Ready, Set, Shop! Bakers Flock to 2012 Wilton Tent Sale

Some shoppers will go a long way for a good deal. Just ask Bill Zullo, a Wilton employee and helper at the Wilton Tent Sale.

Zullo, who helps run the massive cake decorating and baking supplies discount sale, has seen shoppers come from as far away as Ireland for the event.

"Wilton is a brand name, so people understand Wilton has good bakeware, so people come from all over the country—and the world—and look at what we have," Zullo said.

The event, now in its 26th year, is a major draw for Chicago-area food crafters and began as a sale of surplus items stacked on wooden pallets. It has since grown into a massive tent sale offering more than 3,000 products.

People come to stock up on baking supplies for prices that are 55 percent lower than what they will find at retail stores, according to Zullo. 

The sale highlights some of Wilton's new items and gives the company a sense of how the items will fare in the marketplace, Zullo said. It's also a way for Wilton to reduce inventory.

The Wilton Tent Event began June 1 and runs through June 19 in the company's parking lot, 2240 W. 75th St., Woodridge.

Hours are Monday through Friday, 9 a.m. to 8 p.m., and Saturday and Sunday, 8 a.m. to 6 p.m.