The Birth and Boom of Outlet Stores

The Birth and Boom of Outlet Stores

by Brian Foden

How much would you pay for a shirt with a tiny rip in it?

　　For shoppers looking for good deals, outlet stores offer bargains everywhere. Also known as factory outlets, outlet stores were originally connected to factories, primarily _(1)_ of clothing and shoe manufacturers that actually produced the goods in the early days. In the 1930s, the first outlet stores that were not directly connected to factories began to appear in the eastern United States. The original factory outlets were established to sell damaged or _(2)_ merchandise at a discount to employees. Later, companies began selling flawed products through outlet stores to the general public as well. One manufacturer who really helped _(3)_ the concept of outlet stores was the founder of the Dexter Shoe Company, Harold Alfond. After his discount stores began selling out of damaged shoes, he _(4)_ goods that had no flaws but which were not selling well through regular channels. Other retailers saw how successful Dexter's strategy was and began opening up their own outlets with _(5)_ results.

　　In the 1970s, the next level in the development of outlet stores occurred when a women's lingerie manufacturer named Vanity Fair opened a mall in Pennsylvania featuring a variety of outlet stores. The concept was a winner with consumers, and the _(6)_ of outlet malls greatly increased throughout the 1980s and 1990s. Their growth leveled _(7)_ in the 21st century, but they remain popular today. In addition to being found across the United States, outlet stores can be seen in several other countries, such as Japan, the UK, and other European nations.

 

1. (A) whom (B) which (C) those (D) that

2. (A) harmonious (B) severe (C) desperate (D) excess

3. (A) minimize (B) popularize (C) fertilize (D) authorize

4. (A) abbreviated (B) disclosed (C) introduced (D) opposed

 

畅货中心的诞生与繁荣

你愿意花多少钱买一件里面有小小裂缝的衬衫呢？

　　对于想要谈到好价钱的购物者来说，畅货中心在各地都有提供特价品。畅货中心，亦被称为工厂直销中心，一开始是和工厂连在一起的，主要是早期那些实际生产商品的成衣和鞋子制造商。1930 年代，最早与工厂没有直接关系的畅货中心开始在美东出现。最初这些工厂直销中心的建立，目的是以折扣的价钱，将有受损或剩余的商品卖给员工。之后，许多公司也开始透过畅货中心，将瑕疵品贩售给一般大众。而真正使畅货中心这个概念普及化的一位制造商，则是德克斯特鞋业公司的创办人哈罗德‧阿方德。当他折扣商店里的瑕疵品鞋子开始销售一空后，他便引进没有瑕疵、但在一般通路却卖得不好的商品。其他的零售商眼见德克斯特的策略如此成功，便跟着开拓自己的畅货中心，也收到相同的成效。

　　1970 年代，名为贝迪菲的女性内衣制造商在宾州开设了一家主打拥有多样畅货中心的购物商场时，畅货中心的发展便晋升到了另一个层次。这个概念赢得了消费者的肯定，整个 1980 年代到 1990 年代之间，名牌折扣商场的数量大幅增加。尽管它们的成长在二十一世纪时趋于平缓，不过现今仍相当受欢迎。除了在美国随处可见外，在许多国家也都能看到畅货中心，象是日本、英国和其他欧洲国家。

 

答案： 1. C 2. D 3. B 4. C 5. A

6. D 7. B