Our Back to School packs are our best-sellers nearing the end of the year, a convenient option that helps teachers, students, and parents have everything ready before school starts again. Back to School is the busiest time at Programit, and this blog aims to answer some questions on how we handle this time of year.
What is the Step-by-Step process leading up to and during Back to School?
1. We collaborate with helpful teachers to set up a list for each Grade, with both mandatory and optional supplies that students will need. If the school is not in collaboration with us, parents are welcome to send a list provided by the school or order supplies straight from the website.
2. The lists are sent out to the parents by the schools. If it was a list that Programit collaborated on, parents would be able to choose from the high-quality and affordable products and brands suggested. If it is a provided list with quantities and brands already specified it can be sent straight to our office via email. If no brands or quantities are specified, everything will be picked according to the list, so make sure to make sure that everything is filled out correctly.
3. Once the quotation is accepted and the payment is made, the list is printed and ready to pack.
4. Then the cat is removed from the workspace. Although our dear mascot would love to help and be involved with the packing process, we are sure many customers would not enjoy paw-prints and cat hair on their products…
5. We hand-pick the supplies from our stock room and double-check that everything is included and neatly packed. With so many orders, this is the step that often takes the longest. The student’s name, grade, and school are printed on a label and stuck onto the pack to ensure that it is received by the correct student at school or delivered to the correct place.
6. Delivery is confirmed!
7. The cat has returned to her spot, ready to shed all over the desk again…
How do we decide what goes in our Back to School packs?
Some teachers specify the exact products that they would prefer the students to have. We always do our best to consider these specifications. We also collaborate with teachers to look at Grade-appropriate supplies that match the level of each Grade, such as maths sets and calculators. This is to ensure that each student has exactly what they need to excel at their studies.
We do our best to test many of the products that we have in stock to provide the best suggestions and brands when specific products are not requested. This year we changed our main brand of colouring pencils in light of a thorough review that looked at both the quality and price of the products that we offer customers. You can find these reviews on our website.
What are some important things to know before Back to School starts?
Since this time of year is particularly busy, both for us and our customers, some things can help ensure that you get your Back to School pack on time.
1. Even if the lists are sent out late, prioritize filling it out and getting it back to us as soon as possible. We complete the packs in the same order that the payments are received, and paying on time can ensure that you will have your pack well before January.
2. You can arrange with us to pay off your pack in instalments before the Back to School rush starts, since the holiday season can be expensive.
3. We do not take any orders by phone call or voice note. This is due to practicality and time constraints on our behalf. The best way to reach us during Back to School is via email or text message.
4. If you have any concerns about the products supplied, have an open conversation with us. We are happy to review any concerns and talk things out. This could help prevent unhappy customers and unhappy students. We are confident in our products and are happy to review any concerns about practicality or quality, especially since we think carefully about each product on the list.
5. Parents can add extra things to the list, like a specific pencil bag, highlighters, or larger sets of coloured pencils. Most kids love receiving new stationery, and we have many personalized stationery options that we are sure they will love.
6. Parents can take things off the list. Certain supplies can be reused for a few years if looked after, such as calculators. Sometimes there are also unused supplies left at the end of the year. This helps reduce the cost of the Back to School pack and reduces waste.
