While September may be a month that parents dread, it’s one that local retailers look forward to.
With back to school looming, it’s a time of year many parents don’t look forward to. With increasing prices across all aspects of living, school uniforms are one more thing to add to the list for many families.
This is no exception for Armagh‘s leading school supplier, Dessies, who stock uniforms for 14 schools across Armagh.
Speaking to Armagh I, Mark Feeney, of Dessies, says: “This is our busiest time of the year and also one of our busiest years ever.
“Customers are still buying as much as ever when it comes to uniform shopping but we have noticed over the years that parents are choosing to buy uniforms in bigger sizes to get better value and longevity for their products. Especially because kids grow so quickly too, parents want to ensure uniforms will last them as long as possible.”
With rising costs and an increase in shoppers thinking sustainability, pre-loved shops have popped up on our high street, with local schools also holding preloved pop up shops, hoping to help parents cut costs where they can.
Stepping Stones Pantry on Barrack Street, Armagh, offers preloved school uniforms and PE kits, with items donated by community members. The idea behind preloved shops is to provide parents with a cost-saving option at one of the most expensive times of the year.
Pre-loved shopping also encourages the re-wearing of clothing, most of which is in perfect condition that previously would have ended up in landfill.
Mark continued: “People think that we don’t want to see these uniforms shops but it’s the opposite. We don’t want to see good clothes go to waste and people struggling, so to now have the option to buy second hand is incredible.
“Uniform shopping is expensive, there’s no doubt about it, but it’s great to see used uniform shops popping up in local towns and schools. I think it’s a brilliant idea to reduce wastage and help families reduce costs, especially families with multiple children.
“We encourage shoppers if they are unsure on how many jumpers to buy, to maybe buy one with us and one from there because we don’t like to see clothes wasted and a lot of our stock is available in second hand shops. It proves to us how good our quality is, that its long lasting and still in great condition.
“If shopping second hand means we miss out on one jumper, it’s not the end of the world, we would rather see every child have access to the uniform they need.
It would appear the middle ground now does exist, between buying new and shopping preloved. Shoppers shouldn’t be afraid to think twice about where to shop for back to school, with independent retailers, supporting parents now having the choice to shop around.
