Markets abuzz as demand for rain gear and study material goes up
Panaji: With schools from the lower kindergarten (LKG) level to Class XII set to reopen for the academic year 2023-24 on Monday, markets in the state are abuzz with parents and children flocking to buy rain essentials and study material including stationery supplies.
The markets are flooded with different kinds of rain essentials including rainwear, sandals, fancy umbrellas and jackets, among others. Additionally, stationery supplies like fancy pouches, pencils, pens and other stuff too are a common sight at the shops.
While stuff with cartoon characters from movies like Frozen, Chhota Bheem and Cars are common among children at the primary level, teenagers prefer slightly sober shades of bags and other items.
A shop owner Poonam Bhomkar said that girls in the age group of 4-7 years prefer to buy items featuring Frozen and Barbie characters, boys in the same age group opt for items with Chhota Bheem, Motu Patlu and Batman characters. “The raincoats are priced at Rs 200 and above while umbrellas start from Rs 180,” she said.
Another shopkeeper pointed out that children come to their stores with specific demand adding, “They see stuff on television and desire to have the same. Sometimes we do not even understand what they ask for. With social media too its time that we also get ourselves updated.”
Though buying these items is a yearly ritual ahead of the monsoon season, it is common to see parents and children having difference of opinion over the purchases.
“Nowadays children want everything new and that too they want bags and raincoats with particular cartoon characters. Sometimes, it gets really tough to find such stuff,” said Shankar Naik, father of a seven-year-old boy, who was in Panaji market to buy rainwear.
A parent of a teenage girl Hruta Ghatkar said that her daughter now wants sober bags and she prefers shades like black.
“She favours a spacious bag now,” she said.
Swati Nayak, a parent of two children, said that her five-year-old son is so adamant that he wants Super Mario branded merchandise.
“I am having a tough time finding places that can fulfill his demand. My
pre-teen daughter is very clear that she doesn’t need jazz anymore and now prefers decent and simple items that can fulfill her basic requirements. Times have changed especially because children are exposed to online content every day. Shopping for school is not the same anymore,” she said.