Business picks up for schools supplies
Demand for stationery products and other school items has increased at various markets in the Accra central business district (CBD) as parents prepare for the new academic year for basic schools.
The influx of items, usually patronised during the Christmas festivities, has given way to busy activities at the bookshops and other items for school.
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When the Daily Graphic visited the area yesterday, it found out that most of the traders who previously sold clothes during the festive season had switched over to the sale of school bags, shoes and other school supplies.
Observation
Another observation was also that the traders, who packed their wares and did business at the various medians and entry points to the markets few days into the Christmas season, were nowhere to be found leaving those points deserted.
Also, with very little work to do, some head porters, popularly called Kayayee, were seen relaxed under sheds and under tree canopies to take a nap while others carried their empty head pans and strolled along the streets in search of business.
Changing times
Some of the traders, who spoke to the Daily Graphic, indicated that for some time now, they had adopted the business strategy of moving with the business trends of the needs and demand of the season.
A trader, Ms Victoria Frimpong, who sold clothes during the festive season, said she decided to venture into the sale of school bags because the resumption date for senior high and junior high schools was very close as most parents had started making preparations for their wards.
She said most of her colleague traders had ventured into the sale of stationery products because it sold faster during this period.
Ms Frimpong told the Daily Graphic at the time of conducting the interview that she had sold a number of school bags and that sales were much higher as compared to the Christmas season.
“I am hoping that it continues this way because I could not make enough profit during the Christmas season,” she said.
Another seasonal entrepreneur, who was into the sales of exercise and notebooks as well as other stationery products, said she also decided to venture into that market because the new year was a rush hour for most parents to prepare their children for school.
Uniforms, stationery shops
Also at the fabric areas of the CBD, business seemed to have picked up steadily for dealers in fabrics for school uniforms.
Clement Mensa, who deals in uniform, said he had already had good patronage from customers.
“Junior high schools are reopening on January 11, and because it is the start of the new academic year, people are patronising the school uniforms, so far, I have done good business for the JHS uniforms, “ he said.
Also, at the stationery shops, around the Ghana Library Authority area, there was activity as shoppers bought brown papers and other stationery.
“My children’s schools insist we cover their books with brown papers, so we have come to get some as well as school supplies like pens and pencils.
“I like to shop early ahead of the actual school reopening day to avoid the traffic and busy nature of the area,” Awura Mansa Kumi, a shopper said.
The stationary dealers also told the Daily Graphic that sales were picking up but they expected it to be more busy next week when the schools actually reopen and parents get their wards books lists.