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Retailers gear up for sales tax holiday
School supplies and other items exempt Aug. 305
Sunday, July 29, 2012
By PAUL COLLINS - Bulletin Staff Writer
Officials at several local retailers said they are expecting increased business next weekend during the sales tax holiday on clothing and school supplies.
Susan Wright, an assistant store manager at Kmart on Greensboro Road, said the sales tax holiday “helps a lot” in the sales of clothing and school supplies.
“We are looking forward to the increase in sales,” she said, noting the store will have additional cashiers on duty.
According to the Virginia Department of Taxation, from Aug. 3-5, “purchases of qualifying school supplies selling for $20 or less per item and purchases of qualifying clothing and footwear selling for $100 or less per item will be exempt from sales tax. Retailers may also choose to absorb the tax on other items during the holiday period, but they are responsible for paying the tax on those items to the Department of Taxation.”
Karen Campbell, a supervisor at JC’s 5 Star Outlet at Liberty Fair Mall, said, “We’re usually pretty busy that weekend.” The store mostly experiences additional clothing sales, she said.
The store will have a few extra cashiers on duty next weekend, she added.
“We’re excited we’re offered that weekend as a retailer. It’s usually an exciting time for customers and associates,” she said.
Chanel Jones, manager of Foot Locker at Liberty Fair Mall, said business typically picks up during the sales tax holiday weekend. Shoes and book bags are popular items, she said.
Chris Draper, a manager at Big Lots on Greensboro Road, said the store usually gets a “decent” increase in business, primarily in the sale of school supplies.
Does Family Dollar Store at Cloverleaf Shopping Center do additional business during August sales tax holidays? “Oh yeah, definitely,” said Melanie Koger, assistant manager. “From bookbags to little school snacks, clothes, socks, anything small dealing with school, we do a lot more business.”
Kelly Flippin, store manager at Maurices at Liberty Fair Mall, said she expects increased business during the holiday weekend, but maybe not every day because a lot of people may go to other cities to shop some days. The store will have additional cashiers on duty, and it has “a back-to-school look,” she said.
For more information, go to www.tax.virginia.gov.
