Many bookstores in HCM City, including Thang Long, Nguyen Van Cu, Van Lang, Phuong Nam and Gia Dinh, are offering 5-10 per cent discounts on textbooks, notebooks and other items.— Photo cafebiz

HCM CITY (Biz Hub) — As the new school year approaches, producers and distributors of school supplies participating in the city's price stabilisation programme have increased supply and launched promotions to boost sales.

The Huong Mi Handbags Co Ltd, for instance, said it was assigned to offer stablised prices on 600,000 backpacks and schoolbags, up 30 per cent over last year.

Besides providing products under the city's price stabilisation programme, the company has also supplied products to other provinces and cities nationwide, said Nguyen Ba Dung, the company's deputy director.

The company's employees have been working under high pressure to guarantee supplies, he said, adding that sales had been good.

Many shops under Minh Tien Bag Manufacturing Company, which takes part in the programme, have received many customers, especially at night.

Sales of school bags and backpacks are expected to increase strongly until the middle of next month, according to sellers at these shops. They are offering discounts of 20 per cent for all products until August 15.

In addition, Tuan Viet Shoes Co Ltd has introduced many kinds of shoes, priced 15 per cent lower than market prices.

Many supermarkets and bookstores have launched promotions on stationery and other items.

The Co.opmart supermarket chain is offering discounts of up to 50 per cent on more than 1,500 items, including student uniforms, school bags, notebooks, pens and other school supplies, until August 3.

French supermarket chain Big C is also running a discount programme called "Vui mua sam, don tuu truong" (Happy shopping, welcome back to school) until July 28. The programme offers special discounts of 5-50 per cent on more than 500 items including notebooks, pens, uniforms and school bags.

Many bookstores in HCM City, including Thang Long, Nguyen Van Cu, Van Lang, Phuong Nam and Gia Dinh, are offering 5-10 per cent discounts on textbooks, notebooks and other items.

The city's price stabilisation programme for school supplies this year has the participation of 15 enterprises with about 500 items at stabilised prices, meeting 35-40 per cent of demand, according to the city Department of Industry and Trade. — VNS