It was a madhouse, but everyone was all smiles Saturday, when budget-conscious shoppers packed the aisles of Columbus stores for the third annual state sales tax holiday.
And what were most people buying at Reed”s Department Store in Columbus? TOMS, TOMS, and more TOMS.
The lightweight canvas shoes, which average $44 to $69 a pair, are a hot item right now, according to Reed”s department store manager Babsi Edwards, and the pint-sized version — Tiny TOMS — have proven to be a big hit also since their arrival in March.
Reed”s clerk Cynthia Jeona said the store had been “slammed” all weekend, with customer traffic nearly double the norm thanks to the sales tax holiday and Reed”s owner Lex Jackson”s decision to make everything in the store sales tax free Friday and Saturday.
At most stores, only specific clothing and footwear was exempt.
“People have been coming in and going straight to the TOMS, five and 10 people at a time,” Jeona said Saturday afternoon.
Edwards estimated sales for the shoe department tripled over the 48-hour tax holiday. Though she normally only staffs two employees on Saturdays, this weekend she had four workers on the floor, and at one point, even that wasn”t enough.
“About 30 minutes ago, I had to scream and get somebody from shoes and somebody from the front to help,” Edwards said. “But I love my job. It”s part of the thrill for me.”
Lora Blair, of Caledonia, was just one of the customers who was lured to the shoe aisle by the promise of a bargain. As her daughters, Ashley and Allison, mulled their choices, Blair said she expects to spend between $400 to $500 on school clothes this year.
“It adds up,” Blair said. “Every little bit helps.”
On Main Street, Fashion Barn owner Homer Beaty saw brisk sales as well. In addition to waiving the seven percent sales tax, Beaty knocked off an additional 14 percent and offered numerous items on clearance.
He said the Miss Me jeans, which can cost as much as $98 a pair, were extremely popular.
“Everybody loves those jeans, and they never go on sale,” Beaty said. “We had a great weekend. A lot of people were excited.”
Beaty said he even had some customers from Alabama who came over to shop on Saturday.
No doubt, Alabama stores will also see some Mississippi shoppers Aug. 5-7, when the state holds its annual sales tax holiday. Unlike Mississippi, tax exempt items in Alabama will include select school supplies, clothing, and computers.
Carmen K. Sisson is the former news editor at The Dispatch.
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