Wilton's annual Tent Sale

LTH,

Every year during June Wilton Industries holds their tent sale outside of their corporate headquarters in Woodridge. This year it is running until June 20th.

For those of you not familiar with Wilton they started as a cake decorating products company. Today they also produce the Copco line of products available at Target and their newest addition is the Mario Batali line of cookware.

I visited last Friday and found many things of interest. Even though I did not buy I might go back to get the Batali Lasagna pan for $40, Panini grill pan and weight for $40. Both of these items retail at around $80 and are made of ceramic coated cast iron. Unfortunately, you don't get a choice of colors (persimmon orange is all that's available)

For anyone who likes to bake you'll find crazy deals on things like pans and decorating supplies. This year there is an isle dedicated to picture frames as well.

I'll be visiting again soon. So far I've only gotten a few cookie sheets, the Batali nested prep bowls, and a few pairs of spring loaded tongs.

Wilton's campus is located on the Northwest corner of I-355 and 75th street.

Flip

I wasjust thinking about this sale today...does anyone know what the dates are for this year?

Is it worth going to?

Thanks.

I am signed up for the Tent Sale e-mail alert and last month, they wrote to say that they're skipping the sale this year. Here's a link to their brief explanation:

http://www.wilton.com/events/index.cfm

If next year's sale is bigger and better, it might make up for being bummed out now.

PBandFluff wrote:I wasjust thinking about this sale today...does anyone know what the dates are for this year?

Is it worth going to?

Thanks.

As Twix pointed out,it's canceled this year. That being said,it's a huge tent sale about as long as a football field. If you're into baking you'll think you've died and gone to heaven. Warning....My opinion is that of a non baker.

They also sell a vast array of utensils,tea pots,and picture frames. I've seen Martha Stewart and Mario Batalli closeout stuff too. Prices are excellent.

Artie summed it up right--it is the best sale EVER. Most things were 50% off retail. My best deal was the Batali panini pan and press for $40 and I use it all the time. Besides the Wilton baking things (pans, decorating things, cake boxes, candy wrappers, etc.) they had lots of utensils (Batali, Copco, and Martha Stewart Everyday for Kmart), cookware, and household items (garbage cans, picture frames, travel mugs). You can easily spend a ton of money there but the prices are fantastic.

Sign up for their Tent Sale e-mail on the previous link so you can be notified next year.

BUMMER!!!!! Thanks though for the heads up...I will be sure to get on the tent email for next year..

Sounds like a great sale I cannot wait to go to...I am a huge baker so waiting will be hard...

Thanks again.

In lieu of the annual tent sale this year, I believe they will be hosting an 80th anniversary event in Darien, IL this Saturday. http://www.wilton.com/classes/openhouse.cfm

Colette Peters will be in attendance as a judge for a cake competition being held.

Just looked at the website and the dates listed for this year are May 29-June 16.

I am a newbie to this sale so I am VERY excited to go!

http://www.wilton.com/forums/messagevie ... le=#520227

Did anyone go this year?

how was it?

My teenaged daughter and I went last Sunday. A lot of people, but not suffocating crowds. There are a number of aisles for scrapbooking, wedding favors and accessories, picture frames, etc.. but we skipped those (at times feeling like salmon going upstream) and concentrated on the baking/kitchenware aisles. Daughter is VERY into cake decorating and spent quite a chunk of change on things like sprinkles, candles, meringue powder, baking pans, templates of some sort that help you write on a cake, etc. She said the prices were quite reasonable compared to Michael's and Hobby Lobby.

The check out line stretched waaaay past the tents. I'd say we spent 45 minutes in line to check out, but it was well managed and a lovely day, so no complaints.

Went on Wednesday. Picked up bakeware and decorating kits. Got some for my granddaughter because we are going to take a cupcake or cake decorating class together. She was really excited with her gift. Also got a Mario Batali cast iron pot, apron and cups, a few gadgets and what I really needed cake boards to hold a 10 inch cheese cake. The checkout line was long but moved quickly and efficiently. It was crowded but doable in the aisles. The hardest thing was parking and after driving around several times and viewing road rage we finally got a spot right off the entrance. All in all it was a fun morning.
Paulette

I was there on Thursday. Upon checking out, my items were placed in a very thin garbage style bag (no handles), which ripped before I got to the car. Don't forget your own bags if you plan on buying much of anything.

I've never been in years past, but now I'm debating if it's worth the trek. I was going to try and go tonight after work, but I won't get there until 6:30pm. I just read on the Wilton Forum that it is not advised to go after 6pm b/c they don't restock the bins until after hours. I am deathly afraid of what the crowds might be like this weekend. Is it really worth checking out? Are the prices and selection that much better than using a 40% or 50% off coupon at Michael's or JoAnn? I am mostly interested in cooking & baking supplies, not scrapbooking stuff.

paulette wrote:and what I really needed cake boards to hold a 10 inch cheese cake.

I had meant to ask you, but forgot...how did this work, and if so, could you post about it?

Haven't used them yet but will post when I try.
Paulette

We went last Friday, and the crowd was huge. NO parking anywhere we could find. Cars were even parked on the surrounding streets. And inconsiderate people parking in the aisles, making all traffic single file which was a total disaster. We ended up parking in the far corner of the Jewel lot across the street and hiking in.

The crowds inside the tent were just as bad. If you had a cart you couldn't get anywhere. Even with the small basket, navigating the sea of bodies wasn't easy. And their Mario Batali colors are gawd awful: I haven't seen those shades of orange and green since the 70s, and hope I never see them again!

And the few things I'd got before that I wanted more of they no longer had. We did get about one small basket of stuff, but honestly the deals weren't that great. Many were about the same price as Michaels with their 40% discount coupon.

I honestly don't think it was worth a 90 mile round trip.

But on the way back, we came west on I99 instead of north on I355, and stopped at the Aurora discount mall. The place to stop there was the Le Creuset store. We got a fantastic deal on the blue stuff they were closing out.

We went to the Wilton Tent Sale on opening weekend. After experiencing all of the parking and aisle congestion issues that j r described above, we managed to fill our little basket and both of my arms with "treasure". Neither the Chow Poodle nor I could hold any more stuff, so we decided to check out and leave. After battling our way toward the check out area, we discovered that the line for the cashiers stretched all the way down the side of the warehouse next to the tent and around the corner. It would be at least a 45 minute to 1 hr wait just to pay for our stuff. We placed our basket on the floor next to several others that had been abandoned and left. The Wilton tent sale can only be described as something that rhymes with bluster cluck. As excited as I was about this event, I won't be returning again. The Wilton Tent Sale is unpleasant in every possible way.

Chaos at the Wilton Tent Sale

I went last night and arrived around 6pm. I guess it was something I had to experience for myself since people drive in from all over the country! It was not crowded at all. Plenty of parking was available, but the merchandise was picked over. I had hoped to pick up some cake strips and three 6" round cake pans, but they were out of stock. Instead, I picked up some parchment paper, birthday candles, food coloring gel, 2 offset spatulas, block & italic message press kit for writing on cakes, and some small accessories for cake decorating. The Wilton baking stuff was 50% off MSRP, and the scrapbooking stuff was 50% off plus an additional 33% off. I was surprised to see some Martha Stewart party decor and scrapbooking merchandise, so I picked up a MS paper punch that I had wanted for awhile now.

Pucca wrote:I went last night and arrived around 6pm. I guess it was something I had to experience for myself since people drive in from all over the country! It was not crowded at all.

I guess going off hours or maybe on a weekday is the key. I should have added to my original post that the prices were pretty good on the stuff that they had.

Did anyone go this year? Anything different to report?

I went down to the tent sale last Sunday. I have never been to this event so I can't make comparisons to previous years. I arrived around 9:30am and had no problem finding a good parking spot. As I entered the tent , I had to resist the instinct to take a few steps backs. The aisles were soooo long and already beginning to jam with people and carts. I spent about an hour going up and down the aisles. The scrapbooking and craft aisle was deserted took only about 5 minutes to check out. I only waited about 10 minutes for an available cashier. At the end, I paused to evaluate the items in my cart and wound up giving about a third back at the register. It is too easy to go crazy and buy useless things just because the prices are so attractive. I was very happy with my purchases. The prices are great and the selection tremendous. The only disappointment was that they were out of the Trim 'n Turn Ultra Turntable that I've had my eye on.

However....As good as the deals are, I don't know if it is worth it because the behavior of the shoppers is abhorrent. I twice had people intentionally bang my cart with theirs in order to get at something they wanted. There were many who tried to loudly direct the traffic of the other shoppers. I am glad Octarine decided to stay home. I think his head would have exploded at the event.

Hi- The tent sale is going on again right now.

http://www.wilton.com/events/

Hours of Operation:
Doors will open May 29th, 2015 at 1:00 pm
Mon – Fri 9:00 am - 8:00 pm
Sat & Sun 8:00 am - 6:00 pm

Located At:
2240 W. 75th Street
Woodridge, IL 60517

Artie wrote:Hours of Operation:
Doors will open May 29th, 2015 at 1:00 pm
Mon – Fri 9:00 am - 8:00 pm
Sat & Sun 8:00 am - 6:00 pm

Located At:
2240 W. 75th Street
Woodridge, IL 60517

I read up thread. Given the time, drive, and gut punches to lovers of humanity I think I will just order online or wait. Thanks for the update.

I'll be there early on Sunday

foodie1 wrote:I'll be there early on Sunday

We might bump into each other possibly.

My sisters and I will be there.

Regards,

If you want to be a War Boy from Mad Max Fury Road for Halloween, Wilton's has a silver cake decorating spray, much healthier than using Rustoleum for spraying around your mouth.

Wilton Brands is moving its corporate headquarters in the next few months. Due to the timing of our move, we will not be holding our annual Wilton Tent/Warehouse Sale this year.

We are happy to announce a new opportunity for our Wilton shoppers! For the first time ever, we will be opening an outlet store in a location next to the Wilton Store in Darien, IL. This outlet store will offer the same, great Wilton products you know and love at deeply discounted prices year round. This brand new location is expected to open in late summer of 2017.

More details will be shared in the future— check for updates.

http://www.wilton.com/warehouse-sale-ou ... MS-04.html