J.Crew to Offer Outlet Store Items Online

OMG exciting alert – J.Crew plans to put its outlet store clothing up for sale online starting next month! {WSJ} You know what that means: no more driving to out of the way shopping centers and strip malls to score J.Crew cheapies.

Now you can experience JCrew Outlet sales prices online!

Actually, clothing companies purposely open outlet stores in off the beaten path locations so that consumer demand will not overwhelm them and drive revenue away from main stores. {DailyFinance} The decision to put outlet clothing online is thus a gutsy one for J.Crew, but makes sense.

DailyFinance points out that online and outlet stores have shown significant growths despite the struggling economy. Earlier this year, we found that online shoppers in the $100,000+/year household income bracket are visiting sample sale sites like Gilt and Rue La La in greater numbers than more recognizable luxury retailers such as Barneys and Bergdorf Goodman. Perhaps, then, an online-outlet venue will have even more success than online and outlet stores have had individually.

J.Crew’s executives told the Wall Street Journal that consumers are more hesitant to spend money on clothing in full-priced stores these days. Customers are “deferring, they’re waiting, they’re comparison-shopping, and people are a little nervous,” CEO Millard Drexler said. J.Crew did see profits nearly double at the end of the second quarter, pulling in $34.9 million.

We’ll follow up and let you know how the online outlet store works for J.Crew. Given the continuing success of mid-range retailers and designer discount sites, hopefully more of our favorite clothing companies will follow suit!






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