It's almost October, and that means kids are back at school, lugging backpacks full of fresh paper and newly sharpened pencils (do kids still use pencils?). But before that could happen, many of those kids were escorted to Walmart ($WMT) to stock up on school supplies.

Over the past couple weeks, Walmart's Office Supplies category sales ranks were flooded with binders, lined paper, Elmer's glue, and, yes, pencils. Here's what sold the most over the past half month at the world's largest retailer as school gets back in session.

Name

Category Rank (Average)

Category Rank (Count)

Norcom 150 Sheets Wide Ruled Filler Paper, 10.5\ x 8\"

1.0

16

Case-It Open Tab 2-Inch Binder, Assorted Colors

2.0

16

Dixon Woodcase Pencil, #2 HB, Yellow, 20-Count

3.0

16

HP Multipurpose Paper, 8.5 x 11 In, 20 lb, 96 Bright, 500 sheets

4.0

16

Case it The Mighty Zip Tab 3-Ring Zipper Binder D-156-B

5.0

16

Georgia-Pacific Standard Paper 8.5 x 11, 20lb/92 Bright, 5000 Sheets

6.0

16

Advantus Binder Pencil Pouch, 10 x 7 3/8, Black/Clear

7.0

16

Mead Primary Journal, Half Page Ruled, Grades K-2, 100 Sheets, 7 1/2\ x 9 1/2\" (09535)"

8.0

16

Elmer's Disappearing Purple Washable School Glue Sticks, 0.77 oz, 3 Count

9.0

16

Elmer's Liquid School Glue, Washable, 1 Gallon

10.0

16

Mead Filler Paper, College Ruled, 11\ x 8 1/2\"

11.0

16

Dust-Off DPSXL3 Disposable Dusters (3 pk)

12.7

16

Hammermill 8-1/2\" x 11\" Copy Paper 500 Sheets

13.7

16

Aurora AS680S 6-Sheet Strip-Cut Paper/Credit Card Shredder without Wastebasket

14.7

16

Five Star 5-Subject College Ruled Spiral Notebook (07153)

15.7

16

Dixon Ticonderoga Pre-Sharpened Pencil, #2 HB, Yellow, 12-Count

16.7

16

Just My Style Light-Up Diary

17.7

16

BIC Round Stic Xtra Life Ball Pen, Medium Point (1.0mm), Black, 60 Count

18.7

16

Scotch Thermal Laminating Pouches 50 Count, Letter Size Sheets

19.7

16

Un-Du Adhesive Remover, 4 Fl. Oz.

20.7

16

The last time the Norcom 150 Sheets Wide Ruled Filler Paper showed up in Walmart's top-10 was — you guess it — last fall, when kids were getting ready to head back to school. 

The Case-It Open Tab 2-Inch Binder in assorted colors, however, is a perennial best seller, maintaining a steady rank of 1 or 2 since early 2018. 

The Dixon Woodcade Pencil pack has had a steady run of its own, grabbing the #2 spot in Walmart's Office Supplies category since mid 2018.

It isn't until we look at Elmer's Liquid School Glue in a 1-gallon tub do we see a recent entry into the Walmart top-10 for school supplies, this one likely popular among teachers given the volume. This product began its sales run — interestingly — in June, right as last year's school season ended. Nothing like being prepared.

About the Data: 

Thinknum tracks companies using information they post online - jobs, social and web traffic, product sales and app ratings - and creates data sets that measure factors like hiring, revenue and foot traffic. Data sets may not be fully comprehensive (they only account for what is available on the web), but they can be used to gauge performance factors like staffing and sales. 

Further Reading: 

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