Factory outlets are stores where brands sell their stock in stores directly to customers. These items are usually sold for a cheaper price, which makes them really popular among consumers. Many brands have their own factory outlet stores.
They exist as a brick and mortar place in the shopping district or in malls. An increasing number of brands are now opening factory outlets online too.
An example is a place like Springfield Park in Durban where you will find many brand name stores selling their products directly to the public at discounted prices. There are also many outlet parks that have popped up all over Durban and KZN.
And it’s not only clothing and fashion brands that have factory outlets, but also a variety of food, beauty and home and décor stores as well. Surprisingly, many premium brands have factory outlets too.
If you’re wondering whether you should shop at a factory outlet store, here are some of the benefits to consider:
Cheaper Prices
Getting items directly from the factory means that the manufacturers don’t have to go through middlemen or distributors. This means it costs less to bring the products to you, the customers. You can expect prices here to be at least 10-20% cheaper than if you were shopping at a regular mall or retail outlet. The closer the factory outlet is to the production site, the cheaper the products. On average, consumers report getting about 38% discounts at factory outlets compared to regular retail outlets.
More Sales and Promotions
In general, factory outlets do have a lot more promotions and offers. For example, they will have seasonal sales, such as summer sales, new year sales and the like. Apart from that, there may be a buy-one-get-one-free promo going on, since factory outlets often want to clear stock that hasn’t been moving. Additionally, there may be discount coupons you can use to bring the prices down even further.
Availability of Products
Manufacturers often display all their available products at their factory outlet, meaning that you’ll have access to a wider range of products from the previous seasons. Usually, there will be a wider range of colours, shapes and sizes available. Factory outlets tend to be much larger than regular stores and you’ll have the freedom to walk around by yourself and peruse in a more casual environment.
Convenience
If you go to a big factory outlet park, you will find a variety of different products in one place, making your shopping a little more streamlined – much like going to a shopping mall.