3.27.2012

Shopping: Shoppers Clubs

Shoppers familiar with savings cards at grocery stores and loyalty cards at specialty retailers might be missing out on one of the greatest sources of shopping savings – the mall shoppers club.

These programs differ from grocery and store promotions in a few key ways. First, there aren’t any membership cards to carry. Shoppers can sign up online before heading to the mall (see a complete list of links at the end of the story). Information is usually limited to a shopper’s name, address and e-mail contact.

Once a guest has joined, he or she will receive periodic e-mails with announcements of special promotions, upcoming sales and member-only discounts. For example, members of the Las Vegas Premium Outlets’ VIP Club recently learned that they could save $50 to $100 on their purchase at Elie Tahari on Presidents Day weekend. The Premium Outlets also allow guests to choose their favorite stores and print savings passes from home.

“We recommend that shoppers join our VIP Shopper Club for added savings. It is free to join,” Michele Rothstein, spokesperson for Premium Outlets/Simon, said.

The Galleria at Sunset also has a kids club, called the Funset Kids Club, to keep parents up-to-date on upcoming events for the little ones, as well as sales and discounts parents might want to know about.

Most often, the clubs are free to join, but occasionally there is a small fee. Fashion Outlets of Las Vegas, located in nearby Primm, offers discount hunters the option of purchasing a Green Savings Card for $5, good through January of next year and free to AAA or CAA members. More than 100 stores participate in the program, offering discounts from 10 percent to $100 off purchases.

Finally, the more tech-savvy might enjoy keeping up with their favorite Las Vegas area shopping center’s news via social media or customized apps for smartphones. Most centers have profiles on either Twitter, Facebook or both, which update guests on the most up-to-the-minute deals. The Galleria at Sunset has even forgone the shopper’s club sign-up process altogether, preferring to use Facebook Connect.

The Club (which serves both Fashion Show and Meadows Mall) has a free app for both the iPhone and Android markets. In addition to listing savings, these include games shoppers can play to win additional perks, like discounts and free gifts. Town Square also has its own app, featuring an interactive property map, suggestions on where to park, event information and special discounts.

Las Vegan Ellia Sampson, a repeat visitor to Town Square, recently downloaded the app to her iPhone and said, “I discovered some stores I didn’t even know were here. Plus, the app showed me how to get a 40 percent (off) coupon to my daughter’s favorite store.”

Visitors looking to take advantage of special discounts can also print the Shop Vegas Passport on the Las Vegas Convention and Visitors Authority website, which entitles the bearer to special savings passports at the outlet malls, Fashion Show and Town Square, as well as casino shopping centers like the Forum Shops, the Miracle Mile Shops, the Shoppes at the Palazzo, and the Grand Canal Shoppes.

Shoppers clubs in Las Vegas include: Boulevard Mall—Our Place; The District at Green Valley Ranch—The|List; Fashion Outlets Las Vegas – Green Savings Card; Fashion Show Mall—The Club; Galleria at Sunset—Shoptopia; Meadows Mall—The Club; Premium Outlets North & South—VIP Shopper’s Club; and Town Square’s Inner Square.

Published on BestOfLasVegas.com

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