- Norman Grindley/Staff Photographer
A long line of shoppers wait on the cashier at Sangster's Book Stores on King Street in downtown Kingston yesterday.
Petulia Clarke, Staff Reporter
HARRIED PARENTS gobbled up back-to-school bargains that were available in every nook of Kingston while stores cashed in on the benefits yesterday.
Nine days before the official start of the new school term, parents were spotted in book, stationery and clothing stores and on the streets stocking up on school supplies.
They trekked between stores and vendors, lugging young children and teenagers. School supplies were on display in every window and on every vendor's arm and basket 'sale' items ranging from books to socks, school shoes to khaki shirts and white blouses. Cash lines were lengthy, and at one store, the Kingston Bookshop, parents waited their turn outside while the shutters came down on others stuffed inside.
CHOCK-FULL
At Lerner Shops at South Parade, bargains had people pouring in and cash machines going into overdrive. White blouses were inspected, tried on and cashed, shorts, school bags, underwear and other items were in every basket. In addition to stores such as Joseph's, Azans and Best Mart being jammed, the shopping districts of Half-Way Tree and Cross Roads were also chock-full with parents going between stores checking for the cheapest items.
Woolworth on King Street was more of the same, with parents and children choosing bright-coloured pencils and pens, schoolbags, socks and other items that were on display.
Out on the streets of downtown Kingston, shoppers were also presented with a range of unbelievable bargains.
With prices less than $100 for items like school bags, many stopped as if unable to believe their ears.
"Seventy-five dollars for a school bag?" one mother repeated, stopping to listen to the announcement again and dragging her young son towards the sound.
On the streets vendors competed with each other, selling children's socks, trendy school-bags, and even uniform material.
Textile vendors on Princess and Orange streets still had crowds of bargain-seeking women buying uniform tunic and fabric stores still seemed overfull.
"It stay like this every year man," a vendor peddling socks and other items said. "Just wait till next week, then you can't even find space to walk down here."
COMPETING FOR SPACE
The bookstores were also packed, with persons in Kingston Bookshop competing for space and books hurriedly inspected and cashed.
"Right now I'm not even in the mood to look at the price too tough, I just want to get the shopping done with this weekend," Nordia, a sixth form student said.
Book vendors, some based outside the bookstores, also had new and used books at cheaper prices and also attracted buyers.
The school term begins for many students on September 1. Parents therefore have just a little over a week left to do last-minute shopping, a situation expected to climax next weekend.
