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Ashley Lab, DVM Celebrates Seven-Year Anniversary at Local Veterinary Hospital Paws and Perches

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Ashley Lab, DVM Celebrates Seven-Year Anniversary at Local Veterinary Hospital Paws and Perches

Ashley Lab, DVM Celebrates Seven-Year Anniversary at Local Veterinary Hospital Paws and Perches

By Allison Williams

Photos provided by Ashley Lab, DVM

Right here in Polk County is Paws and Perches, a veterinary hospital in Lake Wales. Paws and Perches treats all sorts of small animals as well as exotic animals. The practice has been in business for well over 30 years. Ashley Lab, DVM, owner and veterinarian there has been operating the practice since August 2012 after she purchased the facility from Timothy Swango, DVM.

Dr. Swango has been enjoying some earned time off after all the years he put into the practice. He enjoys spending his free time outdoors fishing now that he is retired. Dr. Lab said he still has his personal mail delivered to the clinic and stops by about once a week to check on things and pay a visit.

Before

 

After

Since purchasing the clinic from Dr. Swango, Dr. Lab had a daughter, who is now 3 ½ years old. August 3 will be her seventh-year anniversary at the clinic and over her years there, she and her team have been working hard to transform the facility and they are always working to improve in any way they see fit.

Paws and Perches has received a facelift over the years. Dr. Lab wanted to give her vet hospital a “woman’s touch” and she and her staff put a lot of effort and time into cleaning up and brightening the place with vivid, yet calming color choices. The kennel area, including its kennels and floors are all new.

 

Before
After

Along with a physical transformation, Dr. Lab continues to educate others as she brings in new techniques to practice at her clinic.

One key technological transformation that Dr. Lab has implemented is their x-ray system. Their clinic now uses a digital x-ray system instead of film x-rays.

Before
After

Other technology improvements include replacing paper charts to electronic medical records and the in-house laboratory has also seen new updates.

While the clinic has experienced improvements in technology and appearance, there are some things that Dr. Lab plans to keep the same.

Having personal relationships with clients and their pets is an important part of Dr. Lab’s profession. Being a small practice, this gives her the opportunity to really spend time with and bond with each client/pet who walks (or trots, slithers, crawls, etc.) through the door. She has had a long-term staff as well, which helps with staff/client relationships. It is important to Dr. Lab to  have this type of relationship, as it allows her to tend to each client/patient on an individual level.

“We practice high-quality medicine,” Dr. Lab said. “We work within our client’s means to provide the best treatment possible.”

Contact Paws and Perches today for more information:

Email: [email protected]

Website: http://www.pawsandperches.com

Facebook:https://www.facebook.com/Paws-and-Perches-Animal-Hospital-344016829020510/

Address: 755 W Central Ave, Lake Wales, FL 33853

Phone: 863-676-6176

World-Famous Trick Archer Performed At Lakeland Outdoor Life Field and Stream Expo

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World-Famous Trick Archer Performed At Lakeland Outdoor Life Field and Stream Expo

World-Famous Trick Archer Performed At Lakeland Outdoor Life Field and Stream Expo

by James Coulter

Ever since he was 12 years old, Byron Ferguson has been training in the art of the bow and arrow. Since then, he has learned to shoot almost anything.

He can shoot two targets with two arrows. He can shoot a target while aiming with a mirror looking backward. He even shot eight dimes in a row in the air, his website explained.

On Friday, he performed one of his more challenging archery tricks, the blindfold shot, where he shot a flying disc in the air while blindfolded. The disc itself was equipped with a beeping alarm, allowing him to detect it with his hearing.

With a blindfold over his eyes, he pulled back his string and aimed his arrow. His wife tossed the disc in the air. He shot, only to narrowly miss the disc as it fell and rolled along the stage.

Byron would attempt to hit the disc two more times. After that, if he did not make the shot, he would give up.

Once more, with a blindfold on, he pulled back his string and aimed his arrow. Once more, his wife tossed the disc in the air. Once more, he launched his arrow.

This time, it hit the disc dead center, causing the middle portion to come flying out. On his second try, he had made the shot. He pulled back his blindfold to gaze upon the applauding crowd.

Over the years, he has developed a keen eye for aiming at his targets with an eagle-eyed procession by aiming at candles in the dark, his website stated.

For this particular blindfold shot, he practiced for several weeks using a tire swing. Once he has perfected his shot to a tee, he makes his performance public.

The most difficult shot is the Robin Hood shot, aiming with the back of an arrow. His most favorite, by far, is the wooden disc shot, as he loves hearing the arrow strike wood.

“When I hit the wood, I hear a pop,” he said. “I feel like a kid popping the balloon. It is just fun.”

The key to his success, aside from practice, has been the confidence in his own equipment. Only when you have learned everything about your own bow and arrow can you use the proficiently, he said.

“[It’s all about] being confident in yourself, knowing your equipment, and knowing your limitations,” he said.

Ferguson has been performing his trick archery all around the country and world. He has especially been touring the various Outdoor Life Field and Stream Expos across the country. He enjoyed visiting the Lakeland event, since he had friends and family in the area.

“I love coming to visit,” he said. “A lot of friends in the area I don’t get to see very often, so it’s like a family reunion to me.”

Ferguson was one of many exhibitors who showcased their outdoor skills and talents through seminars hosted over the weekend at the Outdoor Life Field and Stream Expo in Lakeland.

For the past 16 years, this annual outdoor expo, hosted at the RP Funding Center, has been providing residents and visitors the opportunity to learn about the many ways to enjoy the outdoors through hunting, fishing, and camping.

More than 100 exhibitors from across the state filled all three main halls within the center, including the Lakeland Magic Arena, Exhibition Hall, and Sikes Hall, to showcase their various products and services, from hunting and fishing accessories to hunting guides and taxidermy services.

Over the weekend, more than 700 to 800 attendees had been anticipated to pass through the doors to attend the annual event, explained Emily Boden, Marketing Manager for Bonnier Events, the producer of Outdoor Life and Field and Stream Expo.

Bonnier Events published many outdoor magazines, including Outdoor Life. As such, their recent acquisition of the local event allowed them to combine their company’s synergy in promoting everything the great outdoors has to offer, Boden said.

“It is just everything outdoors all in one place this weekend,” she said. “When we acquired the event, it presented us with the opportunity to put those magazines to the forefront, to bring the pages of those books to life, so it has been a really powerful partnership and relationship that we have had.”

To learn more about Outdoor Life and their other events, visit their website at: https://www.outdoorlife.com/

Silly Socks Saturday Celebrates Two Years With Bowling Fundraiser At Cypress Lanes

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Silly Socks Saturday Celebrates Two Years With Bowling Fundraiser At Cypress Lanes

Silly Socks Saturday Celebrates Two Years With Bowling Fundraiser At Cypress Lanes

by James Coulter

Two years ago, Zachary Kirkland decided to give back to his community by collecting and distributing socks and other items to children in the hospital.

What started as a simple school project soon evolved into a full-blown 501c3 non-profit, Silly Socks Saturday, which has been honored with multiple awards and continues to provide donations to hundreds of hospital-bound children.

Kirkland and his family celebrated the two-year anniversary of his charitable organization through a fundraiser hosted at Cypress Lanes in Winter Haven on Saturday.

This was the second year that Silly Socks Saturday hosted a bowling fundraiser at Cypress Lanes. As with last year, attendees could attend, purchase raffle tickets for silent auction prizes, and have the proceeds of their games go towards Zach’s charity.

Zachary loves bowling, especially with his high school bowling team, so the Cypress Lanes bowling alley seemed to be the perfect place for him to host his fundraiser, he said.

This year’s event drew in a larger turnout than last year’s, with the entire house turning out, Zachary said. Their event had been promoted on Facebook and other social media since last year’s event ended, so more people had expressed their interest in attending.

“Just to know that we are reaching out to that many people, and that many people want to come and support a non-profit and have fun at the same time, we are just super excited,” Zachary said.

Zachary developed his non-profit organization for a class project. He and his classmates were tasked with coming up with an idea to help their local community.

Zachary has many friends and family in the hospital who would often request different items like socks. That inspired him to collect and donate those items, which is how Silly Socks Saturday was started.

Every second Saturday of the month, Zachary and his team visit Lakeland Regional Hospital to visit the young patients there and provide them bags of donated items like toiletries and small toys.

When they first started nearly two years ago, they initially provided 30 bags a month; now that their organization has grown in size and scope, they’re able to donate 50 bags a month, Zachary said.

Now that Lakeland Regional has opened their new Women and Children’s Clinic, Zachary and his fellow volunteers have likewise expanded their outreach to more patients, and he hopes to be able to help more people in the future, he said.

“We have been able to grow as they have been growing, and it has enabled us to keep going and do what we are doing, and we are hoping that as it keeps spreading, that we will be able to reach out even further,” he said.

Dianne Forcier, Zachary’s mother, has been helping him with his charity since it first started. She is extremely proud that her son has accomplished great things with it, and she expects even greater things with it moving forward.

“I am proud of him,” she said. “[We hope] Just to continue to be able to do it to grow and reach more people.”

His father, Scott Kirkland, owes his success to his upbringing through the church and scouting. Knowing that his son has accomplished so much in so little time makes him nothing short of proud.

“I am very blessed to have him as a son,” he said. “He is doing great things…Things are going real good. He will have a great future, he plans on expanding and going out to other hospitals and doing great things.”

For more information on Silly Socks Saturdays, visit their Facebook page, or their website at http://sillysocksaturdays.com

Two Lake Wales High School Students Paint Inspiring Messages In Elementary School Bathrooms

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Two Lake Wales High School Students Paint Inspiring Messages In Elementary School Bathrooms

Two Lake Wales High School Students Paint Inspiring Messages In Elementary School Bathrooms

by James Coulter

Elementary school students returning to Babson Park and Hillcrest this fall will be met with inspiring words written on the walls of their bathrooms.

Two Lake Wales High School (LWHS) students have taken it upon themselves to inspire the next generation by painting inspirational quotes upon the bathroom walls and stalls of local elementary schools.

“You never fail until you stop trying,” one bathroom door reads, the words written in pastel colors, surrounded by black and white stars.

“Be the change you wish to see in the world,” reads the words written upon a globe of the earth painted upon another bathroom wall.

Megan Blankenship and Sophie Matthews, both LWHS seniors, will be attending their last year of high school together this upcoming school year. Both of them wanted to literally leave a mark on their local community and motivate younger students before eventually graduating and heading off to college.

“We thought it would be a really cool idea to give back to our community, to brighten up space that is not as bright normally, to leave positive messages and memories for children to have here and come back and look at someday,” Sophie said.

“I think we know that students, especially elementary age, struggle with self-confidence and self-positivity, so we want them to look in the mirror and see inspiring quotes that make them know that they are worth it and they are able to do great things that they might not see in themselves all the time,” Megan said.

Both of them approached their own school and several local elementary schools with the idea for the project, which was approved. They then took to social media to express their intent and ask for supplies. Their friends, family, and even total strangers offered them donations to move forward with their project.

“We just pushed it out to our local community and friends, mainly really through Facebook,” Sophie said. “It is crazy that you can use social media in a positive way to do big things, but we pushed it out on Facebook and asked for paint, and the supplies kind of came.”

The two seniors started at Babson Park Elementary School (where Megan was a former student), and later to Hillcrest Elementary, where they spent several days working on individual stalls and bathroom walls.

Most of the designs and quotes were taken from art discovered upon Instagram. Neither of the two girls are art students, and compounding the problem are some of the textures of the bathroom walls, many of which made it difficult for them to paint, Sophie said.

Nevertheless, through hard work and dedication, and the occasional remark from curious people passing by the school, the two managed to write their positive messages for future students to see.

“It is cool seeing some of the different kids here walking by and seeing different people give the immediate feedback, and just how big of a community effort it is,” Sophie said. “There have been so many people who have reached out to us, and honestly they have allowed us to make this possible for sure. To be able to see the impact that one little project will have honestly.”

Both students plan on attending the University of Florida following their graduation. Sophie plans on enrolling in STEM, while Megan is interested in nursing or elementary education.

Either way, both of them hope that the messages they leave behind will encourage other students to follow in their footsteps in graduating high school, attending college, and overall following their dreams.

“We want long-lasting effects on our community so that they can see more positive things, because bathrooms can be negative things with stuff written on stalls, especially with older schools,” Megan said. “So we want it to be a different side of the light that they can see with the words.”

Sixth Case of Rabies in 2019 Confirmed in Polk County

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Sixth Case of Rabies in 2019 Confirmed in Polk County
The Polk County Sheriff’s Office Animal Control Section confirmed on Friday, July 26, 2019, the sixth positive rabies case in Polk County for the year.
On Wednesday, July 24, 2019, PCSO received a call from a Waverly dog owner whose boxer had a bat in its mouth. When the boxer dropped the bat, the woman killed the bat with a shovel.
Animal Control collected the bat and sent it away for rabies testing.
The bat was confirmed positive for rabies two days later.
The dog was currently vaccinated for rabies and obtained a rabies booster.
There have been five prior confirmed rabies cases in Polk County so far this year.

Polk County Animal Control giving away free pets on Saturdays during “Dog (and Cat) Days of Summer” promotion

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Polk County Animal Control giving away free pets on Saturdays during “Dog (and Cat) Days of Summer” promotion
Polk County Animal Control giving away free pets on Saturdays during “Dog (and Cat) Days of Summer” promotion
Every Saturday in July, Polk County Animal Control is waiving the adoption fees for dogs and cats in an effort to help provide loving homes for them, during our first-ever “Dog (and Cat) Days of Summer” promotion.
So far the promotion has been a huge success, and we are considering running the promotion through August as well.
Animal Control is located at 7115 de Castro Road in Winter Haven, just off the Polk Parkway Winter Lake Road exit, near the county landfill. Kennel hours are 10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.
You can view adoptable pets on our website: http://www.polksheriff.org/animal-services.
As a reminder, we adopt out cats and dogs every Monday through Saturday throughout the year; we are closed on Sundays and on specific holidays per the county holiday calendar.
Each pet adopted from Animal Control is spayed or neutered, and has been given its first shots, along with the following: De-worming; Heartworm testing; Heartworm preventative (if applicable); Rabies vaccination; tag; flea preventative treatment; and we offer (and encourage) microchipping.

Verizon Worker Charged After Developing Fake Accounts

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Verizon Worker Charged After Developing Fake Accounts

Release by Winter Haven Police Department

Verizon Worker Charged After Developing Fake Accounts


Forty year-old Jonathan Chad Murray of Lakeland (Longfellow Ln., Lakeland) is facing felony charges of forgery, criminal use of personal identification and grand theft after an alert Verizon General Manager noticed suspicious activity using Murray’s dealer code.
Murray, who worked at the Verizon store located at 901 Havendale Blvd. in Winter Haven conducted the transactions in December 2018. Murray was a sales representative at the store and each employee has a unique dealer code. Invoices were opened in which cellphones were purchased, cell phone plans were activated and financing contracts were established. The cell phones were shown as sold by a third party seller because the invoices never had any payments posted to the accounts.
Looking further into the contracts, video from the store was pulled when some of the transactions took place. Murray is seen on video signing signatures on the signature pad at his work desk with no customers present. Although Murray’s dealer code was used for five different names, two victims have been positively identified and Murray is charged with fraud against those two.
Murray was interviewed at the Polk County Jail in June 2019 where he was incarcerated on unrelated charges. Murray remains in the Polk County Jail and is charged with three counts of Forgery (F3) F.S.S. 831.01; three counts of Criminal Use of Personal Identification (F3) F.S.S. 817.568(2)(A); three counts of Grand Theft (F3) F.S.S. 812.014(2)(C)1; one count of and Obtaining Property by Fraud (F3) F.S.S. 817.034(4)(A)3.

Search Warrant in Davenport Yields Five Drug-Related Arrests and Other Charges

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Search Warrant in Davenport Yields Five Drug-Related Arrests and Other Charges

On Wednesday, July 24, 2019, PCSO detectives served a search warrant at 105 Page Road in Davenport in response to complaints about drug sales, environmental hazards, and suspected stolen goods.

When deputies arrived on-scene, the first person they encountered – Rebecca Railey – was sitting on the front porch. She hollered inside to warn her boyfriend, Aaron Sears. In turn, Sears attempted to flee out of the back door. He was quickly detained, and deputies began serving the search warrant. Three others were located inside, and arrested – brothers Daniel Sears, Sr. & Virgil Sears III; and Kimberly Howell (a friend of Aaron Sears and Rebecca Railey). All of the suspects live together at this address.

During the search, deputies found packaged meth, narcotics, and drug paraphernalia, and several items of potentially stolen property, such as power tools, cameras, televisions, etc. inside the home. All of this property will be processed to determine its origin.

On the property, deputies located an uncapped septic tank with a hose leading from it to the property next door. The suspects told deputies that due to their drain field being full, they were emptying the tank into the retention pond on the adjacent vacant property. Two large burn piles were also located, along with a pile of waste tires and an unpermitted landfill. The suspects were charged accordingly, and Deputies contacted the Health Department and Code Enforcement for follow-up.

“When we receive tips about drugs and other suspicious activity at a house like this, we take it very seriously. In fact, when we showed up, the neighbors were cheering us on and thanking us. We hope we’ve rid Page Road in Davenport of this type of criminal conduct. If not – we’ll be back.” – Grady Judd, Sheriff

The following suspects were arrested:

Rebecca Railey, DOB 1/24/1991; charged with:

  • Possession of meth (F-3) ($1,000 bond)
  • Possession of paraphernalia (M-1) ($500 bond)
  • Maintaining a residence for drug use (M-1) ($500 bond)
  • 4 counts possession of Rx drugs without Rx (M-2) ($250 bond each count)

Aaron Sears, DOB 8/3/1984; charged with:

  • Possession of meth WITS (F-2)
  • Possession of marijuana (M-1)
  • Possession of paraphernalia (M-1)
  • Resisting arrest (M-1)
  • Maintaining a residence for drug use (M-1)
  • 3 counts VOP from Highlands County (F-3) (no bond on all charges)

Daniel Sears, Sr., DOB 7/23/1955; charged with:

  • Possession of meth (F-3)
  • Possession of firearm by a convicted felon (F-2)
  • Possession of ammo by a convicted felon (F-2)
  • 4 counts possession of Rx drugs without Rx (M-2)
  • Possession of marijuana (M-1)
  • Possession of paraphernalia (M-1)
  • Maintaining a residence for drug use (M-1)
  • Operating unpermitted landfill (M-1)
  • Improper storage of waste tires (M-1)
  • Unlawful burning of hazardous materials (M-1)
  • Nuisance to public health (M-2) (no bond on all charges)

Virgil Sears, III, DOB 1/23/1959; charged with:

  • Possession of meth (F-3) ($1,000 bond)
  • Possession of paraphernalia (M-1) ($500 bond)
  • Maintaining a residence for drug use (M-1) ($500 bond)
  • Operating unpermitted landfill (M-1) ($500 bond)
  • Improper storage of waste tires (M-1) ($500 bond)
  • Unlawful burning of hazardous materials (M-1) ($500 bond)
  • Nuisance to public health (M-2) ($250 bond)

Kimberly Howell, DOB 9/25/1971; charged with:

  • Possession of meth (F-3) ($1,000 bond)
  • Possession of paraphernalia (M-1) ($500 bond)
  • Maintaining a residence for drug use (M-1) ($500 bond)

Each of these suspects has an extensive criminal history. Aaron Sears was just released from jail on June 26, 2019. He was sentenced to 2 years drug offender probation, scheduled to end July 2021. Daniel is a convicted felon, and was in possession of a firearm and ammunition. Howell spent a year in prison for the sale of cocaine.

 

HOSPITAL EMPLOYEES DONATE SCHOOL SUPPLIES FOR AREA CHILDREN

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HOSPITAL EMPLOYEES DONATE SCHOOL SUPPLIES FOR AREA CHILDREN

HOSPITAL EMPLOYEES DONATE SCHOOL SUPPLIES FOR AREA CHILDREN

 

Lake Wales, FL – Employees at Lake Wales Medical Center donated three carloads of backpacks and school supplies to help area children go back to school with all the tools they’ll need for success.

Departments were challenged to use a Dr. Seuss theme to create a display of school supplies donated by employees. Community judges viewed each entry and selected the Laboratory as winner of the contest. Lab employees receive a pizza / ice cream party. The hospital also gave a $100 gift card to an employee drawn randomly from among all those who donated items to the drive. Chris Jessee from Rehabilitative Services was the winner.

“The real winners are the children of our community, who are getting a chance to return to school with all the supplies they need to ensure a successful start to the school year,” said Maryemma Bachelder, Director of Community Relations at the hospital. “We support our local schools all year long, and are happy to be able to support local school supplies drives. We were excited to partner this year with the Start Right campaign to get these supplies out into the community to the children who need them.”

The supplies were donated to the Start Right campaign, sponsored by the Polk State College Foundation and spearheaded by Andy Oguntola at Polk State’s JD Alexander Campus in Lake Wales. According to Oguntola, the backpacks and supplies will be given away beginning at 9 a.m. on Saturday, August 3, at the campus on Central Avenue in downtown Lake Wales.

Lake Wales Medical Center, a 160-bed facility, has been serving the community since 1929. This year the hospital opened an expanded Wound Healing Center and a new adult behavioral health unit, to complement the existing geriatric behavioral health unit. More than 50 primary care physicians and specialists are on the hospital’s active staff.

 

Photo info:

From left: Andy Oguntola, Warren Brown, and Cynthia Monk show just a few of the donations that were made by employees of Lake Wales Medical Center to support Polk State College Foundation’s Start Right campaign to help ensure local children have the supplies they need to return to school.

 

FLORIDA’S BACK-TO-SCHOOL SALES TAX HOLIDAY COMING UP AUGUST 2-6, WITH TECHNOLOGY ITEMS INCLUDED THIS YEAR

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FLORIDA’S BACK-TO-SCHOOL SALES TAX HOLIDAY COMING UP AUGUST 2-6, WITH TECHNOLOGY ITEMS INCLUDED THIS YEAR
FLORIDA’S BACK-TO-SCHOOL SALES TAX HOLIDAY COMING UP AUGUST 2-6, WITH TECHNOLOGY ITEMS INCLUDED THIS YEAR

The Sunshine State’s annual tax-free shopping holiday is extended to five days this year; Technology items up to $1,000 are included, and consumers of ALL ages can save money by taking advantage of buying thousands of eligible items
TALLAHASSEE, FL – The Florida Retail Federation (FRF), the state’s premier trade association celebrating more than 80 years of supporting Florida’s retailers, is encouraging consumers and retailers to prepare for the upcoming Back-to-School Sales Tax Holiday. This popular annual “holiday” takes place August 2-6.  During this time, consumers will not have to pay sales tax on thousands of eligible items such as clothes, shoes, school supplies and the return of technology items. The sales tax holiday also benefits Sunshine State retailers who see increased sales and as a result, create new jobs for hard working Florida families.
“We are excited to support this generous five-day tax free holiday. This annual event provides Floridians with much needed tax relief while providing a nice boost to our local retailers,” said FRF President and CEO R. Scott Shalley. “We commend Governor DeSantis and our legislative leaders for their support of Florida’s families.”
Serving as the state’s second busiest shopping “holiday” behind Black Friday, this year’s list of eligible items includes technology items up to $1,000 (not included in 2018), clothing, shoes and bags costing $60 or less and school supplies $15 or less. Nationally, the average family shopping for K-12 students is expected to be $696.70, the highest in survey history, according to FRF’s national partners at the National Retail Federation’s annual survey. Total spending nationally is expected to be slightly lower than last year, due to fewer families with students in grades K-12, totaling $26.2 billion, down from $27.5 billion.
Families with college students are expected to spend an average of $976.78, which is up from last year’s $942.17 and tops the previous record of $969.88 set in 2017. With fewer respondents saying they are attending college, spending is expected to total $54.5 billion, down from last year’s record $55.3 billion.
Total spending nationally for K-12 schools and college combined is projected to reach $80.7 billion, down from last year’s $82.8 billion largely because of the decreased number of households with children in elementary through high school.
According to the survey, back-to-school shoppers plan to spend the most on clothing ($236.90). In addition, shoppers also plan to spend:

 

  • $203.44 on electronics such as computers, calculators and phones
  • $135.96 on shoes
  • $117.49 on supplies such as notebooks, pencils, backpacks and lunch boxes.

 

K-12 families plan to do most of their shopping at department stores (53 percent), discount stores (50 percent), online (49 percent), clothing stores (45 percent) and office supply stores (31 percent).
Among K-12 shoppers, teens are expected to spend an average $36.71 of their own money, up from $30.88 10 years ago, while pre-teens should spend $26.40, up from $11.94 from 10 years ago.
College shoppers plan to spend the most on electronics ($234.69), followed by:

 

  • $148.54 on clothing and accessories
  • $120.19 on dorm and apartment furnishings
  • $98.72 on food items ($98.72)

 

They plan to do most of their shopping online (45 percent), followed by department stores (39 percent), discount stores (36 percent), college bookstores (32 percent) and office supply stores (29 percent).
“Consumers desire the ability to shop in different ways and at different times, and retailers have responded by providing innovative shopping options for them to choose from,” said Shalley. “We’re proud of the many technological advancements our retail members have made that ensure everyone’s shopping experience is fun, safe and easy.”
The back-to-school sales tax holiday has been one of the most popular shopping holidays among consumers and retailers and has been providing vital tax relief since it first began. The holiday has been recognized in 18 out of the 22 years since it first began in 1998. This year will mark the 10th year in a row it has taken place. For the complete list of eligible tax-free items, visit FRF.org.
ABOUT THE FLORIDA RETAIL FEDERATION
The Florida Retail Federation is the statewide trade association representing retailers — the businesses that sell directly to consumers. Florida retailers provide one out of every five jobs in the state, pay more than $49 billion in wages annually, and collect and remit more than $20 billion in sales taxes for Florida’s government each year. For more information, visit the FRF website, and follow FRF onTwitter.         
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