NORTHAMPTON — A light bulb went off in Josh Levin’s head as he walked into Silverscape Design on Saturday afternoon.
He came into the artisan jewelry store with plans to get a few items repaired, but a brightly colored sign at the entrance of the building informed him that tax-free weekend would land him a deal for a precious bit of silver.
“There is truly never a good time to make a big, personal capital expense,” said Levin, a Holyoke resident. “Realistically, there is always things in our lives that you want to save up for so I am hoping to make a purchase today.”
On the corner of King and Main streets in Northampton, the handmade jewelry store is a converted bank with Victorian architecture from the 1800s, which also carries paintings and woodwork from local artists and artisans.
Looking through glass countertops down into glistening bands of gold and diamonds, Levin found the perfect gift for a loved one. He intends to surprise them in the coming weeks with a sterling gem.
“I didn’t even know it was tax-free weekend,” he said. “The fact that this is tax free is a super bonus.”
After a two-year hiatus, the tax-free weekend was reinstated as part of a legislative package signed into law by Gov. Charlie Baker at the end of July. Items under $2,500 were not subject to the state’s 6.25 percent sales tax, creating a buzz among shoppers on Saturday and Sunday.
The legislation included a hike in the minimum wage to $15 over the next five years as well as new paid family and medical leave programs.
Some items such as cars, boats, tobacco, electricity, gas and artworks were not included in the tax holiday. It also applied to all online purchases made on Saturday and Sunday regardless off when the product is delivered.
Over at Fly By Night on State Street, a Northampton resident who has spent the past few months remodeling her condominium said she is taking advantage of as many sales as possible.
“I have been working on replacing some furniture and I thought this weekend I’d make some moves,” Debra J’Anthony said.
The store bustled with eager shoppers eyeing a variety of furniture such as red leather chairs, plush comforters and cushy sofas.
“Today I replaced a futon mattress and cover and I am very excited,” J’Anthony said with a laugh. Next on her tour of retail shops was Yes Computers on Pleasant Street where she hoped to find a Bluetooth speaker.
Paul Szumski, Fly By Night’s manager, had a busy day. Sofas, mattresses, and upholstery were among the most popular items, and he said the store does nearly 20 to 30 percent of its business for the year over the weekend.
“Business is certainly good… we are bringing back in sales people who used to work here,” Szumski said, due to high demand of the weekend.
Tax-free weekend meant an uptick in business for Sam’s Outdoor Outfitters on Route 9 in Hadley as well.
Assistant store manager Chris Murray said many of his customers will save up for the weekend to pick up high-end car racks, kayaks and quality boots. He recalled a tax-free weekend a few years ago when the store sold at least 15 kayaks over two days, which could take a few weeks under normal circumstances.
“I’d say it’s a big jump in sales, we’ll usually do a lot better on just that one weekend,” Murray said. “You get the backpackers coming in and picking up equipment. Everybody (in the store) is happy when it’s busy, it’s been a very good day.”
Seth Clark, who works in a bank just down the road, decided to stop by Sam’s after work and walked out smiling with his new pair of Chippewa boots. He lives on a farm in Westhampton and he was in need of a pair of a sturdy pair of work boots.
“I just thought it was good timing (for tax-free weekend),” Clark said. “I do a lot of outdoor work in the fall and everything just seemed to line up correctly.”
Luis Fieldman can be reached at lfieldman@gazettenet.com