The holiday shopping season usually gets going the Friday after Thanksgiving, but it looks like Louisiana’s may start the Friday before. That’s because we’re getting a sales tax holiday on Nov. 21 and 22. Shoppers won’t have to pay sales tax on the first $2,500 worth of purchases.
House Speaker Clay Schexnayder sponsored the bill to help Louisianans still recovering from the pandemic and Hurricanes Laura and Delta, and while it applies to most retail purchases, the real winner here could be Louisiana’s small businesses.
The pandemic has taken a tremendous toll on all businesses in the state. COVID-19 stopped Louisiana’s economy in its tracks. Social distancing forced businesses to change how they did things. They had to limit the number of people they let in, and they had to add services like curbside pickup. Some shops and restaurants intended to close temporarily but realized they had closed for good.
The sales tax holiday will be followed on Nov. 28 by Small Business Saturday. That event gives owners another chance to reconnect with customers. American Express has created a website where small business owners can create and download customized marketing materials to encourage customers to connect with them in person or online all season long. Click here to learn more.
