Opening of school drives business at surplus shops

With more people feeling the economic crunch, surplus stores are enjoying brisk sales at the opening of classes with more people knowing that they can stretch their budgets further in these establishments.

A tour at some of the 48 surplus stores in the city during the past two weeks showed that more budget conscious parents buy bags, shoes and even uniforms from the said stores rather than buying brand new ones from department stores.

Marcelina Monteron, a parent of three daughters studying at a private school in Mandaue told The Freeman, she buys at surplus stores along Colon Street for her daughters bags and shoes.

"I can buy branded bags like Gap, Benetton even Nike shoes at low, low prices, just a little cleaning and they look brand new," Monteron said.

Buying brand new things from department stores, Monteron said, poses risk of possible imitation and less durability.

Annalie Embrado, operator of Arben Trading admitted that her two branches enjoy brisk sales starting month of May and June because of the higher demand of bags and shoes in time for school opening.

Ammy Jen Tatad, a salesgirl of Arben said, on usual days 20 to 30 pairs of shoes are sold daily while not more than 15 bags are bought by customers.

However starting end of May, the store records a minimum of 100 pairs of shoes and 50 bags sold.

Tatad said they noticed that some of the customers are not low-income parents but also from well to do families.

"Maila ra jud nga sosyal sila kay mga d awto man, mamalit napod sa mga UK bags ug sapatos," Tatad said.

The cheapest pair of shoe sold at Arben for kids is only P30 while adult shoes are also priced as low as P50.

Rosalie Comission, cashier of 3MJ's Garment's Trading said, sales of shoes and bags increased by 80 compared to off peak months, which usually run February and March.

Comission said, even high-end customers buy from surplus shops because prices are 40 top 60 percent lower than original prices of brand new stuff.