It all started out quite innocently in the late 1950's when clothing manufacturers opened a few square feet of factory floor space to the general public for direct sales. They were trying to generate new income by not charging all the packaging and shipping costs to get their merchandise to the large department stores. One outlet led to two and the mathematical progression grew from there.
Today there are relatively few stand alone factory outlet shops.
Most of them have gathered into outlet center where shoppers can visit store after store without getting in and out of their cars. Outlet centers are convenient and highly economical places to shop for everything from designer clothes to cook wear and greeting cards.