This year’s back-to-school season sees major retailers freezing school uniform prices.
- John Lewis commits to holding uniform prices steady for a fourth straight year.
- Matalan maintains 2023 prices as customers begin shopping earlier in the year.
- Clarks offers a price freeze along with a promotional footwear bundle.
- Marks & Spencer extends its uniform price freeze into a fourth year.
In a move that promises relief for parents gearing up for the back-to-school season, prominent retailers such as John Lewis, Matalan, Clarks, and Marks & Spencer have confirmed they will freeze school uniform prices. This decision comes amidst economic pressures and rising living costs, aiming to provide financial stability and predictability for families.
John Lewis has announced a fourth consecutive year without increasing its school uniform prices. Offerings include a pack of three shirts priced from £7 and two pairs of boys’ trousers for £11. Cydney Ball, the school’s uniform buyer for John Lewis, emphasised trust as a central value: “Our customers trust us as the one-stop shop for all things back to school.” This approach ensures quality without compromising on cost, with multipack cotton polo shirts starting at just £2.33 per shirt.
Matalan continues its strategy of maintaining uniform prices at the levels set in 2023. Notably, its product range begins at £4 for a two-pack of polo shirts or trousers, going up to £44 for Hush Puppies junior school shoes. Matalan’s research indicates a trend of earlier school shopping amongst consumers, reflecting a strategic spreading of purchase costs over time.
Clarks joins this trend by offering a freeze on their 2023 footwear prices. Additionally, they introduce a ‘buy together save together’ offer that provides a £10 discount when a pair of children’s trainers is purchased alongside a pair of black kids’ school shoes. This initiative enhances value through bundled savings and aligns with customer expectations for cost-effective offerings.
Marks & Spencer has similarly committed to holding its school uniform prices for a fourth consecutive year, maintaining the same price levels since 2021. This consistency is part of a broader strategy to support families during the economically challenging back-to-school period. Meanwhile, Primark has taken a different approach, announcing a reduction in prices for hundreds of kidswear items, including swimsuits, sliders, and selected T-shirts and shorts.
The commitment by these retailers to freeze school uniform prices illustrates a supportive stance toward consumers during financially challenging times.
