Christian retailers did not see a bump in business from the back-to-school sales tax holiday. Several retailers told Christian Retailing that business declined compared to the same period from last year's holiday, despite customers not having to pay sales tax on school-related purchases.

"We were down this year from last year's holiday by 8%," said Danny Vera, owner of Christ Centered Life Store in Fort Myers, Fla. "Our sales, though, were up from previous summer weekends by 20%."

Along with Florida, Alabama, Arkansas, Iowa, Louisiana, Missouri, New Mexico, North Carolina, South Carolina, Oklahoma, Tennessee and Virginia held tax holidays during the Aug. 3-4 weekend, according to the Federation of Tax Administrators.

"I was glad our sales were up from previous weekends," said Vera, noting that he downsized his store by 30% last September. "It is hard to say that I am disappointed. It is hard to compare year-to-year with a smaller store and less inventory."

Christ Centered didn't charge sales tax on T-shirts, caps, belts, ties, scarves, purses, wraps, school supplies and computer accessories during the holiday. T-shirts sold well during that period.

"It seems that some young people want to make a statement at their schools," Vera said.

DeLayna Wilkerson, owner of The Salt Cellar in Lawton, Okla., said her store's sales were "actually down" in apparel from last year's tax holiday.

"I am not sure why, but I do know that more people in the area have been watching what they spend," she said. "I know if we had a larger selection of apparel, we would have probably had a better outcome. But our year as a whole has been down, and it's hard to supply products when you have to spread funding throughout the entire store."

Chuck Wallington, owner of Christian Supply in Spartanburg, S.C., said there was "no measurable difference" in terms of sales during the tax holiday.

"The sales tax holiday seemed to make a difference the first year or two, four to five years back, but it really doesn't affect us much anymore," he said.

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