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Shoppers sticking close to home helps boost bottom line
By ALEX WUKMAN
With the annual sales tax weekend of August 15-17 approaching and food and fuel prices continuing to climb many local consumers have kept their shopping closer to home. “Foot traffic has increased as gas prices have gone up,” said Terry Williams, manager of the Cleveland Wal-Mart.
Williams explained that while some stores are waiting two more weeks before they start into their annual tax free weekend sales his store is ahead of the curve. “A lot of the rollbacks have already taken place,” Williams said.
The majority of Williams’ markdowns have been in the back to school area. “We’ve got one notebook that’s marked down to a nickel. As soon as we get them in stock they sell out,” he said.
Williams also explained that he and other retailers are participating in a school supply donation program. “We are working on putting together a back to school drive that will run for three weeks,” he said.
Another retailer that is participating in a back to school program is the Cleveland Palais Royal. “We’re doing a back to school drive August 13-18 with a fashion show on August 16 with make up makeovers from noon to four,” said Tammy Jones manger of Palais Royal.
Jones explained that the current economic slowdown has hurt her store. “Our sales are down a little and it’s taking us longer to do a markdown,” she said.
She explained that Palais Royal requires retailers to reach target sales figures before they decrease prices. Jones attributes the length of time before a markdown to consumer wariness.
“People are shopping later,” she said as a way of explaining how customers seem to be waiting to make their purchases. Part of what many are waiting for is the State of Texas’ annual sales tax weekend and the expanded list of what items.
The list, which is available from the Texas Comptroller’s Office at http://www.window.state.tx.us/ or by calling 1-800-252-5555, lists dozens of items that qualify for the sales tax exemption. Some of the items listed include baby clothes; backpacks for use by elementary and secondary students; belts with attached buckles; cowboy and hiking boots as well as baseball, fishing, golf and knitted hats and caps.
The Comptroller’s office defines a backpack as “a pack with straps one wears on the back.” The sales tax exemption does not extend to framed backpacks.
The website also states that “the exemption during the sales tax holiday includes backpacks with wheels, provided they can also be worn on the back like a traditional backpack, and messenger bags.”
However purses, briefcases, laptop bags, suitcases, athletic, duffle and gym bags are not covered; neither are many things that parents and students feel are a necessity. Things like soccer cleats and bicycle helmets are taxable while items that the Comptroller’s office describes as “Children’s novelty costumes” and “vests, hunting” are tax exempt
tax free weekend items
The Texas Comptroller’s Office released the complete list of all the items that will be exempt from sales tax during the weekend of August 15-17. For a complete list go to www.window.state.tx.us and click on the Sales Tax Holiday Link or call 1-800-252-5555
Tax Exempt items include
Baby clothes
Backpacks for use by elementary and secondary students
Belts with attached buckles
Boots - cowboy, hiking
Caps/hats - baseball, fishing, golf, knitted
Coats and wraps
Diapers - adult and baby
Dresses
Gloves (generally)
Gym suits and uniforms
Hooded shirts and hooded sweatshirts
Hosiery
Jackets
Jeans
Jerseys - baseball and football
Jogging apparel
Neckwear and ties
Pajamas
Pants and trousers
Raincoats and ponchos
Robes
Shirts
Shoes - sandals, slippers, sneakers, tennis, walking
Socks (including athletic)
Shorts
Suits, slacks, and jackets
Sweatshirts
Sweat suits
Sweaters
Swimsuits
Underclothes
Work clothes and uniforms
Non-tax exempt items include
Accessories (generally) - barrettes, elastic ponytail holders, wallets, watches
Backpacks - unless for use by elementary and secondary students
Baseball cleats and pants
Belt buckles (without belt)
Boots - climbing, fishing, rubber work boots, ski, waders
Buttons and zippers
Cloth and lace, knitting yarns, and other fabrics
Dry cleaning services
Football pants
Golf gloves
Handbags and purses
Handkerchiefs
Hard hats
Helmets - bike, baseball, football, hockey, motorcycle, sports
Ice skates
Jewelry
Laundering services
Leather goods - except belts with buckles and wearing apparel
Pads - football, hockey, soccer, elbow, knee, shoulder
Personal flotation devices
Rented clothing (including uniforms, formal wear, and costumes)
Roller blades and skates
Safety clothing, glasses
Shoes - bicycle (cleated), bowling, golf
Williams explained that while some stores are waiting two more weeks before they start into their annual tax free weekend sales his store is ahead of the curve. “A lot of the rollbacks have already taken place,” Williams said.
The majority of Williams’ markdowns have been in the back to school area. “We’ve got one notebook that’s marked down to a nickel. As soon as we get them in stock they sell out,” he said.
Williams also explained that he and other retailers are participating in a school supply donation program. “We are working on putting together a back to school drive that will run for three weeks,” he said.
Another retailer that is participating in a back to school program is the Cleveland Palais Royal. “We’re doing a back to school drive August 13-18 with a fashion show on August 16 with make up makeovers from noon to four,” said Tammy Jones manger of Palais Royal.
Jones explained that the current economic slowdown has hurt her store. “Our sales are down a little and it’s taking us longer to do a markdown,” she said.
She explained that Palais Royal requires retailers to reach target sales figures before they decrease prices. Jones attributes the length of time before a markdown to consumer wariness.
“People are shopping later,” she said as a way of explaining how customers seem to be waiting to make their purchases. Part of what many are waiting for is the State of Texas’ annual sales tax weekend and the expanded list of what items.
The list, which is available from the Texas Comptroller’s Office at http://www.window.state.tx.us/ or by calling 1-800-252-5555, lists dozens of items that qualify for the sales tax exemption. Some of the items listed include baby clothes; backpacks for use by elementary and secondary students; belts with attached buckles; cowboy and hiking boots as well as baseball, fishing, golf and knitted hats and caps.
The Comptroller’s office defines a backpack as “a pack with straps one wears on the back.” The sales tax exemption does not extend to framed backpacks.
The website also states that “the exemption during the sales tax holiday includes backpacks with wheels, provided they can also be worn on the back like a traditional backpack, and messenger bags.”
However purses, briefcases, laptop bags, suitcases, athletic, duffle and gym bags are not covered; neither are many things that parents and students feel are a necessity. Things like soccer cleats and bicycle helmets are taxable while items that the Comptroller’s office describes as “Children’s novelty costumes” and “vests, hunting” are tax exempt
tax free weekend items
The Texas Comptroller’s Office released the complete list of all the items that will be exempt from sales tax during the weekend of August 15-17. For a complete list go to www.window.state.tx.us and click on the Sales Tax Holiday Link or call 1-800-252-5555
Tax Exempt items include
Baby clothes
Backpacks for use by elementary and secondary students
Belts with attached buckles
Boots - cowboy, hiking
Caps/hats - baseball, fishing, golf, knitted
Coats and wraps
Diapers - adult and baby
Dresses
Gloves (generally)
Gym suits and uniforms
Hooded shirts and hooded sweatshirts
Hosiery
Jackets
Jeans
Jerseys - baseball and football
Jogging apparel
Neckwear and ties
Pajamas
Pants and trousers
Raincoats and ponchos
Robes
Shirts
Shoes - sandals, slippers, sneakers, tennis, walking
Socks (including athletic)
Shorts
Suits, slacks, and jackets
Sweatshirts
Sweat suits
Sweaters
Swimsuits
Underclothes
Work clothes and uniforms
Non-tax exempt items include
Accessories (generally) - barrettes, elastic ponytail holders, wallets, watches
Backpacks - unless for use by elementary and secondary students
Baseball cleats and pants
Belt buckles (without belt)
Boots - climbing, fishing, rubber work boots, ski, waders
Buttons and zippers
Cloth and lace, knitting yarns, and other fabrics
Dry cleaning services
Football pants
Golf gloves
Handbags and purses
Handkerchiefs
Hard hats
Helmets - bike, baseball, football, hockey, motorcycle, sports
Ice skates
Jewelry
Laundering services
Leather goods - except belts with buckles and wearing apparel
Pads - football, hockey, soccer, elbow, knee, shoulder
Personal flotation devices
Rented clothing (including uniforms, formal wear, and costumes)
Roller blades and skates
Safety clothing, glasses
Shoes - bicycle (cleated), bowling, golf
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