March 2006 Cover Story Features

Cover Story

Outlet Center Expansion
Nearly 700,000 sf of outlet-center expansions are planned in 2006. The projects include the extensive make-over of a Midwestern center.

A Word About Architecture
The architecture behind the next generation of outlet centers and expansions is being driven by competition and shoppers’ preferences.

Features

Catching Latino Surfers
Two brothers are working hard with two kiosks and a Web site to market their Puropedo brand of casualware aimed at the Latino surf crowd.

Bogner Opens First Outlet
Bogner of America, one of the finest names in ski apparel, opened its first outlet store - a test unit - in November in EuroWest Properties’ Essex (Vt.) Shoppes & Cinema.

Steve Lehmann Retires
When outlet-industry veteran Steve Lehmann retired as a VP of VF Outlet, he chatted with VRN about his 30-year career with the manufacturing giant.

Gift Cards’ Holiday Boost
Thanks in part to the growth of gift cards, many of the nation’s outlet centers say they were mobbed with shoppers during the week after Christmas.

12 Days of Christmas
A targeted holiday marketing campaign loaded with radio spots and big-prize giveaways did wonders for sales at WaterMark Place in Bessemer, Ala.

Outposts in Transition
Miles from other outlet centers Santa Fe (N.M.) Outlets and Boise (Idaho) Factory Outlets are quietly transforming into dynamic centers.

Mills Corp. retrenches
Mills Corp. said in early January that it has scuttled 10 planned projects and sought the help of outside counsel after deciding that its accounting records are flawed.

Pottery Barn Expands at Riverhead
Losing ABC Carpet and Home at Tanger Outlet Center in Riverhead, N.Y., was barely a disappointment as the space was quickly snatched up by Pottery Barn Outlet.

Cross-Border Shoppers, Part 1
A new study recommends that American retailers pay closer attention to the millions of Mexican consumers who regularly cross the border in search of high-quality goods.