Mmmm… Outlets
December 29th, 2006Wow, I’ve been posting up a storm this week. It could be because I have the week off. Anyhow, I’ll be in Williamsburg for the weekend at a college roommate’s wedding, and you know what Williamsburg has?
No, not Colonial Williamsburg. I mean, it has that, but it also has…
Outlet malls! Personally, I’m not a big fan of outlet malls. There was one in my college town, and it was essentially a tourist attraction. Shoppers would pour in literally by the bus-full to buy everything in sight and assume they were getting good deals. And sure enough there were bargains to be had, but I had to hunt for them just like I would at my local retail mall.
I’ve grown to appreciate the value of an outlet for shoppers like my husband, however. He doesn’t buy many clothes, but he has loyalty to certain pricey brand names that fit him well and he’s familiar with. Brooks Brothers dress shirts, for instance, and Rockport loafers. So if we can find those at an outlet for any discount over retail, we come out ahead. My conclusion is that outlet malls are a good idea for those who don’t shop frequently enough to catch regular store sales, and who buy a lot of brand names.
After saying all that, I still plan to make time for a quick cruise ’round the outlets in between wedding activitites.