This Sunday is for school shopping

With most city schools reopening on Wednesday, parents and students are in a mad rush to shop for the start of the term today. Markets and shops will be overcrowded and even traffic jams can be expected as parents pour into the shops.

For most parents, today is the only day to complete their shopping for school uniforms, stationery, bags and books.

Manisha Naik, a parent, said, “ I am a banker, and since I work all week, today is the only day I get to shop for my son who will be moving to Std I this year.”

Sharad Vyas, a chartered accountant, complained that schools are very demanding about children’s uniforms these days. “My daughter’s school gave me nearly three pages of things to buy before school starts. It contains everything from the brand of the pencil to the size of the school bag. Now, I will have to spend my Sunday searching the stores for these exact things,” he said.

Shopkeepers warn parents that it’s not going to be an easy day. “Since this is the only Sunday before schools begin, we are expecting a large crowd. Parents will have to battle it out, literally,” said a shop owner from Andheri.

A popular bookseller from Dadar, said he has already
appointed extra staff to help deal with the holiday rush. “It’s the same story every year. I hire some extra staff to help deal with the maddening crowd. Parents should not wait for just one day to complete their shopping. They should plan it better.”