ROCKAWAY TOWNSQUARE READIES FOR THE RING OF THE BACK-TO-SCHOOL BELL WITH “BACK AT IT” EVENT

School  is almost back in session and to kick off the season, Simon Property Group, Inc. (NYSE:SPG), the world’s leading retail real estate company, will host a series of “Back At It” events geared towards ‘tweens and teens’ at approximately 55 malls across the country.

Simon®’s Back At It activities will be greatly enhanced this year by an exciting collaboration with Teen Vogue’s 2nd Annual “Back-To-School Saturday” initiative.

Rockaway Townsquare will hold its Back At It festivities on Friday, August 16, from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. in Macy’s Court, inviting students and their families to get back into the rhythm of another school year.

“The beginning of a new school year is an exciting time,” said Elizabeth DiDuca, director of mall marketing and business development for Rockaway Townsquare, “and as always, we want Rockaway Townsquare to be at the center of the celebration. This year, we are especially excited to be teaming up with Teen Vogue, the authentic source for young trendsetters interested in emerging fashion, beauty and pop culture.”

 Rockaway Townsquare’s Back At It event will include various elements to give students the social shopping experience they seek while helping families prepare to get back to class. Millennials today typically shop with friends or family and value life experiences more than only products alone.1 Featured Back At It event activities were created by keeping young shoppers’ preferences top-of-mind including, a musical performance by Reverse Order. This teenage sensation infuses its songs with pop and rock medleys, and the band’s new single titled “GO” was recently nominated for a Grammy. The show will take place at 6 p.m., followed by a meet and greet. In addition, School of Rock, a music education center will showcase local artists. Other activities that will be offered include makeovers, a martial arts demo, exhibitors providing educational and teen safety information and more. Exciting prizes will be awarded every 15 minutes and participants can enjoy a Retro Candy buffet and a caricature station. Attendees are encouraged to bring school supplies for donation to the Salvation Army.

• Trend Guide: It’s no surprise that clothing tops back-to-school shopping lists.2 Back At It event attendees will receive a Teen Vogue and Simon Malls® Trend Guide, featuring fashion tips to achieve the trendiest looks of the season.
• Simon Style Guide Quiz: Back At It event attendees will get to test their fashion IQ!
• Fashion Events: Guests will be able to see “up close and personal” the latest fashion trends for the back-to-school season. Music and fun are on the menu for every Back At It event and retailers will be on-site to present the latest in back-to-school styles during a fashion show hosted by Berkeley College now open in Dover.  Looks from Lord & Taylor, Francesca’s Collections, Wet Seal, deb, Vans, Claire’s and more will be highlighted on the runway with models compliments of Barbizon.
• Mall-Wide Discount Offers and Samples: Savvy back-to-school shoppers are searching for ways to stay cost-conscious.3

“We are thrilled to be working with Simon Malls to further expand and elevate our Back-to-School Saturday initiative,” says Teen Vogue Vice President and Publisher Jason Wagenheim. “Joining forces for this all-important shopping season was an obvious choice. This time of year is incredibly significant for the Teen Vogue audience, and together with Simon Malls, we will work to drive our collective communities into stores to shop while building both awareness and excitement for all of our participating brands.”

In addition to offering on-mall events, Simon malls will launch several digital-focused back-to-school elements that give students and their families more tools to gear up for school and stay connected to Rockaway Townsquare. Attendees will have a chance to enter to win a $1,000 Shopping Spree by texting BTS121 to 74666. The first 200 guests who register will receive a SWAG bag. 

For more information about Simon malls’ Back at It events, visit www.simon.com, or check out Rockaway Townsquare on Facebook www.facebook.com/RockawayTownsquare, or Twitter @ShopRockaway.