PARENTS TIGHTEN BELTS AND PENCIL BAGS
Retailers are hoping for a last-minute rush this weekend as parents stock up on uniforms and supplies ahead of the start of the school year on Wednesday. A spokesperson for Edcon, which owns brands such as Jet, Edgars and CNA, said on Friday that so far demand this year had been lower than in 2016 due to consumer spending being under pressure and because schools were opening a week later than last year. A spokesman for Steinhoff Africa Retail — the owner of Pep and Ackermans — said ’normally the few days just before schools open are very good turnover days’.