The Malaysian Insight

WITH just a month to go before school is due to start, dealers in school supplies are concerned that parents have not commenced shopping for their children.

Those who have begun preparing for their kids to go back to school, meanwhile, are buying less than usual.
 
Malaysian Footwear Manufacturers Association president Rachel Foo told The Malaysian Insight that if they previously bought four pairs of school shoes, they now only bought two pairs.

“Children’s feet are growing so parents will buy new school shoes for them before classes start but they will buy fewer pairs, said Foo.

“With the pandemic this year, the industry is generally not optimistic about next year’s sales.”

Foo said retailers were also unhappy about the switch back to white school shoes after the government made black shoes compulsory starting 2021.

“When the government announced the black shoe policy two years ago, many sold their stock of white shoes at a loss.

“We did not expect the government to change its mind. We will not be stocking up on white shoes for now. We will wait and see.”

Prices to go up

Foo said with skyrocketing freight rates and a weaker ringgit meant the price of school shoes were up.

“I have not received the data but I have observed that the price of school shoes in the market has increased by no more than 10%.”

Malaysia Garments Wholesale Merchants Association president Ang Say Tee said school uniforms were also expected to cost more as the items were mainly imported from China.

“Some companies that make the uniforms have moved their sewing facilities to Vietnam but they are also facing soaring shipping costs.”

He said since it was still unknown whether school would open next year, many retailers were cutting back on their buying.

“The market is unstable. Everyone is reducing purchases and aiming for small but quick profits.

“If a vaccine is released next year, I believe it will improve business. But if the pandemic continues, the industry will experience a shock.”

He said retailers would have to play it by ear as it was impossible to foresee the future.

Wong Mee Kii, mother of two children, said she had received a pay cut and was spending as little as she could now to save for the Lunar New Year .

“School bags and pencils can be reused. As for the school uniform, I check if they still fit. Shoes are usually replaced because children’s feet grow very fast.”

Woon May Fong said she spent at least RM300 on school supplies for her nine-year-old son every year,

“I buy new school supplies for him because I want him to have a new start. – December 18, 2020.