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Top 10 Reasons to Go to the Annual Vera Bradley Outlet Sale – as Explained by My Sister

My sister penned her top 10 reasons to go to a Vera Bradley Outlet Sale in response to my Outlet Sale Tips articles. Of course this in jest, but it highlights the absolute craziness that can happen there. My commentary/defense is in red. :)

10. Purses as far as the eye can see. - Enough said.

9. Waiting 4+ hours to get in and then another 4+ hours to check out. - Oh yes, this can happen! One reason is because of point 8. She wasn't with us when we waited 6 hours to check out at the Charlotte Outlet Sale. That was the longest wait. Good times.

8. Praying the Vera Bradley point-of-sale system crashes and you get one free item no matter what. - This happened one year on a Sunday afternoon. The sale was starting to close and the line wait was long. If you had cash, you could check out easily. Well, we didn't have cash, so we had to wait. Some people left. We stuck it out. Our efforts were rewarded with one free item of our choice as an apology from Vera. We each chose the Cupcakes Pink Garment Bag as our free item. Vera bliss!

7. Watching your sister instruct her father, husband, brother-in-law, and male coworkers on what to get and them understanding to not argue nor make smart aleck (not the word she used) comments. - Ok, I can explain this. I was under A LOT of stress! I was two weeks post-partum with kid #1 and had had a C-section. I couldn't carry much, heck, I wasn't even allowed to drive yet! My family and friends stepped in to help me and I am forever grateful! However, I, understandably, wasn't quite right in the head at the time. Did I also mention I was also trying to breast-feed?

6. Praying your mother doesn't kill you on the way with road rage. - My family lives 5 hours from Fort Wayne. It's pretty much a straight shot for them. It's not hard. Unless you're my mother.

5. Praying your sister doesn't kill you with her road rage and random u-turns. - Yes, I admit it. I have road rage combined with NO sense of direction. I lived in Fort Wayne for six years and it never got better. In my defense, there are three rivers in Fort Wayne and sometimes when you cross one the road name changes. I once may have went east in Ohio to back to Indiana. Instead of arriving home in 45 minutes, I may have taken a lovely, scenic, 2.5 hour drive up to Cedar Point. To get back to Fort Wayne.

4. Eating a whole box of donuts is perfectly acceptable. – When is it not? She's the skinny sister, apparently our levels of acceptance are different.

3. DeBrand's chocolate soda and desserts. - I've written about this slice-of-heaven-on-Earth a few times in my blog. You have to go to one of their three locations. The closest one to the Coliseum is about 10 minutes away on Coldwater Rd. Besides, you'll work it all off while shopping anyways.

2. Watching your sister get punched over a purse. - Yes, I was THAT sister. To this day, I have NO idea why I got punched! And it wasn't over a purse, it was over a Pink Elephants Large Backpack. There were literally a ton on the table, and pattern placement doesn't really matter with Pink Elephants. Side note, I got the bag. And a souvenir bruise on an arm.

           1. Sleeping on the sidewalk in the middle of a thunderstorm. - That was their experience, not   mine! I got to stay in the car and nurse my newborn while they waited in line. Just to let you   know, it was their decision to go out, I did not coerce them. Wait... would they rather sleep outside in a thunderstorm than stay in the car with a slightly emotional, stress-out new mom? Good thing I'm done writing this, I have a call to make.

Local Restaurant Recommendations for the Vera Bradley Outlet Sale in Fort Wayne

Where to Eat in Fort Wayne

Local Favorites Near the Coliseum

1. Casa Mare - this is right across the street from the Coliseum and a Fort Wayne favorite. This family-owned chain has four locations around the city. All have a fantastic house salad, fresh ingredients, and fantastic desserts. The Stellhorn and Dupont locations have wood-fired pizzas. You won't break the bank here!
2. Mr. Coney – also serves breakfast! A very cheap Fort Wayne staple!
3. Don Halls – they have 13 restaurants around Fort Wayne and the surrounding area, ranging from a burger joint to Japanese (Takaoka) to upscale dining. They also have a hotel within 10 minutes of the Coliseum and it's pretty affordable. The Factory Restaurant and Triangle Park are the closest Don Hall restaurants to the Coliseum. The Factory is an American sit down restaurant in the mid-priced range and Triangle Park is more upscale.
4. Cosmos – serves breakfast and lunch
5. Cebollas
6. Bandidos
7. Cookie Cottage – the most amazing cookies!
8. DeBrand Fine Chocolates – the best dessert place in Fort Wayne. There are three locations, with the one on Coldwater being the closest to the Coliseum. They have sodas, hot chocolate, ice cream, as well as assorted chocolates. And they ship!

Fast Food Near the Coliseum

1. Taco Bell
2. McDonalds
3. Five Guys
4. Wendy's
5. Rally's
6. Food Court at Glenbrook Square Mall – Charley's Subs, Chick-Fil-A, Panda Express, Ruby Thai, Mexi Grill, Sbarro, Sarku Japan, Subway, Shawrma Mediterranean Grill, Eats Diner

Chain Restaurants Near the Coliseum

1. Ruby Tuesday's
2. Chipotle
3. Dos Margaritas
4. Red Robin – attached to Glenbrook Square
5. TGI Fridays – attached to Glenbrook Square
6. Panera
7. Starbucks
8. Pizza Hut
9. Buffalo Wings & Ribs
10. Red Lobster
11. Bob Evans
12. IHOP
13. Olive Garden
14. Baker Street Steakhouse
15. Granite City Food & Brewery – try their Two Pull if you like craft beer!

The restaurants I mention below are at or within walking distance at Jefferson Pointe. By walking distance I mean literally in the parking lot surrounding the shopping area. You won't cross any streets to reach these. I'm sticking to walking distance, assuming you're arriving via the bus from the Outlet Sale.

Local Favorites at Jefferson Pointe

DeBrand's Fine Chocolates – it's a smaller location, but there is some seating for some serious dessert eating!

Fast Food at Jefferson Pointe – There used to be a food court here, but now it's a Pepsi vending and play area. These two fast food places are in the parking lot.

1. Chick-Fil-A
2. Burger King

Chain Restaurants at Jefferson Pointe

In the shopping area:

1. Panera
2. Chipotle
3. Flat Top Grill – a stir fry place where you pick your own ingredients and how you want them cooked. So yummy! A little pricy.
4. Tucanos Brazilian Grill – fancier Brazilian place where they bring the meats to your table to serve. You're ok in jeans, though. A little pricy.
5. Starbucks
6. Cold Stone Creamery
7. Red Mango

In the parking lot surrounding Jefferson Pointe

1.   Biaggi's – Italian, and one of my favorite restaurants in Fort Wayne! Try the                  Fettucini with Lobster and the Creme Brulee. A little pricy.

2. McAlister's Deli – known for their excellent sweet tea! Very decent deli that won't break the budget.
3. O'Charley's – I dream of their loaded potato soup and hot rolls!
4. Logan's Roadhouse
5. Eddie Merlot's – one of the most expensive restaurants in Fort Wayne, but I hear it's worth the price!
6. Smokey Bones – great BBQ

Top 10 Vera Bradley Patterns with Placement Issues

The concern of pattern placement is very real. Patterns with large designs and/or blocks of color can be tricky. Bigger bags have fewer placement issues, but small items can totally leave off your favorite part of the pattern.  I do think some ladies are too concerned with pattern placement, but who wants a bag with a decapitated bird on the front? The top 3 patterns below I would always request to see the actual item you are getting, if you're buying them online.

1. Yellow Bird –
   

   

   as I've mentioned before, when Vera Bradley's Chinese factory made a lot of items in this pattern upside down and these are available at the outlet sale. So on top of the high possibility of getting a decapitated bird, the bird could also be upside down!
2. Floral Nightingale –
   
   this pattern didn't have the upside down issue like Yellow Bird, but the chance of having decapitated birds on this pattern is also very high.
3. Midnight with Mickey –
   

   

   pattern placement with all the Disney patterns with characters on them really make this list: Disney Dreaming, Bouncing Bouquet, Just Mousing Around, Mickey's Magical Blooms, and Plums Up Mickey. Even Mickey Meets Birdie and Perfect Petals can be an issue. However Midnight with Mickey tops them all. You can get items with no characters on them (and some ladies prefer that), or with bad placement. The characters on this pattern are the largest of the Disney patterns; therefore, making Midnight with Mickey the most difficult Disney pattern for great placement.
4. Canterberry Cobalt/Magenta –
   
   
   
   
   the dominant colors on these twin patterns are black, white, and gray. Sometimes getting the cobalt or magenta colors on smaller items like the Zip Id Case and Lanyards is really hard to find. Also, the symmetry of the circles and where they cut off on the bigger bags like the Tote can bother fans of these patterns.
5. Twirly Birds Pink/Navy – two more bird patterns with the same decapitation issue. However, the birds are swirled into the design, making them more abstract and the issue less prevalent.
6. Animal Kingdom – just even looking at the fabric swatch in the Retired section online at verabradley.com shows you the potential decapitation issue! The giraffe's head is cut off by the border!
7. Heather – this pattern is intricate but the florals and paislies are large, combined with large sections of solid colors. One bag can have more of a purple look while another has more teal. Some ladies aren't fans of the yellow flowers in this pattern. I love all items in this pattern, but I can see where someone can be stuck with a swatch of the pattern they don't like on a bag.
8. Imperial Toile –
   

   

   another pattern with large designs, so placement can be tricky. I have the hard laptop case in this pattern, and I picked it because of the full pagoda on the front.
9. Baroque –
   

   

   although a popular pattern, many do not like the bright yellow/neon green color in the pattern. There are others who want less white in the pattern. It's much easier to hide the dirt that comes from normal wear on the black and gray than the white.
10. Pink Elephants –
    
    the elephants are small, so on bigger items decapitation isn't much of an issue. I have seen it bother ladies on smaller items like the Zip ID Case. The rows of elephants can make the pattern look crooked, or exaggerate if there really is crookedness. This is an issue with the border on the Turn Lock Wallet in particular.

The only guide you have to read about Vera Bradley Annual Outlet Sale in Fort Wayne Part 3

Post-Shopping Bliss

16. Don't think that once you're done shopping that your Vera Bradley experience is over!
    

    

    Vera offers a bus ride to and from Jefferson Pointe, where the only corporate store in Fort Wayne is located. Take the bus! It's so much fun! A Vera employee will talk about the history of the company, often show sneak peeks for future items, you'll watch a video about Vera, and have the opportunity to win Vera goodies in trivia contests. The bus ride there is about 20 minutes. The Vera Bradley store may be packed, but they often have sales and freebies with purchase. I've received tape measures, nail files, and water bottles in the past.

17. Jefferson Pointe is the best place to shop in Fort Wayne, and it offers many great restaurants within walking distance. If you time it right, take the bus to Jefferson Pointe, shop, eat lunch there, and then take the bus back. This way you don't have to pay for parking again and deal with the hassle of finding another spot. Just remember when the last bus ride is!

18. Fort Wayne is the City of Restaurants! I highly recommend eating at one of the Casa family-owned restaurants. Try their house salad and their red sauce is amazing. There is one conveniently located across the street from the sale on Parnell Ave. For dessert, you must go to a DeBrand's! This is a locally owned chain of chocolate shops and cafes. The chocolate is amazing and the treats are decadent. If you can't get enough, they do have online ordering and shipping available.

19. There is a lot to do in Fort Wayne besides shopping the sale! There is another mall, Glenbrook Square, just a half mile from the Coliseum. Fort Wayne also has a zoo, lots of trails, Science Central, and a public library with a world-renown genealogy department. You can catch a Komet hockey game also at the Coliseum or go to the new Parkview Field downtown and catch a Tin Caps single A baseball game. There is the historical Fort Wayne settlement, art museum, and shows at the beautiful Embassy Theatre. There is also a Sky Zone and movie theaters. You won't break the bank with any of these (except eating at Eddie Merlot's!), Fort Wayne is a very affordable place. They welcome the outlet sale with open arms, it's the biggest tourist attraction for the city.

20. Since Fort Wayne is the hometown of Vera Bradley, try to spot out the vintage pieces you'll see around town. The thrift shops do tend to have older pieces, but they will probably be higher priced. The thrift shops aren't dummies! If you're really into looking for vintage pieces, local garage sales tend to have them and, of course, check on Craig's List.

21. Have fun! Be thankful you get to go! I will be able to attend again in a couple of years, once my husband's job brings us back home to Indiana. During my hiatus, I've lived vicariously through my friends and family's experiences. Even if you get to go only once, the outlet sale is an experience you will never forget.

The only guide you have to read about Vera Bradley Outlet Sale in Fort Wayne Part 2

Let the Shopping Euphoria Commence!

1. Once you're through the entrance, you'll immediately be given a slick pink plastic bag for shopping.
   
   You can take as many as you want and you can come back up to the front for more. They do hurt your hands when they get full. I've tied two bags together with a third to lug over my shoulder, one bag on front and one bag in the back. Once you're at the check out, the Vera Bradley cashiers and baggers will transfer your items to white Vera Bradley plastic bags. They're a little more durable, but don't drag them.Vera fan Leslie Rittenhouse adds the following tip, “One thing I always do to make it easier on myself is find a large travel bag that I want and use that to put items in. It's so much easier to handle that on your shoulder than the pink bags. I usually try to grab a Miller, Grand Traveler, Duffle...sometimes I grab 2. And the rolling luggage or wheeled duffle are awesome. Once you bag is full take a minute pack the stuff in the rolling item and then refill your bag. Huge saver if you have arthritis or joint problems in your hands or shoulders!

2. The sale room has rows of long tables that are marked with colored balloons and numbers.
   
   There tends to be some organization, with school supplies/stationary items in one corner, wallets and cosmetics in another, special edition items in another. Don't expect there to be one row of all just cross bodies or shoulder bags. For example, the Hipsters could be in one row and the Little Hipsters in another. There are table stands saying what the items are and their prices. If they are marked down, the new prices will be written on those signs. There is a center stage with a radio station and a Vera announcer. They are constantly announcing where items are, any markdowns, and tips.

3. If you can, first have a person keep a spot somewhere where you are at least allowed to stand, if not sit, to sort through your goodies. Ideally this spot would be next to a bin on the side. The fire marshal is understandingly very strict and there will be areas marked off with yellow lines on the floor to show you where you can sort. These areas are limited and highly competitive. You can't bring merchandise in the bathrooms.

4. Then my personal strategy once inside is to take a lap through the aisles and check every cart at the end of the tables. Shoppers discard items they don't want into these carts. Once the carts are full, a worker takes the cart, sorts, and puts stuff back where they belong. You can find real gems there! Don't take the carts to shop, they will take the cart and everything you've put in it. There are also larger bins on the sides for the same purpose. Check them for treasures! I then note what are on the tables. I will also pick up on tables in that initial lap what seems to be hot or in few quantity. Vera fan Dee Cutter adds the following tip, “ALWAYS LOOK UNDER THE TABLES. That's where they get the stock to re-stock the tables. One woman told me she found an entire box of the VERY RARE camera bags under the table!!”

5. Once the initial lap is done, regroup at your sorting spot. Strategize and compare with your group. Knowing what's a great price on the sheet, I'll shop those next. If there seems to be a lot of something or higher priced, I'll wait to shop those later when they are discounted further. I will keep my eye on those.

6. I personally do not like to shop for others who can't come to the sale, especially if they have never attended and don't know what to expect. There is a 99.9% chance you will not find the latest pattern in the latest style at the sale. If you do shop for others, I would tell them to not be picky. Have a list written down of what they want and their price ranges. If you're shipping items back, be sure to include that in your price to them. And don't forget about sales tax! I would also add a little padding to help offset your travel expenses at the very least. You're doing them a big favor!

7. There are concessions and bathrooms inside the sale area. There is also a nut vendor there selling glazed nuts. Wow, the smell is amazing! You'll never forget it. There is also medical staff on hand to assist. If you're a nursing mom, you can take your baby into the medical room to nurse.

8. There are several groups of workers at the sale.
   There are the red jacketed gentlemen who help usher, give directions, and monitor the sorting areas. They are employed by the Coliseum and generally do not have information about the details of the sale. The sale workers are divided into two groups, the temporary sale workers, and the Vera Bradley employees. You will be able to distinguish them by the type of pattern on their aprons. Temporary workers have one pattern and employees another. The patterns vary by sale, and I have seen the higher-ups wear a different pattern than the other Vera Bradley employees. A keen eye will see that they are generally not dressed to work the sale. ;) The Vera Bradley employees tend to be in the check out area and special sale sections (like foundation items or sunglasses). The temporary workers tend to be the stock people.

9. Be sure to look over your bags for any flaws before purchasing them. Remember, this sale is also for seconds. I remember when Yellow Bird was a current pattern and Vera had recently taken production to China. There were a lot of bags there with the pattern upside down. I've seen major flaws, like two fronts of a Vera sewn together, to minor stitching flaws. If you do find new items, they were either used for photo props or have flaws.

10. Vera Bradley also has outlet stores, so factory exclusive items from the outlet stores will be mixed in with the regular items from the corporate stores. Keep an eye to avoid disappointment after purchase, especially with the nylon-lined versus fabric-lined bags. There are no returns or exchanges, both at the sale and in the store with items bought from the outlet sale.

11. Don't be picky on pattern placement. Don't waste your time and lose out on a good deal while looking for perfect placement. You'll have time to check again while waiting to check out. You can discard right up until handing the bag to the cashier.
    

Checking Out the Check Out

12. There are two rooms, one for the sale, and one for checking out. You can't easily check the line to check out while shopping. At the end of each session the check out line can get really long, it can snake into the sale room. Vera employees anticipate this and are very organized to keep the line from descending into chaos. After every session, the tables are restocked for the next one.

13. The check out line is like waiting for an amusement park ride, and the wait can be longer. You wind through the barriers to get to the cashiers. There are seats placed at the end of each row for those who need to sit. If you have a person in your group who can't walk through the line, they can wait at the side until it's your turn to go to a check out. There are two long rows of cashiers, and about 5-6 additional ones on the far side. Once you get to the cashiers, there will be a worker to guide you to which one you should go. Again, check the bin as you place your items on the table for any additional gems. Be kind to the workers and help sort your goodies. This will make check out easier and faster. Have your payment, ID, and registration ready to present to the cashier. Your pink bags will be tossed and your items will be put in new white Vera Bradley plastic bags.

14. At the outlet sale, Vera Bradley accepts Visa, Master Card, American Express, Discover, and cash. You can't use checks nor gift cards.

15. If you need to ship your items home, Vera has you covered. Once you check out, as you head to the exit, the post office has a table and will help you ship home. No need to find a post office! They will have packing supplies.