Stores looking for edge on tax-free weekend

In signature Bernie & Phyl’s style, the family is featured in a television commercial offering to cover the state’s sales tax on any purchase under $3,000 from now until the tax-free weekend.

“We feel that it’s easier for the customer to come in today, tomorrow, or all this week to browse and see if they like something without being rushed or pushed,’’ Rubin said.

To lure in more customers to its two locations, in Braintree and Everett, this year, Chair Fair, a dining set, bar, and counter stool outlet, is running an advertisement advising customers to come in early to pick out what they want to buy. Employees will wait to process the order until Saturday and offer an additional 6.25 percent off all items.

“That weekend is crazy for us,’’ said Barry Joseph, the company’s treasurer. “We do as much business as we do in a typical month.’’

All six employees of the Braintree store will work the 10,000-square-foot store floor on Saturday, which is three times more staff than usual.

For companies both big and small, the mid-August tax break is a way to get shoppers to jump-start their back-to-school shopping.

Best Buy is stocking up on hot back-to-school items such as tablets, e-readers, and laptop computers - the kind of big-ticket items shoppers like to buy because they can save more on taxes.

Joshua Roy, a manager at Best Buy in Dedham, said the store is extending its hours this weekend and anticipating crowds similar to Black Friday, when shoppers swarm stores the day after Thanksgiving to take advantage of big sales.

“It’s all hands on deck,’’ he said. “If you’re an employee here, you’re working that weekend.’’

Roy said he has noticed that consumers are coming into the store now to get advice on products and waiting to buy until next weekend.