Outlets, English are outlets, its original English meaning is "export, outlet, export row". In retail business, it specifically refers to the shopping center composed of stores selling famous brand over-season, off shelf and off code goods, so it is also called "brand direct shopping center".

Outlets was first born in the United States and has a history of nearly 100 years. Outlets was the first "factory outlet" specialized in handling factory tail goods. Later, it gradually gathered together to form a large outlets shopping center similar to shopping mall, and gradually developed into an independent retail format. Although factory outlet has a history of 100 years in the United States, its real scale development began around 1970.

1970-1987: some large garment factories and commodity processing enterprises began to set up outlet store in their warehouse by using the warehouse of the factory to sell the order tail goods. Basically, it is a factory and an outlet store. The products they collect are both high-quality brands and low prices, so they attracted a large number of customers.

1988-1996: factory outlet began to prosper and have great development. More and more customers went to the factory direct sales shop to buy goods. Therefore, many factories concentrated the direct sales shop together. At this time, the shopping center is generally the real "factory direct sales". Although it attracts customers with famous brands and low prices, it did not form scale sales. And it's far from the city, generally 60-80 miles (100-150 kilometers), and it takes more than an hour to drive.

1997-2001: in the 1990s, outlets has shown a rapid development momentum in the United States. By 1996, more than 300 outlets shopping centers have been established in the United States, and with the participation of outlets developers, this marketing pattern has changed substantially. First of all, the supplier has developed from a single commodity factory in the past to a specialized supply channel with the participation of commodity factories, brand owners, brand agents, brand wholesalers and even large department stores. Secondly, the functions are more complete and leisure shopping is integrated. Finally, we began to pay attention to the shopping environment and close to the city. Therefore, this kind of direct selling center has gradually developed into a large or super large shopping center. Especially in the past two years, the sales volume has reached a new high. According to the statistics of the United States, there are 275 large outlets in the United States, and the sales growth rate is increasing significantly year by year. In the United States, Europe, Japan and even Southeast Asian countries, this type of business has emerged and flourished.

Since its first entry into China in 2002, outlets shopping center has experienced 10 years of rapid development, more than 200 outlets have opened in various parts of the country, with more than 400 discount stores named "outlets".