This year, things might change. Supplies featuring Dora the Explorer, the heroine from the cartoon of the same name, remain very popular among little girls. Harry Potter, with the release of the latest installment of his adventures, is still a bestseller. But the young wizard, just out of puberty, does not quite measure up to the new back-to-school gadgets…
This year, there won’t be a major hero leading back-to-school sales. The real stars of school supplies aren’t found on the pencil case or backpack but inside: it’s the erasable pens, spring-mounted markers, or even supplies made from recycled waste. This year, it’s the “practical” purchase that guides parents and children. “It’s practical and it saves me time,” explains Hamza as he grabs one of the new ballpoint pens with an integrated eraser off the shelf. His mother agrees: “These more advanced supplies cost more, but I’d rather spend this part of the budget here than blow it on a backpack just because it’s trendy. At least here, I see the utility.”
Another trend this school year: online shopping for supplies. In reality, some parents, fed up with endless checkout lines at supermarkets, have been opting for online shopping for several years. Simple and fast, it saves a day of leisure with just a few clicks. 2006 is a record year for online sales and the trend is likely to grow in the coming years. Anne, a Parisian tourist on vacation on the French Riviera, took advantage of this respite to extend her stay: “I don’t see why I would return to Paris earlier when I can purchase everything from a cybercafé. It allows children to stay on holiday as long as possible and for us, parents, to avoid the hustle and bustle of stores on the eve of September 4th.”
So here’s maybe an idea to follow next year. Because the time for preparation is over; it’s already time to return to school. Happy back-to-school everyone!
Some websites offering online school supply purchases:
[https://www.rentreedesclasses.fr/](https://www.rentreedesclasses.fr/)
[https://www.houra.fr/](https://www.houra.fr/)
[https://www.3suisses.fr/](https://www.3suisses.fr/)
[https://www.officedepot.fr/](https://www.officedepot.fr/)
