Starting this month, the Factory Stores at Tuscola, which says it has been experiencing good sales during the national recession, will be offering Eastern students a chance to save 15 to 20 percent off purchases by shopping on a Saturday or a Sunday at participating stores.

Students, presenting their Panther Cards, can sign up for the program, called ScholarShop, at Polo Ralph Lauren, GAP Outlet or the management office from 8:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m., Monday through Friday.

Once signed up, students will receive a ScholarShop card that can be presented for discounts on all purchases at over 20 of the mall’s stores participating in the program. General manager Morrie Mendenhall said the Tommy Hilfiger outlet store and Claire’s Accessories are two of those stores participating in the program.

However, the discounts will only be offered on the weekend, Mendenhall said. Despite the nation’s sluggish economy, in December the Factory Stores at Tuscola received a 50 percent double-digit sales increase in over 90 percent of its stores.

“We were very pleased,” Mendenhall said.

But, she said mall managers were surprised to hear rumors that the stores were closing.

“We are going to be here for a long time,” Mendenhall said.

Currently, there are 48 stores in operation, with 12 vacancies, she said. Of the 12 vacancies, 25 percent of the stores closed due to bankruptcy.

“The retail business is in constant flux,” she said. “We don’t like to see 12 closing.”

However, that will change, Mendenhall noted.

“We have signed with Vanity Fair,” she said.

Vanity Fair is slated to open in August, depending on construction.

“They have a wide variety of apparel,” she said.

The store will be laid out over 28,842 square feet. Vanity Fair will carry products by brand names such as Lee, JanSport, Healthtex, Riders and Wrangler. They carry career backpacks, sleep-wear, sportswear, jeans and other clothing items.

The Factory Stores have a full-time department that is constantly looking for new merchants.

“They clearly have an idea of who they want and who they go after,” Mendenhall said.

In order to attract customers, the shopping outlet, which has 247,866 total square feet, has added parking and repainted the center. Since 1998, the shopping outlet has spent over $3 million in enhancements, Mendenhall said.