Stores woo school kids but prices up BACKPACKS with mesh pockets, sets of crayons, rulers and assorted uniforms are on prominent display at major hypermarkets as children prepare to head back to school. Several stores have launched back-to-school promotions. However, there is a 15-20% increase in prices compared to last year. “We are selling a bag for QR95 this year as compared to QR75 last year,” an official of the Dasman Centre said yesterday, attributing the hike to “high transportation and freight costs.” The retailer is running a three-day promotion with a 10% discount on selected items that ends today. “School uniforms have also become slightly dearer,” he said, explaing that raw material and stitching charges had risen. Most expatriate schools reopen after the summer break in the first week of September, while Qatari schools are expected to start classes by September 15. “Prices of plain paper, notebooks and similar items have also marginally increased compared to last year, but otherwise it’s the same,” an official at Family Food Centre said. FFC is to start a promotion “soon”, according to the official. “This is a one-off shopping spree in that it lasts for only 10-15 days and then dies out. Afterwards we just pack up any left-over inventory and store it for the next season,” explained an official of Al Safeer Centre. Prices of schoolbags range from QR29 to QR150 in this store. According to an official at LuLu Hypermarket, the cost of school items has not increased as much as food prices. In fact, prices of some brands of schoolbags have even come down, he said. “We have been having a soft display of school items for the past five days and intend to go all out starting today,” the official said. At Carrefour, the month-long back-to-school promotion ends on August 31. Giant Stores is setting up a special school-related kiosk offering discounted prices from tomorrow. GT

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