With the start of the academic year, parents' expenses for school uniforms often become a significant part of the budget. The cost of various items such as shirts, trousers, skirts, ties, belts, shoes, and socks leads to a substantial increase in total costs, especially when purchasing a full set for one child, which can amount to thousands of rupees.
A natural question arises: what is the wholesale price of the school uniform that parents buy at a high retail price? When ordering from 100 or 500 units from a seller or supplier, the cost per piece can significantly decrease.
Sanjai Mehta, owner of a school uniform factory in Shahdar, notes that the price of a standard tie and belt depends on quality, design, material, buckle, presence of a school logo, and packaging. When ordering a batch of 100 pieces, a tie-belt set can cost around 90–150 rupees per set. If the order volume increases to 500 pieces or more, this price can drop to 75–130 rupees per set. However, if the item includes a school logo, a special color, individual packaging, or uses higher quality material, the price may be higher.
Thus, the price of a tie-belt sold for 300 rupees is not universal. It is incorrect to assess the entire difference between retail and wholesale price solely as profit.
According to Sanjai Mehta, the cost of a school shirt is determined by the quality of the fabric and stitching. When buying a standard shirt in a quantity of 100 pieces, the wholesale price can range from 100 to 160 rupees per piece. For a large order of 500 pieces, this price can fall to 85–140 rupees per piece. If the shirt has a school logo, special fabric, or improved stitching, its cost will increase.
The price of school trousers varies depending on length, material, and stitching quality. For an order of 100 pieces, ordinary school trousers can cost approximately 150 to 230 rupees per piece. For an order of 500 pieces, the wholesale price can be from 130 to 200 rupees per piece. The price may also change slightly depending on the child's age and size.
Sellers did not provide data, but for schools that require a skirt for girls, a standard skirt for an order of 100 pieces can cost from 130 to 210 rupees per piece. For a large order of 500 pieces, the expected price may be in the range of 110 to 180 rupees per piece. This cost depends on the fabric, design, pleating, stitching, and size.
When compiling a basic set of a shirt and trousers for 100 pieces, the estimated price of one set can be from 250 to 390 rupees. For an order of 500 pieces, this set can cost from 220 to 340 rupees. If the set includes a shirt, trousers, tie, and belt, the price for 100 pieces will be about 350–540 rupees, and for 500 pieces—approximately 300–470 rupees. Similarly, a set with a skirt, shirt, tie, and belt will cost in a similar price range, although the price can be significantly higher when using higher quality and customization.
The main reason for the price reduction when purchasing in bulk is the order volume. When a school or supplier receives an order for 500 pieces, the manufacturer produces a large quantity of products simultaneously. This allows for a reduction in production and packaging costs per unit. Furthermore, large orders may come with additional discounts from the factory or supplier.
One cannot conclude that the school or seller receives the entire difference as profit if a tie-belt costs 300 rupees or if the shirt price exceeds wholesale estimates. The retail price includes many additional costs, such as transportation, storage, rent, staff salaries, packaging, taxes, as well as the cost of the school logo and custom design. Moreover, uniforms made specifically for a school may be more expensive than standard market uniforms.
Therefore, the difference between wholesale and retail price is a common practice. Nevertheless, it is useful for parents to know that the cost of school uniforms can be significantly lower with large orders.