The special season for back-to-school shopping offers raffles, scholarships and workshops.
Caeyan Lobo is a child who knows his mind. He has specific choices when it comes to what he wants to wear, carry to school, or watch on TV, and he is only four.
A KG I student at the Millennium School in Dubai, Caeyan loves colours. His choice of colours and his adulation of superheroes clearly show in his Power Rangers school bag, his carry-along Spider-Man water bottle and lunch box.
Caeyan is not alone. Six year-old Chris and seven year-old Glen are older and have more demands. They are Grade 2 and I students at Kindergarten Starters in Garhoud, Dubai. Their mother, Charlotte Aranah, says, "Their demands, however, include video games, CDs and books. They also want everything their friends have." she says.
Stores such as BabyShop and Shoemart are favoured shopping destinations for school gear for Caeyan's parents, Claudius and Cynthia Lobo.
Back-to-school time is the busy season for parents and retailers. According to V Nandakumar, Group Corporate Communications Manager, Emke Group, which owns the Lulu hypermarket chain, "We are planning to hold special programmes for children at our various outlets."
Lamcy Plaza in collaboration with HSBC Bank has declared that it will give away student scholarships worth Dh50,000 as a part of its 'Back to School' promotion. This promotion started on August 9 and will last until September 15. All customers who spend a minimum of Dh100 are eligible to enter a draw for a scholarship. Five selected students will win scholarships of Dh10,000 each. HSBC credit cardholders can triple their chances of winning by swiping their cards. "Education has become an expensive pursuit and we seek to make it a little bit easier for children and their parents," says Mathews Thomas, Marketing Manager, Lamcy Plaza.
Marks and Spencer offers 'value for money' prices on everyday essentials for children. "We offer the latest in fabric innovations for the fashion conscious young generation," says Natasha Tulsi, Marketing Manager Marks & Spencer.
"While we don't have any special promotion for the season, our prices are very reasonable and attractive," said Bharat Melwani, Senior Buyer, Shoe Mart.
The Al-Futtaim Group's market leading specialty toy and baby care product retailer, Toys "R" Us, has also announced the 'Fun new gear for a new school year' promotion.
Booksplus started its promotion in the third week of August and has lined-up the books and stationery supplies for the school year. The promotion ends around the third week of September. "There will be special promotional packs and volume discounts on promotional packs including glue sticks, erasers, and early learning products," says Melroy Dickson, General Manager, Booksplus.
Promotional packs
"Children insist on carrying the 'coolest' merchandise: the trendiest backpacks and the latest action figure lunch boxes, among other items," says Clive Freeman, General Manager, Babyshop (UAE). The promotion at Babyshop will run until September 8 at all its outlets across the GCC.
Children can look forward to the free cartoon character-themed name labels and timetables while shopping here.
Max, a leading fashion and footwear retailer in the value segment, is also offering trolley bags, backpacks and other 'Back to School' accessories in attractive designs. The promotion started on July 15 will last until the first week of September. According to Sriram Gopal, DGM, Max (UAE), children will definitely love the characters that have been developed and printed on all 'back to school' items to appeal to children.
Centrepoint Privilege Club (CPC), Landmark Group's Loyalty Program, offers a range of benefits for their members this season. "Centrepoint Privilege Club members who shop for more than Dh250 across the various Landmark Group stores (Babyshop, Shoe Mart, Splash, Lifestyle, Home Centre, Valencia, Lee Cooper, Bata, Ecco, Shelleys, Pablosky, Fun City, Retro and Ms) are entitled to a value booklet in addition to regular points. The booklet has 52 exclusive vouchers (valid until October 31, 2007) from hotels, fast food outlets, theme parks, cinemas and amusement centres with discount/offers up to 50 per cent," says Vipen Sethi, CEO — Corporate Office, Landmark Group. Members will also get an A2-size wall planner for children, which will be distributed with the BTS issue of the CPC newsletter. There is a 'Fun City Achievers' programme specially designed to promote Fun City (a family entertainment centre with nine locations). Fun City card is worth Dh50.
"A year-long campaign backed by continuous communication through CPC Newsletter, SMS and email broadcasts is on track," says Sethi.
In addition to retail outlets, even supermarket chains such as Spinneys have back to school promotions. The promotion at Spinneys will run until end of this month. At Spinneys, as part of the offer, grocery products that form a part of school such as cereals and breakfast options would also be included.
