It’s the day many shoppers wait for all year — tax-free weekend — and it’s here.
On Saturday and Sunday, not only will the state waive the 6.25 percent state sales tax on most items costing less than $2,500, but businesses will offer sales at the same time. The state holds the event in August, traditionally one of the slower retail months of the year.
Kate Finn, co-owner of Andy’s and the Oak Shoppe and Homespun by Andy’s on Deerfield Street in Greenfield, said the store will be offering 10 percent off, along with waiving the state sales tax.
“This is our best sale of the year,” Finn said. “We do about 25 percent of our annual business on this weekend.”
Finn said she expects, like years past, the store will be “mobbed.”
“There are often lines out the door,” she said.
Finn said she has no doubt that some people wait to buy their items from Andy’s on tax-free weekend. For those who don’t want to or can’t wait, Andy’s runs a pre-tax-free holiday sale so they can get their items earlier, she said.
Finn said Andy’s will be open extended hours this weekend: Friday and Saturday from 9:30 a.m. to 7 p.m. and Sunday from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. She said items cannot be picked up until Saturday, though, because sales can’t be finalized until the weekend — the sales tax automatically comes off starting Saturday. She said Andy’s will deliver, but not until next week.
“We can’t deliver this weekend, because it will just be too busy,” Finn said.
She said the biggest sellers on tax-free weekend are living room sets, dining room sets, and this year she expects sheds to be big.
“Sheds are new to us,” she said. “We have some under $2,500, so we expect people will want to get them and save on the tax.”
Finn said she’s looking forward to the weekend.
“It’s fun,” she said. “Everyone’s happy, in good moods. It’s definitely a blast to work.
Manny’s TV & Appliance manager Randall Latham said, “We like people coming in ahead of time, because it can make for a better shopping experience. We’re extremely busy for those two days. There was one year when people had to wait on the street for a parking space.”
Latham said the earlier people make their purchases — the sales will go through on the weekend, but can be made now — the better chance they’ll have of getting delivery when they want it.
“We’ll have six crews out delivering starting next week,” he said. “We can’t deliver anything until after the weekend, but those who wait until later on Sunday to come in will probably have to wait a week to 10 days for delivery.”
Latham said tax-free weekend has always been a success for Manny’s, but has mellowed a little over the years — he thinks because businesses offer such good sales ahead of the weekend.
He said washers and dryers seem to be the most popular on tax-free weekend. Next is refrigerators, stoves and dishwashers. Manny’s at 51 River St. in Greenfield will be open Saturday from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. and Sunday from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.
Tax-free weekend is for individuals who purchase retail items for personal use only, not corporations, businesses or individuals buying for a business. The tax exemption does not apply to meals, motor vehicles, motorboats, telecommunications services, gas, electricity, tobacco products, marijuana and marijuana products, alcohol and anything priced higher than $2,500. There was a question about whether the meals tax would be waived this year during the tax-free weekend, but the state has confirmed it will not — diners will still have to pay the state and local tax on meals. Layaway sales also are not eligible.
Dale Whitney, owner of Whitney Hill Antiques at 122 Main St. in Greenfield, said tax-free weekend is huge for her store.
“It’s been huge ever since I opened more than a decade ago,” Whitney said. “I think this is really good for Greenfield now that it has become a destination. We get a lot of business from people who are from out of town and out of state. Business is increasing in Greenfield and this just helps.”
Whitney said Whitney Hill Antiques will be open from 10 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. on Saturday and Sunday.
Whitney said about 10 percent of her annual business is done on tax-free weekend.
“We also hold super sales and raffles, and just do a lot to entice people to come in,” she said. “Many people start scoping out items up to a month ahead. Sometimes that works and sometimes not, because we have a very quick turnover with a lot of items.”
Whitney said it’s not just one or two types of items that are most popular on tax-free weekend, because there’s such a variety, so it’s difficult for dealers to anticipate what buyers will want. She said there is space currently available for a few more vendors, so they should check it out.
“We have college students looking for small tables and families changing rooms around because their college student is leaving, so they’re looking for furniture and other items to decorate,” she said. “People are typically, at this time of year, looking for new art as the season changes. Some are just looking to update their homes.”
Reach Anita Fritz at 413-772-0261, ext. 269 or afritz@recorder.com.