Dubai: It is that time of the year when children assume the role of primary shoppers in the family and school supplies branded after their favourite characters become the fast moving items in the shops.
Gulf News checked with various retailers in Dubai to find out what is trending this back-to-school season.
From water bottles and lunch boxes to pencil pouches and backpacks, students are generally grabbing the ones that feature their favourite cartoon characters.
Trendy backpacks are generally the hot favourites of all kids when they are heading back to school post summer vacation.
Barbie’s gold and black backpack and pouch set is the latest craze for teen girls shopping at Splash while young boys are very much fond of backpacks featuring their favourite superheroes Superman Vs Batman from Baby Shop and Avengers and Star Wars from Lulu.
Minions, Frozen, Marie the Cat, Mickey and Minnie, Princess, Kung Fu Panda and the Smiley range continue to dominate the backpack sections at most outlets in Dubai.
But for many parents, Dr. Kong’s Spine pressure-free backpacks exclusively available in Max stores have become the favourite choice this season because these bags designed with a hollow tunnel in the rear promise to avoid impacting on the spine during movement. Costing Dh115, they are available in different shades.
For regular stationery items, many kids prefer Staedtler ‘s HB pencils, Faber castell’s colour pencils and crayons, Pilot’s Frixion ball pen, Stabilo’s Fineliner pen sets, Pentel’s whiteboard markers, Jovi’s clay, UHU’s glue sticks and Leeho’s white glue among others.
In the electronics section, the most trending items among the teens are the Beats Solo 2 wireless headset and the Apple Watch Sport- Blue Band. Priced between Dh1200 and Dh1400, these items selling like hot cakes at Emax are, however, sure to make parents dig deep into their pockets.
Apart from cashing in on merchandises featuring popular characters, malls in Dubai are also hosting several promotions and activities for children, expecting an increase in footfall of families during this period.
In one such campaign in Oasis Mall, ten shoppers stand a chance to win up to Dh50,000 per student to cover a one year school tuition for a minimum spend of Dh200 on back-to-school supplies.
School essentials and their prices
School bags/trolleys - Dh25 to Dh1,049
Trolleys usually cost more than backpacks, all other factors kept equal. Those themed after the latest hit cartoon or animation movie or character also cost more.
Shoes – Dh24 to Dh345
From “plasticky” shoes in supermarkets, to branded genuine leather pairs in mall stores, there’s a huge variety in shoe quality and prices.
Lunch boxes - Dh4 to Dh225
Some boxes come with a cover and cost more, others come along in a set with a bag and pencil case.
Pencil case - Dh6 to Dh250
These can be found for a few dirhams in “Dh2 gift shops” or a few hundred dirhams on designer shelves.
Stationery products – Dh9 to Dh79
Most parents don’t buy stationary “loose”, individual item by item. More popular are bundle packs that contain all the essentials – pencils, eraser, sharpener, ruler, notepad, etc.
Notebooks/journals – Dh1.50 to Dh129
Hardcovers cost a lot more that plastic or paper covers. Prices also rise considerably if the notebook is themed after a popular Disney character or movie.
Tablet - Dh149 to Dh3,100
From small China-made tablets to latest Apple products, shoppers will be spoilt for choice. Many parents prefer a compromise on 7’’ to 8’’ screens that cost around Dh300-Dh700.
Uniforms – Dh50 to Dh400
Some schools make it mandatory to buy uniforms from them, which may or may not be included in the tuition fees. Others allow parents to buy from particular uniform shops. A few regular clothes shops sell uniforms (without emblems) during back to school season. Uniforms are sold in pairs only (shirt and pant; blouse and skirt).
Total back to school shopping per child: Dh268.50 (low-end); Dh5,577 (high-end)
