The Ultimate Workout: A One-Day Sample-Sale Spree

Follow that woman: Sarah Gardner, who conducts tours and shopping sprees that often lead to warehouses and showrooms in the Fashion District, visiting Migosa, which sells designer labels and accessories. She is also the editor of a sample sale guide.
By Emily Prager

New York , Sunday, December 17, 1995: Metro Section

The group of four women taking Sarah Gardner's Christmas Bargain shopping spree convenes at the Jerusalem II coffee shop on Broadway in the fashion district.

These shoppers, like those who take the regular daily tours, “are bargain hunters fed up with paying retail, “says Ms. Gardner, the editor of Fashion Update Magazine, a comprehensive sample-sale guide. She tailors the tours to the clients.

“ They want top dollar, savings of 50 to 95 percent and they can have it buying direct from the showroom.” She says.

That's what the women in today's tour are doing: going on a wholesale hunt into the wilds of the garment center. And they are getting a bargain even before the excursion starts. Usually such a trip costs $100 a person, plus $65 for a subscription to the quarterly magazine. Today, as a special promotion, they are being charged for only the subscription.

Most of the tours have about 10 shoppers. But today, there are five no-shows.

Ms. Gardner knows how both to relax the shoppers and to whip up their excitement for the hunt. In business since 1989, she has a proper reverence for shopping. According to the New York Convention and Visitors Bureau, visitors spent $2.5 billion in 1994 on shopping.

First stop, the PSI showroom. “Career suits for women.” She says.

Mary Ann Wong, a willowy young women from Connecticut , is looking for a coat. Amadina Torre, a diminutive woman in her 30's, is stalking gifts to take home to the Philippines after Christmas. Mary Parris, from Brooklyn , says she wishes to know about the outlets. Dawn White smiles mysteriously. “Whatever comes along.” She says.

They are instantly overwhelmed. A true workroom, the huge space is a mail room of cutting tables, button boxes, patterns pinned to walls, bound up bolts of material and racks and racks of colorful women's suits. The lighting is stark. Phones ring. People shout.

But this stop leaves a bitter taste. The suits are too large or too small for the women. They leave disgruntled.

Next stop, Parsons School of Design. “A big sale,” Ms. Gardner says, “ lots of designers under one roof. You'll love it.” The shoppers cheer up. They give her the benefit of the doubt.

The sale at Parsons is as promised. Lost of vendors, including J. Morgan Pruett and Something Old, Something New. Lots of lovely things like velvet scarves for $20 and little gold backpacks for $15. The shoppers have the huge space, an auditorium that is gently lit, almost to themselves. They begin to shop, totally concentrated, silent.

“Shopping is intense.” Says Esther Baldinger, an associate of Ms. Gardner. “At the end of the day, you're exhausted. Its harder than work.”

Next stop, Marem Warehouse, where the shoppers find children's clothing and shearling coats. Some merchandise is from stores that have gone bankrupt, says Eddie Habbaz, the owner. And what is the average markup in a retail story? “At least double” he says.

Mr. Wong announces, “ I got my coat,” “only $1,300,” Ms. Gardner whoops, clapping her hands. “ Five thousand dollars in a retail store.”

The coat is floor-length shearling embossed with a pretty drawstring tie at the neck. Ms. Wong looks wonderful in it.

After four hours of shopping and four sample sales, the shoppers, who have spent about $300 each, leave weighed down with bags of designer clothing. But that was their goal.