Ready, set, shop: Five Points, Devine sidewalk sale

If there’s one thing any fashionista will tell you is that there isn’t much they wouldn’t do for a deal. Even if it means braving the hot and humid dog days of summer to score that must have didn’t-even-know-I-needed-it-till-now item. Well, that’s what Amy Beth Franks of Five Points and Jennifer Suber of Devine Street were banking on when they conjoined the two districts for one giant sidewalk sale.

Between August 7-9 the second annual summer sale boasts markdowns up to 90% off plus other specials. And its no coincidence that it also falls on tax free weekend.

“Several of my retailers in Five Points reported greater numbers then they typically had seen in past sidewalk sales,” said Franks. And with this year’s sale more businesses have jumped on the free trolley - we’ll get that in a second - than not, taking advantage of the influx of customers who want to score a deal and not have to pay taxes.

“Some of the businesses have taken it upon themselves to do their own sidewalk summer sale in conjunction with us and we love that,” said Franks.

The discounts vary by location but you’re guaranteed a good deal if you stick to the stores that are participating.

“We encourage them to do as much as they can,” said Franks about the deals and promotions the select stores advertize. “Feature a trunk show or giveaway a gift with purchase. We have new burlap tote bags for Five Points and hopefully some of our merchants will be giving those away.”

Lauren Flack, director of retail operations for Vestique – a store that opened in Five Points two years ago – says that in addition to applying the sale to the sale section, the entire store will be marked down as well.

“We normally sell within season and pretty much everything’s under $50,” said Flack. “We have the staples but a lot of the pieces are your trendier pieces that you’re going to get just a few seasons wear out of and then you’re going to want to come get other stuff just because it’s trendy.”

Whereas their Devine counterparts, Just the Thing and Pink Sorbet, are pushing more of their spring and summer season items for sale to make room for new fall merchandise.

“Its very much buy now, wear later,” said Tracy Wright, owner of Just The Thing.

Beth Baxley, owner of Pink Sorbet, your own stop shop for all things Lily Pulitzer is thinking of it more as an opportunity to buy your favorite print now at a discount and wear it through the seasonal change.

“Lily is a resort chic brand so you just keep wearing it,” said Baxley. “Just add tights and boots with it and throw a sweater over it. And if you go on Lily’s website a lot of [our sale items] is still full priced.”

And now to the free trolley. This year the sale partnered with Captain Telegram and identified six locations that are equally and centrally located between the two districts and will run all day on Saturday from 11-4 to help move patrons amongst the districts.

“We want them to have brunch and shop and then have lunch and shop and maybe have pre-dinner drinks and shop some more,” Franks laughs. “We really want people to make it a big day.”

The goal was to keep it as simple as possible while providing a good deal and a good time for both customers and stores alike.

“These businesses see it slow down a lot in summer so we really wanted to give these local retailers that strong boost so they can go into the fall strong and ready to just do what they do best, which is sale great local goods.”

This story was originally published August 4, 2015 at 8:01 PM.