The summer shopping season is in full swing at Painted Pink in Montgomery.

“When the weather heats up, so does everyone’s event calendars,” said Pat McDonald, who owns the women’s boutique.

This year, Painted Pink celebrates 16 years in business in the Capital City’s Mulberry Business District.

Painted Pink in Montgomery is among the local businesses hoping shoppers will spend some of their sales tax holiday dollars with them as part of their back-to-school shopping this weekend. (Alabama Retail Association)

Between weddings, parties and other festive occasions, McDonald and the “Pink Ladies,” as they’re called, keep the shop open seven days a week to serve their customers.

“It is so much fun to take part in their important life events. We have a great team at Painted Pink, and I enjoy coming to work every day – it is a fun environment,” McDonald said.

Summer savings

For the second year in a row, Alabama will observe its annual Back-to-School Sales Tax Holiday the third weekend in July. The tax holiday is set for Friday, July 20 through Sunday, July 22, and shoppers statewide will have the opportunity to buy certain school supplies, computers, books and clothing free of the state’s 4 percent sales or use tax.

Hundreds of cities and counties also participate, for a savings of up to 10 percent in some areas.

While the holiday was created to help families save money on items their children need for school, clothing stores like Painted Pink also get to extend the savings on qualifying items.

Articles of clothing – like shirts, shorts, pants, dresses and jeans that are priced at $100 or less – are tax free. Some accessories, including backpacks, scarves, shoes, sandals and belts, also qualify.

“Every year, we have a lot of shoppers who come in here that weekend, and don’t realize some of our items are tax free,” McDonald said. “And they’ll say, ‘Oh! I might look around some more.’”

Shop Alabama

In conjunction with the back-to-school and summer shopping season, the Alabama Retail Association encourages shoppers to buy from local and Alabama-based retailers through the #ShopAlabama campaign.

Many items qualify for the tax-free holiday as part of the back-to-school shopping weekend in Alabama. (Getty Images)

Keeping your dollars in your community allows local retailers, like Painted Pink, to reinvest in local causes.

“We are so grateful to the community for the support we get, and we love to give back,” McDonald said. “We support many local organizations by donating for silent auctions. There is so much need – we try to help in whatever way we can.”

To learn more about Alabama’s back-to-school sales tax holiday, visit https://alabamaretail.org/alabamasalestaxholidays.

This story originally appeared in the Alabama Retailer magazine of the Alabama Retail Association.