The Outlet Marketing Alliance (OMA) and Shop America Alliance LLC (SAA) presented the inaugural USA Outlet Shopping Festival, a national event designed to promote outlet shopping throughout the USA. More than 70 leading Outlet Centers, National Outlet Retail Brands with more than 200 locations and marketing partners participated in the first annual Festival held May 24-27, 2013, U.S. Memorial Day weekend. Organizers are planning to develop this into an annual event showcasing outlet centers and top name brand outlet retailers. For complete details and 2014 dates, visit OutletFestival.com. 

“The USA Outlet Shopping Festival was a tremendous success in its first year,” said Lisa Wagner, Founder of Outlet Marketing Alliance and Partner, EWB Development. “We look forward to growing this event in partnership with Shop America Alliance in future years.”

 The Festival objectives are to generate awareness of the appeal of outlet shopping and to produce incremental sales both during the event and thereafter.  As a kick-off to the summer tourism season, the USA Outlet Shopping Festival promotes outlet shopping as a popular tourism activity. The Festival features special offers, savings and events that are great incentives to encourage travel to a broad range of destinations.

 Shopping and dining are the top tourism activities in America, as tracked by the U.S. Department of Commerce/Office of Travel & Tourism Industries and U.S. Travel Association. Outlet Centers are currently the fastest growing segment of U.S. shopping center industry according to data tracked by Value Retail News and the International Council of Shopping Centers. OutletBound.com, the leading outlet center web site and sponsor of the Festival, features more than 200 U.S. outlet shopping centers located in 42 states, many of which participate in the Festival.

 During the USA Outlet Shopping Festival each year, shoppers and travelers are invited to visit outlet centers and shop outlet retailers to enjoy special savings and promotions. Shoppers spending $150 or more at these outlet centers on their MasterCard® cards during the 2013 Festival received tote bags at participating locations along with special discount offers.

 The 2013 Festival featured the Outlet Shopping Festival Contest with prizes including a Coach Bag from Fashion Outlets Las Vegas and $250 Shopping Sprees at Tommy Hilfiger or Puma Outlets throughout the USA. The online contest at www.Facebook.com/shop.america.club generated thousands of entries and broad based social media exposure.

 The official USA Outlet Shopping Festival web site, www.OutletFestival.com is the portal for all festival information, packages, sponsors and special offers.  Participating partners are invited to register for free marketing including use of the official Festival Tool Kit graphics in their email, online, social media and all other event marketing.  Shop America Tours promotes its many special Outlet packages with major tour operators. 

 The 2013 Festival was marketed primarily to inbound travelers from Canada and Mexico as well as domestic USA shoppers and travelers via online, social media, PR and print advertising.  “The response from tour operators and travel agents in Mexico and Canada was very strong.  They are excited about the Festival and plan to promote it as an annual travel event,” said Rosemary McCormick, President, Shop America Alliance.  “All the festival participants and partners did a great job of marketing the event via their own communications channels which maximized the Festival's success.”

 USA Outlet Shopping Festival 2013 Participants included

NATIONAL OUTLET RETAILERS (all locations participating)

American Eagle

Bloomingdale's - The Outlet Store

Brooks Brothers

Calvin Klein

Champion

Dressbarn

G.H. Bass & Co.

Hanes Brands

Helzburg Diamonds

Izod

Kitchen Collection

Le Gourmet Chef

L'eggs Hanes Bali Playtex

Maidenform

Nike Factory Store

Nine West

PacSun

Puma

Reebok

Rockport

Tommy Hilfiger

Van Heusen

 

OUTLET CENTERS

ALABAMA

The Outlet Shops of Grand River

ARIZONA

Foothills Mall

Outlets at Anthem

CALIFORNIA

Cabazon Outlets

Citadel Outlets

COLORADO

Outlets at Castle Rock

Outlets at Loveland

Outlets at Silverthorne

FLORIDA

Lake Buena Vista Factory Stores

Miromar Outlets

Vero Beach Outlets

INDIANA

The Outlet Shoppes at Fremont

KANSAS

Legends Outlets Kansas City

 LOUISIANA

The Outlets at Louisiana Boardwalk

MISSISSIPPI

Casino Outlets at Tunica Resorts

Outlets at Vicksburg

NEVADA

Fashion Outlets Las Vegas

Outlets at Legends

NEW JERSEY

The Outlet Collection|Jersey Gardens

NEW MEXICO

Fashion Outlets Santa Fe

NEW YORK

Destiny USA

Fashion Outlets Niagara Falls USA

OKLAHOMA

The Outlet Shoppes at Oklahoma City

OREGON

Bend Factory Stores

Woodburn Company Stores

PENNSYLVANIA

Rockvale Outlets Lancaster

The Outlet Shoppes at Gettysburg

The Outlets at Sands Bethlehem

TEXAS

Outlets at Conroe

Outlets at Hillsboro

The Outlet Shoppes at El Paso

UTAH

Outlets at Traverse Mountain

VERMONT

Essex Outlets

Manchester Designer Outlets

WASHINGTON

Centralia Outlets

The Outlet Shoppes at Burlington

WISCONSIN

The Outlet Shoppes at Oshkosh

2013 USA Outlet Shopping Festival Marketing Partners

Book-It

Brand USA

Canadian Travel Press

Canadian Traveller

CrossBorderShopping.ca

MasterCard® Worldwide

Mark International

OutletBound.com

TaxFree Texas Shopping

Shop America Tours

Value Retail News (VRN)

Viajes Olin

Visit California/Shop California 

Outlet Marketing Alliance (OMA) is a group of leading outlet industry retailers and developers focused on creating enhanced marketing and sales opportunities. OMA meetings are held several times annually in NYC.

Shop America Alliance LLC (SAA) is the travel trade organization representing hundreds of the premier shopping tourism destinations, retailers, shopping centers, museum stores and outlets in America. Founded in 1998 and focused on tourism, Shop America Alliance co-produces the annual ONE Travel Conference, SASI-ONE Awards USA Outlet Shopping Festival and The Cultural Traveler guide, publishes Shop America Magazine and markets more than 185 Shop America Tours in 40 cities. For more information ShopAmericaTours@aol.com or call 707-224-3795 or visit OutletFestival.com.

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