Parents’ tighter purse strings cutting down on revenue from school supplies

By The Nation

 

 

With the school semester being delayed and most parents running short on funds, the sale of school supplies this year is expected to drop significantly.

 

Arnon Chitmeesilp, managing director of school uniform producer, Nomjitt Manufacturing, said he expects up to 30 per cent fewer uniforms will be bought this year because the lockdown has shortened the “back to school” period to two weeks from the normal two months.

 

“Sales in May this year, which normally accounts for 80 per cent of annual sales, dropped to 10 per cent due to lockdown measures,” he said. “Though the sale of uniforms via online channels rose, revenue was still lower than sale in stores.”

 

He added that his company will not increase the price of uniforms because many parents are suffering from the impact of the outbreak.

 

“The drop in purchasing power is forcing parents to only buy what is necessary,” he added. “We sell school uniforms via 200 educational institutes and 400 stores like Tesco Lotus and Big C, 100 retailers and three Nomjitt shops.”

 

Meanwhile, Jakrapon Chantawimon, the general manager of school-shoe manufacturer Nanyang Marketing, said his company has launched new promotions to deal with negative factors brought on by the outbreak.

 

“The ‘Nanyang Have Fun’ campaign is promoting slip-on shoes for primary students aged between four and 10,” he said, adding “we expect the sale of school shoes to return to normal once schools reopen”.

 

He said his company is now also selling shoes online.

 

“Online sale accounts for 5 per cent, though 75 per cent of total sales still comes from traditional shoe shops and 20 per cent via department stores,” he said.

 

Meanwhile, an analyst at Kasikorn Research Centre said parents will spend approximately Bt28.26 billion on school supplies, or 0.1 per cent more year on year, because more youngsters are enrolling in school this year.

 

“However, the growth is small because most parents are watching what they spend on school supplies and tutors, even though some private schools have reduced their fees to relieve parents’ burden,” the analyst said.

 

Source: https://www.nationthailand.com/news/30390360

 

-- © Copyright The Nation Thailand 2020-06-26

 

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I bet the parents still have money for beer and cigarettes.

If the lass on the right is legal tender, I'd  sponsor her scholastic requirements.

17 hours ago, johnray said:

I bet the parents still have money for beer and cigarettes.

Got the priorities right then !

Perhaps schools and educational establishments should review their uniform policy for a while, until this has all blown over....

IMO the need to buy new clothes is not important... if the clothes they

have now are in good shape and fit why do they need to buy new ones...

 

Shoes I agree need to buy new ones...

 

its not about the money it’s about taking responsibility and not thinking

farang has money buy new clothes. If the parents were asked to buy,,.. there would be more thought in it... 

 

the parents 9 hour drive away in 1 Year 3 months have been to see the kids 4 times. Arrive in afternoon have bbq dinner paid by me and next

day leave before noon....  the children stay with us pretty much 24/7

I would guess they are also doing a bit of networking amongst themselves and are going to be wearing someone else's hand me downs this year, too.

Last year bought for four .. this year will be the same.. we don’t have any young children mine are all griown except for grand babies and they’re in the US.