Industry Eye: Prospecting - Bloomingdale's Turns to Outlet and International Stores 
to Attract New Customers

To lure value-conscious shoppers away from competitors' outlet stores — such as Nordstrom's Rack, Saks Fifth Avenue's OFF 5th and Neiman Marcus' Last Call — upscale department store Bloomingdale's plans to launch four outlet stores this summer and fall. The upscale outlet stores — which will be located in Paramus, N.J.; Woodbridge, Va.; Sunrise, Fla.; and Miami — will allow Bloomingdale's to remove clearance items from its full-line stores more efficiently. They'll carry women's, men's and children's apparel; women's shoes; fashion accessories; jewelry; handbags; and intimate apparel. Merchandise will be marked down in hopes of attracting a new segment of shoppers to the brand.