School Uniform Supply Monopolies

Spendless

I've been and bought my son's Secondary school PE kit today and whilst I'm told I don't have to buy the kit from the school, how it is described 'white polo shirt' looks nothing like the school issue (which looks more like a football t-shirt to me), so being new to this and not knowing what most of the other kids will be wearing I decided to buy the tops from the school and asked who to make the cheque out to. It was to 'XXX school fund'

TechnoBadger

I don't think there's anything wrong with a school or its PTA supplying the uniform. So long as they're not 'expensive sole suppliers' themselves!

You're not contributing to a shop's rent, its business rates, its manager's and staff's salary, its electricity bill or its bung to the school. So if the school have sourced uniform from a trade supplier at a reasonable price and good quality, and sold it on at a small profit, then that's rather good, no?

lolly_896

pigpen wrote: »

I tried to find the price list for the private school online but there was the uniform list but no prices!

The buttons really annoy me.. they are shoddily sewn on.. and boys bein boys.. they are off in 5 minutes and they don't think to pick them up to be sewn back on.. then they are told off for not having 'full uniform'.. for want of a button!!! but they cannot be bought separately!

they have o have the £65 hat as well which breaks because they stuff them in their bags and sit on them and allsorts!

John Lewis stock some private school wear - I had a browse online, none seem to be as extortionate as yours pigpen. Maybe write a letter to the governers and see if they could add your uniform to John Lewis

jellyhead

I think it's more of a 'fit' issue than quality.

Thin girls with large breasts should be able to shop around and get a blouse that doesn't gape over their bra yet doesn't have to be so huge that the sleeves need rolling up. I don't know if Trutex make blouses in several fits, like they do with their trousers? When we had a schoolwear shop in town they sold 'sturdy' fit trousers, for the chunkier child.

I've noticed that marks and spencers are selling shirts in slim, standard and plus fit.

jellyhead

I was trying to quote the Trutex reply, but it seems to have gone?

MSE have their own rules about company representatives posting in the forum without permission.

danieltomlinson_2

TechnoBadger wrote: »

Hi Daniel, welcome to the thread! I was wondering, if a school arranges to use special Trutex 'more detailed school uniform' using one local shop would you be happy to also provide it to the school / its PTA so that they could sell it directly to parents too? I realise they'd probably need to find an embroider. Or would you supply it to a competing local schoolwear shop? I've been told that companies such as Trutex and Banner only deal with one shop in a territory and competing shops cannot get supplies. Is this true by any chance?



I think you may have a point...

Sorry I missed this post when writing my comment earlier. The answer is, yes and we would encourage opening up dual supply of school uniform which makes it easier for parents. We have a number of schools in what we call joint ventures. This means that we produce a leaflet for the school to give to parents that contains details of their school uniform. They can then purchase through mailorder or we create a dedicated area on our trutexdirect website that allows customers to buy online, ideally making parents lives easier. Then there is a local retailer who also sells the items, so if parents want to go in and try items on before they buy they can do so. And they have somewhere to take it back to, although we offer free returns.

I know you may not believe it but we are an ethical busines and want to supply really good value uniform in a way that is convenient to parents. We would look at any way the school likes in order to achieve this.

danieltomlinson_2

jellyhead wrote: »

I was trying to quote the Trutex reply, but it seems to have gone?

MSE have their own rules about company representatives posting in the forum without permission.

Oh right, really! Just thought I would add to the discussion. If I'm not allowed, please let me know and I will stop.

jellyhead

danieltomlinson wrote: »

Oh right, really! Just thought I would add to the discussion. If I'm not allowed, please let me know and I will stop.

I wasn't being bossy, I was just clarifying what someone else said to you about MSE towers

Violetta_2

danieltomlinson wrote: »

Oh right, really! Just thought I would add to the discussion. If I'm not allowed, please let me know and I will stop.

The rules on company representative posting are on this page about half way down.
So yes really! Which may be why your 1st post was deleted?

pigpen

lolly_896 wrote: »

John Lewis stock some private school wear - I had a browse online, none seem to be as extortionate as yours pigpen. Maybe write a letter to the governers and see if they could add your uniform to John Lewis

That woudn't help.. there isn't a John Lewis for miles. They aren't bought from the school anyway but 2 independant retailers, one of which seems to have the monopoly in uniform.. it started life as a sports shop bizarrely! The problem is.. they never get enough stock of anything in and the popular sizes have all gone by the time the summer holidays hit!

danieltomlinson wrote: »

Oh right, really! Just thought I would add to the discussion. If I'm not allowed, please let me know and I will stop.

You are not allowed to post links or spam your own employers without permission which is what you did.. advertising the company and their FB pages.