Large retail chains are offering discounts in their stationary departments to attract customers during the back-to-school season, retailers said over the weekend.
"Sales potential in this segment exists because revenues during this period are growing every year," said Jurene Hsiao (
PHOTO: SEAN CHAO, TAIPEI TIMES
US retailers consider the August-September period to be the second-busiest time, with holiday shopping creating the most sales.
Foreign retailers such as Tesco and the Taiwanese-French joint venture Carrefour Taiwan introduced "back-to-school specials" about four years ago in an effort to generate more revenue.
Carrefour anticipates that purchases of its stationary products will increase 10 percent to 15 percent during the eight-week period this year, Hsiao said.
Many chains have set up special areas inside their outlets this month, showcasing a range of stationery items, schoolbags, dictionaries and reference books.
The strategy has netted buyers who are looking for bargains.
"Things are cheaper here compared with stationery stores," said Wang Ting-ting (
"It's convenient to do shopping here as all the required items for school are located in one area," she said.
Even though families are having fewer children, they tend to spend more on the ones that they do have.
"Parents are generously spending money on their children," said Daisy Lee (
Their purchasing power remains strong despite recent price hikes on petrol, she said.
Consumer spending in the retail sector rose 2.8 percent over the past 12 months when compared to the year-earlier period, according ACNielsen Taiwan Associate Director Jennifer Wang (
Do-it-yourself home furnishing retailer B&Q Taiwan is aiming at college students that live in campus dormitories or apartments, said Crystal Lee (李惠雯), public relations official of B&Q.
"We expect an 8 percent growth in this niche ... the market will keep growing," she said.
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