The Cairns Post

Stocking up on the basics

- ALICIA NALLY

THE Christmas decoration­s are barely back in the box but parents are heading to the city’s stationery stores in droves.

Harley’s Educationa­l manager Kristy Vallely said customers started shopping for school supplies on January 2 but this week things were “kind of crazy”.

“We’re getting a lot of online orders and we do a lot of bulk orders to schools,” she said. “It is quite hectic and it is definitely ramping up now. There are hundreds of bags on the shelves for people to pick up.”

Mrs Vallely said demand for primary school-aged workbooks appeared to be dropping off, perhaps due to iPad use.

Mum of two, Nathasja Hazelhoff, was finishing off her “stressful” school supply shopping at Officework­s yesterday.

Her children Seth and Emma attend St Francis Xavier’s School.

“It is just the last of the text books we’ve got to get. During the year when sales are on I buy things like glue sticks and erasers so when they run out during the year we already have supplies,” she said.

 ?? Picture: PETER CARRUTHERS ?? ALL SET: Seth (9) and Emma Maisey (7) get ready for the new school term by stocking up on books and writing materials at Officework­s in Cairns yesterday.
Picture: PETER CARRUTHERS ALL SET: Seth (9) and Emma Maisey (7) get ready for the new school term by stocking up on books and writing materials at Officework­s in Cairns yesterday.

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