An
outlet store or
factory outlet is a
brick and mortar or
online store in which
manufacturers sell their stock directly to the public. Traditionally, a factory outlet was a store attached to a
factory or
warehouse, sometimes allowing customers to watch the production process such as in the original
L.L. Bean store. In modern usage, outlet stores are typically manufacturer-branded stores such as
Gap or
Bon Worth grouped together in outlet malls. The invention of the factory outlet store is often credited to
Harold Alfond, founder of the Dexter Shoe Company.