With the new academic year set to begin shortly, the back-to-school season has got parents trooping to malls and hypermarkets to make the most of a wide variety of sale promotions and discounts on children’s apparel and other products.

Aside from school supplies, many shops are offering ‘best prices’ for school bags and accessories such as lunch boxes and drinking bottles, it is found.  A store manager of a major mall said customer footfall has increased steadily since the beginning of August as many residents have started returning from their vacations.

“The summer break is nearing its end, hence the back-to-school season. Many parents are also getting ahead of the rush as many more families are expected to return from their holiday trips,” the manager said. He noted that school bags are among the more popular products after children’s apparel such as shoes and socks, as well as school supplies, which need to be replenished on a regular basis. “The wear and tear on school bags depend on several factors; children are usually oblivious of their surroundings and are careless with the way they handle their belongings.

“Another factor that parents should consider is quality; some products, such those bearing unknown brands, have very low quality. It is best for parents to look for quality brands and maximise value for money,” he pointed out. Another manager of an apparel store said many stores are also offering a wide range of promotions for shoes and socks. He also reiterated the importance of buying quality brands as school shoes are worn on a regular basis. “While some shoe brands are slightly expensive, they provide higher quality compared to cheaper, unknown brands, which deteriorate in just a short period. So, by investing in branded shoes, parents get added value and savings in the long term. In fact, there are a lot of quality brands in the market that parents can choose from,” the manager said.

Some parents said there is a wide variety of products to choose from, and the prices vary depending on the brand and quality. “A number of promos are currently on and we have to select wisely, keeping in mind our budget as well as our child’s requirement,” said a parent looking for new school supplies at a Doha store.

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Source: Gulf Times