Parents and children in search of text book bargains packed the Chinese Benevolent Association (CBA) on Old Hope Road in Kingston yesterday at the second staging of a Back-to-School Trade Fair put on by GraceKennedy Limited.

From as early as 8:30 in the morning, the eager crowd lined up outside the CBA hoping to benefit from the new features that the fair, which was scheduled to start at 10:00 am, had to offer.

“The Back-to-School Trade Fair is being positioned as a one-stop shopping environment for back-to-school needs, which speaks to being able to acquire at discounted prices, common items such as text books…” said Adriel McKay, director of Concept, the company responsible for organising the fair.

“We have added value to that by offering free immunisation from the Ministry of Health. We also have the services of the Registrar General’s Department, allowing persons to apply for birth certification. We also have the Bank of Nova Scotia to facilitate in an electronic form, school fee payment.”

Parents were also able to attend 20-minute information sessions – another new feature – addressing topical issues relating to education and youth development, in an attempt to prepare parents and children for all aspects of the education process.

“I think this is a really good idea and I hope that they bring it back next year,” Christine Steele, who took her two children to the fair, said.

Another parent noted that she would not have been able to afford all of her children’s school supplies otherwise.

“It’s good, because some of the prices are cheaper compared to what they are going for in the stores,” she said.

More than a dozen booths offered services and school supplies at discounted prices. For example, khaki shirts that are normally sold for $350 each were reduced to $300 each.

Among the firms mounting booths were Leder Mode Limited, which sold school shoes and belts; Jamaica Urban Transit Company, which sold smart cards; Jakim’s Apparel, which sold mostly school uniforms; Portmore Community College; and the Jamaica Observer, where copies of the company’s popular CXC Lecture Series went fast.

“We have the commitment from our participants that the prices that they offered to our patrons would be reduced,” said McKay. “Sangster’s is offering a 10 per cent discount and the 10 per cent discount is not after they hike the prices, it’s their regular retail prices that they have slashed by 10 per cent.”

The Sangster’s Book Store booth was the most popular, as more than 100 parents at any given time, with book lists in hand, crowded around the sales representatives.

The heavy crowd had some parents complaining that while they welcomed the opportunity to purchase school supplies under one roof, the process was tedious.

“I came to buy the book, but I have not been able to do so because of the crowd that is there right now,” one parent said.

However, while the parents shopped, children had the opportunity of enjoying a bounce-about and other games.

The fair ends today at 8:00 pm.