There's no denying that factory outlet stores play a big role in today's national markets: after all, where do people go to pick up what they consider to be some of the best bargains anywhere? These large commercial installations do a handy business in most of their locations, especially around holidays, and for this reason, many manufacturers choose to participate in this business model, which leads to a lot of jobs in this specific field. And when it comes to finding out about industries online, outlet stores are no exception to the general rule that the web can bring users what they are looking for.

For learning all about factory outlets news and trends, individuals who are working in an outlet, managing finances for a manufacturer or distributor, or otherwise involved in the goings-on of factory outlet malls can keep up with news on the web, where readers can find:

1. Dedicated factory outlets info sites listing stores by region and keeping notes on various outlet mall setups.

2. News on publicly-traded factory outlet shopping malls from stock-related sources or other financial venues.

3. More from directory-type sites that provide categorized listing of premium outlet mall locations.

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Try factory outlet malls 'fan sites'

A few specific websites are focused on exploring the commerce of outlet stores all around the country, by helping consumers find store locations, and by providing other critical factory outlets information to shoppers or anyone with an interest. These sites can also sometimes showcase deals or elaborate on other new events.

I recommend: Outlet Bound serves as a guide to the nation's many factory outlets with a variety of search methods available as well as reviews and ratings, store picks, and more. Find a store by outlet or regions at Outlets Online.

Find news on Tanger outlets and other publicly traded factory outlet malls

Some outlet enterprises, like Tanger outlets, have more than a small following: as a publicly traded business, Tanger also has investor relations, which is why even more readers keep their eyes peeled for news involving this outlet mall behemoth.

I recommend: Get news releases related to this outlet store chain at Tanger Outlets online. Readers can find more Tanger news updates from directory-type sites like Topix for keeping track of what's going on with this industry giant.

Find more factory outlet malls news sources online

If the above sources aren't enough, there's even more: online newspaper will sometimes cover events at factory outlet malls, and other sites give users more list-type location directories for finding a specific store.

I recommend: Find out about what's going on with mall-type outlet stores from stories like this one in the Dallas Morning News. Or find more locater listings of outlet stores at sites like ThinkLocal or FreeSearching.

Factory outlets often sell last year's models at a reduced rate, but many also sell current inventory at less than retail stores. Factory outlet stores are a great place to buy furniture, clothes, china, cutlery or any product you can name. Many brand-name designers and retailers have outlet stores where the retailer marks down the merchandise. Many shoppers, who like good quality items but do not want to pay normal retail prices, frequent outlet malls.

Factory outlet malls typically host a variety of brand-name retailers and use a set-up similar in structure to other malls.

1. Shoppers use an online factory outlet for purchases to save time and money, unless shipping prices are prohibitive.

2. Factory outlet malls are the place to find deals for holidays, birthdays, weddings or other gifts.

3. Factory outlet malls offer an outside mall environment by using sidewalks rather than halls to connect stores.

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Shop for bargains at online outlet stores

Shopping on line is great fun and a good way to save money. Online outlet sites offer deals on shipping and keep prices as low as possible. You can buy a designer business wardrobe at a fraction of the cost.

I recommend: Bluefly is a designer outlet store with fashionable clothing that sells at an average of 40% less than retail. EDressme is an online site that sells business styles as well as evening and formal dresses at reduced prices.

Take a trip to one of the factory outlet malls

Factory outlet malls provide a location for several factory outlet stores. The number of retailers varies by location--some malls have over a hundred retailers while others host as few as five.

I recommend: Wrentham Village Premium Outlets is a high-end outlet mall close to Boston, MA and Providence, RI. It contains 170 designer and high-end retailers including Barneys New York, Saks Fifth Avenue and Williams and Sonoma to name three. Prime Outlets at Pleasant Prairie hosts over 90 high-end retailers at its location between Chicago and Milwaukee.

Present staff and clients with designer gifts from factory outlet stores

It doesn't matter where you live, there are always factory outlet stores near you. Look for gifts to present to employees or large corporate accounts. You can typically find an outlet store for every type of industry, which means you can find the perfect designer gift to impress your staff and client.

I recommend: Loehmann's is rightfully famous for its classic clothing at discount prices. It's a great place to buy normally expensive items such as suits and coats. Request a rapid quote on large ticket gifts, items or furniture from NC Furniture Stores in North Carolina, known as the furniture capital of the US.

Tips & Tactics

Helpful advice for making the most of this Guide

• •  You can find factory outlets information on the web with ease. If you have a favorite store, find out if it has an outlet.
• •  Sign up for email newsletter from retailers that keep you informed on the discounts and upcoming sales events at nearby factory outlet stores.

Factory outlet malls are often found near highways and are generally in suburban areas or in slightly more remote locations along the Interstate system. The factory outlet business model is to offer designer goods from prior seasons at significant discounts. The fashion outlet business includes designers like Liz Claiborne and Ann Taylor and brands like Nieman Marcus and Sax Fifth Avenue.

Factory outlet shopping is almost a sport for some people, and visiting a premium outlet mall is like making the playoffs. Use factory outlets advice and ratings to enhance the shopping experience for the designer outlet store veteran and factory outlet stores rookies.

1. Learn where outlet shopping malls are in your area and which stores are at your local factory outlet malls.

2. Read reviews and tips for the designer outlet store and direct factory outlet shopping experience.

3. Review the differences between what is in traditional retail malls versus factory outlet malls.

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Obtain lists of factory outlet shopping malls and see what's available in your local area

Factory outlet shopping is a great alternative to online outlet stores. When you visit an outlet mall you can try on clothes, inspect dishes, sit on furniture, thumb through books and experience the excitement of discovering even bigger discounts exclusive to in-store shoppers.

I recommend: A great one-stop website to find out where outlet malls are in the U.S. is Outletbound. This site offers maps, directions, discount coupons and some tips, advice and ratings. If your interest is strictly high-end fashion, the Prime Outlets site provides locations and descriptions for designer outlet stores throughout the country.

Check factory outlets advice and ratings on different outlet malls and the factory outlet business

As with most things, different factory outlet malls and premium outlet malls and shopping centers offer varying experiences. By looking over some objective (i.e., number of stores, parking and food opportunities) and subjective (fun, experience, current fashions) reviews you can match the factory mall or outlet center you select to your needs and expectations.

I recommend: A comprehensive list with ratings of factory outlet malls and many of the stores within them can be found at Hotfrog.com. The Kellogg School of Business at Northwestern University provides an article on how the outlet mall business works and will provide the savvy shopper insight regarding what to expect.

Compare an outlet mall to a traditional mall to see if visiting factory outlet malls is worthwhile

Traditional malls are closer to urban centers and often have more fashion-forward clothing choices, more traditional chain restaurant options, and often a greater variety of retail outlets. Factory outlet malls are often further from urban centers and offer discounts based on goods that are not necessarily on the cutting edge. The food options are fewer, and often less familiar.

I recommend: The business section of Sciencedirect.com offers an abstract of a longer article on how retail malls and outlet malls differ and helps prepare shoppers for those differences before they make a trip to either. The International Council on Shopping Centers offers definitions of every type of mall shopping experience in the United States. It helps shoppers understand what to expect at different types of shopping centers including outlet malls, factory outlet centers and traditional closed and open-air malls.

Tips & Tactics

Helpful advice for making the most of this Guide

• •  Use factory outlets information to be a more informed shopper. For instance, if you are interested in purchasing large quantities of products for your business, you may want to use factory outlets advice and ratings to find out which fashion outlet provides bulk merchandise and how consumers or other business owners rate the stores.

For a lot of businesses that want to ship goods direct to an easy sales venue, factory outlets are a prime opportunity. Other businesses consider factory outlets when they want to place a location in a "concession" role, such as a restaurant franchise. All kinds of businesses with a stake in factory outlet sales can learn more about some of the basic key terms for the industry to maximize profits from an outlet related venture.

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Shopping mall and outdoor mall

Factory outlets stores tend to use an outdoor mall setup. A shopping mall is defined as an area for pedestrian shoppers. The outdoor mall is a mall area where the space between the stores is not enclosed hallways, but open sidewalks. However, most of the mall area is often closed to vehicles.

I recommend: See more on the definition of a shopping mall at the Free Dictionary.

Brand name designers

Who has stores in factory outlets? Well, a lot of brand name designers do. Brand name designers are the companies that create much of the fashion apparel that shoppers are used to seeing on store shelves.

I recommend: Get a list of brand name designers with outlet stores at Prime Outlets.

Factory direct discount

Lots of outlet malls offer shoppers factory direct discounts, but some vagueness about these discounts means it can be difficult to figure out whether the factory direct deal is legitimate. The difference has to do with whether the manufacturer is outsourcing the goods to a retailer for markup in the factory outlet or not.

I recommend: See more on factory direct discounts at WiseGeek.

Refurbished items

Another way that factory outlets profess to offer the consumer bargains is through offering refurbished products at their factory outlet stores. Refurbished products are products that have been sent back to the factory due to defects and re-conditioned back to the original specifications. Though some shoppers avoid refurbished products, others swear by them.

I recommend: Find out more about refurbished goods including electronics at Consumer Reports.

Publicly traded factory outlets

Though many factory outlets are just venues for sales, some of the larger factory outlet businesses are publicly traded. Tanger Outlets is a publicly traded factory outlet mall business that many businesses are keeping an eye on.

I recommend: Read more on Tanger Outlets as a publicly traded factory outlet mall business at StreetInsider.

Online factory outlet directories

Some websites have developed specifically in order to get readers access to news about factory outlet mall locations and other info for shopping. Businesses can make use of these info sites to check for factory outlet malls in a given area.

I recommend: For an example of an extensive factory outlet mall site, check out Outlet Bound.