These days the movement in the houses of school uniforms increases / Roberto Acosta
By the start of the 2023 school year, families who have to buy school uniforms or smocks will spend between 100 and 120 percent more than last year.
This was indicated to this newspaper in different local businesses where they calculate that about 50,000 pesos are needed to dress and fit a student who starts studying at a private school.
In addition, it was anticipated that this month there could be other “adjustments” in prices because the spinning mills and textile industries announced between a 4 and 5 percent increase in their products.
The high season for uniforms begins in February and those who want to avoid the queues already check what can be used again. “As an investment, many families buy some uniform items at the end of the year, especially when the children are no longer growing so much, although you never fully know what is going to happen in Argentina,” says Alberto. Peroni, in front of a house of uniforms.
For students from private establishments, what is imposed in terms of uniforms is the sports team of pants with a sweatshirt or jacket. In any of its variants it is around 17 thousand pesos; T-shirts average 3,300 pesos and sweaters, 5,900 pesos.
The merchants consulted agreed that they are generally required to invest a lot of capital, although in some cases educational establishments determine last-minute changes in the uniform, as is the case of schools that have already abandoned the use of the skirt or are considering doing so.
IN THE TOP OF SELLING
“Sports teams continue to prevail, but in any case there are traditional schools that ask for skirts or pants, shirts, pullovers, socks and shoes. The recommendation is that people anticipate purchases and pay attention to the different promotions that are made so that they can save on their purchases”, affirms the merchant.
The shirts cost 5,500 pesos; pants, 9 thousand; skirts between 8 and 8,500 pesos; the pullovers, 8 thousand pesos and the painters are around 6 thousand pesos. While the shoes start at 11 thousand pesos.
Buying before it continues to rise is the tactic. The wholesalers that supply raw materials to the school clothing manufacturing workshops have already warned that during this month they will increase between 4 and 5 percent, something that does not surprise the merchants in the sector who in recent times had to battle with the periodic rise in costs and with the scarcity of imported materials. That percentage is transferred to the garments.
It is recognized that everything increased and part of that rise was also due to problems with the importation of fabrics and yarns.
Acetate, polyester and mixed cotton were missing, they pointed out in the sector.
What was anticipated in the area is that there is a wide range of forms of payment and discounts for effective payment.
DUST GAS
According to a Focus Market survey, in the event that a dust cover is needed, buying a new one has a value of $7,250, versus the $2,999 it cost last year, the increase was 142 percent -see separate-.
In shops that also sell school clothes, it was indicated that the initial sizes of overalls start at 4,000 pesos and the board for girls is about 4,500 pesos.
While canvas school shoes start at 5,000 pesos and a sports line, at about 10,000 pesos.
In relation to shoes, whether of the Guillerminas or nautical type, they cost around 15,000 pesos. It was indicated that in the last six months the price of footwear increased by around 40 percent. However, in other businesses it was estimated that from December 2021 to December 2022 the increase was more than 100 percent, mainly in those of leading brands.
The price of the overalls in a store near Plaza San Martín starts at 5 thousand pesos; the sweaters are achieved between 7 thousand and 7,500; jumpers cost around 8,000 pesos and twill pants cost 10,000 pesos.
In another order, it was learned in the last few hours that negotiations are continuing between the National Government, together with business chambers and supermarkets to create a school basket with bookstore items at low prices, with a view to the start of the new school year at the end of February . Possibly, the launch will take place in the next few days.
Daniel Iglesias López, president of the Argentine Chamber of Stationery, Bookstores and Related Products (Capla), pointed out that a basket of around 80 school products is being prepared with the Secretary of Commerce. Regarding sales due to the proximity of the return to school, Iglesias pointed out that “a basic basket for initial public school education is around 3,000 or 4,000 pesos.”
The school kit 135 percent higher according to a study
According to a study by a Buenos Aires consultant, to access the pack of an overall, a basic backpack and the list of 21 supplies, around 17,692 pesos are needed, against the 7,470 pesos that it cost last year, which represents an increase of 135 percent. The Focus Market study indicated that the school kit requires $10,442. Includes a backpack, a box of 12 long colored pencils, another of 10 markers, another of 12 crayons, an adhesive (30 ml.), a scissors of 12, a metal pencil sharpener, a refill of 8 sheets for drawing No. 5 and one of six in color No. 5, an acrylic ruler (20 cm) and four notebooks, among other products.
