Beginning at 12:01 a.m. (CST) on Friday Aug. 6 and ending at midnight Sunday Aug. 8, Alabama observes its fifth annual sales tax holiday giving shoppers the opportunity to purchase certain clothing, computers, school supplies and books free of the state's four percent sales or use tax. A record 267 local governments will also go sales-tax-free during the three-day holiday, bringing the savings for consumers to as much as 10 percent, depending on where you shop. Learn more at read more below.

>> Sales Tax Holiday News Release

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The Alabama Retail Association will present its Retailer of the Year and Centennial Retailer awards on Wednesday, Sept. 22 at The University of Alabama at Birmingham School of Business' 2010 Retail Day Luncheon. Charlie Tickle, chairman and chief executive officer of Daniel Corp., will be the keynote speaker.