Memorial Day Sidewalk Sales

The internet is buzzing about the Memorial Day sidewalk sales in the outlet centers.
  
New York: Rock & Republic Store Opening Sale Memorial Day Weekend
Outlet Malls tend to go gaga for holiday weekends

Prime Outlets, located in Pleasant Prairie, is having their Memorial Day Sale 

To celebrate the long Memorial Day Weekend, the Philadelphia Premium Outlets are staying open 12 hours a day

Visit the Jersey Shore, Liberty and Jackson Premium outlets this Friday - Monday for huge savings

Big Savings at North Georgia Premium Outlets

Tanger Outlet in Tuscola Memorial Day Sidewalk Sale


Mark Libell

Drunk Shopping at Woodbury Common

OK, I found this post on line and just had to forward it on. I think I have had this customer in my stores. I'm not endorsing "drunk shopping" although it does sound fun. At least they're smart enough to take the bus and not drive.

Drunk Shopping, celebrating the time-honored tradition of getting totally wasted while the sun's still shining before buying a bunch of debatably useful stuff that the sober you would be too timid or too restrained to take home. Each Friday we'll cobble together a new itinerary starting you off with a boozy Saturday or Sunday brunch before meandering through a few neighboring retailers and happy hours notable for seasonal specials, limited time availability, fantastic deals, recent openings, or new shipments.

Memorial Day is a commemoration of all those brave men and women who gave their lives for our freedom, not to mention an unofficial launch of the summer season. More importantly, there are a ton of sales and practically everyone gets a day off from work. So, to celebrate, Drunk Shopping is leaving town (like everybody else) and boarding the Gray Line bus bound for Woodbury Commons Premium Outlets in Central Valley, New York. The buses leave about once an hour from Port Authority and a round trip ticket is $42. We know, we're not Rockefellers either, but if you pack bagels, loaded flasks and bottled juices for the ride, brunch is virtually free.

In just over an hour you'll be in the middle of the Catskills tipsily enjoying the sun and "hiking" around one of the largest outlet centers in the world. And we're not just talking outlet standards like Gap and Bass and Ann Taylor (though they all have locations there); Woodbury Commons has a Balenciaga, a Barneys, a Yves Saint Laurent, even a new Marni. We're getting all tingly just writing about it.

Now, these are all outlets, so there are slashed prices in just about every shop. But read on for a few especially special deals to look out for. If you're searching for dresses, Betsey Johnson's reduced items are an additional 40% off, as are new arrivals at Catherine Malandrino (meanwhile, clearance at Malandrino is an additional 75% off). Buy three items at Diane von Furstenberg and save 30%; while Chloé is offering 20% off your entire purchase (with some exclusions). Kate Spade has the same idea, they're offering 25% off each transaction—sorry, only ten items per customer.

Neiman Marcus Last Call is offering 30% off your entire purchase, as is the newly opened Rock & Republic shop. Not good enough for you? Superdry's entire store is 50% off. At American Apparel all tees and tanks are only $10, and shorts are 40% off lowest marked price—and their stuff never gets marked down. Likewise, J.Crew's basic tees are also $10 across the board. And these sale events are really the tip of the iceberg. Check the Woodbury Commons Sales & Events page for a complete list of deals from retailers as disparate as Le Creuset, Jimmy Choo, and PacSun.

Some tips: Take a break midday at Applebee's. Why? Because it's the only place there you can get your booze on. And, well, their cocktails are huge, their prices are low, and they have a crazy new burger menu. Also, you should dress and wear massive, crazy sunglasses—you live in New York City, and everyone needs to know that. Most importantly, bring enough booze to cover the bus ride home. And please don't miss the last bus out—it's at 9:26pm.

Source: Racked

THE CLEARANCE RACK

Leftover items from the week: 

Joe's Jeans Opens at Cincinnati Premium Outlets   For related stories see:  Joe's Jeans Opens at Wrentham Village Premium Outlets  ; Joe's Jeans Opens Store at Leesburg Corner Premium Outlets; Outlet mall thriving despite difficult economic times 

J. Crew Announces First Quarter Fiscal 2010 Results

New Saks Fifth Avenue Store Opens At Tanger Outlets For related stories see:Saks OFF 5th Continues Its Growth;  Saks returns to profitability by reducing inventory

Things Remembered opens store at Philadelphia Premium Outlets

Tangers Rehoboth Beach Outlet donates to local schools ;Tanger Outlet Center benefits Kirbyville Schools For a related story see: Tanger Outlets in Blowing Rock helps local students.

Car show at Factory Outlets raises funds for Special Olympics 

Crazy awesome sales at Las Americas & Carlsbad Premium Outlets

Boy Scouts, Cub Scouts and YOU can help the wildlife affected by the oil spill!

New York City Shopping - Outlet Malls

Super Shopping near Amelia Island

Mark Libell

Tanger Outlets at The Arches hosts summer kick off event

Celebrity guest DJ Alexandra Richards

Tanger Outlets at The Arches hosts a summer kick off event featuring Nigel Barker of America's Next Top Model, Eric Daman lead wardrobe stylist, Gossip Girl, celebrity guest DJ Alexandra Richards, and WPIX host, Tamsen Fadal. It all happens at Long Island's newest fashion, lifestyle and shopping destination, Tanger Outlets at The Arches in Deer Park, NY.

The event is Saturday, May 29th from 10:00am to 6:00pm.

Model, it girl, artist and daughter of Rolling Stones guitarist Keith Richards, Alexandra Richards, will get the day rolling and spinning at The Arches Fountain. 

Fashion photographer Nigel Barker

Fashion photographer Nigel Barker (America's Next Top Model), will focus his lens on shoppers. Fashion photographs by NB Studio will be offered to the first 50 shoppers who spend over $200. The experience will come complete with wardrobe styling, hair by Franco Della Grazia of Cutler Salons and make up by CARGO Cosmetics International Make-up Artist, Renee Ryan. 

Eric Daman lead wardrobe stylist, Gossip Girl

Emmy-award winning Gossip Girl TV show stylist, Eric Daman, will spotlight the season's most wanted looks-for-less, inspired by his style best seller, You Know You Want It with a live fashion model presentation.

WPIX personality Tamsen Fadal

Lifestyle Expert, television journalist, and WPIX personality Tamsen Fadal will host the day of personal appearances, star treatments and summer style savings.

Tanger Outlets has built a portfolio of thriving retail venues, which today includes 33 outlet centers in 22 states. Shoppers visit Tanger Outlet Centers for the biggest selection of first-quality, in-season merchandise, and for the latest fashion trends from their favorite brand name designers. Because consumers love shopping and saving direct from the manufacturer, Tanger centers are major attractions that welcome more than 150 million brand name bargain hunters annually.

Source: fibre2fashion

Steve Tanger to do webcast

Tanger Factory Outlet Centers, Inc. announced that Steven B. Tanger, President and CEO, will be making a company presentation at the 2010 NAREIT (National Association of Real Estate Investment Trusts) Investor Forum on Wednesday, June 9, 2010 beginning at 9:00 AM Eastern Daylight Time.

The live audio-only webcast will be available online on the Company's website at www.tangeroutlet.com/investorrelations/news. An online replay will be available through July 9, 2010 at 11:59 p.m. Eastern Daylight Time at the same location.  Additionally, the webcast can be accessed at http://www.industrystream.net/reitweek2010/tanger.

Tanger Factory Outlet Centers, Inc., is a publicly-traded REIT headquartered in Greensboro, North Carolina that presently operates and owns, or has an ownership interest in, a portfolio of 33 upscale outlet shopping centers in 22 states coast to coast, totaling approximately 10.0 million square feet leased to over 1,900 stores operated by 330 different brand name companies. More than 150 million shoppers visit Tanger Outlet Centers annually. For more information on Tanger Outlet Centers, call 1-800-4 TANGER or visit the company's web site at www.tangeroutlet.com.

Source: Globe Newswire

Armed robbery at Seattle Premium Outlet Mall

Tulalip Tribal Police are searching for two suspects in the armed robbery that took place at the Coach store at the Seattle Premium Outlets Mall at 7 a.m., Thursday, May 27.

According to Tulalip Tribal Police, two of the store's employees were preparing to open the store to customers when the bell rang for the delivery door at the back of the store.

When the manager opened the door, two male suspects with bandanas over their faces rushed into the store, one armed with a handgun and the other armed with a rifle.

The robbers reportedly bound the employees' hand with plastic ties, took an undisclosed amount of cash and fled the scene. After about 10 minutes, one of the employees was able to free her hands and call 9-1-1. Neither of the two employees were injured.

"Our officers are currently working the crime scene and interviewing the employees," Tulalip Tribal Deputy Police Chief Carlos Echevarria said at noon May 27. "In a few hours, we hope to have suspect descriptions. We could possibly have video surveillance as well, but there's a lot of footage to go through."

Source: SeattlePI

Did you feel it?

500 Things to Eat Before Its Too Late

If you like my Crossroad Cuisine posts then you will love this book. I own it and whole heartily endorse it. I have used this book to find many great places to eat across the country. This is where I found out about Al's #1 Italian Beef and Mario's Italian Ice in Chicago. I discovered Roscoe's Chicken and Waffles in LA. Not just great Chicken and Waffles but also where they shot the restaurant scene in the movie Pulp Fiction (not the one where Uma Thurman dances but the one where there is a gun stand-off with Samuel Jackson.) Also, Randy's Donuts which is just a couple miles from LAX. I cant land in LA without getting my donut and coffee here. Its not just LA, Chicago and NY. Its Mississippi, Louisiana, Indiana, Texas, etc.

Seriously, If you travel and you are sick of eating room service, fast food or the standard TGIF/Applebees/etc food then you must have this book. Its small, it will fit in your carry on and is full of great food.


No I haven't eaten all 500.........but I'm working on it.


CLICK HERE TO BROWSE THE OUTLET INSIDERS BOOK STORE

Mark Libell

Tanger Outlets in Blowing Rock helps local students.

Before school lets out for summer; Tanger Shoppes on the Parkway is presenting a welcomed gift to benefit local schools. As part of Tanger’s 2009-2010 TangerBucks for Schools campaign, Tanger is making a $1,000 donation with the goal of helping local students and schools excel. By donating to the Watauga Education Foundation, all schools in Watauga County will benefit. 

"Nothing is more important in our community than giving our students the tools they need to reach their full potential,” stated Heidi Ellis, General Manager. “Tanger is proud to help provide funds for materials and educational programs to help our schools and kids succeed.”

TangerBucks for Schools is a national promotion where Tanger donates $1 for every coupon book sold throughout the course of the school year. By being part of the TangerBucks program, schools have the opportunity to sell coupon books and raise funds through other school activities, adding necessary funds to assist their school. Nationally, schools across America are receiving more than $135,000 this year as part of the TangerBucks for Schools campaign. “We have long appreciated our partnership with Tanger Shoppes on the Parkway,” said Watauga Education Foundation Executive Director, Melanie Bullard. “We will apply the donation toward our classroom grants program, which funds creative initiatives that fall outside state and local budgets.”

Tanger Shoppes on the Parkway features 30 brand name and designer outlet stores including Banana republic, Gap, Gymboree , J Crew, Liz Claiborne and several other popular brands. Tanger Shoppes on the Parkway is located on ½ mile south of the Blue Ridge Parkway on Highway 321 in Blowing Rock

Tanger Factory Outlet Centers, Inc., (NYSE:SKT), is a publicly-traded REIT headquartered in Greensboro, North Carolina that presently operates and owns, or has an ownership interest in, a portfolio of 33 upscale outlet shopping centers in 22 states coast to coast, totaling approximately 10 million square feet leased to over 1,900 stores operated by 330 different brand name companies. More than 150 million shoppers visit Tanger Outlet Centers annually. For more information call 1-800-4 TANGER or visit the company’s web site at www.tangeroutlet.com. To learn more about the Watauga Education Foundation, please visit www.wefnc.org. 

Source: GoBlueRidge.com Written by Steve Frank   

Al's #1 Italian Beef

CROSSROAD CUISINE - My quest to find great local food when I'm on the road.

No this isn't a Philly cheese steak. Its not even close. That would be like comparing a NY style pizza to a Chicago deep dish pizza. Italian Beef is a Chicago original.

After my recent trip to the Lighthouse Place Premium Outlets, I stopped here for dinner. 

Al's #1 Italian Beef

1079 W. Taylor St.

Chicago Il

312-733-8896

Open until Midnight.

Admittedly, this isn't anywhere near the Lighthouse Place Premium Outlets.  Its in the heart of Little Italy in Chicago. I pass right by it on my drive from Chicago Ohare to the center and back. Depending on my schedule I stop here for lunch on my way to the center or dinner on my way back. Its a great neighborhood. You have Little Italy and its on the campus of UIC-The University of Illinois at Chicago.

Italian Beef is thinly sliced, garlic charged roast beef that is loaded on a chewy length of Italian bread. Then the entire sandwich is dipped into a pan of natural gravy so the bread is soaked through.

This is just a regular as opposed to a large. It is topped with giardiniera which in my opinion is a must. Giardiniera is an eye opening melange of finely chopped marinated vegetables, capers and spice that is a perfect complement to the beef.

There is no place to sit here. You order from the counter and eat standing up. Actually you eat from waist high counters where you lean forward so that the dripping juices hit the counter rather than your lap or shoes.

Another great sandwich to get here is called a Combo. No that's not a sandwich with fries and a drink. Its just a sandwich. What makes it a combo is that it is a combination of Italian beef and a plump Italian sausage. Its awesome. The fries here are great too. They are fresh cut and taste delicious.

If that isn't good enough for you and your in the mood for more. Just walk across the street to Marios Italian Ice shop. (You got to love this neighborhood)

This is the real deal home made Italian ice. You can get tons of flavors.

 Check out the plastic fruit hanging from the ceiling. As you can see from the sign in the picture the daily special when I was there was watermelon ice. So that's what I had.

You can tell this is real home made Italian ice made from fresh fruit. Look closely at the picture. Yes that's a watermelon seed in my ice. It was really refreshing and this cup was only one dollar.

So the next time your heading out to the Lighthouse Place Premium Outlets, leave time in your schedule to stop in Little Italy for some great food.

For other great places to eat when your on the road, check out:

The 5-8 Club, Home of the Juicy Lucy

Barley Creek Brewing Company

If you liked this post then you have to get this book: 
500 Things to Eat Before Its Too Late

Mark Libell

Rising Rents May Signal Rebound

Rents in prime U.S. shopping areas have climbed as much as 15 percent from the end of last year, likely heralding a broader recovery, according to the head of North American leasing at CB Richard Ellis Group Inc.

National retailers are driving up the cost of space on streets such as Rodeo Drive in Beverly Hills, California, and Michigan Avenue in Chicago, Anthony Buono, the broker’s executive managing director for retail services, said in an interview in Las Vegas yesterday. Rents in the most expensive U.S. districts have increased 10 percent to 15 percent from the last quarter of 2009, he said.

Retailers are expanding to take advantage of rebounding consumer spending and national rents that have tumbled from their peak before the U.S. recession. Increases in the top districts are spurring a recovery in secondary shopping areas in cities such as Seattle and Miami, which signals that a rebound may spread next year to suburban markets, Buono said.“We’re starting to see some stabilization,” he said. “It’s the beginning of a slow march.”

On New York’s Fifth Avenue, the world’s most expensive shopping district, Japan’s Fast Retailing Co. set a record last month for a New York City retail lease. The company agreed to pay $20 million a year to rent a location near 53rd street for its Uniqlo clothing store.

“There is the sense that demand is improving quickly” in prime shopping areas in New York and other major cities, Robert Taubman, the chairman and chief executive officer of Bloomfield Hills, Michigan-based shopping center owner Taubman Centers Inc., said in an interview.

Retail Expansion

A survey of U.S. retailers conducted by Los Angeles-based CB Richard Ellis, the world’s biggest commercial property broker, showed that 92 percent plan to expand this year. Total retail leasing activity this year through April is 15 percent to 20 percent higher than in the year-earlier period, Buono said.

Buono and Taubman spoke in interviews at a convention hosted by the International Council of Shopping Centers, a New York trade group. This year’s event occurs as U.S. retailers have posted sales and earnings increases amid an economic recovery. Consumer spending probably will climb at a 3 percent annual pace this quarter, according to the median estimate of economists surveyed by Bloomberg News.
Taubman booked 20 percent more deal-making appointments at the ICSC convention than last year, he said. He called the year- over-year change in demand “extraordinary.”

‘Renewed’ Confidence

Convention meetings with landlords and retailers “suggested that both had a renewed sense of confidence, a return to the long-term views of their businesses, and a generally positive though cautious outlook for retail and retail real estate,” Rich Moore, a real estate analyst at RBC Capital Markets Corp. in Solon, Ohio, wrote in a report yesterday.

U.S. retail rents fell about 15 percent in the first three months of the year from the same period of 2009 because of vacancies created by defunct national chains, Buono said. Retailers including Circuit City Stores Inc. and Linens ‘n Things Inc. disappeared in the past two years as consumers cut spending during the worst economic slump since the Great Depression.

Source: Bloomberg - By Lauren Coleman-Lochner and Daniel Taub

Retailers rush for outlets

This month's opening of a Nordstrom Rack store in the heart of Manhattan shows just how far outlet stores have come, from being distant outposts for liquidating unsold inventory to taking center-stage in retailers' growth strategies.

Nordstrom Inc and other U.S. retailers from Coach Inc and Nike Inc to Chico's FAS Inc and Saks Inc are expanding their outlet stores, with more and more merchandise made exclusively for those stores. So far, Wall Street has cheered the approach, but analysts say the the strategy is not without risk.

If retailers are careless about how many outlets they open and where, they can harm the very traits that give high-end brands their luster: exclusivity and high prices. "Brands have to be very careful. The death of a brand is over distribution," said Todd Slater, retail analyst at Lazard Capital Markets. "One would intuitively expect some dilution to brand cachet," though it hasn't happened yet. 

So far, outlet stores have avoided eating significantly into sales at full-priced stores because retailers have been disciplined about keeping their clienteles separate through product differentiation and geographic distance, said Needham & Co analyst Christine Chen. Traditionally outlets, or factory stores, have carried unsold merchandise left over from full-priced stores, so their size and color assortments were often incomplete, or their fashions less current. They are also generally located in shopping centers away from big cities, making them good choices for occasional all-day trips, rather than impulse or everyday shopping. But now they are in more convenient locations such as the Nordstrom Rack in Manhattan's Union Square. In San Francisco, Nordstrom has both an outlet and a full department store, and that could present a problem, Chen said. "That's where I wonder if there's  cannibalization, even though the merchandise is outlet-specific ... and priced accordingly," she said. There is no full-priced Nordstrom in New York City. The company has cited the difficulty of finding a large enough space in Manhattan. But Chen wondered if opening an outlet first will train the city's legions of shoppers to go there first, even if a full department store eventually opens. "Is it a sign of the times or does it teach Manhattanites that that becomes their preferred destination?" Chen said. Nathaniel Bisson, who was shopping at the Rack in New York on Wednesday, said he went there looking for brand name items. "I can see that they're competing in both high and low categories," he said. A shopper at the Rack could find men's shirts by John Varvatos for about $40, a fraction of the regular price. But, as if to remind people of the cachet of the department stores, one Hugo Boss suit had a tag saying it came from a Nordstrom.

FULL STEAM AHEAD
Nordstrom plans to open 17 Rack stores this year, bringing the total to 89, versus only three new department stores. Rival Saks Inc, which already has more Saks Off 5th stores than full-priced Saks Fifth Avenue stores, plans to close three Fifth Avenue stores in July, but open about five Off 5th stores per year for the next few years.
Even Neiman Marcus Group Inc is getting in on the action, expanding its Last Call off-price chain. Karen Katz, chief executive of Neiman Marcus Stores, recently told Reuters that Last Call could be "a much bigger business than it is today." At a recent meeting in New York, the head of Nike's direct-to-consumer business, Jeanne Jackson, explained why Nike is "elevating its game" in outlet malls around the world where it already has 472 factory stores. Industry wide, she said sales at outlet malls open at least a year outpaced comparable sales at traditional malls by 4 percentage points over the last year. She said outlet malls also gained more than 6 percentage points of market share in the athletic shoe and clothing market over the past two years. Outlets have been crucial to keep growth going and shares rising. Since March 2009, Saks' shares have risen 270 percent, Nordstrom 105 percent, and Coach 125 percent.

MARGIN OPPORTUNITY
When outlet stores were purely clearance destinations, they often resulted in lower profit margins. But that is no longer the case, said Wedbush Securities analyst Betty Chen. They now offer similar or even better margins because real estate costs are often lower, and with more of their product made to be sold at lower prices, there are fewer unplanned, profit-eating markdowns. "It's a combination of scale and the fact that it's product made specifically for the outlet," Chen said. "You've sourced it and priced it knowing that your cost is lower."
When Coach reported earnings for its fiscal third quarter in April, it cited "significantly higher profitability" in its factory segment because about 80 percent of the goods sold there was made for them, up from 60 percent a year earlier.

Chico's this week also cited the benefit of more outlet exclusives. The clothing retailer, which plans to open 20 more outlets this year, has a "very promising" opportunity to increase its profit margins, said Wedbush's Chen, noting that its White House/Black Market brand sells very few outlet-specific goods. For Nordstrom Rack and Saks Off 5th, the proportion of outlet-exclusive merchandise to leftover merchandise is roughly similar to that for Coach. A crucial benefit is that outlet-specific merchandise lets high-end brands reach shoppers who might not be able to afford full price product yet but may trade up when their finances allow it. "Customers who shop in the off-price arena are different customers -- but they aspire to the brand," said Neiman Marcus' Katz, who will become the group's CEO in the autumn. With so much potential upside, the enthusiasm from Main Street to Wall Street is unlikely to wane any time soon. "It's a proven, profitable channel," said Lazard's Slater. "And until such time as this off-price strategy causes a significant brand dilution, Wall Street will probably continue to applaud."


Source: News Center  

Top 3 Outlet Malls in Italy

 Shown is the Serravalle Designer Outlet

The top 3 outlet malls, for tourists on Tuscany, Milan and Italy vacations, are The Mall, Tuscany Factory Outlets, Serravalle Designer Outlet and Space Factory Outlets.

The Mall, Tuscany Factory Outlet

The Mall, Tuscany Factory Outlets is located 30 minutes drive from Florence, Italy, off the A1 motorway towards Rome and the Incisa exit. The most impressive thing about the The Mall, Tuscany Factory Outlets is that it is a shopper’s paradise set in the green Tuscan hills ala Palm Beach’s Worth Avenue and might as well be known as the Gucci Super Outlet because it houses so many of the Gucci group labels. The Mall, Tuscany Factory Outlets has an outstanding array of 85 designer and name brand outlet stores including Agnona, Yves Saint Laurent, Bottega Veneta, Burberry, Ermenegildo Zegna, Fendi, Giorgio Armani, Gucci, Bottega Veneta, Tod's, Valentino, Emanuel Ungaro, Alexander McQueen, Salvatore Ferragamo, Sergio Rossi, Stella McCartney, Armani Jeans, Balenciaga and several other well known brands.
Sales time at the Mall, Tuscany Factory Outlets usually occurs from January 6th to March 6th for the Winter collection and from mid July to mid September for the Summer collection. Don’t miss out on Hogan shoes, Salvatore Ferragamo bags and everything at Gucci and Bottega Veneta for the good bargains at the The Mall, Tuscany Factory Outlets!

Space Factory Outlets

Space Factory Outlets is the best known as the hidden gem coveted by shopaholics and it located about 60 miles from Florence, Italy. Space Factory Outlets is the best place in the world to find Miuccia Prada’s treasures at insane prices. Name brand outlet stores include the Prada line stores such as Prada, Miu Miu, Helmut Lang, Jill Sander, Prada Sport and Church. The true Prada fan will not be disappointed!
Like all good things in life, Space Factory Outlets is not easy to find. Shoppers are best served using a good GPS to find this place, which is located in a gloomy, gray industrial park as obsure as its name. Once inside, shoppers have to grab a ticket and wait for their turn because the Space Factory Outlets lets in only 100 shoppers at a time. Don’t be fooled by its drab exterior – Prada bags, shoes and clothes can be obtained at more than 50% off retail!

 

Serravalle Designer Outlet 

Serravalle Designer Outlet is located just over 55 miles drive from Milan, Italy on Genoa autostrada. Serravalle Designer Outlet is one of the largest and best outlets in Europe and boasts over 180 brand-name outlet stores. Name brand outlet stores include Nike outlet, Versace, Dolce & Gabbana, Mariella Burani, Bottega Veneta, Gucci, Bulgari, Swarovski, Guess, Roberto Cavalli, Calvin Klein, Prada and Trussardi. 

Serravalle Designer Outlet is surrounded by the hills of Gavi and about half an hour from the coast of Liguria, which also makes it a lovely getaway as tourists can take in the spectacular views of the Cinque Terre and other sights. Serravalle Designer Outlet is Italy's first outlet village and houses mostly products from previous seasons at steeply discounted prices. Nevertheless, savvy shoppers are best served looking out for outlet stores coupons and discounts such as the Serravalle special Shopping Card for the best shopping experience. The Serravalle special shopping card gives shoppers 5% -15% extra discount in many of the shops at the Serravalle Designer Outlet!

Source: Suite101

Lighthouse Place Premium Outlets

Recently I went to the Lighthouse Place Premium Outlets to visit my Kids Supercenter store there.

Lighthouse Premium Outlets
Developer: Chelsea Property Group/Simon
601 Wabash Street
Michigan City, IN 46360
(219) 879-6506
Regular Hours: Mon-Sat: 9am-9pm, Sun: 10am-6pm

Directions: Lighthouse Place Premium Outlets is located in downtown Michigan City, Indiana.
From Chicago: Take I-94 east to Michigan City, Indiana, exit 34B. Travel north on US 421/Franklin Street, 4 miles to 6th Street. Left on 6th Street; two blocks to Lighthouse Place Premium Outlets.

After a great visit at my Kids Supercenter store, I walked the center. Here are some of my observations from that visit.

 Vacancies: There were a total of 8 vacancies in the center. They were spread out but were usually in the corners or through corridors between major sections. The center has 120 spaces for a vacancy rate of just under 7%.

In one of the current vacancies they were fast at work on a new Columbia Sportswear Company store.

I did see our common area maintenance charges at work while I was there. Much like my visit to the Crossings Premium Outlets several weeks ago, crews were out painting the columns in the center. Chelsea clearly has a plan in place for early spring painting. 

There is a great gazebo in the center of the mall. I have been making visits to this center for over 13 years and have never seen an event going on here. However I am usually there at non-peak times like Tuesday morning. Not a great time for a mall event.

Mark Libell

Houston Premium Outlets Begin Expansion

Houston Premium Outlets has begun construction on its second phase, adding 114,000 sq. ft. and opening 25 new stores in time for this year’s holiday season.

Click for larger image

Opened two years ago, the outlet center, owned by Simon Property Group, offers designer brands and retail stores close to home for northwest Houston residents. The center will now have a total of 145 stores, including Saks Fifth Avenue Off 5th, Joe’s Jeans, Armani Exchange, Lacoste, Esprit and Tumi.

“We are pleased to be expanding Houston Premium Outlets not only to fulfill merchant demand for space, but also to satisfy shoppers’ desire to have an even greater selection of brands at impressive savings,” said Michele Rothstein, senior vice president of marketing for Premium Outlets.

The new construction will create more than 500 jobs for the community and add more than 250 retail jobs.

“We are thrilled that our center is providing not only great outlet shopping, but is also supporting the community by creating new jobs and assisting in the overall economic growth for the area.”

Source: Community Impact Newspaper

Ann Taylor Stores Reports Operating Results

The first quarter of fiscal 2010 marked a strong start toward achieving our objective to deliver profitable sales growth at both brands for the year. Both our Ann Taylor and LOFT brands performed well ahead of our initial expectations, delivering significant sales and gross margin improvement across all channels of distribution. Net sales during the quarter increased 11.6% to $476.2 million, with overall comparable store sales increasing 14.1%. Our compelling merchandise assortments, combined with an effective promotional strategy and successful marketing initiatives, helped us win back former clients as well as attract new clients, resulting in increased traffic to our stores. This led to higher full price sell-through and positive comparable sales performance each month during the quarter. This, combined with our well-managed inventory levels, helped us achieve a 59.4% gross margin rate during the quarter.

In terms of brand performance, Ann Taylor experienced a strong quarter, with overall comparable sales increasing 16.4%. All channels contributed to this performance, with comparable sales increasing 15.1% at Ann Taylor stores, 50.7% in the Ann Taylor e-commerce channel and 10.7% at Ann Taylor Factory. We continued to make meaningful progress in our multi-season strategy to enhance and grow the Ann Taylor brand, and experienced improved metrics across all channels of distribution. Strong full-priced selling drove this performance, with full-price sales comps significantly outpacing the brand’s overall comp performance. Our client responded favorably to the fashion and newness of our merchandise assortment, as well as our strategy of offering more attractive opening price points across the assortment. This was further supported by a successful promotional strategy that drove sales and delivered higher gross margin. Importantly, all of the promotions were pre-planned, and due to our strong performance, we were able to cancel a number of our planned promotions during the quarter. Ann Taylor’s e-commerce channel experienced similar performance, which was further enhanced by an expanded style assortment. Traffic, sales and gross margin performance improved significantly, and we continue to view Ann Taylor’s online business as an area of great opportunity. We also saw improved performance at Ann Taylor Factory, and continue to view this channel as an opportunity to expand the reach of the brand to the outlet shopper.

At LOFT, our focus for 2010 was to continue the strong momentum achieved over the past year and further capitalize on the growth potential of the brand. Our first quarter results reflect success toward this objective, with the LOFT brand delivering a 12.5% increase in overall comparable sales performance. By channel, comparable sales increased 9.3% at LOFT stores, 59.9% in the brand’s e-commerce channel and 24.1% at LOFT Outlet. LOFT’s strong product offering, combined with a prudent inventory position, enabled us to be strategic in our promotional stance. We effectively timed our promotional activity to be competitive and responsive to our client’s desire for value, and were also able to step back from some planned promotions during the quarter due to the strength of our performance. LOFT’s e-commerce channel also experienced a significant increase in traffic over last year, which when combined with an increase in dollars per transaction, helped drive the channel’s sales growth during the quarter. LOFT Outlet also performed ahead of our expectations during the quarter, on compelling product and price points, which drove higher units and dollars per transaction.

Source: Guru Focus

Free iPhone app - Interactive Shopping Mall Directory

Round Rock Premium Outlets interactive shopping mall directory maps now available for free by downloading FastMall for iPhone or iPod Touch FREE.

http://getap.ps/fastmall

Joe's Jeans Opens at Wrentham Village Premium Outlets

Jennifer Aniston in Joe’s Jeans cutoff shorts

Joe's Jeans Inc. announced thursday that it has opened its twelfth store located in Wrentham Village Premium Outlets(R), home to 170 of the finest branded outlet stores and approximately 45 minutes from downtown Boston, Massachusetts.

Marc Crossman, President and CEO, commented, "With our branded outlet store goals for fiscal 2010 almost complete, we look forward to expanding our full price locations during the remainder of the year." Crossman continued, "Opening for the Memorial Day shopping weekend in the Boston area is earlier than we originally expected and with adding another location prior to the end of our second quarter, this will put us two stores ahead of our original goal. This store is our sixth of nine branded outlet stores since partnering in early February with Premium Outlets(R), the outlet division of Simon Property We are thrilled to have the opportunity to open so many stores in such a timely manner, a testament to a solid strategic growth plan."

Source: MarketWatch

THE CLEARANCE RACK

Leftover items from the week: 

The dirty little secret that feels so good
No one likes to admit it.

Yankee Candle Outlet Coupon
Yankee candles would make a great teacher appreciation gift…don’t ya think?!

Disney World Vacation Deals – 19 Great Money-Saving Tips
Avoid buying Disney merchandise within the Disney World theme parks. Some of the area factory outlet stores such as Orlando Premium Outlets are selling the same items found at Disney World at significantly lower prices.

Memorial Day Weekend in Gulf Shores, Orange Beach and Foley
With everyday holiday comes a great sale and Memorial Day at Tanger Outlet Center reigns supreme. Ladies, put on your walking shoes and prepare for a full day of fun and savings.

Liberty Village outlets set to hold Memorial Day sidewalk sale
Visit the top names in fashion designers, jewelry, specialty gifts, shoes, and more.

The Best Shopping near your Palm Springs Vacation Home
You can always find a deal at an outlet mall.

The City University of Seattles International Students Office to sponsor the ultimate shopping experience: Seattle Premium Outlets!

Top Six Fun Things To Do in Lincoln City Oregon
Shop Till You Drop!

Liberty Village Premium Outlets Card Club

Mark Libell

Saks returns to profitability by reducing inventory

Cutting both promotions and inventory as its revenue rose helped luxury retailer Saks Inc. return to profitability in its first quarter and surpass Wall Street's expectations. Saks dramatically pulled back on ordering as the recession took hold, and it has worked with designers to lower its selling prices. Both moves have helped its results.

The upscale chain is considered a barometer of luxury spending, so industry watchers will closely check its performance for signs that its customers are resuming shopping as the economy begins to improve.The retailer indicated during a conference call with analysts that its shoppers are purchasing fewer items but at higher prices, a sign that high-end consumers are willing to spend more now for things they want.

For the period that ended May 1, Saks' net income was $18.8 million, or 11 cents per share. It reported a loss of $5.1 million, or 4 cents per share, a year earlier. Revenue climbed 7 percent to $667.4 million from $624.3 million as shoppers picked up women's and men's clothing, handbags, shoes and jewelry at its Saks Fifth Avenue stores. Excluding one-time charges of a penny per share mostly related to severance pay and store closing costs, Saks earned 12 cents per share.

Wall Street analysts polled by Thomson Reuters on average expected a smaller profit of 5 cents per share on revenue of $662.9 million. They typically exclude one-time items.

Revenue at stores open at least a year rose 6.1 percent. This figure is a key indicator of a retailer's performance because it isn't skewed by results from stores that opened or closed during the year.

Saks reduced its consolidated inventories by 9.9 percent to $702.1 million. The retailer also is honing its business by closing less profitable stores. The chain said Monday that it plans to shut its Saks Fifth Avenue store in Charleston, S.C., by July 17. It previously announced plans to close stores in Portland, Ore., and San Diego in July.

While pleased with the company's quarterly performance, Sadove said in a statement that Saks is approaching the rest of the year with caution because the economy remains uncertain. Saks predicts its revenue at stores open at least a year will rise by a percentage in the mid-single digits for the full year and for the second half of the year, but it forecasts slower growth in the current quarter.

Source: Inside the Bay Area - The Oakland Tribune By MICHELLE CHAPMAN AP Business Writer

Shoplifting on rise at Wrentham

Local police have been busy apprehending shoplifting suspects at the Wrentham Village Premium Outlets. So far this month, there have been six people charged with various crimes.

Three women, were charged with shoplifting May 8 after they allegedly tried to steal boots from the UGG Store. Detective Lt. William McGrath stopped their car and recovered the boots, according to police.
Last week, a New York man and woman were arrested allegedly trying to purchase gift cards with stolen credit cards. Both from Brooklyn, were arrested by officers Steven Saulnier and David Halloway after police were called to the mall.

When police arrived, the suspects had left the customer service area and were being followed by Security Officer Charles McGrath. The suspects were apprehended as they attempted to leave the mall in their car.

Police allege the pair had numerous fraudulent credit cards, identification and stolen merchandise. They were charged with larceny, possession of counterfeit credit cards, receiving stolen property and possession of false Registry of Motor Vehicle documents.
Last Saturday, Patrolman Todd Schwalbe arrested an alleged shoplifter after a foot chase through the mall, across the parking lot and down a steep embankment abutting Interstate 495, according to police. He was nabbed by Schwalbe after police were called to the Timberland store and was told the suspect had left the store. Schwalbe encountered the suspect carrying several shopping bags at which time the suspect dropped the bags and fled on foot.

Source: The Sun Chronicle

Outlet mall thriving despite difficult economic times

Cincinnati Premium Outlets is continuing to thrive in a struggling U.S. economy with seven new stores scheduled to join the mall lineup. The outlet mall, which includes 100 stores, is nearing full capacity and expects to fill its seven vacant spaces by this summer, said Kevin Chesar, Monroe’s director of development.

Robert Tackett, general manager of the outlet center, said the mall is doing “quite well,” but he declined to provide specific numbers about the occupancy of the mall because he said those numbers aren’t made available to him.

“When we first opened, it took a while for the demographics to see what it is, and our leasing people have been working real hard to get us quality tenants to fill up what we call the GLA (gross leasable area).
Joe’s Jeans opened May 2. New York & Company is set to open May 28, and Kitchen Collection, Guess, and Claire’s Accessories recently opened stores at the outlet center, Tackett said. Other stores coming soon are Under Armour on June 15, Lenscrafters on July 1, Lacoste in August, Loft Outlet in September and True Religion in 2011, he said.

He attributes the mall’s success to the discounts it offers shoppers. “When you’re in an outlet location like we are, it does well when the economy is slow and it does well when the economy is good because you’re getting 25 to 65 percent off most your merchandise. A lot of people are becoming savvy shoppers,” he said.

Tackett said Premium Outlets also is working to develop pad lots behind the mall, where the city would like to see include some sit-down restaurants.

Source: Dayton Daily News

Outlet mall sees dozens of thefts

Thieves considering stealing items from stores at Cincinnati Premium Outlets should really reconsider, one Monroe police detective is saying. That’s because the Monroe Police Department is being proactive in arresting criminals at the mall, said Detective Ken Parson. "This is not the place to hit because you’re very likely to be arrested. If you’re a thief, do not come to the Monroe outlet mall,” he said.

Since the mall opened in August 2009, there have been a total of 109 calls, with 46 of those reported as thefts and 23 of those thefts resulting in arrests for a 50 percent success rate, he said.

Police Officer Mike Worley, said a lot of those 23 arrests came from Saks Fifth Avenue Off 5th, which has its own security personnel. “They’re on the ball,” Parson said.

He said some of the unsolved cases the department is working on were reported by tenants at the mall who have refused to cooperate even when the suspect is known. “We went to a managers meeting a few days ago and it seemed like the attitude from lot of the corporate offices was this is an outlet mall so this is a second chance to recover money from purchases anyway. So it’s not as if they’re primary stores. If it’s a primary store and you’re stealing from them and they’re losing more money, they’re more apt to prosecute,” Worley said.

The suspects travel along the interstate in groups of three or four and go into stores and while some suspects steal merchandise the other members distract store employees to mostly help support drug habits or rings, Worley said.

“Most of the people we arrest come from Dayton,” Parson said. Worley said the suspects know it’s relatively safe because the chances of being prosecuted are slim. “There’s limited risk and a lot of reward,” he said.

Source: The Oxford Press

6 Great Excuses to Buy an iPad for Your Business

It can't replace your laptop yet, but Apple's powerful new tablet might be the last gadget you'll ever need.


1. Product and video demonstrations: Despite its lack of Flash support, the iPad's internet-connected access, touchscreen interface and organic web surfing experience make it an excellent way to demonstrate online products and services. Businesses that rely on video to tell their story via reels, testimonials, commercial spots, product demonstrations and more will also find the gadget's dazzling 9.7-inch display a great method to get the point across. As a multi-function device, it's further possible to jump between slideshow presentations and pulling up online traffic stats on-demand, making it a solid all-purpose solution when screening examples for retailers, trade partners and prospective clients alike.
 
2. Endless functionality: Arguably the gizmo's greatest strength--beyond its powerful A4 processor, 3-D graphics capabilities and user-friendly front-end--is its massive level of support from the third-party software development community. From mobile invoicing and customer relationship management programs to apps that let you track mileage and monitor flight statuses in real-time, a legion of bedroom coders continue to push the device further than even its creators ever imagined. A few quick software purchases and downloads is all it takes to transform the iPad into a portable translator, inventory management system, voice recorder and more. Buy one, and you may never need another gadget again.
 
3. Access to digital publishing: Via a range of software solutions from the iBooks app to Kindle suite and support for the ePub format, the iPad puts a massive library of publications at your fingertips. Whether you're looking to parse the pages of today's newspaper, read a few chapters of the hottest new business book or enjoy immediate access to a full spate of corporate training manuals, it makes a much more ergonomic, practical and transportable solution than traditional carrying methods. Added bonuses include massive cost savings, less waste and fewer shipping charges for all parties involved. Think of it as your very own personal digital newsstand.

4. Note-taking options: Allowing users to jot down notes on command, scribble out detailed technical sketches or simply dictate important memos, the iPad may prove a lifesaver for executives who feel overwhelmed by today's incoming torrent of information. Using built-in features and downloadable apps, it's possible to more effectively manage your calendar, quickly spot holes in your schedule at a glance and even remember what to pick up on your next office supply run. The closest many entrepreneurs will ever come to having a personal assistant, it can oftentimes prove just as handy in terms of keeping you from drowning under a sea of daily minutiae.

5. Constant connectivity: No matter if you choose to access online functions through a wireless hotspot or high-speed cellular network, the iPad lets you keep up with e-mail, monitor emerging trends around the web and stay abreast of breaking headlines. Using the device, you can stay in touch with colleagues across time zones and continents, remain on top of shifting stock prices and catch topics relevant to your industry as they storm the international newswires. Those who've been holding out on purchasing a smartphone, given usage patterns that lean more toward data-intensive tasks than reams of conference calls, may find it a welcome alternative.

6. It's just really cool: Yeah, it looks cool. You look cool when you are using it and its really a lot of fun. Be that guy in the airport or on the plane that everyone else with their stupid laptops are jealous of.

Source: Entrepreneur.com by Scott Steinberg

Puerto Rico Premium Outlets

I received the following announcement from Richard N. Lewis  Exec VP – Leasing Premium Outlets® yesterday.

"We are pleased to confirm that on Thursday, May 13, 2010, Simon Property Group became the new owners of Prime Outlets - Puerto Rico in Barceloneta. We have renamed the center: Puerto Rico Premium Outlets®. The center's current management staff will remain in place. The center becomes part of our Premium Outlets division's Central Region.

The center has already been integrated into our website - see http://www.premiumoutlets.com/outlets/outlet.asp?id=80. Shoppers can now benefit from programs such as the Premium Outlets VIP Shopper Club, global tourism outreach and more. The process for conversion to the center’s new name of Puerto Rico Premium Outlets has already begun on-site and off-site."

Mark Libell

Poor old Quinsam

Just days after her return to service from a $16m refit, the Quinsam is clearly not coming up to scratch - so much so that BC Ferries is being forced to adopt a revised schedule from May 27th to overcome the service delays that are currently being experienced.

The reason? Quinsam's new propulsion units are not delivering normal speed. Must be the weight of all those steel seats in the passenger lounges. Bring back the Bowen Queen!

Read the whole sorry tale here.