One-Stop School Supply Centre Eases Back-to-School Worries For Labuan Parents

LABUAN, Jan 7 (Bernama) -- Parents with school-going children in this duty-free island are finding relief from the annual scramble for school essentials, as a one-stop centre offering a comprehensive range of uniforms, footwear, co-curricular accessories, and stationery continues to draw steady crowds.

The outlet, EZ Advance Resources, located at Labuan Times Square, was set up to address recurring shortages of school-related items that have long concerned parents, particularly during the start of the academic year.

Its owner, entrepreneur Haryati Kahar, 45, said the idea to establish the business stemmed from her own experience struggling to obtain specific co-curricular accessories and school uniforms for her children that were often unavailable or inconsistently supplied on the island.

“Every year, parents face the same problem -- shoes in the right sizes are hard to find, uniforms sell out quickly, and certain co-curricular accessories are not available at all, and parents have to go to mainland Sabah.

“That was when I realised there was a real need for a complete centre that could offer everything under one roof,” she told Bernama today.

Haryati said the outlet has been receiving customers almost non-stop since December last year, particularly parents preparing for the new school term as well as those making early purchases to avoid last-minute shortages.

She noted the store stocks a wide range of school uniforms, including primary and secondary attire, sportswear, shoes, socks, bags, and full co-curricular accessories such as badges, ties, belts and other compulsory items, in addition to basic stationery.

Haryati said centralising these necessities in a single location not only saves parents time and costs but also reduces stress, especially for families with more than one school-going child.

“Parents no longer need to go from shop to shop hoping to find what they need. Everything is available in one place, and that gives them peace of mind,” she said.

Haryati added that consistent demand since opening has encouraged her to ensure adequate stock levels throughout the year, particularly ahead of peak periods, to prevent the shortages that previously affected many families in Labuan.

Several parents interviewed by Bernama said the presence of a one-stop school supply centre has made preparations for the new academic year significantly easier, describing it as a timely initiative that meets a long-standing community need.

With the school term ongoing, Haryati expressed hope that the business would continue to support families in Labuan while contributing to the growth of small-scale entrepreneurship on the island.

-- BERNAMA