Daisy Williams and her grandmother, Annie Williams, rested in the shade Saturday, shopping bags piled at their heels underneath a table umbrella outside the food court at Tanger Factory Outlet Center.

The Williamses came to Myrtle Beach from Savannah, Ga., on a one-day motor coach trip specifically to take advantage of South Carolina's annual sales tax holiday.

"That's why we came," said Daisy Williams, who bought $100 worth of back-to-school clothing. "We're very satisfied."

Tanger bustled with shoppers poring over clothing at Old Navy, checking out a two-for-$49 jeans sale at Nautica and considering other deals, such as a men's short-sleeved silk shirt, regularly priced $24.99 and on sale for $14.99 at Van Husen Men and Women.

Several Grand Strand beachwear stores advertised the tax holiday on their signs and marquees.

The tax-free weekend was created to give consumers a break on back-to-school purchases, but some retailers, such as Piggly Wiggly, have included other items, such as food.

Last year, consumers saved about $3 million during the tax-free weekend, according to estimates by the state.

State officials have not been able to determine if the weekend also is beneficial for retailers.

But a salesman at the Van Husen store at Tanger said the event had definitely bolstered business.

The school supply section at Target on Seaboard Street in Myrtle Beach was abuzz Saturday afternoon with parents and children stocking up on notebooks, notebook paper, bookbags, pencils, pens and various items.

Jennifer Burke of Pawleys Island said she had done the bulk of her back-to-school shopping already but couldn't resist coming to Target on Saturday, even though "it's only 5 percent," referring to the amount saved.

Burke's daughter Shelby, 9, found a strawberry-decorated, pink lunchbox she wanted.

Burke's son, John Michael, 6, was satisfied with the backpack he had last year.

Shoppers have until 11:59 tonight to take advantage of the tax holiday.

Loading her car Saturday in the Target parking lot, Myrtle Beach resident Catherine Lee said the tax-free weekend didn't motivate her purchases. She bought items that aren't on the exempt list, such as curtain rods and soap, for her new house.

"But," said Lee, who has two children, one in middle school and one in high school, "we'll probably come back out tomorrow."