Following a six week hiatus away from the classroom for thousands of youngsters, parents are now turning their attention to this week's return to a new school year and expensive new uniforms.
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While the kids have been enjoying the holidays many parents have continued to work leaving little time for kitting up children with new uniforms and equipment.
However, two enterprising, busy working mums have come up with what they believe with a solution for time poor parents and saving dollars on costly uniforms and other educational tools.
Jane Anderson - formerly Fraser from Coolongolook - and Ginny Hopkins have established the School Uniforms Trading.
The resourceful duo came up with the concept after Ginny tried to sell her son's size 11 blazer.
"It was quite expensive, I paid $250 for it; it was still in perfect condition and I wanted some money back," Ginny said.
We know parents are busy, hard working and want more money in their wallet, this is why we are here to help.
- Jane Anderson
The blazer was listed on on-line community classified website, Gumtree without success.
"A school uniform shop wanted to give me a $50 credit to spend in their shop - which was nice - but I wanted the $50 to spend on other things."
"They also wanted it dry-cleaned."
Disappointed with the whole experience she had a chat with Jane - a self-confessed ideas person.
"Ginny, we need somewhere to sell secondhand school uniforms," Jane said to her friend.
And, School Uniform Trading was borne, an on-line trading website enabling parents to list specific uniforms and turn them into cash with the benefit of targeting a specific audience that is safer than social media sites.
"We know parents are busy, hard working and want more money in their wallet, this is why we are here to help," Jane said.
"They spend a lot of their hard earned money on their kids' school uniforms, sports uniforms and equipment, musical instruments, dance wear, the list goes on and on.
"We're not trying to take business away from local businesses, which we support, we're just trying to make these uniform costs more affordable for parents who are struggling at the moment."
Jane said there were many benefits with the one stop school shop, which also listed every Australian school in a directory to enable parents to target their school community and individual needs.
Parents have access to low cost uniforms that improve the image of the school, it encourages recycling, so there is less waste in our landfill, helps parents who are in financial hardship and this provides a platform for parents to recover the cost of expensive items, because kids grow and change their minds, she said.
To learn more about this innovative site, visit the School Uniform Trading website HERE.
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