by Ashley Witzenberger
BERLIN — The annual Ibex tent sale is a must for thousands each fall, and folks come from far and wide for the quality clothing at drastically reduced prices. Historically, the sale took place in Quechee Vermont, and last year, at Suicide Six. All that is about to change as Montpelier’s local sports authority, Onion River Sports, will host the sale this year in their warehouse in Berlin.
The team at Onion River Sports is working with the folks at IBEX to bring over 7,000 pieces of clothing to central Vermont for the sale Columbus Day weekend, Friday, October 9 through Sunday, October 11 from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. In the past, people have been known to camp out, awaiting the opening of the doors, and the Onion River Sports staff is gearing up for more than just the sale, which will include activities and food.
Ibex Outdoor Clothing is a wool clothing company with a concentration on natural fibers known for durability, catering to the modern and active person. The sale will feature discontinued and closeout items and samples including woolies and jersey fashion pieces, items that Ibex is famous for.
It will be a progressive sale with the sales getting better and better. Many shop on the first day of the sale to ensure they see it all and have their first pick of sizes, and then return on Sunday for even bigger mark downs. Most items will be 30 to 65 percent off but some items will be marked down as much as 75 percent. The organizers are encouraging people to come early and to “be green and carpool.”
Onion River Sports has long had a warehouse in Berlin where they conduct their internet business, and now, this year’s Ibex warehouse sale. In addition to the Ibex inventory, Onion River Sports will also feature sales of up to 40 percent off on prior seasons cross-country skis, snowshoes and equipment. “We’re excited about this opportunity to partner with Ibex. Onion River is used to putting on some large events, but this one will dwarf them all. This will be a huge event for ORS, our patrons and hopefully Central Vermont,” says Andrew Brewer, owner of Onion River Sports, Onion River Kids and The Shoe Horn in Montpelier.