Outlet vs. Store: Know the Difference
By Shumaila Saeed || Updated on December 25, 2023
An outlet is a retail store selling items directly from a manufacturer, often at discounted prices, while a store is a general term for any retail establishment selling goods.
Key Differences
An outlet typically sells products from a specific manufacturer, often overstock or past-season items at reduced prices. A store, in a broader sense, refers to any retail space selling a variety of goods, not necessarily linked to a single brand or discounted pricing.
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Dec 21, 2023
Outlets are often located in specific outlet malls or districts and are known for offering lower prices. Stores encompass a wide range of retail formats, including department stores, boutiques, and supermarkets, each with different pricing strategies.
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Dec 21, 2023
The merchandise in an outlet is usually from one brand or company, focusing on excess inventory or factory seconds. A store, however, may carry multiple brands and a wider variety of current season products.
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Dec 21, 2023
Outlets often serve as a way for brands to sell directly to consumers, cutting out middlemen. Stores can be either brand-specific or multi-brand retailers, often purchasing goods from various suppliers.
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Dec 21, 2023
The shopping experience in an outlet can be different, often with a focus on bargains and bulk buying. Stores provide a more diverse shopping experience, catering to a broader range of customer needs and preferences.
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Dec 21, 2023
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Comparison Chart
Product Variety
Typically single brand or company
Multiple brands, broader variety
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Purpose
Clearing excess inventory, factory seconds
Regular retail, wider customer appeal
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Dec 21, 2023
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Outlet and Store Definitions
Outlet
A retail location where products are sold directly to consumers.
I found a great deal on shoes at the outlet mall.
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Dec 12, 2023
Store
To save or keep something for later use or reference.
I'll store this important document in a secure folder.
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Dec 12, 2023
Outlet
A device or opening for the release or discharge of something, such as electricity or water.
The electrical outlet in the wall powers my laptop.
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Dec 12, 2023
Store
A quantity or supply of something that is accumulated or available for use.
He has a vast store of knowledge about ancient history.
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Dec 12, 2023
Outlet
A means of expressing or releasing one's emotions, creativity, or energy.
Painting serves as an outlet for her artistic expression.
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Dec 12, 2023
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Outlet
A river, stream, or channel that drains a lake or body of water.
The outlet of the lake flows into the nearby river.
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Dec 12, 2023
Store
A stock or supply reserved for future use
A squirrel's store of acorns.
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Dec 10, 2023
Outlet
A store or website that sells discounted or surplus merchandise.
The online outlet store offers last season's fashion at a lower price.
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Dec 12, 2023
Outlet
A means of release or gratification, as for energies, drives, or desires
Exercised as an outlet for frustration.
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Dec 10, 2023
Outlet
The point of intersection of a driveway and a road, especially in a rural area.
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Dec 10, 2023
Store
(Computers) To copy (data) into memory or onto a storage device, such as a hard disk.
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Dec 10, 2023
Store
A place where items may be accumulated or routinely kept.
This building used to be a store for old tires.
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Dec 10, 2023
Outlet
A store that sells the goods of a particular manufacturer or wholesaler.
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Dec 10, 2023
Outlet
A receptacle, especially one mounted in a wall, that is connected to a power supply and equipped with a socket for a plug.
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Dec 10, 2023
Store
(mainly North American) A place where items may be purchased; a shop.
I need to get some milk from the grocery store.
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Dec 10, 2023
Outlet
Something which allows for the release of one's desires.
Jamie found doing martial arts was a great outlet for her stress.
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Dec 10, 2023
Store
A head of store cattle (feeder cattle to be sold to others for finishing); a store cattle beast.
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Dec 10, 2023
Outlet
A shop that sells the products of a particular manufacturer or supplier.
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Dec 10, 2023
Store
(transitive) To keep (something) while not in use, generally in a place meant for that purpose.
I'll store these books in the attic.
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Dec 10, 2023
Outlet
A wall-mounted device such as a socket or receptacle connected to an electrical system at which current is taken to supply utilization equipment or appliances.
I had to move the cupboard to get to the power outlet.
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Dec 10, 2023
Outlet
The place or opening by which anything is let out; a passage out; an exit; a vent.
Receiving all, and having no outlet.
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Dec 10, 2023
Store
Have the capacity and capability to contain.
They sell boxes that store 24 mason jars.
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Dec 10, 2023
Store
To write (something) into memory or registers.
This operation stores the result on the stack.
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Store
That which is accumulated, or massed together; a source from which supplies may be drawn; hence, an abundance; a great quantity, or a great number.
The ships are fraught with store of victuals.
With store of ladies, whose bright eyesRain influence, and give the prize.
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Outlet
Receptacle providing a place in a wiring system where current can be taken to run electrical devices
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Dec 10, 2023
Store
A place of deposit for goods, esp. for large quantities; a storehouse; a warehouse; a magazine.
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Outlet
An opening that permits escape or release;
He blocked the way out
The canyon had only one issue
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Store
Any place where goods are sold, whether by wholesale or retail; a shop.
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Outlet
Activity that releases or expresses creative energy or emotion;
She had no other outlet for her feelings
He gave vent to his anger
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Dec 10, 2023
Store
Articles, especially of food, accumulated for some specific object; supplies, as of provisions, arms, ammunition, and the like; as, the stores of an army, of a ship, of a family.
His swine, his horse, his stoor, and his poultry.
In his needy shop a tortoise hung,An alligator stuffed, and other skinsOf ill-shaped fishes; and about his shelvesA beggarly account of empty boxes.
Sulphurous and nitrous foam, . . . Concocted and adjusted, they reducedTo blackest grain, and into store conveyed.
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Store
To collect as a reserved supply; to accumulate; to lay away.
Dora stored what little she could save.
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Dec 10, 2023
Store
To furnish; to supply; to replenish; esp., to stock or furnish against a future time.
Her mind with thousand virtues stored.
Wise Plato said the world with men was stored.
Having stored a pond of four acres with carps, tench, and other fish.
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Dec 10, 2023
Store
To deposit in a store, warehouse, or other building, for preservation; to warehouse; as, to store goods.
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Dec 10, 2023
Store
A mercantile establishment for the retail sale of goods or services;
He bought it at a shop on Cape Cod
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Store
A supply of something available for future use;
He brought back a large store of Cuban cigars
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Dec 10, 2023
Store
An electronic memory device;
A memory and the CPU form the central part of a computer to which peripherals are attached
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Dec 10, 2023
Store
Keep or lay aside for future use;
Store grain for the winter
The bear stores fat for the period of hibernation when he doesn't eat
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Dec 10, 2023
Store
Find a place for and put away for storage;
Where should we stow the vegetables?
I couldn't store all the books in the attic so I sold some
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Dec 10, 2023
Store
A place where goods are kept for future use or sale.
The warehouse is a store for our inventory.
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Dec 12, 2023
Store
A retail establishment where items are sold to the public.
I need to visit the grocery store to buy some groceries.
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Dec 12, 2023
Store
To remember and recall information or experiences.
I store fond memories of our family vacations.
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Dec 12, 2023
Repeatedly Asked Queries
What is an outlet store?
An outlet store is a retail store that sells discounted or surplus merchandise, typically from a particular brand or manufacturer.
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Dec 21, 2023
What is a convenience store?
A convenience store is a small retail store that offers everyday items and operates with extended hours for customers' convenience.
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Dec 21, 2023
What is an outlet in retail?
An outlet in retail is a location where products are sold directly to consumers, often offering discounted merchandise.
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Dec 21, 2023
Can an outlet also refer to a means of emotional release?
Yes, an outlet can be a way to express or release emotions, creativity, or energy.
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Dec 21, 2023
What is the outlet of a lake or river?
The outlet of a lake or river is the point where water flows out of it, often forming a river or stream.
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Dec 21, 2023
What is the purpose of a storage facility or storage unit?
A storage facility or unit is used to store belongings, items, or inventory that may not have immediate use or space at home or work.
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Dec 21, 2023
What is an electrical outlet?
An electrical outlet is a device in buildings that provides electricity for appliances and devices when they are plugged in.
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Dec 21, 2023
What does it mean to store something for later use?
To store something means to save or keep it for future use or reference.
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Dec 21, 2023
Can you store physical objects in a digital format?
Yes, digital storage allows for the preservation of physical objects in a digital form, such as scanning and archiving documents.
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Dec 21, 2023
What is the difference between a store and a shop?
"Store" is a broader term that includes various types of retail establishments, while "shop" typically refers to a smaller retail space.
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Dec 21, 2023
What is a department store?
A department store is a large retail establishment that offers a wide range of merchandise, often organized into departments.
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Dec 21, 2023
What are the different types of stores in retail?
Types of stores in retail include department stores, grocery stores, specialty stores, convenience stores, and more.
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Dec 21, 2023
Are all outlet stores cheaper than regular retail stores?
Outlet stores often offer discounted merchandise, but the level of discount can vary, and not all items are necessarily cheaper than regular retail stores.
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Dec 21, 2023
Are online stores and physical stores the same?
Online stores operate on the internet, while physical stores have a physical location where customers can visit to make purchases.
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Dec 21, 2023
How can one store knowledge or memories?
Knowledge and memories can be stored in one's mind and recalled when needed through memory and learning processes.
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Dec 21, 2023
Do stores and outlets have return policies?
Yes, both stores and outlets typically have return policies that outline conditions for returning purchased items.
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Dec 21, 2023
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About Author
Written by
Shumaila SaeedShumaila Saeed, an expert content creator with 6 years of experience, specializes in distilling complex topics into easily digestible comparisons, shining a light on the nuances that both inform and educate readers with clarity and accuracy.