Outlet stores paradise
in Baden-Württemberg

The mother of all outlet store centres in the southwest is Metzingen. Metzingen has long played a pioneering role as an outlet store location. But rising sales are luring an increasing number of investors onto the market. Almost every big-name manufacturer now has a small factory outlet attached to their company headquarters, while major investors are building new outlet shopping centres. In Wertheim (Main-Tauber district), more than 100 outlet stores have sprung up in the last ten years. In Geislingen/Steige (Göppingen district) more than 20 outlet stores have established themselves near the kitchen outfitters WMF.

There are now more than 250 locations in the state offering this kind of shopping experience. Many companies today attach great importance to outlet stores, even though 20 years ago “outlet” was a dirty word for most manufacturers and generally conjured images of bargain bins at the end-of-year sales. In short, outlet stores had a bad image. Today, however, bargain hunters come from far and wide every week to the Swabian outlet store metropolis of Metzingen, approximately 30 km south of Stuttgart. Here shoppers can buy everything from top-quality designer names, young fashion and casual wear to outdoor clothing in over 60 outlet stores, with the Hugo Boss flagship store leading the way, and Escada, Ralph Lauren and other big names also featuring. The Chic Outlet Shopping® experience, built in a unique Franconian village style, is located in the heart of the beautiful wine-growing area on the edge of the lovely Tauber Valley, in Wertheim. The centre boasts a selection of charming boutiques selling German and international designer and high- street brands at extremely attractive prices.

Customers can shop for high-quality women’s, men’s and children’s fashion, shoes, jewellery, lingerie, travel accessories, home furnishings and sports clothing in a relaxed environment. The open-air pedestrianised centre has more than 80 shops, punctuated by landscaped plazas. A calendar of seasonal events rounds off the shopping experience nicely. “Customers want a large selection of brand names at reasonable prices, which can be found wherever the manufacturer sells directly to the end customer”, says bargain expert and author of “Schnäppchenführer” (“Bargain Hunter Guide”), Heinz Waldmüller.