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Article published Aug 2, 2003
Tax break lures shoppers
out
Amanda
Ridley
Business Writer
Butch and Starr Seay planned for
this weekend's sales tax holiday for several weeks.
This is the second time
in four years the Spartanburg couple have taken advantage of the state's annual
three-day tax break -- which began at 12:01 a.m. Friday and continues through
midnight Sunday.
They started at the east side's new Wal-Mart Supercenter,
along with many others who were looking to save the 5 percent tax on purchases
such as clothes, shoes and school supplies.
"I knew there would be a lot of
people," Starr Seay said. "I knew I wouldn't get through the aisles
easily."
But the mother of four said it was worth battling the crowd to save
a little money.
"I'm also buying extra stuff for the year because I can get
it all cheaper if I buy it now," she said.
The Seays also waited to buy a new
computer for their son, who is about to head off to college.
"We waited for
months to buy that computer," she said. "And we saved $53 by waiting."
Claire
Ford of Spartanburg wished she had waited a little longer.
Ford, who was
buying school supplies for her two daughters, said she didn't expect so many
people to be in Wal-Mart on a Friday afternoon.
"It really isn't worth it
when all you're saving is the taxes," she said.
The average family with
school-aged children in the South will spend $467.93 on back-to-school items
including clothing and supplies this year, according to the National Retail
Federation. That's the highest in the nation.
But Ford said she expects to
spend about $150 in school supplies before the school year begins.
The rest,
she said, can wait until things are a little less hectic.
"I'm not going to
even worry about clothes this weekend," she said. "That can wait a little
longer."
Things were just as busy across town at WestGate Mall.
Lynn
Kimbrell and her daughter shopped for back-to-school clothes and outfits to wear
to a wedding.
"We thought we'd go ahead and buy what we needed while we could
save a little money," said Kimbrell, who lives in Pacolet.
Ron Thomas,
WestGate's general manager, said there were more customers at the mall Friday
than there were this time last year -- when South Carolina shoppers saved more
than $3 million is sales tax exemptions.
Thomas said that while day started
off slowly, more people began showing up around lunchtime.
Kimbrell said she
was surprised to see so many people in the mall.
"We had the day off so we
decided to come out," she said. "I didn't think so many people would be here on
Friday."
Carol Turner of Gaffney started her day by shopping at Old Navy at
WestGate Crossing.
Turner, who was shopping for her three sons ages 7 to 17,
was pushing a cart filled with jeans and T-shirts.
And she wasn't done
shopping.
"When you're buying a lot, it helps to save a little," she
said.
Old Navy store manager Steve Spurling said things were slow when the
doors opened at 9 a.m., but the store filled up more around 11.
He said he
expects more people to shop over the next few weekends as the first day of
school draws closer.
"Most schools are starting a week later," he said.
"That's really causing some people to hold off."
Gina Ballew of Campobello
said she wanted to shop this weekend not only for the tax break, but also for
the additional sales.
By Friday afternoon, Ballew and her three daughters had
already been to Goody's and Target.
"I've saved a little," said Ballew, who
said she planned to hit several stores before the end of the weekend.
"I hope
to find some good deals."
Amanda Ridley can be reached at
562-7270.