Today's Edition
BATOOL GHAITH (ABU DHABI)
With UAE families preparing for the new academic year, some parents are looking beyond the usual back-to-school shopping spree to focus on value.
Some are reusing last year's bags and lunchboxes, many are hunting for discounts, and others are turning to second-hand textbooks and uniforms.
New data from classifieds platform dubizzle shows that families are not necessarily looking to buy everything new. Shoppers are increasingly turning to pre-owned and free study furniture, "with searches for free study tables rising 163%" compared with the previous month.
Textbooks are also among the actively browsed categories, as parents and students look for alternatives to buying new. School bags — from everyday backpacks to premium options — are in demand too.
"The trend highlights a growing appetite for circular shopping as families look to manage back-to-school expenses while giving quality items a second life," the report said.
Abu Dhabi resident Martine Atkinson, mother of two, is among those shopping wisely this season. "I try not to replace something simply because a new academic year is beginning. We reuse school bags and lunchboxes if they are still in good condition," she told Aletihad.
Atkinson also compares her options and looks for discounts, whether at popular outlet shops or during special online sales events. One of her biggest savings, she said, comes from an initiative at her children's school — a second-hand uniform stand.
Saving on Uniform Costs
For Abu Dhabi parent Cira Mathis, second-hand uniforms mean more than just reducing the family's back-to-school costs.
Mathis, who has a 7-year-old daughter and 12-year-old son, is a member of the Parent Team at Raha KCC, which established the school's Second-Hand Uniform Shop (SHUS).
She said the initiative began after parent volunteers saw how quickly their own children were outgrowing school uniforms, sometimes before the academic year was even over.
According to Mathis, the shop has been running for several years now, giving families a place to donate gently used uniforms when children outgrow them or when families relocate.
"Members of the Parent Team sort the donated clothing and have all items professionally laundered before making them available for sale," Mathis told Aletihad, noting that the shop opens several times each month throughout the school year.
Uniforms that remain in good condition are kept out of the waste stream, and parents can purchase them at a discount, she explained. Money raised through the shop returns to the school community, with all proceeds going towards social and appreciation activities.
"The initiative helps reduce textile waste, while also making discounted uniforms available for families in our school community, and contributing to events our students look forward to," Mathis said.
Preparing Home Learning Spaces
The dubizzle data also pointed to a spike in demand for home learning furniture ahead of UAE schools reopening.
Study tables are the most sought-after item "by a significant margin", the report said. Families are also searching for desks, children's study tables, ergonomic chairs, bookcases and table-and-chair sets as they set up dedicated study spaces at home.
Searches for study table chairs jumped 1,450%, while interest in bookcases rose 248% month-on-month, according to dubizzle.
