- Associated Press - Monday, April 7, 2014

FORT WAYNE, Ind. (AP) - The Vera Bradley Outlet Sale is more than just the paisley bargain buyers’ dream. It’s also a sizable boost for the local economy.

More than 60,000 shoppers will flood the Memorial Coliseum on Wednesday through Sunday for the annual Vera Bradley Outlet Sale. Wednesday through Friday is broken into four time-scheduled sessions. Tickets for the sale are $5 and required, except for Saturday and Sunday when it’s open for all shoppers. Customers can purchase tickets from the Vera Bradley website.

Shoppers use the 40 percent to 60 percent off sale to stock up on favorite patterns, designs and color schemes, and some even get a head start on Christmas shopping.

There’s some new happenings at this sale this year, too.

Melissa Schenkel, public relations manager for Vera Bradley, told The News-Sentinel (https://bit.ly/1hxmpJZ ) the sale is incorporating a deal of the day.

“Every day a specific product will be available for a super-deal. These special deals will be offered on verabradley.com as well as Vera Bradley Retail Stores,” she said.

She said Visit Fort Wayne staff will also be on site at the sale to answer questions and promote other tourism opportunities within the area.

A shuttle service to Vera Bradley at Jefferson Pointe leaves on the hour every hour. So Fort Wayne visitors can hop on the shuttle and shop and dine at Jefferson Pointe mall without having to navigate their way through Fort Wayne.

From hotels to restaurants, Visit Fort Wayne reports that the sale brings in $6 million in revenue to the local economy. While a lot of that money is spent on lodging, food and shopping, it’s also a booster for day spas and tours of DeBrand Fine Chocolates. Many visitors also finish up their Fort Wayne shopping trip with a stop at Glenbrook Square or Jefferson Pointe.

Visitors comes from all 50 states and eight countries. There are 5,000 hotel rooms in Fort Wayne and all are expected a sellout thanks a convergence of events including the Vera Bradley Outlet Sale, Indiana-Notre Dame Soccer Game, Teresa Caputo Show, Peg Perego Sale, DeBrand Open Tours and Pink Crush Classic.

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Information from: The News-Sentinel, https://www.news-sentinel.com/ns

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