J.C. Penney Honors Tax-Free Week Just in Time For Back to School

J.C. Penney is one retail chain throughout 18 total states honoring tax-free week this week as parents looks to save money as they prepare for another school year, according to the Herald-Mail.

Company store leader at the Valley Mall in Hagerstown, Md. Brian Paulsen told the Mail, the company is offering more hours on
particular days to market back-to-school tax-free shopping.

"It represents our customers. They like to save," he said.

The week brings in between 30 to 50 percent more profit for the retail chain the Mail reported. The time frame can be economically worthwhile as when customers flock to stores the week before Thanksgiving.

Back-to-school shopping and tax-free week has been known to bring in 40 percent to 50 percent in sales gains Paulsen told the Mail. Seventeen total states, with one researching the popular shopping time, throughout the U.S. are participating in this year's festivities
according to about.com including:

Alabama, Arkansas, Connecticut, Florida, Georgia, Iowa, Louisiana, Maryland, Mississippi, Missouri, New Mexico, North Carolina, Oklahoma,
South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas, Vermont (proposed), and Virginia

In addition to giving shoppers the opportunity to save on taxes, the company showcased sales where shoppers could have $10 taken off of $50 purchases, $15 off $75 purchases, and $20 off $100 purchases the Mail reported.

The combined week also features stores with items tax-free such as Academy Sports and Outdoors which has clothing and backpacks eligible
for the week, but not sports or fishing gear Houston's KTRK-TV reported.

J.C. Penney employee Maribel Jacquez told KTRK other clothing stores such as hers are ready and equipped to help students look good as
school begins.

"We have backpacks, shoes, tops and bottoms for all your boys and girls to be ready in style, she said.