Now that tickets for the 2018 Vera Bradley Annual Outlet Sale are available for purchase, it's time to start planning. Tickets are available for the first three days of the sale on Ticketmaster. Vera Bradley only charges $5 for the tickets, but Ticketmaster added another $8 in ridiculous fees, so be prepared for that nonsense.
One thing I thought might be helpful for planning is to review the items I purchased at last year's sale. I try to plan and make lists before the sale, but once you're on the sales floor and the pressure of the crowds and time are on you, decision making can be quite frantic. So, now that I've had my items for 9 months, how do I feel about my purchases?
As a reminder, here are the items I purchased at last year's sale.
Let's start with the bags in the left side picture.
Vera Bradley Lighten Up Lunch Cooler - Because I pack my lunch for work and don't always have access to a fridge, I wanted something that would hopefully keep my lunch colder than my Vera Bradley Lunch Sack. I also wanted something that would hold more than the Lunch Sack. I like that the Lunch Cooler does hold more and because it's more structured than the Lunch Sack, it keeps my lunch from getting smashed in my teacher bag (a Vera tote, of course). And while my lunch has never been warm, I don't think it keeps things as cold as my cooler tote does, but that may be because I typically have 3 to 4 hours between packing my lunch and eating it. I'm going to try putting an ice pack in there and I'm sure it will work better.
Vera Bradley Your Turn Smartphone Wristlet - I bought this to hold my phone, ID, and money for my summer camp job since I don't usually carry a purse. It does do a great job of holding all those and it was handy to carry when I made some grocery store runs for doughnuts before the day started. (Gotta keep the staff happy and sugared up!) During the day, I usually just threw this in whatever bag I was using and kept my phone in my pocket.
Vera Bradley Carryall Crossbody - I really wanted a crossbody bag that I could use for an everyday purse. My beloved Hipster just doesn't hold enough for everyday use. This purse works perfectly. It holds everything I need and isn't too bulky. I have used it a lot since the sale and I'm disappointed that it's been retired. I'm hoping to score another one at this year's sale.
Grand Tote 2.0 - This was a last minute, not on my wishlist decision at the sale. When I heard what a good deal it was, I decided I needed one. I am so glad I did get one because this has gotten a lot of use since the sale. I frequently used it during camp to carry all the stuff I needed for activities to our various sites. I also used it as my pool bag because it holds so much stuff. I even used it at Christmas to carry presents to my mom's house. I just love the Cheery Blossom pattern and wish I owned more in it.
Let's look at the smaller items I picked up in the right side picture.
Colorful Hair Clips - I love these so much and now I can only find them at the Outlet Store. They work really well for holding those small hairs that don't make it into my ponytail or my messy bun. Hopefully, I'll be able to get some new patterns at this year's sale, but I'm not holding my breath. Vera seems to be doing away with the smaller hair accessories.
Vera Bradley Mini Notebook with Pocket - I always buy at least one of these at the sale. They are perfect for carrying in my purse for shopping lists. I actually haven't used this one yet because I haven't even used the one I bought at the 2016 sale yet. But that won't stop me from buying one at this year's sale.
Have Faith Necklace - I've worn this a few times and I really like it. I never plan to buy jewelry at the sale, but I usually wander through since the prices are good and they have some cute stuff. This is the second necklace I've bought and the quality has always been great.
Vera Bradley Flip Flop - I really like the Vera Bradley Flip Flops. They are good quality and thick, so they don't feel like they'll fall apart anytime soon like some flip flops. I always try to buy some at the sale, but usually, the larges are sold out by the time I get there. I was lucky enough to find these flip flops in Midnight Paisley last year, so I bought them even though they weren't the pattern I was hoping for. But black and white goes with just about everything, so they got a lot of wear last summer.
Ruffle Bodysuit - Sadly, I have not had a reason to use this yet.
So there you have it! I think I did pretty well for shopping in such a chaotic environment. Doing my research and having a list going into the sale definitely helped. I already have ideas for this year's sale and can't wait to start my wish list.
If you are interested in learning more about the Vera Bradley Annual Outlet Sale, here a few of my posts you might find interesting -
My Experience at the 2017 Vera Bradley Annual Outlet Sale
Tips for the 2017 Vera Bradley Annual Outlet Sale
And don't forget to check back later for my annual tips post for the 2018 sale. I'll be making predictions about what patterns we'll see at the sale.
