Do schools receive an income from exclusive uniform supplier ....

[Nononoandno]

I work in purchasing and not related to schools but in the purchasing world when a exclusive relationship is set up then often contracts are set up so that the supplier pays an income based on percentage of orders put their way.... this got me thinking are our secondary schools receiving an income from its uniform suppliers that have the monopoly???? 2000 children at a school x £200 per year uniform is £400k per year of orders going to way of an exclusive supplier!!

We all have the right to ask our children’s school this question as the suppliers would build into their uniform pricing any percentage of income that they are paying to the school to have exclusively!

Yes it does happen. I know of a school where the commission used to go to the school PTFA.

Some do, yes. I know with two of the suppliers I have used for my DC the school sets the price of the uniform, so they can add extra on top of the suppliers price. For the sports polo shirt the cost if I bought it with X school logo was £18, if I bought it with Y school logo was £27 (I had to buy it for Y school ), it was the same shirt- just a different logo. Same with the blazer, normal navy blazer with X school logo was £25, with Y school £48. I know there are different set up costs and thread costs for different logos in differing quantities, I've ordered bespoke embroidery for work before, but the price difference is not £23 nor £9. That school was in the process of changing from an Independent to a free school, the price of the newly designed uniform was massively inflated to claw in extra income.

You can easily check this on their financial return. This is available or everyone to see. Our school does all their own uniforms and they dont use a shop. Last year they make £330k off it. I have no complaints, they need the money and our uniform is cheaper than most schools local to us that use these shops.

This thread again ?

One school we were at and a parent ran a uniform site. It was bloody expensive - they were such ratbags i wouldn’t be surprised if there was a kickback.

However where we are now - if you think about it the uniform is well made and gets the hell kicked out of it and lasts really well. DS is now bigger than me so I get his castoff sports tops (and his coat which is unbranded but he refused to wear it).

This thread again ?

Well on the basis that I never knew this and have a DS who has left school, this is useful and relevant information.
If you know the answers; it's of no interest; it's easy to scroll on by.