Island Outfitters Going Strong, Expanding Brands as Vineyard Vines Settles into New Canaan

When Vineyard Vines moved into New Canaan, it wasn't just a new big chain moving into town. It also had the potential to affect the small businesses in the area that normally carried the brand. 

Stores like Island Outfitters, located at 80 Main Street. Manager Ann Donovan said business remained good, and the impact had been minimal, save for "maybe the first day, but that doesn't count because they were giving out ice cream." Donovan said Island Outfitters had take some moves to expand in light of the situation, though.

"We're expanding into our other brands," she said. "We've created two shops within a shop. Fairway & Greene is a technical golf brand that's in a lot of pro shops but we're one of the few stores you'll find it in. And Zero Restriction, which is movable, techie clothing." 

Donovan said Island Outfitters would continue to carry Vineyard Vines in a smaller capacity, but is a much larger store at 5,000 square feet than their new nearby neighbors. 

"It's a much smaller store than I anticipated," she said. "Here, we carry a wide variety of brands.Southern Tides is another brand we carry that we've been expanding as it becomes more and more popular."

Donovan said she doesn't really see the dual existence as becoming problematic, especially since Island Outfitters has a strong customer base already established.

"We have good customers and we carry a lot of different brands people come in looking for," Donovan said. "We have all kinds of things for our customers. We're one of the few stores in the United States to carry the Holebrook line out of Sweden."

They also carry things that no one else has, like New Canaan-branded gifts like belts, glasses and coasters, to hard-to-find personalized monogrammed clutches and necklaces popular with teens and the college-aged crowd. 

Island Outfitters will be taking part in the upcoming sidewalk sale where products will be on sale for up to 60-percent off.