GREENFIELD — There’s no tax-free weekend this year, but you wouldn’t know it by looking at upcoming sales advertised by local businesses.
Since 2009, the state has canceled its 6.25 percent sales tax for one weekend in August. This year, however, lawmakers put an end to the ritual spending event, citing budget concerns.
Reactions from local business owners to the news covers the gamut — ranging from concern to indifference.
At Andy’s Furniture on Deerfield Street, representatives have expressed disappointment about the lawmakers’ decision.
Kate Finn, co-owner of the local business, said for years, the store benefited from the tax holiday during an otherwise slow business season.
“It encourages customers to shop locally and keeps the money in our town,” she said about the tax holiday. To make up for the loss, the furniture store has been running a 16.25 percent off sale to make up for the loss since late July — and will continue through the weekend.
“The influx of sales during the two-day holiday are immense and make an impact on our economic survival,” Finn continued. “The months leading up to August are slower and having the holiday gives us a big boost.”
The business is one of many in the Pioneer Valley running their own sales in lieu of the canceled annual tax freeze, both to satisfy customers’ expectations and to make up for lost projected income.
Kerry Semaski, owner of Cleary Jewelers on Main Street, is another business owner who said she’s disappointed to see the holiday disappear.
“The tax-free weekend is usually a shot in the arm to help small businesses get over the summer hump,” Semaski commented. “It’s unfortunate that the state decided not to hold it.”
To make up for a lower-than-usual amount of pre-orders this year, the jewelry store is holding a 6.25 percent sale with an additional 15 percent off today.
Across town at Manny’s TV and Appliance on River Street, Susan Deangelis, a sales representative from the appliance store, said they’ve changed their business strategy as well.
“We expected a tax-free weekend,” she said, adding that although the store doesn’t have the usual amount of preorders, she doesn’t expect sales to decrease substantially.
“We just don’t have it all congested in those few days,” Deangelis continued. The Manny’s store is also running a storewide sale to replace the canceled holiday.
Addressing the concerns shared by the business community, Caitlin Von Schmidt, coordinator at the Greenfield Business Association, said that she doesn’t expect the region to take much of a financial hit.
“I’d be surprised to hear that it had a big effect on Greenfield businesses,” Von Schmidt said Wednesday. In the past, she said, many residents have used the holiday to buy big purchase items that they would have bought at another time of the year.
Bob Perry, owner of locally based Bicycles Unlimited, said he doesn’t expect to see much of a change in the long run, either.
“You’re robbing Peter and paying Paul,” he said about the distribution of money and taxes in light of the cancelled holiday. “A lot of people think they’re saving, but they’re really not.”
Sans-holiday this weekend, the bicycle store has marked down all of last year’s models up to 30 percent.
Other local stores running sales through the weekend include Tractor Supply Co., which has cut 6.25 percent in all of its 16 Massachusetts-based stores; Sleepy’s Mattress in Greenfield has sales advertised in The Recorder; and Wilson’s department store on Main Street is also offering a 6.25 percent discount today.