Sample Sales: 7 Sites for Back to School Shopping

Back to school shopping is projected to double in spending this year as sales are in motion. If you’re anything like me, you love finding great deals on items you want the most. Thanks to innovative thinkers and current technology your shopping desires are just a click away. You no longer have to live in New York to access killer deals and samples sales. If you are shopping for fall semester right now, here’s what’s hot and not so hot this shopping season.

HOT:

Gilt.com

This site is for true fashion buffs and addicts. Gilt provides access, by invitation only, to men’s, women’s and children’s fashion and luxury brands at prices up to 70% off retail. Each sale lasts 36 hours and you can purchase 5 items at a time.

TIP: Get there early because things sell out in minutes! To introduce each brand, Gilt provides designer bios and suggests must-have pieces and featured designers. I love this site, because there is something here for everyone, I often buy things for my boyfriend and have even booked some nice hotel stays using:

Jetsetter.com, a new addition to Gilt,  which is a private online community that provides members with insider access, expert knowledge, and exclusive deals on the world’s greatest vacations

Gilt offers a $25 shopping credit for inviting your friends

About the Founders
Alexis and Alexandra founded Gilt in 2007. Alexis Maybank has focused on ecommerce and new media her entire career. She most recently served as GM and Director of Business Development for AOL’s ecommerce businesses. Prior, Alexis launched and ran eBay Canada, which at the time existed as Canada’s largest ecommerce business. Alexandra Wilkis Wilson has 10 years of international experience in the luxury goods, retail and finance sectors. Most recently she oversaw retail operations at Bulgari, overseeing 15 North American stores. Prior, she managed Leather Goods Sales Planning for Louis Vuitton North America. Alexis and Alexandra set out to take the New York invitation only sample sale “on the road” via the Internet superhighway; they made what was once accessible to New Yorkers, accessible to the country.

RueLaLa.com

This was one of the first sample sale sites that I came across a few years back.

Rue La La is a division of Retail Convergence, Inc., a portfolio of e-commerce companies leveraging a common technology platform, customer database, and management team to revolutionize online shopping.

The site offers womenswear, menswear, bedding, wine, trips and even spa excursions. The sales start Mon-Friday at 8am PST and they just added a special Sunday night sale event.

Invite your friends and receive a $10 shopping credit  after they make their first purchase.

I was really impressed with RueLaLa’s customer service.

TheOutnet.com

Im obsessed with this fairly new site which functions as an online fashion outlet offering discounted designer womenswear and accessories.

TheOutnet is owned by NET-A-PORTER.COM (the world’s premier online luxury fashion retailer) so you can expect some luxurious selections at up to 95% off retail.

The Outnet hosts time-limited discount shopping events where you have the opportunity to shop the sale. I love the fact there there’s no time limit for these sales and you don’t have a limit of how many items you can put in your cart.

The site also features occasional  Pop-Up sales, designer Giveaways and Going, Going, Gone sales.

“Great fashion won’t disappear – it will go to theOutnet! We are delighted to create a vibrant, fun and edited destination for the global sale shopper to call her own.” ~Natalie Massenet, Founder and Chairman of NET-A-PORTER & TheOutnet.com

Onekingslane.com

Offers great home essentials, entertaining and travel needs, and has a fantastic gift selection.

New sales events launch daily at 8am PT/ 11am ET and last 72 hours

Invite your friends and receive a $10 shopping credit.

About the Founders:
Susan Feldman and Alison Gelb Pincus are passionate home enthusiasts. After realizing that there wasn’t a place to find stunning home décor goods at affordable prices, they created One Kings Lane. The brand mission of creating an innovative online service for both consumers and brand owners continues to motivate Susan, Alison and the devoted One Kings Lane team.

Not So Hot:

Ideeli.com

Ideeli offers limited-time sales featuring womenswear, home, kids and beauty–at prices up to 80% off. New brands are featured every day in sales starting at 12 p.m. EST. Sales last 40 hours, or until items are sold out. They also have weekly giveaways. Ideeli members are notified by email, Facebook and Twitter each time a new sale starts.

The site offers a $25 shopping credits for each friend who buys.

The only downside to ideeli is that is takes nearly a month to receive your items, so if you’re shopping for a special event, keep that in mind.

Hautelook.com

Items often sell out too quickly. Hautelook adds tax and high shipping charges to your order.

Hautelook offers sales starting daily at 8am PST which last 48-hours

You can expect to find womenswear, menswear, accessories, beauty, kids and home brands.

Invite your friends and receive a $10 shopping credit  after they make their first purchase.

If you would like an invite to any of these sites please contact ME. And feel free to share your favorite flash sale sites in the comments, twitter, and facebook.