The Times and Democrat - Orangeburg stores preparing for busy back-to-school shopping weekend

Orangeburg retailers are mixed in their preparations and expectations for the annual sales tax holiday, with some stores stocking shelves and cutting prices and others treating the weekend without much fanfare.

Roy Chandler, owner of Ferse 5&10, says the sales tax holiday weekend is something “we look forward to,” as sales often spike about 20 percent.

“Customers have already been buying back-to-school,” Chandler said. “In my experience, they start shopping in July. Momma is getting the kids ready for school and they shop early rather than waiting for the last-minute rush.”

The tax-free weekend, which retailers have often compared to the weekend before Christmas and Thanksgiving weekend, kicks off at 12:01 a.m. Friday, Aug. 4, and runs through midnight, Sunday, Aug. 6. During the weekend, the sales tax will be suspended on items ranging from clothes to school supplies.

For Chandler, the tax holiday weekend continues what he says has been a successful 100th anniversary year for the store, with sales consistently up from this same time a year ago.

“Sales have been good,” Chandler said. “We look forward to it.”

Debbie Wiles, sales and purchasing manager at Palmetto Office Supply, said the sales tax holiday weekend has never meant any significant change in store operations or sales increases. The store serves many teachers in the community who tend to shop for school supplies ahead of the tax weekend, Wiles said.

“It has not made a difference for us,” she said. “Teachers say they needed it and they get it. They were not waiting to shop around the (sales tax holiday) weekend.”

While in past years the weekend has had little impact, Wiles said she is taking a “wait and see” attitude about what will happen this year.

“This year might be different, maybe with gas prices,” she said. “I don’t know what to expect.”

At Orangeburg’s Kmart store, officials say operations for the weekend are as usual with no significant sales planned or store hour changes. The store will have more employees on hand to handle the expected increase in store traffic.

Kim Freely, Kmart spokesperson, declined to comment on historical store sale figures during the tax holiday weekend, but said the company is always ready to supply shoppers’ back-to-school sales needs.

At the Sears in the Prince of Orange Mall, shoppers will find apparel markdowns from 30 percent to 75 percent for the weekend, says in-store support lead Charlene Martin.

“We have two exciting new brands in now,” Martin said, referring to the Cheetah brand of clothing for girls and Canyon River clothing for misses.

Hot items also join in with hot temperatures, which Martin says has forced many shoppers to change some of their habits.

“We are noticing a lot of shoppers shopping more in the evening,” she said. The store has seen a steady stream of shoppers over the past few weeks despite the heat and the upcoming tax-free weekend.

“We have not been a loser in anticipation of a tax-free weekend,” he said.

Martin said the store has scheduled additional cashiers and sales associates to handle the expected traffic increase, since the store has traditionally seen sales increase over the weekend.

“We are anticipating a big apparel weekend as the tax weekend is always good for us,” she said.

At the North Road Plaza Goody’s Family Clothing store, customers will have an opportunity to take advantage of sales on back-to-school denim for misses, juniors, kids, women and men.

Store Manager Anthony Rodriguez says he hopes the weekend will help offset decreases the store experienced over the last few days, as many shoppers seem to be waiting to take advantage of the tax breaks.

“You have to hope for the best,” he said, noting the store has seen sales increase during the tax-free weekend in past years. “You don’t hear too many people talking about it and not advertising about it, but it has been great. We have had a great turnout and good customers.”

E-mail this page

Print version

Comments:

Add Your Own Comments »