School Uniform Sales Plummet as Parents Cut Back on Purchases, Opting to Repair Old Uniforms Instead
Parents are buying fewer school uniforms ahead of May's new term as economic hardship forces families to reduce purchases and repair old uniforms instead, retailers in Nakhon Ratchasima report.
School uniform sales are experiencing a sharp decline as parents reduce purchases ahead of the new school term in mid-May. A uniform retailer in Nakhon Ratchasima reported noticeably fewer customers, despite prices remaining unchanged so far.
Store owners attribute this year's slump to the lingering economic downturn, compounded by expensive fuel costs and geopolitical instability that have driven up prices across all goods, significantly raising the cost of living. As a result, households are implementing strict cost-cutting measures, especially as school opens.
Families are adopting different strategies to cope. Beyond tuition and educational materials, many face additional expenses when children advance to a new grade level, necessitating new uniforms. This year, many families are purchasing fewer uniforms—reducing from the typical four sets to just two or three. For children remaining in the same grade level, parents may only buy one or two new sets, or if old uniforms still fit properly and show minimal wear, they simply reuse them. Some families are taking old uniforms to tailors to have them enlarged or altered.
Shop owners are appealing to the government to intervene and provide relief to parents and guardians, helping families navigate through the current economic crisis.
