Outlets get a mostly deserved bad rap from the discerning shopper. Originally intended to sell end-of-season and overstock merchandise at reasonable price, today’s outlet malls are stuffed with big names and slim bargains from cheaply-made collections sewn in Romania instead of Italy. These are lines never seen in the brand’s high-street boutiques. As oversaturated as Coach, Tommy Hilfiger, and Ralph Lauren are in these malls, it’s a wonder any label queen would touch their “real” stores with a 10-foot AMEX Platinum card.
But sometimes … sometimes an outlet is REALLY an outlet for some pretty incredible things.
I’m betting y’all didn’t know that in all the world there is ONE Baccarat and Lalique outlet store … in Orlando of all places. It’s located at the Orlando Premium Outlets between a Neiman’s Last Call and a St. John outlet.
It’s true!
You can find all sorts of things at the store from $25 tchotchkes to $80,000 chandeliers, and this boutique only stocks first-quality merchandise that’s been returned from retailers. You’ll find returns, end-of-season baubles and items that failed to sell. They have regular sales that give some pretty steep discounts – glassware, vases, jewelry, and decorative crystal. Everyday prices range from 30 percent to as much as 80 percent off retail. Need a Baccarat nativity? Give a shout in February. Need a gift that makes you appear more generous than you’re feeling? Call anytime. One stipulation: if you need the box, be sure to ask. Sometimes they have ‘em and sometimes not.
This month’s email contained a “smelling salts required” lighting sale that offered 50 percent off things like:
Helios 8-Light Short Chandelier
Was $21,300; NOW $10,650
Solstice Comete 18-Light LED Chandelier
Was: $78,200; NOW $39,100
Philipe Starck Zenith 12-Light Chandelier Short Midnight w/Denim Shade
Was $42,500; NOW $21,250
Mille Nuits 6-Light Chandelier w/Lighted Bowl
Was $19,600; NOW $9,800
Mille Nuits Floor Lamp 12-Light Candelabra
Was $39,000; NOW $19,500
Want to be in the know? Get on Rosette’s email list for all the inside scoop. Looking for something in particular? She’ll take pictures and email them to you so you don’t have to fight Mouse House traffic in Orlando. Between email and the telephone, you can have your own Baccarat or Lalique home shopping network. Now if only my Secret Santa would snap up that floor lamp before one of you gets your hands on it!
Baccarat – Lalique Boutique
Orlando Premium Outlets
4950 International Drive
Orlando, Florida – FL 32819
Rosette’s email: [email protected]
Phone: 407-345-8733
While not as flashy as Baccarat, our own Premium Outlets in Austin has one of 17 Restoration Hardware outlets in North America. I’d heard last year that one may be popping up in the Metroplex, but so far, zilch.
Restoration Hardware is another outlet that only sells real leftovers from their full-price shops and mail-order businesses – sometimes items are damaged, sometimes not. For renovators, it’s a goldmine of bathroom mirrors, medicine chests, lighting and vanities along with all the furniture and “original” mass-produced artwork. The big savings for me were bathroom mirrors and lighting that were a half to a quarter their retail prices. It was well worth taking the car for a spin to San Marcos to fill up the back seat and trunk (a little sidetrack to Lockhart, TX for BBQ was a distinct bonus). I scored four large tilty mirrors at 65 percent off retail (the au currant polished nickel beveled ones) and seven nickel sconces. I was doubly lucky as there was a lighting sale that gave me an added 15 percent off. Oh, and a few stores down was a Williams Sonoma outlet – some bargains (like their signature kitchen towels that I love), but lots of outlet-only stuff.
There’s no rhyme or reason to shipments that arrive weakly so my tip is to call ahead. I’d normally suggest emailing, but while it’s easy to get email addresses, replies are scarce. If you’re looking for a bunch of stuff, I recommend calling more than one outlet. Depending on the outlet and the item, they will ship it to your door. You’ll miss the BBQ, but you’ll save tanks of gas – especially if you only want one thing. Note: They’re unlikely to ship large furniture, vanities, etc.
Restoration Hardware Outlet
3939 I-35 South, Space 965
San Marcos, TX 78666
512-353-0504
Last but not least, let’s talk lighting.
How lighting makers decide on pricing is a complete mystery to me. Of course sometimes it has to do with materials, but you’d think that most any design can be made reasonably-priced. But noooooo. I’ve seen quite simply designed (non-Baccarat) chandeliers costing as much as a car and then something very similar from another maker for less than a tenth the price. My confusion is doubled when I realize most of it is made in China.
But I am a design-addict. And this year, I’ve been shooting-up Sonneman lighting. They’ve got designs that cover the gamut of transitional to modern (no Louis XV knockoffs here). While their pricing isn’t stratospheric, it’s also not inexpensive, so I was mostly dreaming from afar. That is until I stumbled upon a gigantic sale last autumn with rock-bottom prices. It’s the ONLY time you can “sorta” order directly from Sonneman.
Sonneman is a frustrating company to do business with. They will NEVER answer an inquiry from a consumer. I had tried to order a chandelier and was told everyone was out of stock. I wrote asking for an ETA … crickets chirping … nothing. Even though shipments all come from Sonneman, they just can’t be bothered. So even though they have wonderful stuff, it’s unrequited love. (Of course they encourage you to share your love on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and Pinterest … more evidence of their “me, me, me” customer service philosophy)
Due to their inability to communicate, I have no idea when or how often their sales are (Annual? Seasonal?), but if you’ve got the patience and stomach, they’re worth checking once a month to see. http://www.sonnemanawayoflight.com/index.php?all=all.
When I said you “sorta” order from Sonneman I meant that when you’re on the Sonneman site there are always links to online retailers, but during the sale, there was a direct “buy” link that took you to http://www.moderndesignlighting.com/ which only appeared during the sale and is not working now. The site’s name was only registered in August 2014 (coincidental to the sale) and its owner is anonymous. I suspect is a Sonneman-controlled site created for the sale so as to not annoy its retailers.
That chandelier? I ordered it (not on sale, but at 33 percent off) in August and received it in December … broken. I got a replacement in January. I love it.
If you see it on TV
You’ve seen websites like Joss & Main and Wayfair advertising heavily on TV these days. I warn you that they’re likely not the best price. But by all means, look them over and then copy the maker and item number and Google it – it’s RARE they’re the best price. In fact from the items I’ve looked at, they seem to cull the sale pages from other sites that they package and group in their “collections.” All that advertising adds cost to their operations.
Remember: Do you have an HOA story to tell? A little high-rise history? Realtors, want to feature a listing in need of renovation or one that’s complete with flying colors? How about hosting a Candy’s Dirt Staff Meeting? Shoot Jon an email. Marriage proposals accepted (as soon as they’re legal in Texas)! [email protected]
