When something is exclusive, people assume it must be desirable.
Whether it’s the VIP area at a nightclub, a limited-edition car, or a trendy boutique, the more inaccessible something is, the more people want it.
This concept has spilled right into the world of online shopping. Once a haven for any Jill with a computer to find THE best deals in the world on whatever she wanted, now it’s not quite that easy.
Now, you’ve got to be an online insider (or so say the online marketing people for fashion companies) if you want access to awesome sales. You have to seek out membership for private sale sites.
A private sale site offers limited-time promotional pricing on a handful of unique or designer items – sales usually last only 2-4 days. But in order to get access to the sale pricing, you have to be a member.
Here are a few of the ones I’ve tracked down and what type of items they offer to members.
The fun thing about these sites is that you get “store” credits or referral bonuses if you refer friends to the site and they join or  buy something.
Zulily is probably one of the most popular private sale sites. It offers designer and boutique baby and child items, as well as apparel and accessories for women. They market to moms and moms-to-be.
Totsy is a competitor to Zulily, offering the same types of products including toys and helpful lifestyle products for moms.
Ideeli has a broader offering than Totsy or Zulily. Its sales cover apparel for men, women and, accessories, home furnishings and even travel. You’re likely to find ultra-recognizable designer names at Ideeli, like Calvin Klein, Versace, London Fog and more.
Editor’s Closet covers primarily women’s fashion and accessories from high-end designers such as Nina Ricci, Vivienne Westwood and intimates brand Cosabella.
Rue La La is wide-ranging like Ideeli. You’ll find designer apparel, high-end kitchen products like Le Creuset and Wedgwood, luxury travel stays and more.
My Perfect Sale is a smaller site offering mainly women’s apparel and accessories.
Ivory Trunk offers mainly men’s and women’s apparel and accessories, but will sometimes get a really unusual item, like Mohammed Ali memorabilia.
Haute Look is another super-popular private sale site, offering beauty products, fashion for men, kids and women, as well as travel.
Gilt Groupe is all fashion, all the time.
One Kings Lane is THE home decor site if you love Martha Stewart Living magazine. The brands they work with offer beautiful, simple and elegant design.
Eziba is owned by Overstock and its products run the gamut from home decor to jewelry items.
2M Collective focuses specifically on modern and contemporary home decor items. You won’t see Old World style furnishings here.
The Foundary highlights mainly home essentials – rugs, stationery, lamps, exotic teas and the like. This site has really unusual and unique offerings that aren’t just run-of-the-mill items.
Joss & Main is similar to One Kings Lane in style…and currently has a wait list for membership. Ooh, even MORE exclusive!
I’ve never bought anything off of a private sale site, and I happened to see a product one of them offered in the manufacturer’s online “outlet” site for about the same price. So I’m not sure if the deals are as smokin’ as the sites promise. But it sure is fun to shop around!
