With the new school year just around the corner, lots of shoppers were ticking off their last-minute back-to-school shopping lists at The Centre, Livingston when our Style Squad team caught up with them to find out all about their visit, with some of them lucky enough to be surprised with a £25 Gift Card to treat themselves. With over 150 fantastic shops and restaurants to choose from including M&S, Primark, schuh and for a re-fuel pitstop, wagamama, Wingstop and Starbucks – it’s the perfect place to stock up on everything from shirts and shoes to pinafores and PE kits.
Whether you’re sending little ones off for their first day at school or gearing up teenagers for another busy term, shopping with a plan can really help you save time. Start with the must-have list – durable and long-lasting uniforms, supportive and comfy school shoes, a sturdy backpack, stationery and lunch essentials – making sure they all stand up to daily wear and tear throughout the school year. Shops like Primark, New Look and H&M have a fantastic range of uniforms, with a great selection of colours and sizes and M&S too for crease-resistant fabrics and stain-resistant finishes on polo shirts and trousers, plus easy and non-iron shirt options.
When it comes to shoes, check out schuh Kids, where you can get their feet measured to ensure they fit perfectly with enough growing room and go back to school with a spring in their step. From lace-ups and loafers to trainers and T-bars, the choice is endless! For all their classroom stationery needs, check out Rymans and Smiggle, whether they need a heavy-duty calculator and technical drawing tools or they want to show off their personality with the bright, bold and scent-infused pencil cases – they’ve got every corner of the backpack covered!
Giving your little ones the chance to pick something fun will make heading back to the classroom even more exciting like a vibrant drink bottle they’ll love using every day, a personalised notebook or a set of colourful highlighters – these little additions can help make kids feel prepared, organised and excited for the year ahead. Also, don’t forget to label everything from water bottles and jumpers to lunch boxes and backpacks – clearly marked belongings are much more likely to make their way home!
First up on our radar to catch up with was dad Sean Riddell from Armadale, who was in M&S, ticking off his back-to-school shopping list with his sons, Evan and Jack. His visit was a complete success, getting everything he needed to make sure the boys are school-ready for the new term ahead. Sean said: “M&S makes it really easy to shop for kids’ schoolwear, which helps when you have to get two boys everything they need for going back after the summer break. Thanks to The Centre, Livingston for the £25 Gift Card which we’ll be using towards the uniforms – which was a really nice surprise.”
It was great to catch up with was dad Stuart Ireland, who was shopping for ‘Back to School’ trainers for his sons in the newly opened JD Sports, which is the largest in Scotland. Sean said: “We love JD Sports and thought it would be the perfect store to pick up new school trainers for the boys and we got exactly what we were looking for. We also nipped into Primark for PE kits, which was great as they were the last thing to get on our checklist. Now it is time to treat them to a well-earned mango fruit cooler at Costa.”
It was great to hear from mum Alison about her recent trip to Iona with her daughter who is also called Iona, and how they lucked out with the weather – but now it’s time to get what they need for going back to school, including the all-important new statement stationery from Smiggle. Alison siad, “We usually wait until after our holidays to get what we need for Iona and today has been a great day, especially picking out some lovely stationery in her favourite shop, Smiggle, including the bag, lunch box and water bottle. Next up is a visit to M&S for her new uniform, and at some point, we’re planning to take some time out to enjoy a bite to eat in Starbucks.”
On the day, we also chatted to staff in schuh Kids who were busy measuring feet to make sure parents get the right sizes for their kids, which is a free service they offer and perfect for making sure you get the exact width and growth space and, importantly, that they are 100% comfortable. Amy said, “It was great to get Rosie’s feet measured in schuh Kids – what a difference a proper fit makes – comfy feet, room to grow, and now she’s ready for the new school year! Next up is New Look to check out the uniforms and then Smiggle for stationery, although we might just be popping into Starbucks in between for a matcha, which Rosie loves.”
Last up for us was a lovely chat with dad Nick Bechelli, who was treating his daughter to a visit to Hotel Chocolate for treats and himself! Nick said: “Today was all about popping into The Centre, Livingston to get my daughter a treat in one of her favourite shops, Hotel Chocolat. We picked up a lovely trio selection, including pistachio-flavoured chocolate, which is one of my favourites.”
Patrick Robbertze, Centre Director at The Centre, Livingston, said: “We’re delighted to offer a brilliant range of Back-to-School retailers at The Centre, Livingston for families to get everything they need, and all under one roof, to ensure their kids are ready and excited for the year ahead. It was great to be able to surprise some lucky visitors with a £25 Gift Card towards their shopping or put it towards a well-deserved treat after completing their checklist.”