Many stores and supermarkets have launched promotions at attractive discounts, mostly targeting students. Tran Anh electronics and computer supermarket, for instance, has launched a programme called Greeting new school year, promotions storm with discounts of 5-10 per cent for students buying a second product. Meanwhile, Pico electronics supermarket offers students a discount of 10 per cent on Fridays and issues membership cards which entitle them to a VND500,000 (US$24) gift and free maintenance for two years when buying a laptop, and a 3-per-cent discount on other products. FPT Shop is offering a discount of VND400,000 on purchases on the occasion of the new school year to students who bring their identity cards. A spokesperson for The gioi di dong (Mobile World) Company explained that sales in the second quarter was usually slower than in other quarters. FPT Shop confirmed this, saying the laptop market had been quiet in July and August. But shops and supermarkets expect laptop sales to increase in September and the market to remain strong in the remaining months of the year. Usually, the start of a new school year sees students looking to change or upgrade laptops to serve their study needs. FPT Shop said laptop sales had showed signs of improving since the middle of last month. It forecast sales to increase by around 32 per cent in September month-on-month. Most schools and universities around the country open in the first week of September.