Big News! J. Crew Opening Online Outlet Store

J. Crew fans rejoice! The preppy clothier just announced it's offering their outlet store online. The New York-based retailer is among the first to risk selling outlet gear over the Internet.

Sometime this month, you'll be able to combine the company's infamous 30-percent-off deals with J. Crew free shipping codes, without driving umpteen miles to some pseudo-village in the middle of nowhere.

Merchants usually place their factory stores in out-of-the-way locations, because they prefer we buy from their main stores at prime prices. So J. Crew's decision to go online is equally off the beaten track.

In this struggling economy (gack aren't you sick of that phrase), however, the move makes perfect sense. Even high-income households -- who comprise a fair portion of online shoppers -- have turned to penny-pinching ways. While brick-and-mortar stores post dismal numbers, online and outlet stores have become shining beacons in otherwise dismal quarterly reports.

It thus makes sense to combine the two semi-success stories. It's still a gamble. Can J. Crew ensure these online outlet sales won't cannibalize demand for their more expensive merchandise at its mainline stores.

Photo by epicharmus