head off to that big box retailer, have a look at what's available downtown. You might be surprised and perhaps save a little gas in the process. Below is a sampling of retailers that offer items suitable for back-to-school shopping:

Staples is gearing up for increased customer demand for binders, notebooks, pencils and paper after running out of school supplies last year, according to store manager Charlie Leone. In addition to higher stock levels, he said the store is adding new items to its shelves : backpacks and USB flash drives.

 “Last year we opened in May and what we got was a tremendous response from the town," Leone said. People said, ‘oh I am so glad you have this!’ ” He said he is using another Staples store as a warehouse to replenish stock.

Andrea Goldman, owner of Zoom, said that her store will have the latest trendy school accessories. She said knick knacks for lockers are particularly popular this year. She said that students buy magnetic items, carpeting, wallpaper and lights for their lockers. She is also offering the back to school staples with style: "We also sell Vera Bradley and tie dye backpacks,” she said. Among the store’s other wares are keychains, fun socks and rainboots, trendy watches and other accessories.

The Toy Professor will have similar offerings to last year, offering its backpacks and and Smencils, which are scented pencils made from 100 percent recycled newspapers and Wildkin backpacks, which come in a variety of unique patterns. Wildkin products are made with materials that are lead-safe, bpa-free and phthalate-free. The store also offers a full line of the “I Can Read,” book series, which is offered from preschool to 4th grade.

Scotti's Record Shop is offering posters, vintage album cover art and various popular products from the Skull Candy brand. In addition to the headphones that Skull Candy is known for, the store has added Skull Candy backpacks, hats and wallets. Owner Gary Scotti said shoppers also stop in for posters. He offers a variety of posters of popular and vintage music acts and more.

Nee Dell's said it will be offering the latest styles of Ugg boots and footwear. Mark Nee Dell said new waterproof styles are arriving in store now. He said that new to the shop this year will be Minnetonka Moccasins and fringe booties. Nee Dell said that he stocks size six and larger in most styles. 

The Luggage Center can always be counted on for a good quality backpack. The store carries Jansport, High Sierra and Kipling made of nylon, canvas or leather, wheeled or wheel-less. The shop offers backpack styles that are designed to hold earphones and laptops.  

Liss Pharmacy wants back-to-school shoppers to know that they can rent or purchase their band instruments at the store. Owners Linda Schram and Lou Del Rosso said that the Summit High School orchestra just purchased 16 Eastman string instruments. The store also offers on-site repairs and carries all of the required school instruction books.

Where do you shop for back-to-school items downtown? Feel free to suggest back-to-school items and shops to cover by sending me a note at jdbonpatch@gmail.com.