Wisconsin outlet stores are great for shopping when you are visiting the state. Besides the Wisconsin attractions, Wisconsin restaurants, Wisconsin national parks and Wisconsin amusement parks, tourists can spend a whole day shopping at one of the Wisconsin outlet stores. The outlet stores are often grouped together to form an outlet mall. The malls offer a wide variety of merchandise at prices that are often lower then those at the normal stores. This is a good thing if you are on a budget or trying to save money. You will also notice that it often takes a while to get to the outlets because they are usually placed away from metropolitan areas. This way they don't form direct competition with the regular stores. It is definitely worth it to take the drive to an outlet mall because of the many discounts, offers and special deals you will find. http://www.have-fun-in-the-usa.com/List-of-Outlet-Malls-USA.html

THE OUTLETS: Following you will find a summary of the 4 outlet malls you will find when visiting Wisconsin:

• ■ Johnson Creek Premium Outlets: Johnson Creek, WI - This outlet mall has 60 stores in it such as Adidas, Ann Taylor, Banana Republic, Calvin Klein, Coach, Eddie Bauer, Gap Outlet, Gymboree Outlet]], Nike, Polo Ralph Lauren, Tommy Hilfiger and more.The mall also organizes special shopping events.http://www.premiumoutlets.com/outlets/outlet.asp?id=53

• ■ Tanger Outlet Center, Wisonsin Dells, WI - This outlet has over 60 stores. Stores sell everything from apparel, children's apparel, footwear, housewares, food and accessories.http://www.tangeroutlet.com/wisconsindells

• ■ The Outlet Shoppes at Oshkosh: Oshkosh, WI - This outlet mall gives various discounts to military personnel and seniors. You can purchase clothing at Old Navy, sneakers at the Nike Factory outlet, kid's clothing at The Children's Place Outlet, body lotion at Bath & Body Works Outlet and enjoy a round of miniature golf at Settler's Mill Miniature Golf.http://www.theoutletshoppesatoshkosh.com/content/view/1/2/

• ■ Prime Outlets at Pleasant Prairie: Pleasant Prairie, WI - This outlet mall has savings up to 65% and with 90 brand name stores it is one of the larger outlet malls in Wisconsin. You will find stores such as Coach Factory Store, Polo Ralph Lauren Factory Store, Hugo Boss Factory Store, and St. John Outlet just to name a few. The mall also has a food court.http://www.primeoutlets.com/locations/pleasant-prairie.aspx

The outlet malls mentioned above already offer merchandise at discounted prices. You can save even more money by using the coupon sources mentioned below:

• ■ One way to find coupons is to search the Internet for websites like couponcabin.com and flamingoworld.com. Both these websites provide mostly printable coupons that can be redeemed in outlet stores. Some coupons may come in the form of coupon codes and are meant to be used when shopping online. Couponcabin.com will provide a list of malls and outlets in Wisconsin. You can choose the mall of your choice from the list and all current coupons will show be displayed.http://www.couponcabin.com/malls/wisconsin/http://www.flamingoworld.com/retail

• ■ Most outlet malls have websites nowadays. You can find coupons by going to these websites. Look for a clickable button that says 'Sales & Events'. Once you click the button you will be taken to a page that displays all the current events, coupons and sales going on at the mall. Coupons are all printable coupons that can be redeemed in the stores.http://www.premiumoutlets.com/outlets/sales.asp?id=53

• ■ Once you are on the website of an outlet mall or outlet store, look for ways to register your email for their mailing list. This way you will automatically receive an email when new sales or events will take place.http://www.primeoutlets.com/rewards/email-signup.aspx

• ■ Look for special VIP shopping events that are advertised on outlet store and mall websites. Also look for coupon booklets you can purchase. Tanger Outlet Center in Wisconsin Dells for instance offers one that can save you hundreds of dollars. These coupons are coupons that cannot be found online.http://www.tangeroutlet.com/coupons

If you are using coupons when shopping at the outlets, make sure the coupons are not just for the regular stores. Sometimes coupons for the regular stores cannot be used at the outlets. Read the fine print on the coupons to find restrictions or exclusions. Also double check the expiration date of the coupons to make sure they are still valid when you go shopping.

The idea of the outlet store is said to have been that of Harold Alfond. Alfond, an American businessman, founded the Dexter Shoe Company. Outlet stores have been around as early as 1936. However, the first outlet mall opened in 1974. It was the Vanity Fair in Reading, Pennsylvania. The first indoor factory outlet mall was opened by Belz Enterprises in Lakeland, Tennessee. http://www.absoluteastronomy.com/topics/Outlet_storehttp://history.sandiego.edu/gen/soc/shoppingcenter.html