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Charity Ruzvidzo, Business Reporter
UNIFORM and stationery suppliers are experiencing increased business ahead of schools’ opening next week with parents already jostling to buy learning materials for their children.

A snap survey conducted by Business Chronicle in Bulawayo yesterday indicated that most outlets dealing with uniforms and stationery were recording increased sales.

The outlets were a hive of activity with parents, mainly those with children going to Form One and Grades One and Zero, vying to be served first.

Bold price displays for different products were observed in most shops. School blazers for instance range between $35 and $45, track suits cost between $16 and $35 while a pair of trousers goes for $10 with shirts ranging between $9 and $13.

Shorts and jerseys range from $7 to $13 and $15 to $20 respectively.

Clifford Sibanda, a sales representative at Matopo Book Centre, said business was flourishing.

“January is the month of the year that we manage to sell more products. We expect the trend to remain the same until the last week of the month,” he said.

“Our biggest customers are parents with Grade One, Form One and Lower Sixth pupils. We’ve uniforms and stationery in stock we’re always prepared for this busy period,” he said.

An official at Power Sales who preferred anonymity said: “As you can see we’re very busy. Customers are flocking in to buy school uniforms.”

Another official at Toppers’ who identified herself as Patience said January was the month they make more money per day.

“This is the time of the year that we get more than fifteen customers each day. After January sales decrease at times we get just five customers per day,” she said.

Some parents who spoke to this paper said uniforms were expensive.

“My daughter is going for Form One and l’ve to buy her uniforms and a blazer. Uniform prices are quite reasonable but l noted that blazers are very expensive. A blazer now costs $40 instead of $30,” said Dongiwe Mlotshwa.

Street vendors have also seized the opportunity by buying uniforms in retail shops and re-selling at double the price.

“A pair of socks is going for $1, we buy and resell at $2. There are some parents who are lazy to go around shops checking prices and they simply buy from us,” said Lazarus Dube.