Outlet Shopping Or Markets?

Gabe

Gabe

Community Member
Nov 9, 2014
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These days, more outlets are appearing and becoming a tourist destination where people go specifically to the Prada outlet and Max Mara outlets. I am sure some of these are still a guarded secret, but are they more popular than the markets, where they have seconds or sample stock?

I would love to go and investigate, and as fashion moves so fast, I am sure there is always some excess stock around.

If anyone has any good ones to share, please do. Handbags and purses in particular!
 
Outlet shopping villages like these are becoming more and more popular as tourist destination's but I do think that's having an impact on the cities with trade there begining to drop off quite a bit.

As for the markets I wouldn't have thought they would be as affected as they are aimed at a different clientele, and it would be more the local people that would be going to the markets rather than the tourists.
 
I have been to a couple of outlets in my area and have not really found the goods to be that much cheaper. For sure they are cheaper than a small fashion store but when comparing them to outlets in other countries the prices still seem to be high. However, I like the outlets as they have many different brand stores to choose from.

Here are the sites of my local outlets:
Fashion District
Designer Outlet Shopping • Fidenza Village

The markets do seem to be for a different type of clientele as they are mainly full of cheap, unknown brands. (not to say that they are bad quality)

Then there are the illegal street traders that sell all kinds of fake designer goods. (sunglasses, bags, belts, etc..) You never normally see the illegal traders in a shopping outlet as each outlet has their own private security that quickly removes them
 
I guess it does depend on the markets. In Florence they are actually quite good with factories that make handbags for the designer brands selling other versions or seconds. I had a friend from the Aeolian Islands who told me she only buys her handbags from the Florence markets as the quality is of Gucci for half the price and her daughter is a handbag designer too.

Local markets may differ, but you never know what you will find. It doesn't have to have a designer label on it to be good quality.

The illegals do sell good fakes, but these days with outlets maybe they don't do so well?
 
A lot of these outlets are also very commercial and while you will find the usual high street brands and fashion labels, they won't offer the more traditional goods you'll often find on the local markets.

Traditional, even old fashioned markets that you'll find in towns will offer a more personal service and that's something the out of town shopping centres can't compete with.
 
I think worldwide outlet shopping is become more popular. I know in NYC has outlets about an hour and a half north of the city. Many tour companies also offer a day trip to the outlets. I personally don't find them much cheaper then if you were to get a good sale at a store. A lot of the merchandise is specifically made for the outlets and was never sold in the real stores.
 
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