LOUBOUTIN SHOES AT 70% OFF!!!!

Na, I was just trying to get your attention. I'm not into the web sale thingy yet...although I did try to sell my used clothes in ebay once. And if you ask, no it didn't sell. Not even one of 'em. Haha. Anyway, my subject for this write-up is about factory sale and outlet stores. I thought of this topic as my entry today because my client is near Robinson's Galleria and for several times that I go out to lunch there (or dinner), I have constantly eyed these brown pumps in a Charles and Keith outlet store which costs almost 50%-off of its usual price. But being a renewed and thrifty person that I am...I did not buy it. Yes. I resisted it. For a month that I have constantly dreamt of it....I have consistently resisted it and just passed by it because I believe I have enough brown shoes already…

And then one day, as I was on my way out, my brown shoes' left heel snapped. It was a sign. Though I really didn't want to buy the C&K pumps...I had no choice. Hahaha...to run out of alternatives in footwear is such a problem. Especially when time is of the essence. Haha.
And so, I decided to buy it. I was so happy galloping to Robinson's Galleria one weekend with my credit card on hand because I was finally going to buy it. As I was nearing the store's location....gulp...it wasn't there. No, maybe I just got the location wrong, I said to my self. I searched the whole mall. When my right leg vein was about to give up, I decided to ask the concierge...I mean the customer assistance personnel. And just as easy as abc..she said that the store "already closed" and that the outlet sale was over. Simple explanation...yet it brought some kind of lump in my throat which could be summed up in one word: DARN!

An outlet store or factory outlet is a store wherein manufacturers sell their stock directly to the public. Items in such stores cost 50-70% off the usual price...although you have to bear the risk about the quality of the item you bought. Most items in malls have passed through each brands' rigid quality control process...while items in outlet stores have failed in some areas.

Here in the country, there are several outlet stores which you can visit. I believe that the Philippines has very cheap labors costs which encourages international brands to enter into outsourced sewing contracts with several local private companies. I have actually visited some of these companies. And boy…I would have loved to buy that W**ng**r jeans (to protect the company...haha) that they were sewing..but they said it was prohibited by the said brand's contract with them. I haven't actually obtained the statistics on how large this outsourced sewing industry is, in the Philippines, but the growth of the BPO industry (call centers, etc.) may be an indicator of just how cheap labor is in the country and of how the government encourages this type of contract.

Anyway (before we all get hemorrhagic), as I was saying, there are several outlet stores here in the country. There are local bazaars which you can visit which retails abercrombie and fitch, miley cyrus, gap and esprit overruns. I think the most common outlet store (and probably the most legal) is SM's surplus shop...which intentionally either cuts or covers the brands tags of their products to protect its name. Probably this is a part of their agreement to retail their overruns. Some of the brands I have noted there (as far as I could remember right now…and as far as I could decipher for tags which were cut or erased) are Abercrombie and Fitch, Gap, Miley Cyrus, Esprit, Victoria’s Secret, Terranova, Tommy Hilfiger, American Eagle, Polo Sport, United Colors of Benetton and the like. I think my best buy in SM surplus is an orange Esprit spaghetti babydoll empire top which only costed me Php349.95 (O boy, now when I will wear that top, you will already know the price…it would be like wearing it with a hanging price tag.tsk.).

There are other more unique and more specialized outlet stores. From my officemate, I heard SM Pampanga has outlet stores of Havaianas (at 20-40% off), Plains and Prints, and Mango. The Magic Mall in Pangasinan has an outlet store of Mango too. Mango ballet shoes there only costs 800-900 pesos from original prices of up to 2,000plus.

Also to my surprise, Robinson’s Bacolod has a Mango outlet store with a very posh boutique (unlike the typical outlet store without furnishing). I went there the last time and noted cool stuffs and a lot of choices.

However, if you feel tired going to malls, you can always check online stuffs. There are different online stores available. To name a few, we have ebay.ph and sulit.com. I have bought a Kamiseta dress in ebay at a very low price (ahahahaha..no more price-dropping this time).

So anyway, do share your best buy with us! Leave a comment! Until the next blog! xoxo