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| Go On A Treasure Hunt! |
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ince when did shopping become an Olympic sport? For women, is it the male equivalent of the hunt, tracking down the prey by going where it lives?
And what about men? Is the stereotype still valid of the miserable, bored male, sitting outside a store and waiting while his wife spends hours inside?
Yes, and no.
Go to any outlet center in the Carolinas and you’ll see your fair share of men and women, taking advantage of rocking chairs and benches to take a break from a shopping marathon (or waiting outside for a triumphant female to emerge, success evident by the number of bags in her hand).
But, there are also some notable changes taking place in the world of shopping, and
evidence of them can be seen all over the Carolinas.
Visit our
Directory of Selected
Outlet Centers and Shops
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oday, the traditional department stores are often struggling a bit more, while the
outlet centers attract shoppers in search of the deal. And, those centers are usually
positioned near a major travel artery, or in a vacation destination, to take advantage of
huge numbers.
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In fact, CarolinaLiving.com surveys reveal that shopping is one of the most popular preferences for those contemplating a move, coming in third, behind swimming and walking trails.
According to Sherrie Breen, assistant General Manager of Tanger Outlet Center at Hilton Head, their Center is a destination within itself, and is geographically positioned for exposure to 7.8 million tourists each year.
“In my opinion, our most unique quality is our tenant diversity,” she explained, noting that they have upscale stores such as Escada, Dana Buchman, Ellen Tracy, Coach, and Adrianne Vittadini, as well as those with great brand recognition such as Banana Republic, J. Crew, Gap, Nike, Polo, Ralph Lauren and Tommy Hilfiger, plus stores for Generation Y, such as Pacific Sunwear.
This Tanger Outlet Center is visited by approximately five million shoppers each year, and although 47% of them are concentrated within 104 miles of the Center, a large shopper representation comes from Savannah, GA, Atlanta, New York and Augusta.
According to Ms. Breen, people are attracted for the lure of saving money and the tenant mix. It makes for pleasant shopping without parking hassles and driving from store to store. Special programs cater to different types of shoppers, such as their Trick or Treat off the Street event in which merchants provide candy to children whose parents think the atmosphere of the Outlet Center is safer and more pleasant for their little Halloween goblins and fairies.
Other special programs cater to AAA members, who can show their cards and receive an exclusive coupon book with 15-20% savings from participating merchants.
At Tanger Outlet Center on Highway 501 between Myrtle Beach and Conway, it’s the men’s turn to browse at the Coleman Store. A recent visit found male shoppers looking at camping gear and survival equipment as well as lanterns and tools to perk up a backyard barbecue. In the midst of lingerie shops and factory direct stores such as Waterford and Lenox, the distinctly masculine storefront is a magnet for the men. There are currently only two Coleman Outlet Stores in the Carolinas – one at Myrtle Beach and the other in Smithville, North Carolina.
For about fifteen years, North Carolina resident Helen Swann has been taking a group to Myrtle Beach for a few days of shopping at the outlets. “We are a group of old friends who simply love to shop,” she explained, noting that they start out every morning with a specific destination in mind and spend several hours wandering and looking for bargains.
“Some use this fall trip to buy Christmas gifts, while others use it to prepare for specific events they have coming up at home,” Mrs. Swann said. The yearly tradition combines a vacation at the beach with opportunities to dine in fine seafood restaurants, and spend every day shopping to their hearts’ content.
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Full Service Shopping and Entertainment
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According to Sharon Campbell, Director of Marketing for Concord Mills, which is located about ten miles north of Charlotte, off Interstate 85, their 200-store Center has become such an important destination site, there’s even a Cabarrus County Welcome Center, where shoppers can have hotel reservations made for them
In fact, they have become the #2 tourist destination in North Carolina, second only to the Blue Ridge Parkway. They welcome men and women almost equally and lots of families visit as well as tour groups.
Unique to the center is the Bass Pro Shops Outdoor World. As the only Bass Pro Shop in the Carolinas, they attract return visitors through their Hunter Safety Classes, Fly Fishing Workshops and Camping Programs, among others. A future shop is planned for the Myrtle Beach Area.
Concord Mills is also home to NASCAR Speed Park – a 7.5 acre theme park. And the Center layout is unique as well. It’s designed in a racetrack style, with different aspects of North Carolina living on display. For example, the garden courtyard features the names of every plant and flower found at Biltmore Estates Gardens, in Asheville.
Concord Mills welcomes more than 15.3 million visitors each year. Although the highest concentration of visitors is from the Carolinas, next highest representation comes from Georgia, Virginia, Pennsylvania and New York.
Ms. Campbell believes the lure of outlets is in the large selection at one location, as well as the savings. “Some stores offer products only found in outlets,” she explained. “At Bose Factory Store and Black and Decker Factory Store you can buy factory refurbished merchandise. If someone opens a box and decides it’s not what they wanted, the store accepts the return and will sell it at the outlet with all of the warranties and benefits.” The stores call it ‘Factory Refurbished’ and according to Ms. Campbell, buying those products can save shoppers lots of money.
Back at the Grand Strand in South Carolina, Broadway at the Beach goes far beyond the traditional shopping experience to offer a festive entertainment complex. Surrounding a 23-acre lake, the Complex features more than 100 specialty shops, as well as 20 restaurants, a New Orleans-inspired nightclub district, theaters, hotels, and several award-winning attractions. Ripley’s Aquarium is filled with young children who delight in walking under the shark tank, an IMAX Theatre has a screen six stories tall, and the Palace Theatre brings world-class, live entertainment to the Grand Strand area.
“We’ve been awarded the Top Tourist Attraction and named the state’s Best Travel Destination in the past,” says Nicole Aiello of Burroughs and Chapin, developer of Broadway at the Beach. “We like the fact that families can spend hours together in one area, with such a large selection of entertainment for all ages.”
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Unique Arts and Crafts From Regional Master Craftsmen
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At the other end of the spectrum (and jumping completely over such notable shopping icons as Saks, Dillards, and Belks), come unique shopping venues, where the items for sale are made by Carolina artists and feature one-of-a-kind designs.
Near Asheville, North Carolina, nestled among the pines and dogwoods of the Blue Ridge Parkway, is the Southern Highland Guild’s flagship facility, the Folk Art Center. Featuring the century-old Allanstand Craft Shop as well as permanent collections of Appalacia crafts, the Center welcomes more than 300,000 visitors each year. Allanstand is recognized as one of the Nation’s top craft shops, with pottery, wood, glass, fiber, metal and jewelry made by members of the Guild.
Further along the Parkway, Blowing Rock is the home of the Parkway Craft Center, located in Moses Cone Manor, a lovely turn-of-the-century home that has been featured in a number of publications, including CarolinaLiving.com. The Southern Highland Guild has shops in other locations as well, all featuring American arts and crafts for the discerning shopper. Demonstrations by crafts artists can be found most times, further enhancing the understanding of painstaking handwork that has all but disappeared from many U.S. shopping landscapes.
In South Carolina, that experience can be replicated at the Artisans Center, just off Interstate 95 in the middle of historic homes in Walterboro. The Center specializes in featuring artists’ creations from the Lowcountry and throughout the state.
Upon entering the Center, an array of colors and textures bombard the senses, including the gorgeous glass bowls, vases and lamps created by Herman Leonhardt, the Swamp Artist.
There are carved wooden trays and toys, glass ornaments, paper creations, and the flash of metals in jewelry and household items. There are items with no practical use except to be appreciated. These labors of love from nearby artists run the gamut from imminently-affordable to substantial-investment-required, to take a treasure home. On the third Saturday of each month, a variety of artists demonstrate their craft to lucky visitors.
Melissa Crabtree moved to Walterboro from Cuyahoga Falls, Ohio. With a BFA in Interior Design, she wanted to find what was unique about South Carolina art. “I walked in and did all of my Christmas shopping,” she explained. “I wanted to send my family gifts that were handmade and distinctive.” Ms. Crabtree says her apartment is “lavishly decorated in Artisan Center pieces.” She even worked at the Center for a while, helping visitors from all over the U.S. and worldwide to find treasured objects to take home.
“I had a couple call me from Florida who are collectors of Alison McCauley face jugs,” she said. They came up I-95 and bought a number of pieces for themselves and others. The face jugs are such an important part of South Carolina history, and continue to attract collectors to their whimsical expressions.
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Better Start Planning Now
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Ahhhhh. So much shopping to do, and so little time to see and do it all. There are tiny little shops throughout the Carolinas, large inclusive outlet centers along the major throughways, and in tourist locations, and historic shopping areas created from warehouses and old stores. No mention of Carolina shopping should omit Furniture Shopping in North Carolina, the antiques along King Street in Charleston, Bay Street in Beaufort, Biltmore Village in Asheville, Ramcat Alley in Seneca, and the Alley in Aiken – among others.
Whether it’s the best buy on a favorite brand of sneakers, or a delicate glass bauble for home display,
it’s all here and it’s all worth a look. Go alone or with friends, take the family,
or leave the husband at home with the children.
But don’t miss out – because these are treasures that will shine in your Carolina home.
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ARTS & CRAFTS
South Carolina Artisans Center
334 Wichman Street
Walterboro, SC 29488
843.549.0011
Southern Highland Craft Guild Resource Center
PO Box 9545
Asheville, NC 28815
828.298.7928
back to list of shopping towns
NORTH CAROLINA
Burlington Manufacturers Outlet Center (Tanger)
I-85 & Highway 49, Burlington, NC
Mailing address:
3200 North Line Avenue, Suite 360
Greensboro, NC 27408
336.292.3010
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Carolina Premium Outlets
1025 Industrial Park Drive
Smithfield, NC 27577
919.989.8757
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Concord Mills
8111 Concord Mills Blvd.
Concord NC 28027
704.979.5000
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Prime Outlets at Morrisville
1001 Airport Blvd.
Morrisville, NC 27560
919.380.8700
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Tanger Outlet Center
7100 S. Croatan Highway
Nags Head, NC
252.441.5634
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Tanger Shoppes on the Parkway
US Highway 321, Suite 33
Blowing Rock, NC 28605
828.295.4444
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SOUTH CAROLINA
Barefoot Landing
4898 Highway 17 South
North Myrtle Beach, SC 29582
843-272-8349
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Prime Outlets at Gaffney
1 Factory Shops Blvd.
Gaffney, SC 29341
864.902.9900
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Tanger Outlet Center Hilton Head
1414 Fording Island Road
Bluffton, SC 29910
843.837.4339
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Tanger Outlet Center Myrtle Beach
4635 Factory Stores Blvd.
Myrtle Beach, SC 29579
843.236.5100
Waccamaw Factory Shoppes
3200 Potter Drive
Myrtle Beach, SC 29582
800.444.8258
back to list of shopping towns
Have you found a shopping jewel
you’d like to add to this list?
Email us: KPettit@CarolinaLiving.com
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Katherine O. Pettit has worked as a writer, magazine editor, printer and
public relations consultant. The Columbia resident has published
more than 250 articles in magazines and newspapers. Her writing
explores a variety of subjects including travel, lifestyles, business
and management.
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