“Almost every register is open in the front,” said Rigo Garcia, Target store team leader. “We are doing very, very well.”
The newly opened Target was a hot spot for back-to-school shoppers during the tax-free weekend with notebook filler paper and the large bottles of hand sanitizer quickly disappearing from the shelves. Garcia said the store was stocked at 98 percent, thanks to expectations of a busy weekend, and extra employees are on hand to help with customer purchases.
“This weekend (compares) to the grand opening weekend,” Garcia said.
Garcia said sales goals set for Friday were exceeded, and he expected Saturday’s sales to outpace goals by an additional 50 percent.
Some customers who had already stocked up on school supplies came to enjoy the tax break on clothing. Patti Moquin, a Target customer, spent the afternoon shopping for socks, shoes and extra clothing with her twins who are entering the sixth grade.
“We already bought all our school supplies,” Moquin said. “Now we are getting the extra fun stuff.”
At Temple Mall, the parking lot was reaching capacity Saturday afternoon as shoppers crowded the hallways from J.C. Penney’s to Dillard’s to Macy’s in search of great deals.
Mall promotions included a gift-with-purchase deal and a $15 mall gift card for same-day receipts totaling at least $150.
Cash registers were busy at other Temple retail outlets as well.
“We are above expectations compared to last year’s tax-free weekend,” said Johnnie Hahn, storeowner of The Shoebox.
Hahn said Sketcher shoes and Yellow Box sandals were the hot sellers Saturday afternoon for both students and teachers. Small signs posted throughout the store reminded shoppers that shoes under $100 were tax exempt.
Fifteen-year-old Sandra Alvarado, who will be a sophomore at Belton High School this fall, focused on purchasing shirts, capris, pants and accessories.
“I thought we might as well take advantage of the weekend,” Sandra’s mother, Leticia Alvarado said.
The tax holiday, which was originally scheduled for the first weekend of August, was moved back to this weekend by the 80th Legislature to run closer to the start of school.
Shoppers this weekend can save about $8 for every $100 spent on selected merchandise, which includes children’s and adults’ clothing, shoes and backpacks priced less than $100. Backpacks are a new item that the Legislature added to the exempt list thanks to requests from parents.
“Backpacks can be expensive, especially for parents who have to buy them for several children,” Texas Comptroller Susan Combs said. “A tax break helps.”
Parents can continue to purchase backpacks and clothing with a tax break through today.
ccarlisle@temple-telegram.com
