Outlet Mall Markets Status Brands at a Discount

Trust me, Woodbury Common rarely looks this empty

One of the busiest outlet malls in the United States is about to get a much-needed update. Woodbury Common, in Central Valley, NY, attracts 13 million visitors each year. It's known around the world for featuring luxury brands at lower-than-retail prices. Busloads of shoppers from across the continent and across the oceans travel hours to get to this outlet mall because its 200+ stores showcase products from many top brands in fashion retailing: Armani, Balenciaga, Burberry, Chloe, Coach, Dior, Dolce & Gabbana, Gucci, Michael Kors, Polo Ralph Lauren, Prada, and many more.

Even early on a weekday morning, this outlet mall is crowded with bargain-hunters eager to snap up status brands at a discount. And no matter what the foreign exchange situation between the dollar and the pound sterling, the yen, or the euro, travelers from abroad descend on Woodbury Common, buy buy buy, and pack their purchases into new (status) suitcases bought at the outlet, too. 

A lot of business comes from word of mouth and from media coverage of the mall as a major shopping/tourist destination. Social media are also helping to spread the word. Woodbury Common's parent, Simon Realty, maintains a Premium Outlets Facebook page (with nearly 200,000 likes) and a Premium Outlets Twitter account (with 55,000 followers). Surprisingly, no Pinterest or Flickr or YouTube account for this super-popular shopping destination. On the other hand, each outlet does its own marketing in addition to the mall's marketing.