While living in New York, I learned a thing or two about navigating sample sales. And tonight, I was able to attend Lululemon’s special VIP pre-shop of their #BOSThrowdown Warehouse Sale. The deals are AMAZING, it is honestly worth waiting in line this weekend when the sale is open to the public (to a degree, of course. No pair of yoga pants is worth your sanity).

Here are some general tips for perusing the sale and maximizing your time:

• Know your size before entering. – Last week I visited a Lululemon retail store and tried on various styles, so I wouldn’t have to waste time trying them on at the sale.
• Prioritize the items you want to purchase. – For me, yoga pants were my number one priority, followed by workout tops, sports bras and then other items. Go directly to your priority items the second you get in the room to ensure they don’t sell out.
• Racks are organized by size. – Don’t freak if the size on the price tag doesn’t match the posted size for that rack/aisle. Some are in European sizing, but the size on the actual garment tag inside the clothes will be correct.
• Be sure to walk the perimeter of the sales floor and also check out the center aisle. – This is where accessories, scarves and sports bras are located.
• Grab everything you possibly may want off the racks and carry them around with you as you shop. – The more quickly you can snap up your items, the better. You can edit down your selections later. The clock is ticking, and more and more shoppers are being let onto the sales floor. This is bad. The more shoppers, the more competition for the items that your want.
• The dressing room is pretty spacious and is set up with a lot of different mirror stations. – This sure has NYC sample sales beat, where you usually have to battle other half-naked ladies to a quick glimpse in the mirror. At the Lulu warehouse sale, I had my very own mirror in the communal space. Amazing. Once you snag a spot at a mirror, set up your dressing room command post. If you’ve pulled multiple sizes to try on, sort them into piles by size and style of clothing. This helps to streamline the process, so you can get in and out of the dressing room as quickly as possible. UPDATE as of 10/16 – According to the LululemonWHUS twitter account, dressing rooms have been removed to make room for more product. 
• While in line for the dressing room (if they add one back) or to check out, start taking clothes off their hangers. – The sales associates have to do this before you enter the dressing room or pay for your items, so help expedite the process and speed up the line.
• Inventory selection was on-point. – There were tons of black yoga pants and leggings, which are pretty much my uniform of choice. Also a bunch of different length options, even shorts – both cycling and running. Lots of types of tops with different fits, from form-fitting to flowy. I was a bit disappointed with the sports bra selection, but wasn’t able to dig through the boxes very much due to the huge pile of clothes I was lugging around. So I’d recommend hitting the boxes towards the beginning of your hunt. And the best find of the night were the sweaters. They are located in boxes on tables in the initial aisle you enter when you go in the room. They are sooo soft, well-made and hug you in all the right places. Definitely my favorite find of the evening.
• Pricing is sort of confusing. – Sometimes it is unclear what counts as a “top” vs. “tank.” But prices are clearly marked on posters and monitor screens throughout, and you can ask a sales associate for clarification. Here is a snapshot of the pricing screen that I took.

IF YOU GO
What: Lululemon Boston Warehouse Sale (AKA Beantown Throwdown)
When: Friday, October 16th: 8am – 8pm (last entry 7pm); Saturday, October 17th: 8am- 8pm (last entry 7pm); Sunday, October 18th: 8am- 8pm (last entry 7pm; inventory dependent)
Where: Hynes Convention Center – 900 Boylston St, Boston, Massachusetts 02115. You must enter at the 900 B
oylston door.
How: Parking is available at the Prudential Center and nearby at the Pilgrim Parking Hynes garage, though it is recommended to take the T in to the city as parking might get tight.
Cost: Entry is free. Credit and debit cards are only means of payment accepted.

Hope you enjoy the sale as much as I did! I got a bunch of great items for an amazing price, and it was a fun night out with my girlfriends.