PEP NEWS

Back to school 2008
19 November 2007

CAN RETAILERS MAINTAIN PRICE WAR ON SCHOOL UNIFORMS?

At a time when they battle to recover from holiday season expenses, parents also have  to fork out for new school uniforms.  And they may have to pay even more for their uniforms this year too.  PEP’s merchandise director, Sean Cardinaal explains why.  “The new quota system requires retailers either to buy from overseas markets other than China or to source their merchandise locally.  This could put some retailers under pressure as they may not be able to source sufficient volumes or would have to pay a premium for schoolwear that they had previously been sourcing from China, particularly for the key back-to-school period.  These issues combined with the current trading environment may force some retailers to compromise quality levels.“

While this doesn’t bode well for parents, there is good news. PEP is holding 75% of last year’s prices on its schoolwear range with a particular focus on the core schoolwear products.  “PEP can do this”, continues Cardinaal, “because we manufacture most of our schoolwear in South Africa and have been doing so for many years”.

PEP Clothing (Pepclo) manufactures standard school items and the Student Prince brand (of which some items are SABS certified).  Pepclo is the largest factory in South Africa making schoolwear and over half of Pepclo’s staff is employed full-time in the manufacturing of PEP’s schoolwear.   

“Quality is a big issue for our customers” says Cardinaal, “because they need to know they’re getting merchandise that lasts.  They actively look for good quality fabric and for generous hem lengths and seams.  And they like our 100% moneyback guarantee because it gives them extra buying confidence.”

Teflon is being used as a stain release system on certain of PEP’s schoolwear items this year, having been successfully tested last year. Also, reflective features have been added on certain items to aid visibility and safety.

As part of its bid to reduce the burden on parents, PEP sells its entire schoolwear and shoes range at the best possible prices - throughout the year and not only at the back-to-school periods.”

“We aim to help parents win the war against rising costs”, Cardinaal said.

Back to school with the young and famous!

Fans of SABC1’s Generations will see Queen’s son, Prince, in PEP’s Student Prince school clothing when he goes back to school in January. This isn’t the first time a child in the public eye has been adorned by Student Prince schoolwear.  Back in the seventies, when the whole country was absorbed and fascinated by them, the Rosenkowitz sextuplets were famously featured in all PEP’s Student Prince advertising.

PEP has collaborated with and been written into the Generations story line since its new tagline was launched in July, when Queen won the PEP advertising account and the agency – on and off the screen – released the new PEP tagline:   ‘best prices and more’.

This promise is being delivered too because PEP is holding 75% of last year’s schoolwear prices in the 2008 back-to-school period, which is good news for parents. 

PEP is able to pass on these savings because it manufactures most of its schoolwear in South Arica at its own factory, Pep Clothing (Pepclo).  Pepclo manufactures the Student Prince range and most of the standard schoolwear items.

PEP is a one-stop shop for schoolwear - including underwear and luggage as well as uniforms -branded footwear, eg Bata Toughees and stationery. Reflective features have been added to certain items to aid visibility and safety and Teflon is being used as a stain release system on certain items too. PEP sells its full schoolwear range all year round.