Dive Brief:
- Belk is gearing up to open two additional outlet stores in its home state of North Carolina, according to a company press release.
- Both locations, one at Eastridge Mall in Gastonia and the other at Triangle Town Center Mall in Raleigh, will open this spring.
- The locations will each convert their first floor into an outlet, while the second level will operate as a traditional Belk store.
Dive Insight:
The split-level format, with an outlet on one level and a full Belk store on the second story, “allows customers to easily shop for their favorite products at the traditional store while also [finding] discounted, high-end and designer national brand treasures at the outlet,” Belk said in a release.
The merchandise for outlets comes directly from Belk’s stores, while some fashion and home products are also purchased specifically for those locations.
"Since opening our first outlet nearly two years ago, our customers have come to love the concept of combining our traditional stores and outlets in one place. We're excited to incorporate this approach into additional locations this year," CEO Don Hendricks said in a statement.
The two new outlet stores will bring North Carolina’s total count to three. The department store opened the first one in the state last fall in Charlotte, the city where it is headquartered.
The department store opened its first outlet in 2023 in Greeneville, Tennessee, and quickly expanded the concept.
The company is also expanding its product selection, and has added over 250 new brands to its assortment in the past two years.
