Stationers

Torre del Mar has two stationers, one of them a bookshop as well, covering school and office supplies, textbooks, photocopying and the press.

September runs the trade

The Spanish school year starts in September and the lista, the class supply list, is handed out by each school. That list is what everyone brings to the counter in the first fortnight, and it is why the shops are full at that point and quiet the rest of the year.

Wait for the list before buying anything

Textbooks and notebook formats are specified by the school, sometimes down to the edition. Buying ahead of the list usually means buying the wrong thing. What they do not have they will normally order within a few days, so bring the list in early rather than shopping blind.

They also do the paperwork jobs

Photocopies, scanning, laminating and passport photographs are counter services here, which matters because most Spanish administrative procedures still want a paper copy of something.