It’s back to school time again, and the state of Mississippi is helping consumers by relieving shoppers of paying taxes on certain items for two days. Kids and grownups alike will be able to find shoes and apparel for a discounted price to last them throughout the year, or at least until recess.

“We’re usually really busy both days,” Fredrick’s Shoe Store owner Norma Massey said. “I think it really helps, and people are getting ready to go back to school.”

Friday and Saturday certain clothing items, shoes and accessories will be free of the 7 percent state sales tax. Those items are under $100 individually can be purchased at their sticker price.

“Children’s stores like The Children’s Place, they may have some uniforms too, and this is a good time for parents to buy school uniforms for their children,” Mani Chanprasith, marketing and special events manager at the Outlets of Vicksburg said.

In years past, store owners and employees have generally seen a difference in traffic on tax-free weekend. Some say it’s the busiest weekend of the year, and they anticipate large crowds this year too.

“Tax free is busier than Black Friday,” Leslie Hankins at Reebok said.

Chanprasith said the Mississippi sales tax holiday is the weekend before Louisiana’s tax holiday, and because of Vicksburg’s close proximity, the outlets get customers from Louisiana who are trying to get a jump on back to school shopping.

Stores around Vicksburg are preparing by extending their hours, having extra employees scheduled to work and implementing their own sales in addition to being tax free.

“More than likely all of our stores who do have eligible items will have extra discounts and sales for that weekend,” Chanprasith said.

The stores at the Outlets at Vicksburg are all opening an hour earlier at 9 a.m. Saturday, but will maintain regular hours on Friday. They will close at 9 p.m. both nights.

“Maybe shoppers want to get in early and beat the heat,” Chanprasith said.

Everything in the Reebok store is currently 40 percent off and employees don’t see that changing any time soon. They have already seen customers buy multiple pairs of shoes and accessories with the total coming out to just over $100. With their shoes and apparel already at outlet prices plus the additional 40 percent off and no taxes charged, the deal will be even sweeter next weekend.

“We always blow it out for back to school,” Hankins said.

Massey said she has extra help coming in to work next weekend, but they are not extending their hours. She is making sure they have a good selection in stock, and the employees can size each child’s foot to find the best fit.

“We actually measure the feet,” she said. “We’ve been here 65 years, so that’s one of the things that’s kept us going is that we do take a personal interest, and we do professionally fit the shoes with measuring, getting the right thing for the child’s foot and make sure they have plenty of growing room.”

Currently, they have some of their children’s clothing items already half-off and some shoes have been marked down to clearance prices. The store also sells backpacks, but they are not tax-exempt.

Fredrick’s is located on the newly re-opened portion of Washington Street that had been closed for water line repairs. Massey is relieved her customers will be able to park in front of the store.