Will rising cotton and wool prices end the cheap school uniform price war?
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School uniform prices are 'at their cheapest' but parent's should act fast if they want to get a bargain. Supermarkets are engaging in school uniform price wars but prices cannot drop any further.
They are able to buy school shirts for £1 and sweaters for £2.
But rising cotton and wool prices mean it is unlikely that uniform prices can fall any further.
The big four UK supermarket chains - Asda, Tesco, Sainsbury's and Morrisons - as well as Marks and Spencer, are selling the constituent parts of a generic school uniform for less than £5 each.
For example, Asda is selling a white shirt for £1, Sainsbury's has put a £2 price tag on grey and black trousers, and Tesco has blue and green sweaters on sale for £1.75.
The supermarkets accept this owing to the brand loyalty they gain from customers, who buy uniforms at cheap prices and then stay in the store to buy other goods such as school accessories and groceries.
The price war is unusual as prices for many other items are rising.
Most parents are happy if a child's uniform lasts a term or half a year.
However, the picture is also different for parents who must buy uniforms from specialist suppliers. Owing to prescriptive demands of these uniforms, prices tend to be higher than the generic supermarket clothes.
Children aside, it is highly likely that a number of adult garments will also have to increase in the coming months. So perhaps now is the time to splash out on that much needed new dress or suit to join the countless others that hand in the wardrobe!!
Answers (4)
Don't you also think the quality of the garments has got worse, many school type shirts are almost see through. Quality has suffered in respect of price. Sometimes if things are more well made they will last longer, however I know that with lots of children they will have grown out of, rather than worn out an item.
have you noticed that asda are giving a 100 day guarantee this i think is to try to make you buy there's as so many are now doing them so cheap
i agree that most parents are happy if the clothing lasts a term +. i also agree that the quality is getting worse (but as smartcar points out asda does have a 100day guarentee!) but i think their clothes are about as good as all the other shops. i hope wool and cotton dont rise too much!
We have recently tried to get hold of polo shirts for one of my daughters and it has been a nightmare as we can't get the right colour anywhere. We ended up buying online from George with two shirts costing £2.50. We went into a uniform shop in town and they wanted £11.50 for one shirt!!! Could not believe it.
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And that is precisely why the main shops are winning this battle. This means the main shops for selling these (clive marks is my local one) are losing out as they can't compete, but they will last a whole lot longer. I didn't grow much for my first 3 years (which my mum loved, no more added expense!) but I had clive mark clothes, and they lasted me. I bet that if I'd have worn Asda etc alternatives, I would have gone through several pairs.
oh I agree, cheap fashion has a lot to answer for, 20 years ago denim jeans were made to last, not as thin as they are now.