I love a bargain. Perhaps it comes from working retail for 13 years. Perhaps it is just because I LOVE to shop. Whatever the reason, a recent Chicago Tribune (8.10.11) article says that “outlet malls are becoming more of a routine shopping destination”. If you ever drive into Chicago on I-88 you go past the Chicago Premium Outlets in Aurora about an hour or so out of the city. The parking lot is always full and you might drive around for some time trying to snag a space. You will also most likely be waiting in line to pay at the more popular stores like Coach, Nike or Kate Spade. In fact, they Simon Property Group that owns the Aurora center announced in July 2011 that they will be adding a 130,000 square foot wing to the already 4440,000 center to begin in 2012. Yippee! More deals to be had. During lean economic times, consumers are looking to still dress themselves in the latest designer fashions but at a better price. We become more focused on price. So, instead of planning a family excursion to the outlets those stops become more frequent for bargain hunting shoppers. According to Michele Rothstein, SVP at Simon “We’ve all come out of the recession with a whole new awakening that maybe we’ve got to do things a little differently”. Think about your shopping habits. Have they changed over the last few years? Have stores that you frequent market to you differently? The world of retail has changed vastly since in managed stores. Online shopping has virtually brought every name brand or retailer into our homes. What have you bought lately? Did you feel that you got a bargain? If not, how come? Happy shopping!
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