Organizers of a local warehouse-style sale happening Saturday say they’d like to see it become an annual event.
The Oak Park-River Forest Chamber of Commerce retail warehouse sale will be held from 11 a.m.-5 p.m. Saturday at the Nineteenth Century Club, 178 Forest Ave. in Oak Park. Entry is free.
“I think it just builds a lot of excitement when you hold a one-day, off-site event,” said Janice Moskoff, special events manager for the chamber.
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The inaugural event, which organizers said offers both networking and sales opportunities for business owners, occurs at a time of year that’s tough for businesses, Moskoff said. Merchandise will be priced aggressively and some shops are likely to have new products not found in store, she said.
Suze Solari, one of the event’s organizers and personal styling company owner, said vendor spots were filled quickly, and continued interest prompted a wait list.
Participating retailers are Alioto’s Gift Shop, Bliss Fashion Lounge, Careful Peach, Dailey Method Barre and Cycle, FILONI, Fitness II Perfection, Frank Lloyd Wright Trust, JAYNE, Lively Athletics, Manouche, Nature Yoga Sanctuary, Rework by ROE, Stella & Dot, Sugarcup Trading, 16 Suitcases, Ten Thousand Villages, The Barre Code, The Irish Shop, Team Blonde, Trends and Two Story Farmhouse.
“I think it’s an idea that had been germinating for a while,” said Moskoff, who previously owned a sample sale events business in Chicago.
The opportunity also allows business owners to move out older merchandise to make room for new, Moskoff noted.
“It’s like a close-out sale, really,” Solari said. The sale provides an easy way to support local businesses during a one-stop event, she added.
“I think there is a desire, but not always a completion of that desire,” Solari said of shopping local.
The charity pre-shop, from 10-11 a.m., allows 100 people to shop early. Tickets for the pre-shop cost $15; proceeds go to Hephzibah Children’s Association and the chamber’s Young Entrepreneur Scholarship. JAYNE will provide each pre-shopper with a tote bag, Solari said.
Food and drink from Spilt Milk will be available for purchase. There will not be fitting rooms available, so shoppers should dress to try on merchandise over their clothes, according to a news release. Transactions will be handled by each individual retailer; cash is recommended in case a retailer does not take credit cards, Moskoff said.
For more information, visit www.oprfchamber.org/retail-warehouse-sale.
Caitlin Mullen is a freelance reporter for Pioneer Press.