Her family always waits until the long shopping

George and Tasha Willson have a family tradition on the first weekend of August — they go shopping.

The Broken Arrow family is among thousands of Oklahomans who are expected to crowd retail stores and shopping malls during the state's three-day back-to-school sales tax holiday that kicks off Friday.

Tasha Willson said Thursday her family always waits until the long shopping weekend to buy new clothes and shoes for their three children, ages 13, 10 and 5. The reason, she said, is simple.

"Saves money. Three children. You've got to save money somewhere," she said.

The sales tax holiday has been in effect since 2007 and is similar to events in 17 other states, including Texas, Arkansas and Missouri, according to the Federation of Tax Administrators in Washington, D.C.

Paula Ross, a spokeswoman for the Oklahoma Tax Commission, said Oklahomans saved almost $7 million in sales taxes during last year's holiday weekend.

In Oklahoma, any article of clothing or footwear priced less than $100 is exempt from state and local sales taxes, a tax break the Willsons said could save them as much as $40 on back-to-school purchases.

Tasha Willson estimated her family will spend up to $500 on school apparel over the weekend. Her husband said they'll likely save in other ways as well, as retailers mark down prices on summer apparel and introduce their fall lines with deep discounts.

"They always have sales," he said.

The sales tax holiday begins at one minute after midnight Friday and ends at midnight Sunday.

Oklahoma excludes school supplies, computers and other products from the tax exemption. Matt Robison, director of Oklahoma Retail Council, said he'd like to see it go further.

"The state chamber and the retail council supports expanding this," Robison said. State lawmakers have been reluctant because of the loss of revenue expanding the tax break would cause in a sluggish economy, he said.

Oklahoma retailers say the event traditionally has been a boon to their bottom line.

"We definitely see a boost in sales," said Mis Gaston, director of marketing and business development for Penn Square Mall in northwest Oklahoma City.

Gaston said business is so brisk during the sales tax holiday that the mall's dozens of retailers equate it to the unofficial kickoff of the holiday season — almost five months before Christmas.

"Lots of shoppers. Lots of bags. Definitely a full parking lot," Gaston said. "There is an increase for the month just from those three days."

Last year's holiday coincided with the opening of The Outlet Shoppes at Oklahoma City, a collection of brand-name outlet stores on the far western edge of the city.

"It was one of the top openings of outlet centers in the United States," said Gina Slechta, vice president of marketing. She said officials are expecting another big turnout this weekend and have partnered with a nearby hotel to offer a package for out-of-town shoppers.

Retailers have expressed concern that triple-digit temperatures forecast for the weekend might discourage shoppers from leaving their homes. But George Willson said the heat won't affect his family's plans.

"Not as long as the air conditioning keeps working," he said.