I tried bagging a bargain at Surrey’s not so secret Sweaty Betty sale at Sandown racecourse

If you have an expensive taste but unfortunately not the matching funds to keep up with it, attending warehouse sales can be a good way of bagging a bargain while keeping costs low. Certain big name brands frequent Esher’s Sandown Racecourse, bringing with them budget friendly discounts.

Sweaty Betty, a British brand merging technology and style to the activewear market, had a pop up at the racecourse. While the designs and quality of Sweaty Betty are gorgeous, I can never justify spending £88 on a pair of leggings.

For £5 shoppers can access the huge warehouse sale organised by Finder Keepers where prices are slashed to just £25 per pair of leggings, for example. If you’re in the market for some new togs, it’s a no brainer.

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Myself and my friend, Hannah, arrived at midday, checked in and were handed big industrial Ikea bags to chuck all our finds in. Located in the Esher Hall, there were rows of tables covered in boxes with other shoppers wildly rummaging through.

There were some rails with garments neatly draped on hangers, and friendly staff were milling about the floor tidying up after whirlwind shoppers. While it wasn’t half as hectic as I had imagined, I did find the experience a little overwhelming and had to quickly lock in and not get distracted by the goings on around me.

On another note, the venue was easy to find, and there is plenty of free parking on site. Here’s what I learnt from the experience, and some top tips for those looking to attend for the first time.

Plan ahead

First and foremost, plan ahead. If you haven’t got a massive budget, there is a difference between buying something on sale and buying something because it’s on sale. In other words, don’t buy something just for the sake of it being cheaper than usual.

Before going, I knew what my wardrobe was lacking, and what I needed to be looking for in particular. I took a quick look at clothes I already have, and went with the intention of finding clothes that matched my current wardrobe.

In the interest of saving time, make sure you know what sizes fit you in this particular brand. Also know the range, what you like and what you don’t like, because you will not be able to return or swap any purchases.

Pick your timings

The event is ticketed by time slots, so you won’t have to face a mad rush. You may need to queue, especially for the earlier time slots.

We visited at midday on the second day of sales, but Hannah has attended before said it can be better if you have one of the earlier slots. She did notice that the stock availability was better on the first day early in the morning, however the Finders Keepers website does suggest stock is replenished.

In theory it shouldn’t matter if you arrive at an earlier or later slot, because stock is replenished. If you want a quieter shopping experience, rock up later.

Check over items

While most of the items are in new condition, it’s worth checking over before purchasing. Some garments appeared faulty, or had defects and you wouldn’t want to pay for something damaged. Most items will be labelled if there is damage. I did see some foundation marks on one or two items where people have tried them on, which was a dealbreaker for me.

Get locked in

If you’re hypervigilant of your surroundings or find it hard to focus because it’s busy, bring some calming techniques to make the experience more enjoyable. Noise cancelling earplugs would be great for this.

Wear clothes that are easy to get on and off in case you want to try anything, and don’t wear anything that is too heavy or cumbersome and would get in the way while shopping. We were also surprised to find that the fitting room was strewn with clothes some people had disregarded and left on the floor at which point Hannah turned to me and remarked: “Now this is the place to be” as we searched through the piles.

Conclusion

Overall I’d say this shopping experience is worth a visit, and is a fun day out to do with friends. Sandown Racecourse is conveniently located in Esher, right near all the restaurants and cafes so you can make a day out of it.

I've also seen other brands like the White Company, Heals and Neptune having sales at the racecourse too. I would certainly be intrigued to see what those bring in future.