School Uniform Supply Monopolies

looby75

TechnoBadger wrote: »

Cheap but not stunningly so. What do you usually have to pay?

ds's sweatshirts are between £10 and £13 each depending on the size and the polo shirts are £8-£10 each again depending on the size

jellyhead

Primary sweatshirts are £12.50 but that's for the biggest size. My 5 year old will have to go without next year (or wear a plain one, which is allowed by our primary but my son is not keen, maybe he'll be a bit more mature when he's 6 and will just learn to live with it), because he's already in the biggest size that the supplier does (they go by chest size). I'd say it's probably an 8-9 in ordinary sizes. I buy age 8-9 for him. I like that tesco sell age 11-12, that would fit him for longer.

Sweatshirts start at £12.50 for the smallest size at high school. I don't know how much for bigger sizes because my eldest son is tiny and will remain in small size until he finishes his GCSEs. I didn't see any high school uniforms on the tesco website.

I haven't bought logo polos for primary. Not many people do. High school need it for PE and it was around £13 I think, size small. They need a Trutex rugby shirt which was around £20.

TechnoBadger

I suppose the parents at the primary school I still supply should be very grateful for the their prices then - less than £6 for a good quality embroidered sweatshirt and under £4 for an embroidered polo shirt... Not a penny goes to the school (Admittedly I've a tame embroiderer who hasn't put his price up for very many years and I source directly from a manufacturer in the Midlands where possible).

jellyhead

If you can do it at that price and not sell rubbish quality, why can't others?

TechnoBadger

jellyhead wrote: »

If you can do it at that price and not sell rubbish quality, why can't others?

I don't make any serious money from it, though it was originally a fund raising exercise until the school got bored of it. I've carried it on as a hobby. As I said in an earlier post; schools, PTAs and parents could get together, put out a termly / twice yearly form and order direct from suppliers. Some trade suppliers will supply schools directly and can even arrange the embroidery. It really isn't rocket science - but just try to get the idea past a head who enjoys a healthy kickback from the current arrangement. Parent Power may be required! A blank sweatshirt may well cost (just) under £4 and polo shirts under £2.50. Embroidery may add £1.50? Add 50p to £1 to hopefully cover other costs and Bob's your uncle. OK, it's not really quite as easy as that but you get the drift. Schools ought to do this on a not-for-profit basis IMHO.

kimberley111

Sweatshirts £7.50
Cardigans £8.50
Polo shirts £6.50
Plimsoles £3.50
School rain coats (fleece inside) £15
School fleeces £10
Pe t shirts £4
Pe shorts £3.50

Not bad prices for the quality (the jumpers/cardigans do fade after a few washes,think it's because they're a bright royal blue)

TechnoBadger

They're pretty good prices and the seller is making a not-to-greedy profit. I'd sell primary sweatshirts at £7.50p too in order to make a little money. It's a very good cardigan price, too. Polyester/cotton sweatshirts will fade, acrylic/polyester/cotton ones will keep their colour.

TechnoBadger

Once the summer holidays are over and you fancy helping your school organise its own uniform you could try:

http://www.zecoschoolwear.com

I wasn't certain if they dealt directly with schools, but it appears that they do:

We supply complete full range of uniforms for schools at wholesale rates . So if you are a school and need a new Wholesale Distributor for your school uniforms , you have come to the right place. We cater to Wholesale School uniforms for junior schools, Wholesale Distributor for School uniforms for senior schools and School uniforms for pre-schools. Wholesale school uniforms is what we are best at.

They should be able to arrange embroidery, too.

SammySaver

Whoooaa Long thread!! It's still shocking :eek: to see how many Parents are missing out on good value school uniforms. The prices some of you have been paying has been crazy!

I'd point you to this older thread which might put things in perspective, this problem has been going on for tooooo long: forums (dot) moneysavingexpert (dot) com/showthread.php?p=36810192&highlight=#post36810192

Sensemaya

We have two monopoly shops and their prices vary.

For instance, Trutex blazer is £28.99 in one shop and a whopping £37.50 in the other. There are other examples. Plain Trutex tank top is £13-15.99.

But a friend gave me a blazer, so the pocket is going to be removed with the embroidered badge on it and resewn on to my bargains ( see later :T) or I'm going to cut the badge out and put some felt underneath so it can be resewn on the new jacket(s).

I have just purchased 6 Trutex tank tops for £3 each...normally £13.99 plus for one.These should last the five years my little one will be at secondary school, and two Trutex Blazers for £6 each. Including P&P total amount is £38.

The cost of one Trutex blazer:rotfl::rotfl::rotfl:

All l have spent so far is football socks...£6...PE shorts...£12.99...and exchanged the PE top I already had as spare for my eldest who has now left...for a bigger size. I paid £11.50 in 2009, it's now gone up to £14.50!

I actually agree with school uniforms but what really annoys me is why the school just won't supply the school badge so parents can sew it on when needed.