What's new at local outlet malls?

Consumers might be trading down these days, but that doesn't mean they're ditching their Coach handbags and designer jeans for No Boundaries and Faded Glory from Wal-Mart (not that there is anything wrong with that).

Lorna and John Crupi from Winnipeg, Manitoba, shopped recently for designer labels such as Coach, Reebok, Polo and Hanna Andersson, but they're not buying them in department stores anymore. They're buying favorite brands at outlets.

Take Coach, for example. Its outlet in Albertville teemed with more than 30 shoppers on a recent Thursday afternoon. Business at its outlets rose 17.7 percent while same-store sales at full-priced stores fell 1.1 percent last year. Business is strong at the Albertville mall, said mall manager Sally Dufner, although she declined to give specific numbers. "We get a lot of Canadian customers with the Canadian dollar almost equal to the U.S. dollar now."

As shoppers begin looking for back-to-school bargains, we checked in with the local outlet malls to find out what's new.

Albertville Premium Outlets

(www.premiumoutlets. com/ albertville, 763-497-1911, about 15 minutes northwest of Maple Grove on Interstate 94 at westbound exit 202 or eastbound exit 201).

The back-to-school preview and sidewalk sale runs Thursday through Sunday. Before you head out, it might be worth signing up for Premium Outlet's VIP Club at www.premiumoutlets.com/vip. It's free, and the coupons that you print are often better than the ones in the coupon book at the mall. The first online coupon is for a free coupon book at the mall information center, normally $3. A Yankee Candle outlet opens in the fall.

Crocs (763-493-2762) sells overstocks, discontinued styles or colors and seconds in adult and kid sizes, as well as accessories such as kneepads, kneelpads, sunglasses and clothing.

Readers Digest Outlet (763-497-0624), which used to be a Border's outlet, opened late last year with lots of how-to books, including Rachael Ray cookbooks, bath products, DVDs and books for home-schooled children. Most items are discounted about 50 percent.

Coldwater Creek (763-497-0367), which took over the Mikasa location, doesn't bring in special-purchase merchandise of inferior quality. Everything is from the catalog or full-priced stores, including a smattering of home decor, all discounted.

Columbia Sportswear (763-497-3956), has been in Medford for 13 years, but the Albertville location opened in May. The newly announced store in the Mall of America will not be an outlet.

Converse (763-497-6753) is open for back-to-school shopping for casual and athletic shoes, including the popular Chuck Taylor high-tops. Some of the popular styles are discounted only a few bucks, but the clearance wall shoes are $19.99 or less. The store has a few unusual styles, too, including the all-leather European high-top for $60. Converse clothing, too.

Guess Kids (763-497-2772), separate from the adult Guess store, is the only Guess Kids outlet in the country. Sizes range from infant to 20 for boys and infant to 16 for girls.

Lucky Brand Jeans (763-497-1600) offers discounts on some current styles as well as last season's. The newest items are discounted at least 25 percent, but the real deals are in the clearance section, with nothing over $30 and most of it discounted 70 percent or more.

Medford Preferred Outlets

(www.preferredoutlets. com, 1-507-455-4111, 50 miles south of Minneapolis on Interstate 35, exit 48, between Owatonna and Faribault).

Formerly known as Medford Outlet Center, only a few stores have changed under new ownership. Upcoming event: "Are You Smarter Than a Minnesota Sixth-Grader?" contest at 1 p.m. Saturday. Contestants 18 and older may sign up at the mall or call the office by Wednesday. Stores will also offer promotions on Saturday.

The Faribault Woolen Mills factory store (1-507-455-1866) opened last month. It carries bedspreads, wool and cotton blankets and throws, both first-quality and irregulars. Irregular blankets range from $20 to $78 for twin to king sizes. First-quality blankets go up to $128. Faribault makes blankets for Lands' End and Sears. Unlike the outlet in Faribault, the Medford location does not sell clothing or gifts.

The Painted Porch (1-507-446-0143), a multidealer antique and gift shop, opened in April, replacing Mustard Seed. Choose from a variety of cottage accessories, primitives and antique themes such as crocks, lodge looks, old prints, small collectibles and garden iron.

A Bag Lady (1-507-451-9097) is not an outlet, but an independent retailer selling new, funky and fun handbags, jewelry and embroidered clothing. Handbag prices range from $19 to $200, clothes $30 to $60 and jewelry $2 to $50.

North Branch Outlets

(www.northbranchoutlets.com, 651-674-5886, 40 miles north of Minneapolis at the intersection of I-35 and Hwy. 95). Go to the mall office for back-to-school savings of 20 percent through August or print out store coupons at the mall's website.

Formerly Tanger Outlets, the new center has a few new stores. The Nike outlet (651-674-1943), which opened last November, is similar to the ones in Medford and Albertville, just slightly smaller. A Bath & Body Works outlet (651-674-4428) opened in May with excellent deals. It joins another Body Works clearance store in Medford. The BBW store in Albertville is not an outlet.

John Ewoldt • 612-673-7633 or jewoldt@startribune.com. His articles are online at www.startribune.com/dollars.