battling in becoming a school uniform supplier

bindiboo

hi guys need some advise


am in the processes of trying to become a school uniform supplier. At the moment I have the unofficial go ahead to sell logo uniform for my kids sec sch (they started this sept).

Now this all kicked off when I saw the prices the current supplier was charging. The shop wasnt local and is part of a national chain, so prices are inflated. Anyway, I was not happy as I have twins and felt that I was being held to ransom to pay the prices that this shop wanted to charge, as they were the only supplier) So I told the school that I could supply better cheaper. (My sister has a business and has a lot of experience and knowledge in school uniforms) ANyway I met with the head, had some samples made up for him. I also spoke to all the parents I knew from my kids junior sch (kids moving up to sec sch) and had a list of potential customers that wanted to buy from me as they were not happy with the prices. The head of the sec sch said that he would like to give me an official answer to whthr he would give me the sch blessing in reproducing the logo, this Sept (still waiting ). In the meantime he said it was ok for me to sell to the parents that I knew, etc and it was between me and the parents. ANyway the responses was great and very encouraging from the parents that bought from me and one lady thanked me for taking the initative as she was a single parent and feared that her son would only have one tshirt and sweatshirt for the whole year as she couldnt afford the prices the currect supplier was charging.. ISNT THIS what it is all about.

The difference in the prices are as follows;, my sweatshirts are upto £6.00 cheaper and my tshirts are £3.00 cheaper. Good quality, reduced pilling and reactive dyed so good colour hold etc etc.

One parent, whilst buying from me said that she had heard that the head of the sec probably would not be happy for me to supply as she had heard that he gets a kick back of £3.00 from every tshirt sold by the current supplier, which goes towards the sch mini bus funds etc.

My reply to her was

1. How does he know how many tshirts have been sold by the shop, does he ask to see the books. The shop could easily say they sold alot less than they had in order to give him less commission.

2. Shouldn't it be the parent that should benefit directly from the £3.00 discount instead as they are the ones paying for the uniform. If the parent feels the need to give a donation to the school towards their funds then this should be done by choice.

Well I am on a crusade atm and am trying to turn this into a full time business. It was my first week of visiting schools last week and crickey had a job getting into the front doors.

The oft has advised schools that they should make uniform affordable and that it should be sold in a variety of outlets, giving parents a choice to wherever they want to buy the uniform from..All schools are aware of this legistration.

But they do not want to comply. My youngest childs school (self source/supply) said that they had only changed supplier 6 months ago and did not want to change again. Their new supplier signs schools up by contract. The quality is really poor, just 6 weeks in and the sweatshirts are pilling badly. They dont really give anyone else a chance. So what chance has the oft got in trying to abolish exclusive contracts when the schools dont want to know.

One of the mums I know that has bought the new sweatshirt was showing me how bad it had gone in 5 /6 weeks. I advised her to take it back if she wasnt happy. I told her that had they same consumer rights as she would if she had bought it from a shop. She and a couple of others have asked if I would supply as they prefer the sweatshirts that i sell as they are better quality. Ideally I would like to do this with the blessing of the schools to reproduce thier logo's. BUT I am finding it hard getting past the school secretaries.




Its a hard battle I face but I believe that parents (me included) should have the choice to where they want to buy school uniform from.

any advise

PasturesNew

I thought they started stopping all this "approved supplier" nonsense last year?

Treading_Water

At our primary school the uniform is provided via the PTA as a minimal profit making venture, have you approached them? Also at the local secondary the uniform is currently provided by a local supplier, but who says that it has to be an approved supplier, and that if you can build up a reputation and provide better quality samples than currently available you shouldn't go for it.

bindiboo

just to update.

had a letter from the head saying that they have decided to stay with their current, overpriced, rip off EXCLUSIVE suppliers and would look into it next JUNE and for me to make an appointment then. FOB OFF

Not taking this lying down

have replied back to him saying that June is far too late and that I would like a meeting in Feb/Mar next year. Production is flat out in June and is not ideal.

Told him that I am disspointed that he has decided to stay with his exclusive supplier and that as I am still getting lots of enquiries I will continue to supply parents that contact me directly.

Have also quoted this in my letter too


“Schools or retailers that have exclusive contracts with suppliers may in principle be subject to enforcement action under Chapter I of the Competition Act 1998, on the grounds that these exclusive agreements restrict competition between retailers to supply uniform.”

Jim Knight MP
Minister of State for Schools
Department for Education and Skills



wish me luck