THE stationary shops in all the major markets of the city are expecting good business prospects and a rise in demand for stationery items this year. “With schools and colleges set to open as usual, the demand for stationary items is anticipated to grow by 10 per cent to 20 per cent this year, compared to previous year”, said Arjundas Ahuja, Founder President of Vidarbha Pen and Stationers Association while speaking to The Hitavada. As the schools are scheduled to open for the new academic session from July 1, the traders in stationery business are witnessing heavy demand since May 10, he said. Ahuja further said that another positive factor for the stationery business is that there have been no changes or rises in prices of stationary products this year.

 

It was different last year, there was a steep increase in prices of stationery items by 30 per cent to 50 per cent because of the supply constraints and Russia-Ukraine war. Considering the pick-up in demand and business activity in the market traders have planned in advance and stocked their shops with wide range of products and latest items required by the students. The stationery supplies consists of hundreds of small items including various types of pens and pencils, erasers, scales, geometry boxes, slates, notebooks, refills, chalk, school bags, tiffins, registrars, baskets and office supplies like files, cardboard files, box files, staplers, pins, scissors, cardboards, punch machines among other things, he said. Itwari wholesale market is considered to be one of the main stationery markets in central India which caters to entire Vidarbha and adjoining areas. Also, there are about 40 to 50 stationery wholesalers in the city, he added.