5 Tips to Maximize Outlet Mall Savings

Everyone loves a sale -- especially before the holidays, and outlet malls can be a great place to find 25-60 percent discounts on designer prices. With Black Friday on the horizon, FOX 9 News reporter Kelsey Soby compiled a list of tips on how to maximize your savings at outlet malls.

At an outlet mall, the line of stores is already long, but the lines of people will be long too on Black Friday.

"This is the Super Bowl of shopping," said Kristie Zeller.

That's why the top tip for outlet mall shoppers is to map your route. If you know which stores you want to go to, you can make sure you take the quickest route and avoid getting swept off track.

Once inside a store, it's best to immediately buy something if you want it because outlet stores often only get a certain type of inventory that moves quickly, which means there aren't many second chances. '

Newspapers, websites, Facebook and Twitter are all good ways to research deals ahead of time, but designer stores -- such as Coach -- often keep their bonus sales a secret. According to Zeller, Coach usually has some of the longest lines even though customers have no idea what the deal is until they arrive.

It's often said that time is money, and that's why Zeller also recommends shoppers make new friends who can hold your place in line if needed and make the experience more enjoyable.

"It's just a lot of crazy fun," she said.

Since most shoppers will travel some distance to get to an outlet mall before logging a few hours there, it's important to pack refreshments, including snacks and some water.