Community encouraged to shop local for Oklahoma tax free weekend

LAWTON, Okla. (KSWO) – Oklahoma’s tax free weekend is prime time back-to-school shopping for many families.

Almost every clothing item will be exempt from the state tax, with the exception of clothes designed for sports such as cleats and padding. Rental clothing, like tuxes and dresses are also excluded.

Lawton Fort Sill Chamber of Commerce President John Michael Montgomery urges both Lawton and surrounding communities to stay local this weekend with their shopping.

“I think it’s a great weekend for everyone to get out there and shop local,” said Montgomery. “It’s certainly something that’s big for our community. Making sure we keep those dollars invested in our community. It’s a good opportunity for people to get those discounts and sometimes you see those business get into the spirit of things as well.”

This is a big weekend for local business owners as well.

Several stores are running sales to go along with tax free weekend in an effort to push shopping locally.

“On weekends like this, it’s really great for all the local businesses,” stated Affinitee Shirt Co. Owner Katrina Thompson. “We’re here all year round, and for our community to come back and come to us and choose us means so much to us.”

Keeping community dollars in local businesses is a big challenge during tax free weekend. Montgomery asks why people will spend more money by driving further away when they can stay local, saving money and time.

“You know there’s still a lot of diversity in what we offer from a business perspective,” Montgomery explained. “What kind of things you can actually go out and purchase for day to day living, right? It’s kind of one of those things for some of those folks who are just outside the community, you can save your gas dollars from driving down to Texas and all that, you can just come right here for a lot of the same things you’d need.”

Assistant Manager of Affinitee Shirt Co. Heather Jones echoed that statement, adding local businesses provide a style shoppers won’t find anywhere else.

“Our designers, our people put their input into it to make it one of a kind.” Jones vocalized. “You’re not going to see it running around all over the big cities. Even here, you’re not going to see very many people wearing what you have on.”

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