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McArthurGlen, Europe’s leader in designer outlet retailing, has seen a huge surge in sales to international shoppers looking for the most coveted names in luxury and designer fashion with year-round savings of 30-70 percent.
Sales at McArthurGlen’s 20 Designer Outlets to international shoppers leapt by 62 percent in the first four months of 2012. This followed an increase of more than 60 percent in 2011, compared with the previous year (source: Global Blue tax-refund specialist).
McArthurGlen Designer Outlets are located near key tourist cities and gateways in eight European countries – Austria, Belgium, France, Germany, Greece, Italy, the Netherlands and the UK. They offer an unrivalled day-out for savvy fashion shoppers, with a selection of cafes and restaurants, and a full calendar of events and activities.
In the first three months of 2012, sales to shoppers from China increased by 116 percent, to make Chinese tourists the second biggest spenders by country of origin after shoppers from the Russian Federation. In fact, Asian shoppers were among those showing the biggest increases in spending: for example, sales to shoppers from Singapore were up 156 percent, Indonesia up 148 percent, Malaysia 113 percent, Korea 58 percent and Japan 40 percent.
“McArthurGlen Designer Outlets have a huge appeal to international shoppers, especially to those from Asia, given the Asian love for luxury and premium brands and shopping,” says Anthony Rippingale, McArthurGlen’s Head of Tourism. “At our Designer Outlets in Europe, they can find the most sought-after global and national luxury and designer brands with great savings in one stylish fashion destination.”
There are more than 2,600 brands at McArthurGlen’s Designer Outlets, including the likes of Armani, Brioni, Burberry, Escada, Fendi, Fratelli Rossetti, Jil Sander, La Perla, Marni, Prada, Salvatore Ferragamo, Sergio Rossi, Valentino and Versace in the Italy outlets alone. The brands manage their own stores, to give a truly authentic experience. The collections are from previous seasons, but shoppers will always find something on trend. Anthony adds: “They may even be lucky enough to find those little one-offs that they cannot find elsewhere!” He continues: “We look to make shopping fun and relaxed – a day-out event, whether our customers are shopping with family or friends, or just stopping off during a business trip.”
McArthurGlen’s 21st centre, McArthurGlen Designer Outlet Neumunster, is due to open near Hamburg, Germany in September 2012, with a further four in planning – in Vancouver (McArthurGlen’s first centre outside Europe), Vernon near Paris and Provence in the south of France, and Ghent (Belgium).
Earlier in 2012, McArthurGlen signed an agreement with Grebstad Hicks Communications to open a representative office in China, as well as with PRCo Ltd. in the UAE, Russia and Brazil. Anthony says about the new Chinese representation: “The Chinese market in particular is a very interesting market for us, given the huge increase that we are seeing in sales to Chinese shoppers visiting Europe, with shopping for luxury and premium brands being an activity at the top of their must-do, must-visit lists. What we want to do is to ensure that we put a visit to McArthurGlen’s Designer Outlets, whether in Italy, or any of the seven other countries where we have centers, on their itinerary before they leave home.”
Theodore is the Co-Founder and Managing Editor of TravelDailyNews Media Network; his responsibilities include business development and planning for TravelDailyNews long-term opportunities.
