Buying school uniforms is very different than buying clothing for other situations. The main differences are
- The style and color selection may be more limited - schools define their uniform or dress code requirements to support their appearance strategy
- Styles are more traditional and consistent to remain uniform over time
- Most items are designed to consistently support all sizes from youth to adult
- Most items are decorated with the school logo
- Most importantly, there is an extremely busy peak purchasing season in the summertime which puts pressure on supply chains, fitting and purchasing.
For parents new to school uniforms, we are offering some thoughts to help your first purchasing experience be the best possible. This may also help with parents who have been there before.
When should I shop ?
New parents may need additional time for selecting and fitting more items since they are starting from scratch. Also, students may take longer to fit the first time since they are new to these types of items. Our general advice is shop as early as possible, considering the potential grown in your students. Our store is relatively quiet early in the summer season but progressively gets more busy and crowded as the start of school gets closer creating longer wait times. On the other hand, young students grow and you don't want to purchase items that won't fit on the first day of school. You as a parent have the best understanding of your student's potential growth.
A few timing options to consider:
- We are open year around so you are always welcome to come in and browse, consider the options you have and and try on some items just to get a feel for the uniform.
- Starting in May, you can consider coming into our store and having your student fitted. Even if you don't plan to purchase everything early, this can give you a reference for future purchases or an option to purchase online later.
- We offer a yearly sale in June. Watch our web site for an announcement of the exact dates. We also notify schools so they can notify their parents when the sale is scheduled. You are welcome to purchase in-store or order online. If you are concerned about growth of your students, you can purchase the uniform items and ask that the logos are not applied until a later time. You can then exchange sizes if your student shows unexpected growth. Please remember the seasonal ramp-up. if you defer adding the logo or need to exchange sizes, wait times will be driven by the then current workload.
- Our store starts getting busy after the July 4th holiday and continues to ramp up through August as schools start their new year
- Traffic begins to fall after Labor Day but still may remain busy into October. Part of your strategy could be to purchase the items you need to start school then return after school starts to add items.
Should I purchase larger sizes to allow for growth ?
You as a parent have the best understanding of your student's potential growth. It is also tempting to purchase sizes larger than necessary to extend their lifetime. Most schools dress codes include how the clothing fits their students. This may rule out items that are too baggy or too tight for appearance as well as safety reasons. For first time shoppers who are shopping early, you should choose sizes that will fit the student comfortably at the time school starts.
What should I buy ?
As a new purchaser for school uniforms, it is tempting to purchase "one of everything" to be prepared, especially for younger students. We suggest that you think about basics to start. A general guideline for a starting point is to have 3-4 tops, 2 bottoms and an outerwear item for each student, although there are considerations that may impact this. You may be required to have a PE uniform by your school. Then, after school is in session, you can expand your student's uniform wardrobe as necessary/desired. This also allows you to see what other students are wearing at the school so you don't purchase items that will not be worn and can reduce the initial costs. Be sure to consult with your schools dress code or uniform guidelines for specific requirements such as a specific requirement for formal days/events.
Another consideration would be your laundry schedule. School uniforms are generally worn daily and so some parents purchase a week's worth of clothing so they don't have to do laundry during the week. Others may prefer to do laundry more often so they'd need fewer items. Uniform clothing is designed for this laundry pattern and so is more durable than "regular" clothing. One last consideration is to be prepared for items getting accidentally soiled and the need for a backup.
We are open year around and so you may purchase items through the year. Although some schools require a sweater and pants for specified days all year, and you might need a sweater or jacket for air conditioned rooms, much of the colder weather items can be deferred until the weather changes. This allows you to adapt to growth and spread out purchases.
Is it better to shop in the store or online ?
We always recommend coming into the store for a physical fitting for the first purchase. Items fit differently amongst brands and different students may wear the same size and style differently so they will fit differently. Once you understand the sizing for your student, you can shop in our store or online depending on your preference. The prices are the same and generally, the production times are the same.