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Date Published: August 8, 2004
Crowds differ on tax-free weekend
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Chris Moore / The Item
Debbie Towery, center, looks for jeans for her sons
Ryan Clark, 13, right, and Brent Towery, 7, on Saturday
afternoon at Belk in Sumter Mall during the tax-free
weekend. |
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By SHARRON HALEY
Item Staff Writer
shaley@theitem.com
With the first day of school in Sumter County more than a
week away, parents weren't flocking to the mall or stores on
Saturday to take advantage of the sales tax-free
weekend.
Saturday afternoon looked like a typical day at the
Sumter Mall. A few of the benches were occupied by weary shoppers
while small groups of shoppers were searching up and down the mall
looking for the best buys.
The largest crowd at the mall
centered around performers from Miss Libby's School of Dance who
were entertaining the shoppers at the centerstage
area.
Robert Bramblett, manager of Belk in the Sumter Mall,
said he believes the novelty of the tax-free weekend has worn off
for parents and shoppers.
"We're not terribly happy with the
turnout," Bramlett said on Saturday afternoon. "We're disappointed
with the crowds. The economy may be a part of it but I just believe
the novelty of the six percent savings has worn
off."
Thomasine Green, manager of Payless Shoe Source in the
Sumter Mall, agrees with Bramlett.
"We're no busier today
than normal," Green said on Saturday afternoon. "Our business has
remained steady with no big increase this weekend."
With
jewelry, furniture and cosmetics excluded from the tax-free weekend,
other stores in the Sumter Mall are cutting prices to compete with
the stores offering the tax-free incentives.
"We're offering
15 percent off on a person's total sales," Eboni Page, sales leader
at Bath and Body Works in the Sumter Mall, said. "Our sale is even
better than the six percent savings other stores are
offering."
Free-standing discount stores like Kmart are
experiencing good sales during the tax-free weekend.
"We're
having an outstanding weekend," Steve Daugherty, assistant manager
of Kmart said on Saturday afternoon. "Our school supplies and our
clothing have sold very well over the last two days."
In
anticipation of the tax-free weekend, Kmart introduced a new line of
clothing targeting school-age children and sales have been very
good, Daugherty said.
"They planned it perfectly for
back-to-school," Daughtery said.
With a focus on school
supplies, Felecia Dunham, 27, was shopping at Kmart for her two
children, Trevon, 4, and Tatianna, 7.
"We do this every
year," Dunham said. "Today, I'm shopping for school supplies and
book bags."
Dunham said the tax-free weekend helps her save a
little money that she can use elsewhere.
"You know, every
little bit helps," she said. "Six percent is better than
nothing."
Debbie Towery was in Belk on Saturday afternoon
shopping for jeans for her two sons, Ryan Clark, 13, and Brent
Towery, 7.
"Today, I'm specifically looking for jeans,"
Towery said. "These boys grow so fast."
After searching
through the table on jeans, Towery said she'll probably take a look
at shoes next.
"We're buying jeans and shoes," she said.
"Every little bit helps with growing boys."
Contact Staff
Writer Sharron Haley at shaley@theitem.com or
803-435-8511.
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August 9, 2004 
