By SUZANNE STONE
Aiken bargain hunters got their shop on Friday with the opening of the annual South Carolina tax-free weekend.
Shoppers were able to choose from a list of items approved for tax-free sales by the S.C. Department of Revenue, including clothing, shoes, school supplies,computers, dorm furnishings and more.
The tax-free weekend began at one minute past midnight Friday, and will conclude at midnight on Sunday.
"We're doing our back-to-school shopping, for one elementary school student and two in college," said Bette Ross, a local shopper. "We waited for tax-free weekend for the bargains, and because we didn't want the summer to be over. I think it makes a difference; we're thinking of buying a laptop today, so it will make a big difference there."
Traffic was steady throughout the day at Staples on Whiskey Road, according to store manager Brian Prinz.
"This is our busiest time, besides Black Friday," Prinz said. "We're selling a little of everything, but we're seeing a spike in electronics sales - computers and tablets. Surprisingly, e-readers are not tax-free. We have the supply lists from all the schools, and a lot of families wait until this weekend to get everything."
Sears in Aiken Mall did a brisk business in apparel sales Friday, according to store manager Alan Glover, and shoppers were also helped by additional savings opportunities.
"In our store it's been mostly clothing and getting ready for back-to-school items. We've seen them shopping for all age groups, for teens and for little ones," Glover said. "Our customer appreciation sale is going to run through the whole tax-free event, and we have free layaway going right now, that's also helpful."
Sears increased the sales staff on the store floor and in the back room working the merchandise stock for the tax-free weekend, as did Target on Whiskey Road. "Our sales started out slow; we expected a rush when we opened that we didn't get," said Tiffany Holloway, Target Guest Services team leader. "It started to pick up around lunch, and I suspect tonight and Saturday morning will turn out to be our busiest times. It's usually a pretty good sales weekend for us, and probably for every other department store out there."
A complete list of tax-exempt and non-exempt items is available online at www.sctax.org.![]()
Aiken bargain hunters got their shop on Friday with the opening of the annual South Carolina tax-free weekend.
Shoppers were able to choose from a list of items approved for tax-free sales by the S.C. Department of Revenue, including clothing, shoes, school supplies,computers, dorm furnishings and more.
The tax-free weekend began at one minute past midnight Friday, and will conclude at midnight on Sunday.
"We're doing our back-to-school shopping, for one elementary school student and two in college," said Bette Ross, a local shopper. "We waited for tax-free weekend for the bargains, and because we didn't want the summer to be over. I think it makes a difference; we're thinking of buying a laptop today, so it will make a big difference there."
Traffic was steady throughout the day at Staples on Whiskey Road, according to store manager Brian Prinz.
"This is our busiest time, besides Black Friday," Prinz said. "We're selling a little of everything, but we're seeing a spike in electronics sales - computers and tablets. Surprisingly, e-readers are not tax-free. We have the supply lists from all the schools, and a lot of families wait until this weekend to get everything."
Sears in Aiken Mall did a brisk business in apparel sales Friday, according to store manager Alan Glover, and shoppers were also helped by additional savings opportunities.
"In our store it's been mostly clothing and getting ready for back-to-school items. We've seen them shopping for all age groups, for teens and for little ones," Glover said. "Our customer appreciation sale is going to run through the whole tax-free event, and we have free layaway going right now, that's also helpful."
Sears increased the sales staff on the store floor and in the back room working the merchandise stock for the tax-free weekend, as did Target on Whiskey Road. "Our sales started out slow; we expected a rush when we opened that we didn't get," said Tiffany Holloway, Target Guest Services team leader. "It started to pick up around lunch, and I suspect tonight and Saturday morning will turn out to be our busiest times. It's usually a pretty good sales weekend for us, and probably for every other department store out there."
A complete list of tax-exempt and non-exempt items is available online at www.sctax.org.