If you didn't get the invitation, don't worry...they let you fill out a card with your information on it at the front. But, there are some things to do in advance:
1) Prepare mentally. This isn't for the weak of heart. If this kind of thing isn't your thing, then fine...as my father would say, "that leaves me more." Don't forget...this is a marathon, not a sprint (kind of). You are in this for the long haul. The sale itself is several days long. If you live near Philadelphia, you should plan on going on Wednesday (when depends on you...see below). Then, if you decide you need to venture out again, you can go again on either Friday or Saturday when the crowds have calmed down, and you really can see what is there.
2) Anticipate the year's needs for events (clothes) and important upcoming dates (for gifts), and make a list. The year before my daughter's friends all started turning 16, I was told by my friend, Marybeth, that she had always used the Lilly warehouse sale to get lots of Sweet 16 gifts. I listened---I got all kinds of Lilly gift-type items...and I was so glad I did. When my daughter got invited to a party, I was able to go with her to the bin of Lilly gifts we keep, and pick out a $100 Lilly necklace or scarf that I only paid $20-$30 for--and the girls always raved about how much they loved their Lilly present! So, think about teacher's gifts, gifts for friends (40th birthdays, retirements, bridal showers??)
3) Don't out-psyche yourself. I did this one year, and I didn't get anything. Literally nothing. After waiting for several hours (which is fun, actually), I finally got in, and what did I do? I wandered around aimlessly, just in awe of all the stuff, all the people, all the deals. I couldn't focus. This is before I made lists, so I couldn't remember who/what I was supposed to get. My friends got stuff, and wanted to leave, so I just left.
5) Make a list a what you want, and for whom (so you remember what you need to get as described in #3, and so you don't make the mistake in #4.) This might sound obvious, but I just started doing this, and it makes shopping so much easier. I put down names and sizes, and keep it on a piece of paper in my pocket. That way, I can pull it out near the end of my shopping time, and remember that I want to pick up something for Ellie for graduation next year...
6) Check out your closet. Consider what things you need.
7) Get a babysitter. I have 5 children, and I would never consider bringing any of them under the age of 13 with me to this sale. They will anchor you down, and you don't want to be anchored down. I know that I can't concentrate with an unhappy child nearby, so at $10 an hour for 5 hours, it is worth it to spend $50 to go without your children. The money you save getting good bargains will make the babysitting expense seem like a bargain.
8) Decide on your shopping strategy. Specifically:
Are you going to camp out days in advance? Personally, I would not do this, but this is a decision lots of people think is fine. I think these ladies do get a ton of samples (which is the thing I assume these ladies want to get), but it would not be worth it to me to spend 36 hours outside in the elements (heat, rain, sun) in order to get a good deal on Lilly clothing. I think these people are just going for the samples, which are typically priced between $15 for skirts to $50 for dresses. I think there are other avenues to buy these items at a great price (read, eBay, re-Lilly, etc). Still, if you are really hard core, this is the strategy for you. I met one of these ladies one time, and she told me she and some friends drove in from Ohio every year, and camped out from Monday through Thursday morning. She said they did get a hotel room nearby, and took off the whole week from work. If I factor in the cost of the hotel and the food for those days...it just isn't worth it to me.
Are you going to go early on Thursday and hang out in the early morning hours, like from 4-7 am? This is not a bad strategy...I have done this at the old King of Prussia site, and it is actually kind of fun. Depends on your personality. I got up one time at 2, got in line at 3, and was in the place at 7. I got some samples, and left at 10...but I was exhausted by 1 in the afternoon. The new site has a tent for the line, so you will be covered at one point, and the line inside is really long (so, don't get too excited once you get to the door.....you still have at least an hour wait until you make it to the entrance of the sale!)
Or, are you going to avoid the rush, and show up at 3 pm on Thursday? The sale goes until 8 pm on Thursday. I think there is some good reasons to pursue this method. First, all the local moms have to be home to get the kids off the bus, etc. by around 3, and they will be leaving at around that time. Second, you might get the second shot of samples that have been shunned by the first round of shoppers. I have never been inside at 5 am, but I have spoken to other people who tell me that women run over to the samples, and just shove piles and piles of samples into big pink bags. These people/women apparently shop for 2 hours, then take four hours to go through their stuff...and then start discarding/putting back the stuff they don't want. This stuff is usually put back on the floor several hours later, so missing the first wave of people doesn't mean you won't get any samples. I think these sample items may go back on the floor around 4 pm on Thursday.
Or, you might decide just not to go at all on Thursday, and show up for Friday, or even Saturday? If you adopt this latter strategy, you should know that the samples will likely be all gone. Still, there will be lots of dresses, and pants, and skirts up to 70% off...just not 90% off like on the samples. The first time I went to the sale, I showed up on Saturday afternoon, and I still got lots of nice things for a very good price.
Day of Sale:
9) Eat well. There is really nothing to eat at the Oaks Convention Center, except for one small vending machine that is always empty immediately. There is a Target a mile away, and some other places, but you don't want to leave the facility just to eat. Bring some nuts with you. You might be there for hours.
10) I don't try on clothes (long story), but if you do, you should know that the dressing area is a large black curtained-off area that fits about 100 people changing at a time, and you might wait in line for up to 45 mins (it gets crazy!) If you are modest, get over it, and wear some easy to pull on garments so that you can get changed easily.
At the Sale:
11) Head to the Samples first. They are in the back, near the dressing room. In the old days, there were lots there. Not so much anymore after the first day...the sale has gotten too big.
12) Take what you like as soon as you see it--consider prices later. Your ideas of what are good prices will change, and because you don't know what items are there in the first 30 minutes, take what you like. If you decide you don't want it, you can always politely put it back on one of the many racks you will see for that purpose. You might think $59 for a dress is a lot, but remember...these dresses have retail prices of up to $300. That $59 is a good deal. Same for kids' clothes. Every year I am amazed by how you can get girl's bathing suits for $24. The same bathing suit at Gap costs $38. These Lilly clothes wear well, and you can always give them as gifts if you decide you don't want it for yourself.
13) Consider the non-seasonal items...like sweaters, jackets, coats. One year, I had a black fleece Maddie Jacket in my bag for hours, and eventually I decided I didn't need it. When I got to the register, however, I noticed that it was a Sample, and cost only $40. But it was a black fleece jacket, and it was early June, and it was 90 degrees out. I didn't need a black fleece jacket. Well, I got it, just because it was only $40. And sure enough, in about three months, I needed that black fleece jacket, and I have worn it for the last four years for 6-8 months a year. It was definitely a great buy.
So, if they have sweaters, don't pass them over...look at them. One year they had mounds of cashmere sweaters that seemed untouched. When I asked my friends, they said "Oh, we don't need them now." I went and looked, and got several great sweaters for less than I would have paid at Gap for a cotton sweater. So, if they have black pants...look at them, even if they aren't brightly colored. You might not wear them on June 15th, but you will wear them from November 15th through March 30th where I live.
Have fun, and remember, this is a serious business that now only happens once a year. Up until two years ago, this sale was held every November and every June, so if you missed June, you could still come back for November deals....now you would have to wait another 12 months....don't blow this! It isn't for the weak-hearted, and you can't give in to the temptation to slack off!
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