It’s one thing to tell teens that bullying is bad. It’s quite another to have one of their idols do it.

NewPark Mall held a massive bash for back-to-school shoppers earlier this month, with a DJ pumping out the hottest tunes of the summer. Kids could settle back at the vintage gaming station (with classics from the SNES era and beyond), take their chances with the prize wheel, and check out deals, offers and freebies from retailers and service providers.

The big draw was a very special guest: Disney Channel star Roshon Fegan, known best for his role in Shake It Up. The young actor met with adoring fans, signed autographs and appeared on stage to share his thoughts on bullying.

As he told the back-to-schoolers, “Rise above it; focus on becoming a better you. Find something you are passionate about.” The message will surely resound through the school year.

As part of the lead-up to NewPark Mall Goes Back to School Bully Free, the center ran a t-shirt contest. Young shoppers were asked to come up with a design that defined themselves and their school spirit. The best, by voting, won a $250 mall gift card and had the t-shirt produced and sold at the event. Second prize won a $100 mall gift card.

Best of all, the first 25 entries had a chance to attend the big event as a VIP, and sit down for a private meet and greet with Fegan.

As part of its back-to-school campaign, Macy’s is encouraging teens to make a difference in their own communities. The retailer has teamed up with DoSomething.org to promote the non-profit and raise donations and awareness.

Between now and October 15, young shoppers can visit the retailer’s mstylelab department (the rebranding of its juniors and young men’s departments) and scan designated QR codes with their mobile phones to add $1 to the total Macy’s will donate to the cause. The codes will also lead them to more information about DoSomething.org so they can learn how to volunteer time to causes in their communities. Facebook likes on the mstylelab also contribute to the cause, to a total of a $250,000 donation.

Young shoppers who take the time to take action and report back with a survey have a chance to win a $250 shopping sprees from Macy’s, and scholarships will be awarded by DoSomething.org for the best projects. In case that’s not motivation enough, the pair have brought Kelly Osbourne and Nick Cannon aboard to promote the campaign. Here’s one of the videos:

Is it already time for back to school? How depressing – we haven’t had a lick of summer yet up here in the Pacific northwest. But time waits for no man, and sure enough, the school year is just a little over a month away.

General Growth Properties is bringing back its Shop Til You Rock promotion for the second year running. It’s a great time for the older back-to-school set, with live performances by some of today’s hottest bands, exclusive activities and special offers and giveaways. There’s even a chance to win shopping sprees and gaming systems.

But for the younger set, who probably aren’t just handed credit cards and a list of careful shopping instructions, Florence Mall and other GGP centers are offering a second program: Family Recess is a traveling event that kicks off back-to-school fun with family-friendly activities, like Putt for Prizes, an Airbrush Fun Station and Just Dance 2 and Just Dance Kids. Families that spend more $150 during Family Recess will also take home a $20 center gift card and a one-year subscription to Family Circle or Parents magazine as long as supplies last.

Shoppers also have the chance to win a great family vacation: a trip for four to the Kennedy Space Center Visitor Complex in Orlando, Florida. With the end of the U.S. shuttle program and the anniversary of the moon landing all happening right now, there couldn’t be a better time to celebrate space. The package includes admission, a guided tour, Lunch with an Astronaut, goodies and hotel accommodation.

Last weekend, Brentwood Town Centre kicked off the school year with a bang. The shopping center invited three contest winners to fill up for back to school with its Fill Your Backpack Shopping Spree.

The three lucky shoppers showed up at Brentwood on Saturday already knowing they’d end the day as big winners – their names had been drawn earlier in the week. Each of the winners was given a Brentwood Backpack to fill and $500 in gift cards to spend on the spot. They had two hours to shop for their winnings, but the shopping center offered each of them an extra $25 card for finishing in under and hour, and all three managed to make it in under 40 minutes.

While the winners shopped, the event was covered by local radio announcer Olivia Jones. She offered tips on Brentwood Back-to-School Fashion Picks and made some shoppers’ days with $10 gift card giveaways.

At the end of the shopping spree, all three shoppers emerged victorious. Christopher Yuen, 11 years old, finished in under 22 minutes, snagging a PSP and a camcorder. Angela Harrison, a 21-year-old University Student, hit fashion retailers and boutiques, and managed to try on and purchase clothes for herself, a purse for herself, and gifts for her family and boyfriend in under 36 minutes. She planned ahead, scoping out purchases for two days in advance. Finally, Francis Loo, 34 years old, took things cautiously, price checking for a video game system and taking home a bit of money to spare.

Another big winner at the event was Burnaby Family Life. The charitable organization was given a cheque for Brentwood’s donations this year at a special ceremony during the event.

For parents, back-to-school shopping is a part of life. It has to be done somewhere; the only question is where to do it. So how do you make sure that your shopping center is on the top of parents’ minds for back-to-school?

Burlington Mall recently found a way. Rather than limit itself to the more passive forms of traditional marketing, the Canadian shopping center took matters into its own hands with a guerrilla marketing campaign sure to draw shoppers’ attention. Sneaking out early one morning, representatives of the shopping center decorated trees in surrounding neighborhoods with 2000 free t-shirts. Shoppers woke up to a great reminder to get out and shop, and some free swag for back-to-school.

The shirts were plain white tees with tags suggesting that shoppers head to Burlington Mall for their BTS shopping, so the lucky recipients weren’t burdened with marketing slogan shirts. The t-shirts also tied in to the center’s Back 2 Cool Tee-Torial contest, which has youngsters visiting the mall in their favorites tees to talk on video about their styles for fall.

Here’s a video from Burlington Mall showing off their stunt and some great reactions: