Many parents and children took advantage of the back-to-school Alabama sales tax holiday this past week, and store managers received positive feedback from customers and showed positive sales receipts.

Many parents, like Randi Borrego, waited until the sales tax holiday to buy school supplies, clothing and computers for the new school year which begins for public schools, Thursday, Aug. 10.

Borrego was shopping with her five-year-old son Brock this past weekend.

They were busy purchasing paper and pencils and other assorted school supplies at the Dollar General in Spanish Fort.

“I’m taking advantage of the no tax day,” she said. “This is our first year [to take advantage of the holiday] because Brock is starting kindergarten. We also bought some uniform shirts.”

Keisha Cannon made shopping for shoes a family affair bringing daughters, Georgeanna, Nola and Bella, ages five, three and one respectively, to the Eastern Shore Centre.

Georgeanna was trying on shoes to wear to kindergarten at the Fairhope K-l Center.

“I think it is a great idea, especially when you have multiple children,” Keisha Cannon said. “It adds up.”

California native Debbie Kamp was eagerly taking advantage of the sales tax holiday Sunday afternoon.

“We’re from California and they don’t have this tax free day,” Kamp said. “It helps out your finances, so we are excited about it. Last year, we took advantage of it also.”

Ariana, Kamp’s daughter, will be going entering sixth grade at Spanish Fort Elementary and was buying clothes and organizers for her pencils and pens.

But the item Ariana was most hoping to snag was a photo holder for pictures of her friends to put in her locker.

Many merchants were excited about bringing in more customers which could translated into bigger revenues for their stores.

Aaron Bosarge, assistant manager at American Eagle in Spanish Fort, liked the tax free weekend and thought it helped bring in customers.

“I think it’s good for the community and good for our company with our increase in sales. It provides a nice incentive for people to come shop,” Bosarge said.

A sales associate in Dillard’s shoe department, Nancy Carrigan said she thought a lot of people had been waiting for the sales tax holiday because she spotted several customers coming in the week prior looking at items.

“This fell at a good time because we already have 30 percent off some shoes,” Carrigan said.

Patricia Little, assistant manager of Dollar General said there were some “sales,” in addition to the benefit of a no tax day.

While most customers waited specifically for the holiday, some shoppers, like Bree Williams and Hope Newman, both sophomore college students, were completely unaware of the tax-free holiday. They had decided to go shopping just to look at shoes and were greeted to find the sales.

Even though the tax free day was not the draw for them to shop, they said they would be glad to benefit from it.

Christina Clark, manager at Old Navy in Spanish Fort, said she thought the holiday was a great concept.

“Florida has been doing it for a while,” she said. “It was very well received last year.”

Alabamians saved more than $6 million during the state's first sales tax holiday last year.

"That $6 million stayed in the pockets of parents who work hard to provide for their families," Gov. Riley said in a news release. "When you're raising children, even a little bit of savings can mean a lot."