Matalan, John Lewis, and Clarks have decided to freeze school uniform prices, offering financial stability for parents in the back-to-school season.
- John Lewis has continued its tradition for the fourth year, keeping school uniform prices unchanged, with multipack shirts starting at just £7.
- Matalan similarly maintains its pricing since 2023, with affordable options such as a two-pack of polo-shirts for £4.
- Clarks remains committed to 2023 pricing, introducing a bundle offer for children’s trainers and black school shoes.
- Marks & Spencer also announced a price freeze, sustaining this practice for the fourth consecutive year.
In a noteworthy move, several prominent retailers have announced a continuation of their commitment to freeze the prices of school uniforms and footwear. Matalan, John Lewis, and Clarks are offering consistent pricing on school essentials, benefitting consumers during the back-to-school period.
The John Lewis Partnership’s decision marks its fourth consecutive year without price increases in the school uniform category. This includes affordable options like a pack of three shirts starting from £7 and two pairs of boys’ trousers for £11. John Lewis school uniform buyer Cydney Ball emphasised, “Our customers trust us as the one-stop shop for all things back to school. What’s more, we’ve worked hard to keep our prices flat since 2021 – meaning parents can get even better value without compromising on quality that’s made to last.” With multipack cotton polo shirts starting at £2.33 each, the Anyday range remains an economical choice for parents.
Matalan, a value and home retailer, has maintained uniform prices since 2023. Their range starts from £4 for a pack of two polo-shirts or trousers, up to £44 for Hush Puppies junior school shoes. Matalan’s research uncovers a trend where customers begin their school shopping earlier, spreading the cost of uniforms across several months.
Clarks also aligns with this approach, keeping footwear prices at 2023 levels. As revealed by Retail Gazette, Clarks adds value with a ‘buy together save together’ bundle, offering a £10 discount on a pair of children’s trainers when purchased with black kids’ school shoes.
Marks & Spencer mirrors this commitment, announcing a price freeze for the fourth year in a row. Uniform prices have remained unchanged since 2021, allowing parents to plan their purchases with confidence.
Primark disclosed that it has reduced prices on numerous summer childrenswear items, including swimsuits and selected T-shirts and shorts. This initiative marks the second consecutive year of lowering kidswear prices just before the back-to-school shopping season.
The proactive actions by these retailers aim to ease the financial burden on parents during the back-to-school season.
