Among crowded shelves stocked with books, notebooks and school supplies, families were divided between those completing a school shopping list with only a few items left to buy and those having to search for specific textbooks required by their school or grade level. This has put greater pressure on some bookstores as the start of the school year approaches, particularly as students’ needs vary from one grade to another. Families are keen to secure everything they need before classes begin and avoid having to return to the market once the school year is underway.
Asiya, an employee at a bookstore, told Le360 that the past few days have seen a noticeable increase in demand as families entered the final stage of their shopping. She pointed out that textbooks for the Pioneer Schools program have posed a real challenge for a number of parents because they are not available on the market. Some have therefore had to search for them at several bookstores, with only a few hours left before the start of the school year.
Khalid Al-Hajji, an employee at another bookstore, also confirmed that demand rose significantly over the weekend. He explained that customers were looking for various textbooks, notebooks and school supplies. However, books for the “Pioneer Schools” program remained among the supplies that families had the most difficulty finding, forcing some to continue their search until the last minute.
Amid the diversity of families’ needs and differences in their financial means, Asiya explained that bookstores are also making an effort to offer school supplies in different qualities and at varying prices, allowing each family to choose what suits its needs and purchasing power. She stressed that the range of products includes the various tools and supplies required throughout the school year, giving parents greater flexibility and sparing them from having to limit their choices to a single category of products.
