Calls for standardised school uniforms

At this crucial time, when parents are forced to fork out considerable amounts of money to kit out their children for school life, PEP is urging the media to draw attention to the escalating costs and the need for a standardised uniform in South Africa. According to research conducted two years ago, the 'back to school' (BTS) market - schoolwear, stationery and school kit - in South Africa was worth R2 billion. With inflation, this figure is now estimated to be R2.7 billion, of which PEP has a sizeable share. Over 50 per cent of BTS purchases are made in January.

PEP advocates the move to standardise school uniforms so that the overall buying power of the retailers may be increased in order to contain costs as far as possible. PEP has 35 years experience of retailing at the lowest prices and, through its buying power, the chain keeps increases below the inflation rate and takes a reduced margin on all its BTS merchandise.

Says PEP managing director, Andre Labuschaigne, "Although our prices don't reflect annual inflation hikes and any price increases are kept to the minimum, I believe the time is right for uniforms to be standardised nationally so that the retailers can act responsibly in helping to relieve pressure on parents who struggle with the cost of sending their children to school."

PEP has two ranges of schoolwear - the PEP range, which is the most affordable, and the Student prince range, which rose to fame when the brand sponsored the clothing for the Rosenkowitz sextuplets in the early seventies.