Businesses to offer 'Tax Day Relief' this weekend

To help entice shoppers to buy locally and to possibly help provide relief during tax season, the Fort Scott Area Chamber of Commerce has organized a "Tax Day Relief Promotion" this weekend.

Fifteen local retailers and restaurants will pay the tax for their customers during the promotion, which runs from Friday through Monday. Patrons of participating businesses will receive a discount on all purchases equal to 8.8 percent - which is the local sales tax rate in Fort Scott.

FSACC Executive Director Lindsay Madison said the discount will apply on all purchases up to $500 but does not apply to items already discounted in various businesses.

Madison said the idea for the promotion came about during an April 2 meet-and-greet among business owners in the downtown area who wanted to offer a promotion similar to one offered by businesses last summer.

Madison said last year's promotion was considered a success, with many retailers reporting they gained extra business throughout the weekend.

"They said they definitely want to do that again," she said.

The chamber organized a "We Pay the Tax Promotion" last summer that included an 8.8 percent discount on all purchases up to $300. Madison said the chamber plans to organize another "Back to School" promotion this year and it will take place the first weekend in August. It is designed to entice shoppers to stay local since other states have a sales tax holiday that weekend.

"They (business owners) said a lot of customers were talking about it," she said.

Local retailers approached the chamber last year about conducting the promotion.

A news release from the chamber said whether residents need retail therapy from "tax day depression" or they are celebrating a big refund, they can visit local merchants this weekend to get their "fix."

Participating businesses include many chamber members in the downtown area and some in other parts of town.

Barbara Trimbur, owner of Iron Star Antiques and Such, said her business regularly participates in the promotions in hopes of drawing in some new customers, and also because several other businesses participate.

"Hopefully, people who don't come downtown will come down and see what they've been missing," Trimbur said. "I think it (last year) was successful. It did bring in some people that hadn't been in before ... people visiting our town."

Trimbur said she offers the store's regular customers the opportunity to take advantage of a 10 percent discount. New customers in the store this weekend will still get the 8.8 percent discount.

"This promotion is aimed at new people in the store and visitors to the town," she said.

During last summer's promotion, Trimbur said business at the store on Saturday during the promotion was "probably up 20 percent from a general Saturday's business." She said Saturdays are typically the store's busiest days of the year.

"Every little bit counts," she said.

Madison said any business that is a chamber member may still participate in the promotion by contacting the chamber office.

Other businesses that plan to participate include Bids & Dibs, Inc., Common Ground Coffee Co., Country Cupboard, Everything Pets, Flowers by Leanna, J & W Sports Shop, life+style, Main Street Gallery & Gifts, Miss Jamie's Sweet Treats & More, Radio Shack, Ruddick's Furniture, Shirt Shack, Sunshine Boutique, and the Vintage Junk Trunk.

For more information, contact the chamber at (620) 223-3566, or visit www.fortscott.com.