Saks OFF 5th launches outlet e-commerce site

SOURCE: MarketWatch NEW YORK, Sep 30, 2013 (BUSINESS WIRE) 

Saks Incorporated's SKS +0.13%  Saks Fifth Avenue OFF 5TH, a premier destination for top designer shopping at extraordinary prices, is proud to announce the highly anticipated launch of its online store, saksoff5th.com on Monday, September 30. With up to 55% off year-round, Saks OFF 5TH offers carefully curated, off-the-runway trends, exceptional service, and unbelievable savings--now available anytime, anywhere.

"This is a significant milestone for Saks OFF 5TH as the company rounds out our omni-channel offerings. In addition to our 70 nationwide stores, the e-commerce site is yet another platform through which we can provide our curated off-price shopping experience. We want it to be the Saks of the off price world, a true extension of the brand," said Robert Wallstrom, President of Saks Fifth Avenue OFF 5TH.

"We designed the site to be a sleek, modern online reflection of the elevated design of the OFF 5TH stores with a strong value message. We think it will become a best in class off price fashion destination online," said Michael Burgess, President of Saks Direct.

Along with our expanding base of stores, customers can now shop 24 hours a day--with round-the-clock assistance from our customer care team. Mobile and tablet enhancements for shopping will be part of the evolution of the site interface.

Saks OFF 5TH online will offer the same great men's and women's collections as in-store. Shoppers can discover our expanded collections of new designer labels, the latest fashion and trends, and high-quality merchandise at an extraordinary value ranging from men's and women's ready-to-wear, footwear, handbags, accessories, jewelry, watches and beauty.

Online customers will have visibility and accessibility to shop all of the top designer brands that may have limited distribution and only in select stores nationwide. Additionally, the e-commerce site will offer customer's access to Salon Z, a plus size women's program not available in all stores.

The site is designed to reflect the experience of in-store shopping and modeled after the loft like, bright, open atmosphere of Saks OFF 5TH stores. The online store will be best in class with superior functionality. Customers will have more control over their filter options, they will be able to hover over product images animated through multiple views of the item, and full-screen zoom is available for all products, among other innovative features.

Online promotions for saksoff5th.com will mirror in-store promotions with new product offerings daily. There will also be the specialized offers and exclusive merchandise for top customers to enjoy. Additionally, the site will include FashionFix events, which will migrate from Saks.com to saksoff5th.com. FashionFix is an additional space that provides exceptional deals on non-outlet premier designer products through curated flash sales.

Customers will also be able to sign up for emails to learn about current promotions, in store events and connect to social media channels, i.e. Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and Pinterest.

The Saks OFF 5TH More! Program will be offered on the e-commerce site. It is a free membership that gives customers access to additional savings in stores and online. Members will receive advance notice of special events, special coupons and invitations to private sales.

During the launch all shoppers of saksoff5th.com will receive free shipping on all orders during a limited introductory period. SaksFirst members will be honored with free shipping on all orders, all of the time. Other services on the site include shipment tracking, SaksFirst Card management and the opportunity to purchase and redeem gift cards.

About Saks Incorporated and Saks Fifth Avenue OFF 5TH

Saks Incorporated currently operates 41 Saks Fifth Avenue stores, 70 Saks Fifth Avenue OFF 5TH stores, and saks.com.

Saks Fifth Avenue OFF 5TH is a world-class, full-service destination for value-priced clothes and accessories for men, women, children and the home. The retailer's 70 nationwide stores and online store, saksoff5th.com, combine the two great joys of shopping: the delight of discovering the very best and the thrill of the deal. A carefully curated off-priced shopping experience, we feature highly coveted designers alongside exclusive Saks brands you won't find anywhere else, all in a luxury-in-a-loft environment. Saks Fifth Avenue OFF 5TH simply offers more style, more savings and more service than any other value retailer.

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Saks to open seven new outlet stores in 2014

By Justine Griffin, Herald-Tribune / Thursday, September 19, 2013

Saks Incorporated announced plans to open seven new Saks Fifth Avenue Off 5th outlet stores next year, including one in South Florida.

Saks is the latest upscale retailer, behind Nordstrom and Neiman Marcus, to push forward with its outlet line instead of the full-line department stores. The Off 5th stores range in size from 25,000 to 28,000 square feet and will be modeled in the brand's "luxury in a loft" store design, according to a statement.

“We look forward to the continued expansion of the Saks Fifth Avenue Off 5th store base into new markets and to provide our customers with a state-of-the-art shopping environment,” said Robert Wallstrom, President of Saks Fifth Avenue Off 5th, in a statement. “The seven new stores are located in key communities and will be important additions to the company. We are excited to serve the customers of these communities with premium designer brands at an extraordinary value.”

The outlets are expected to open in the Palm Beach Outlets in West Palm Beach, Fla; The Outlets at Bloomfield in Pearl, Miss; Potomac Mills in Woodbridge, Va., Outlet Shoppes at Louisville/Lexington,Ky.; Twin Cities of Eagan in Minneapolis, Minn.; The Mayfair Collection in Mayfair, Wis.; Easton Gateway in Columbus, Ohio.

Saks Off 5th stores will sell merchandise for men, women and children, as well as jewelry, beauty items, shoes, handbags and sunglasses.

In celebration of the openings, each new store will host local launch festivities with special discounts and giveaways.

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By Phil Wahba

NEW YORK | Sun Aug 4, 2013 9:04pm EDT
(Reuters) - Low-price retailer T.J. Maxx plans to open an online store this year, as does rival Saks Inc's Off Fifth outlets, making 2013 the year technology may have caught up with the speed of fashion.

For such chains, which feature clearance items, last-year's fashions and overruns, their fast-moving and often unpredictable inventory has made selling goods over the web complex.

"Retail is chaotic. Off-price retail is even more chaotic," said Fiona Dias, a leading e-commerce expert and chief strategy officer at ShopRunner.

A cardinal sin in e-commerce is to tell customers something is available when it's not, and conversely, having an item in stock but not having it on the website. That is why the retailers are investing in software that manages inventory, tracks it in real time, and continuously updates the websites.

This will be TJX Cos Inc's, owner of T.J. Maxx, second stab at e-commerce after a 2005 failure. It abandoned its first attempt after only a year following poor sales, turmoil in the corner office, and challenges at its smaller chains. That failure cost TJX $15 million.

Now, TJX is one of the fastest growing retailers, and T.J. Maxx one of the most popular brands. In 2011, it hired Elaine Boltz, a leading e-commerce executive. Last year, it spent about $200 million to buy online retailer Sierra Trading for its technology and expertise.

The revenue potential is huge. Avondale Partners thinks TJX, for instance, can quickly garner annual online sales of $1 billion.

The company declined to comment beyond what its chief executive has said on investor calls, but Morningstar analyst Jaime Katz thinks TJX will carve out space at its current distribution facilities to handle e-commerce, rather than spend millions on a fulfillment center.

Saks Inc's Off Fifth is following Barneys New York's recent launch of a discount site and will use existing facilities to keep costs in check.

Saks, which has closed some department stores while expanding its Off Fifth chain, is carrying out a three-year, $95 million overhaul of its computer systems to upgrade its e-commerce. It spent an extra $6 million to push up the launch of the Off Fifth site to this fall instead of next year.

Saks Chief Executive Steve Sadove told Reuters that the online selection at Off Fifth would be limited, and focused on better selling items, given the expense of taking quality photos and editorial content.

"Ultimately, what you have to weigh is the cost of putting an item up online against the incremental sales that'll be generated," Sadove said. "It's not free."

Attracted in part by the e-commerce potential, Hudson's Bay Co struck a $2.9 billion deal to buy the New York-based luxury retailer late last month.

Nordstrom Inc has an embryonic e-commerce site for its Rack outlet chain, but said it will build it out in the coming years as part of a $1 billion online overhaul.

Not everyone wants to let shoppers buy discounted items online. Gap Inc, Nike Inc and VF Corp's The North Face are sticking with brick-and-mortar stores for their discount businesses.

Steve Rendle, a VF executive, said it is important not to get shoppers hooked on deals, lest they stop paying full price.

Ross Stores, a fast growing rival of TJX's, told Reuters it has no plans for e-commerce, saying there is still plenty of growth potential for its stores.

But as far as TJX is concerned, CEO Carol Meyrowitz said more than a year ago that "e-commerce is clearly in our future."

E-commerce is growing at a clip of 10 percent a year through 2017, Forrester Research has projected.

"You don't want to lose out. If people are shopping the channel, you don't want to leave money on the table," said Morningstar's Katz.

(Reporting by Phil Wahba in New York; Editing by Jilian Mincer, Ed Tobin and Leslie Gevirtz)

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Neiman Marcus, Nordstrom, Bloomingdales and Saks increase outlets

By Kyle Stock - July 16, 2013 Bloomberg Business Week

High-end department stores are slumming … sort of.

At pricey apparel retailers such as Neiman Marcus and Bloomingdales (M), outlet stores may soon outnumber traditional locations, according to a new report by Bloomberg Industries. In fact, they already do at Saks (SKS) and Nordstrom (JWN). Some 60 percent of Saks locations are now outlets, and all but two of the 15 stores it plans to open in the next two years will be discount centers. Nordstrom meanwhile, has 127 “Rack” outlets and plans to open another 17 by the end of the year..

The strategy is a simple play for the bargain-hunters who have driven handsome returns for Ross Stores and TJ Maxx of TJX Companies (TJX). “It’s predominantly an entirely different customer for these companies,” says Bloomberg Analyst Poonam Goyal. “They know they can’t afford the full-line stuff, but they still desire the brand.”

A steady stream of thrifty customers pays off in tight times. As the economy buckled in 2009, combined revenue at Ross and TJX swelled by 5 percent, while sales at Neiman Marcus, Nordstrom, and Saks slid by 10 percent.

“It really took the recession for them to see the opportunity there,” Goyal says.

Separating shoppers by willingness to pay—better known as price differentiation—has long been a proven business strategy. It’s tough for a mid-market player such as Macy’s, but it’s perfect for a company that focuses on pricier products.

The trick, however, is to make sure that people who are willing to pay the higher price can’t easily switch to the cheaper option. That’s the beauty of outlets; they physically separate buyers. They also let high-end brands offload stale inventory without slashing prices in flagship stores, conditioning affluent customers to wait for discounts.

The discount stores are often more profitable than the glitzier retail hubs. In terms of revenue per square foot, Nordstrom Rack locations sell 40 percent more than the company’s traditional locations, according to the Bloomberg analysis. And expenses are lower at outlets, whose shoppers generally don’t need to be enticed by a swarm of sales staff, or by expensive displays and fixtures.

“The only real danger for outlets,” Goyal says, “is if everyone suddenly wants to pay full price.”

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Saks OFF 5th to open at Phoenix Premium Outlets

Fort Mill Times  Published: Friday, Mar. 29, 2013 / Updated: Friday, Mar. 29, 2013 02:40 PM

NEW YORK -- Saks Incorporated’s Saks Fifth Avenue OFF 5TH announced today that it plans to open its doors in Chandler, AZ on Thursday, April 4, 2013. The new 28,000-square-foot store is located in Phoenix Premium Outlets, which is opening to the public that day. It is the second Saks Fifth Avenue OFF 5TH outlet facility that will service the Phoenix and Scottsdale area. The new outlet center, owned and operated by Simon Property Group, is part of Wild Horse Pass, within the Gila River Indian Community, which includes hotels, a spa, casino, golf, an equestrian center, fine dining and more.

“We are very happy about the collaboration with Simon and look forward to a continued successful partnership,” stated Robert Wallstrom, President of Saks Fifth Avenue OFF 5TH. “Our team recognizes the opportunity and potential growth in the Phoenix/Scottsdale area and we are very excited to bring designer fashion at great prices to the community.”

The store will be modeled in Saks Fifth Avenue OFF 5TH’s innovative ‘luxury in a loft’ store design, a novel layout that has been well received and set a new standard in outlet shopping. This design maximizes efficiency and flexibility, enabling easy changes in the general layout. The store will be bright, uncluttered, with no hard aisles and one consistent hard-surface floor throughout. All fixtures will be on casters, ensuring ease in movement, and all hardware will be interchangeable between fixtures.

Savvy shoppers can find over 800 designer brands at 30% to 70% off comparable retail prices, including women’s and men’s apparel, fine jewelry, handbags, shoes, and children’s collections. Women will find both designer and contemporary merchandise, including spring’s most sought-after womenswear trends, from brands such as Free People, French Connection, DVF, James Perse, C&C, Splendid, BCBG Max Azria, Rock Revival and Vigoss, to name a few. A large selection of women’s shoes from designers such as Stuart Weitzman, Coach, Ivanka Trump, Kate Spade, Cole Haan, Vince Camuto, Sam Edelman, DV by Dolce Vita and Donald J. Pliner will also be available to shoppers. Men will find great designs by brands such as Affliction, Members Only, Vince, Marc by Marc Jacobs, Robert Graham, Seven for All Mankind, Joes Jeans and True Religion, amongst many others.

Additionally, the store will carry a lavish assortment of jewelry and watches including designers such as Roberto Coin, Ippolita, Charriol, Judith Ripka, John Hardy, Slane, Stephen Webster, Saks Fifth Avenue, Bavna, Heidi Daus, Belargo, Stephen Dweck, Adriana Orsini, and Michele.

In celebration of the store’s opening, attendees will enjoy additional savings on stylish spring merchandise, and receive a complimentary signature tote with any $50 purchase from Thursday, April 4 to Sunday, April 7. Saks Fifth Avenue OFF 5TH will also treat customers with in-store treats, beverages and goodies. Throughout the opening weekend, customers will be eligible to receive a 3-Months of Fashion pass that offers additional discounts for three months following the opening.

About Saks Fifth Avenue OFF 5TH
Saks Fifth Avenue OFF 5TH is a world-class, full-service destination for value-priced clothes and accessories for men, women, children and the home. The retailer’s 65 stores combine the two great joys of shopping: the delight of finding the very best and the thrill of the deal. Highly coveted designers are displayed alongside exclusive Saks brands you won’t find anywhere else, all in a luxury-in-a-loft environment that can showcase an emerging trend one day and a great deal the next. Saks Fifth Avenue OFF 5TH simply offers more style, more savings and more service than any other value retailer.

Neiman Marcus, Saks among retailers at Fashion Outlets of Chicago

 By Brigid Sweeney - Crains - Chicagobusiness.com

Fashion Outlets of Chicago, the major new mall set to open in August near O'Hare International Airport, announced its full tenant list today.

As reported last week, the two-level, 530,000-square-foot center will be anchored by a Bloomingdale's outlet, Last Call by Neiman Marcus, Saks Fifth Avenue Off 5th and Forever21.

More than 100 other retailers will join them, including Banana Republic, Barneys New York, Giorgio Armani, Gucci, J.Crew, Michael Kors, Nike, Prada and Tory Burch.


The mall also will be home to two restaurants: Prasino, an upscale, health-conscious eatery that's already earned a following with locations in Wicker Park and west suburban La Grange, and Villagio, an Italian spot by Florida-based restaurant group Carpaccio LLC, which operates several Miami-area restaurants, including one at the upscale Bar Harbour Shops. The mall will also have 16 or 17 other more casual dining options.

“The era of the shopper and the community being estranged from one another and the mall as a remote appendage doesn't work any longer,” said Arthur Weiner, chairman of AWE Talisman, Fashion Outlets' Coral Gables, Fla.-based co-developer. “We're integrating fashion, food, art and shopping.”

Mr. Weiner said he hopes to draw a heavy crowd of international tourists from nearby O'Hare, especially Chinese, Brazilian and Russian luxury shoppers.

“The outlet industry is tremendously tourist-driven,” he said. “We market our centers globally to (international) tour operators.”

Fashion Outlets will try to capitalize on its location near O'Hare by offering regular shuttles to and from the airport's terminals, Mr. Weiner said, and shuttles to and from the CTA's Blue Line. It will also operate a concierge service that allows travelers to print their boarding passes and check shopping bags and luggage from the mall.

Though some suburban malls have struggled to regain their footing after the recession, Mr. Weiner said consumers will flock to a high-end mall with a vibrant mix of tenants and dining options.
“Outlets have been a model that people frequent three times a year on their way to somewhere else,” Mr. Weiner said. “They were in the cornfields, removed from the population and had no sizzle. It's time to change that.”

Retail experts agree that Fashion Outlets is positioned to do well.

“They've put together a really impressive roster of tenants, which is far and away the most important factor in a mall's success,” said Neil Stern, a retail analyst at Chicago-based McMillan Doolittle & Co.

Saks Fifth Avenue OFF 5TH to Open Seven Stores

INDIANAPOLIS, May 14, 2012 /PRNewswire/ -- Simon Property Group, Inc. (NYSE: SPG), the world's leading retail real estate company, announced that Saks Fifth Avenue OFF 5TH will open a total of seven new stores in the next two years in its Premium Outlets® division including new centers and existing centers:

New Centers:		Expected Opening
Merrimack Premium Outlets	Merrimack, NH	June 14, 2012
Phoenix Premium Outlets	Chandler, AZ	Spring 2013
St. Louis Premium Outlets	Chesterfield, MO	2013
Tampa Premium Outlets	Wesley Chapel, FL	2014
Expansions:
Orlando Premium Outlets - Vineland Ave	Orlando, FL	2013
Chicago Premium Outlets	Aurora, IL	2014
Las Vegas Premium Outlets - North	Las Vegas, NV	2015

In addition, SPG said today that Saks Fifth Avenue OFF 5TH has made a long-term commitment to its Potomac Mills presence by finalizing its intention to move within the center to a new space on the front side of the property located between a mall entrance and Costco.

Simon is a key partner to Saks Fifth Avenue OFF 5TH, providing continued opportunity for growth in key markets via its Premium Outlets. The new stores will offer more customers access to more fashion, top brands, savings and service. Each of the areas differentiates Saks Fifth Avenue OFF 5TH to provide customers with a premium experience from a value retailer.

The innovative modern luxury-in-a-loft design of Saks Fifth Avenue OFF 5TH stores is both spacious and inviting. The versatile environment can showcase an emerging trend one day and a great deal the next, all at the high pace of fashion. Saks Fifth Avenue OFF 5TH leverages Saks Fifth Avenue's knowledge of fashion in the marketplace to create exclusive brands, providing customers with even more accessible luxuries, more trend-right values and more stylish exclusives.

There are 34 Saks Fifth Avenue OFF 5TH locations within the Simon portfolio both in its Premium Outlets and The Mills® divisions.  The first new opening will be a 28,000 square foot Saks Fifth Avenue OFF 5TH opening on June 14, 2012 at the grand opening of Merrimack Premium Outlets, Merrimack, New Hampshire.

"We continue to be pleased with the performance of our Saks Fifth Avenue OFF 5TH stores in the Simon portfolio and are excited to have so many strong locations for us to grow with. These locations will enable us to continue to deliver our distinct merchandise offerings to area residents and visitors," stated Robert Wallstrom, President of Saks Fifth Avenue OFF 5TH.

"Saks Fifth Avenue OFF 5TH exemplifies the type of high quality shopping experience we seek for our discerning outlet customers, who visit our centers from around the world," noted John R. Klein, President of Simon's Premium Outlets division. "We are happy to have Saks join us as we build new centers and expand existing centers with strong track records of success."

Gregg Goodman, President of The Mills, a Simon company, is looking forward to the new store which will be delivered at Potomac Mills. "Saks is going to build a new, highly-productive store," Goodman said. "We're thrilled they are going to continue to serve our customers in the D.C. and Virginia markets."

Simon's Premium Outlets portfolio features 70 Premium Outlet Centers® including 57 in the United States, one in Puerto Rico, eight in Japan, two in Korea, one in Malaysia and one in Mexico. Its industry-leading properties include Woodbury Common Premium Outlets (New York City), Orlando Premium Outlets, Desert Hills Premium Outlets (Palm Springs, California) and Las Vegas Premium Outlets.

Saks Fifth Avenue OFF 5TH to Anchor Two New Premium Outlet Centers

INDIANAPOLIS, April 3, 2012 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Simon Property Group, Inc. (NYSE: SPG), the world's leading retail real estate company, announced that Saks Fifth Avenue OFF 5TH will anchor two new centers in development in its Premium Outlets® division: Phoenix Premium Outlets and St. Louis Premium Outlets.

Phoenix Premium Outlets in Chandler, Arizona, is currently under construction with a spring 2013 opening planned.  Located adjacent to the Wild Horse Pass Hotel & Casino in the Wild Horse Pass Development located on Interstate 10, south of Loop 202 - Santan Freeway at Exit 162, Wild Horse Pass Blvd. Phase 1 of the center will be comprised of 360,000 square feet housing approximately 90 outlet stores featuring high-quality designer and name brands.

St. Louis Premium Outlets in Chesterfield, Missouri is a part of Chesterfield Blue Valley, a mixed-use development to include office space, hotel, restaurant and entertainment venues. Located on the south side of I-64/US Highway 40 east of the Daniel Boone Bridge, a first phase of approximately 350,000 square feet is projected to open fall 2013.  The project is a joint venture with Woodmont Outlets and EWB Development LLC. Simon owns a 60% interest in the project.

The innovative modern luxury-in-a-loft design of Saks Fifth Avenue OFF 5TH stores is both spacious and inviting. The versatile environment can showcase an emerging trend one day and a great deal the next, all at the high pace of fashion. OFF 5TH leverages Saks Fifth Avenue's knowledge of fashion in the marketplace to create exclusive Saks brands for OFF 5TH providing customers with even more accessible luxuries, more trend-right values and more stylish exclusives.

There are 34 Saks Fifth Avenue OFF 5TH locations within the Simon portfolio both in its Premium Outlets and The Mills® divisions.  A 28,000 square foot OFF 5TH will open on June 14, 2012 at the grand opening of Merrimack Premium Outlets, Merrimack, New Hampshire.

"We are excited to grow our OFF 5TH store portfolio with Simon.  We believe these two locations are well suited for us to deliver our distinct merchandise offerings to area residents and visitors," stated Robert Wallstrom, President of Saks Fifth Avenue OFF 5TH.

"Saks Fifth Avenue OFF 5TH exemplifies the type of high quality shopping experience we seek for our discerning outlet customers," noted John R. Klein, President of Simon's Premium Outlets division. "We are pleased to welcome OFF 5TH to these two new projects."

Sak's Off 5th coming to Merrimack Premium Outlets

(Bruce Preston/Union Leader)

By PAUL FEELY New Hampshire Union Leader 

MERRIMACK — Permits have been issued to 22 businesses to build and “fit up” stores as part of the Merrimack Premium Outlet Mall project, filling out just over a third of the square footage of retail space slated to open to shoppers in June.

Another 15 firms have submitted applications for permits, according to Merrimack Fire Chief Michael Currier, and are awaiting approval from the town’s building and code division.

“When it’s fully occupied, it’s expected to be home to 100 stores,” said Currier, who also serves as head of Merrimack’s building department in addition to his duties as fire chief. “As of today, we have only issued 22 approvals, and we have another 15 in the queue, so to speak.”

The approvals represent a go-ahead for 143,148 square feet of retail space, just over a third of the 430,000 square feet expected to open in June, bringing jobs and added tax revenue to the town.

“We’re very pleased that things are moving on schedule,” said Michele Rothstein, senior vice president of marketing for Premium Outlets, a division of outlet mall’s owner, the Simon Property Group. “We’re very excited because it’s starting to come together.”

“From everything we’ve seen, they are ahead of schedule,” said Currier. “Things are moving along very well. Buildings are up, roofs are on, and now they can start working on fixing up the interiors.”

A look at the permits that have been issued thus far by Currier’s department gives local and regional consumers a chance to plan their summer shopping excursions early.

A Sak’s Fifth Avenue “Off 5th” store will fill 28,000 square feet of the site, and looks to be the largest store at the outlet mall, according to Currier. The next largest retailer approved thus far is a Nike outlet, permitted for 13,000 square feet.

Stores that have been permitted for just over 10,000 square feet of retail include Gap and Hanes outlets, while names like Banana Republic, Reebok, Brooks Brothers, J. Crew, Ann Taylor, Coach and Guess will each occupy retail slots at the site of between 8,000 and 5,000 square feet.

Retail spaces less than 5,000 square feet each are expected to be home to popular retailers Timberland, Carter’s Babies and Kids, OshKosh B’Gosh, Pacific Sun, Bose and Gymboree.

Currier said he could not reveal the name of the 15 other retailers that have applied for permits until they are approved, which he expects will happen sometime in January.

“It’s my understanding that the owners of the mall don’t want to reveal the stores until approval for them is acquired,” said Currier. “They want to have everything lined up.”

“We know we can provide top-quality premium shopping,” said Mark Silvestri, executive vice president of Premium Outlets.

Though Currier said that his department has, up to this point, received build and “fit-up” permit applications from just 37 of the expected 100 retail stores that will occupy the site, he feels the outlet mall is still on track for its opening in June.

“I believe the biggest stores were the ones to file first, because the approval process for them can take longer,” said Currier. “Barring any weather-related setbacks, I don’t anticipate any reason why they won’t be ready to go by the end of May. The weather has really cooperated this fall, and they’ve been very busy at the site.”

The Merrimack Premium Outlet Mall project was approved by the Merrimack Planning Board in September 2008.

Simon Property representatives have stated throughout the project approval process that the outlets, located at Exit 10 off the F.E. Everett Turnpike, just off Industrial Drive in Merrimack, are expected to create more than 800 jobs, and generate roughly $140 million annually in retail sales while offering consumers (on average) daily savings of between 25 and 65 percent off regular retail prices.

Saks OFF 5TH to close Morrisville, NC store.

Source: thestreet - Business Wire

Retailer Saks Incorporated announced its plans to close its 20,000 square foot Saks Fifth Avenue OFF 5TH (“OFF 5TH”) store in Triangle Factory Outlets in Morrisville, North Carolina (metropolitan Raleigh) by January 1, 2012.

The Company opened a new 30,000 square foot OFF 5TH location in Tanger Outlet Center of the Piedmont in nearby Mebane, North Carolina (metropolitan Raleigh) in 2010, which will serve as a replacement store for the closing location. The new Mebane store was designed in the Company’s innovative “luxury in a loft” format that debuted in 2008 and which redefined and elevated the outlet shopping experience.

Robert Wallstrom, President of Saks Fifth Avenue OFF 5TH, noted, “We have many loyal OFF 5TH customers in the metropolitan Raleigh area and hope to continue to serve them with our newer Mebane location.”

Approximately 20 associates are employed in the Morrisville OFF 5TH location. All affected associates either will be offered transfer opportunities or will receive appropriate employment separation packages. Wallstrom continued, “It is never easy to close a store. We are very grateful for our dedicated associates in this location, many of whom have been with us for several years. As always, we are committed to providing needed assistance to these associates during this period.”

Saks OFF 5TH opens at Tanger Outlets in Charleston

by: The Sacramento Bee


NEW YORK, Sept. 22, 2011 -- /PRNewswire/ -- Saks Fifth Avenue OFF 5TH today announced that a new store will be opening at the Tanger Outlets in Charleston, South Carolina on Thursday, September 22. The store marks a return to the Charleston area; Saks Fifth Avenue previously had a full line store in the area that closed in 2010.

The store includes a successful new design that has redefined and elevated the outlet experience. The 25,000 square foot OFF 5TH store will follow Saks Fifth Avenue OFF 5TH's innovative 'luxury in a loft' design that debuted in 2008. The new concept has been very well received since its launch and has set a new standard for outlet shopping with its modern and uncluttered layout.

"We are thrilled to be opening a new store at the Tanger Outlets in Charleston," noted Robert Wallstrom, President of Saks Fifth Avenue OFF 5TH.  "The new Charleston location will offer an impressive array of the best designer names in sportswear, handbags, shoes and more. The store will also feature an expanded assortment of fine jewelry and a newly launched beauty department."

Tanger Outlets are the nation's leading destination for designer brands and accessories. Conveniently situated in North Charleston, the Tanger Outlets Charleston is a 15 minute drive from downtown Charleston.

To celebrate the new store, the Tanger Outlets Charleston OFF 5TH store will host a variety of festivities with special customer incentives. Throughout the opening weekend, customers will enjoy a complimentary tote with any $50 purchase and receive FashCash cards when opening a More! Membership account.

Saks OFF 5TH to open 5 new stores in 2012

NEW YORK, Aug. 29, 2011 -- /PRNewswire/ -- Saks Incorporated's Saks Fifth Avenue OFF 5TH announced that it will continue to expand the company's store portfolio with addition of five new stores planned for 2012. This expansion is part of a long term growth opportunity for Saks Fifth Avenue OFF 5TH. The new stores will be located in upscale outlet, lifestyle, or strip centers, and each store will be designed in OFF 5TH's unique "luxury in a loft" format.

"There are numerous opportunities for new OFF 5TH stores throughout the country.  We will carefully weigh our options and open in select new markets that we believe have the greatest demand for our distinct merchandise offerings.  The further expansion of Saks Fifth Avenue OFF 5TH is an exciting step for us," stated Robert Wallstrom, President of Saks Fifth Avenue OFF 5TH.

Five new stores are slated to open in 2012. The new locations will include outlets in Merrimack, NH, Syracuse, NY, Livermore, CA, Grand Prairie, TX, and Nashville, TN. The Merrimack store will be the first Saks Fifth Avenue OFF 5TH in New Hampshire, and the store in Nashville will be a replacement store for the one lost in the 2010 flood in Tennessee.

"We look forward to being a part of the Nashville community again, and we are delighted to bring our stores to customers in the new markets," noted Wallstrom.  The company recently opened new Saks Fifth Avenue OFF 5TH stores in Kansas City, KS and Oklahoma City, OK and plans to open stores in Charleston, SC, Northbrook, IL, and Sugar Land, TX (replacement store) later this year.

The stores will feature an open air loft-like environment and will range from 25,000 to 28,000 square feet. The layout offers maximized efficiency and flexibility, enabling easy change. The space will be bright, uncluttered with no hard aisles. All fixtures will be on casters, ensuring easy movement and all hardware will be interchangeable between fixtures.  Since its debut in 2008, this innovative store design has been well received and set a new standard in off price shopping.

An impressive array of the best designer names in sportswear, handbags, shoes and more including an expanded assortment of fine jewelry and a newly launched beauty department will be available at the new stores.  Shoppers will have the opportunity to purchase premier products at affordable prices. Each product category will have its own designated area within the store allowing shoppers to easily find what they are looking for.

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Saks Off 5th opens at Legends Outlets Kansas City

By JOYCE SMITH -The Kansas City Star

More than six years after leaving the area market, Saks Fifth Avenue is back. But this time with an outlet store.

Saks Fifth Avenue Off 5th will open in the Legends Outlets Kansas City on Thursday. The Saks outlet store, at 1803 Village West Parkway, Kansas City, Kan., will sell designer clothing and accessories, including jewelry, shoes, sunglasses, handbags and beauty items like Chi flat irons.

There’s a long sleeve Martin Gordon men’s shirt regularly priced at $110 but $74.99 at the outlet, Gucci shades regularly priced at $350 for $139.99, and a $365 Kate Spade bag for $299.99. The store also carries Saks’ Black Label private label, Z Spoke by Zac Posen, Threads, St. John, L.A.M.B, and more.

It has one of Off 5th’s “luxury in a loft” store designs, which have a more open layout. Men’s apparel, accessories and shoes takes up about one-third of the store, and the rest is devoted to women’s, children’s, home and beauty. The 25,000-square-foot space was formerly occupied by Home Decorators Collection.

Off 5th will have about 45 full-and part-time employees.

Robert Wallstrom, president OFF 5th, will cut the ribbon about 9:30 a.m. for a 10 a.m. opening Thursday. During opening weekend events customers will have a chance to win a trip to New York to attend Fashion’s Night Out 2011 on Sept. 8 – when celebrities, designers, stars and shoppers mingle at stores. They also will get coupons for 20 percent off an item in several departments.

Saks has 57 Saks Fifth Avenue Off 5th stores in 23 states, and 46 Saks Fifth Avenue stores. It closed its Country Club Plaza store in February 2005.

In March 2010, The Legends at Village West, at Interstate 435 and State Avenue, said it would reposition itself as a destination outlet center called Legends Outlets Kansas City. The center is near such high traffic draws as Kansas Speedway, Livestrong Sporting Park, and Schlitterbahn Kansas City Waterpark.

In other Legends news:
 Under Armour Factory House had its soft opening Tuesday and will have its grand opening Saturday. The stores sell the brand’s performance athletic apparel, footwear and accessories at discounted prices.
J. Crew Factory is scheduled to open in late August. The stores sell discounted women’s, men’s and children’s apparel, shoes and accessories.

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Luxury Retailers continue expansion into Outlets

By Phil Wahba and Dhanya Skariachan -NEW YORK (Reuters) Thu May 26, 2011 4:20pm EDT

NEW YORK (Reuters) - U.S. luxury department stores plan to keep opening more lower-price outlets without fear of hurting their high-end prestige, retail executives said this week.

Saks Inc (SKS.N) is planning to open another three to five Off Fifth outlets annually in the coming years but will not open any new Saks Fifth Avenue department stores.

Neiman Marcus NMRCUS.UL and Nordstrom Inc (JWN.N) are also focusing on low-price outlets in their new store openings.

"I don't think we are close to the point where you have too many," Saks Chief Executive Steve Sadove said at the Reuters Global Luxury and Fashion Summit.

Saks operates 57 outlets, compared to 46 department stores. On Thursday, Nordstrom said it was closing a full service store in Indianapolis but will open a Rack outlet nearby.

Outlets, where luxury chains sell more affordable merchandise and items left over from earlier seasons, have lifted retailers' sales during and since the recession, reaching so-called "aspirational" shoppers with limited budgets who covet top name brands.

Neiman Marcus CEO Karen Katz said at the Summit that the retailer's Last Call chain of 28 outlets is a way "to reach that price-sensitive fashion customer that is out there and in most cases not ready yet to shop Neiman Marcus."

Neiman operates 41 department stores, and will open one next year, but otherwise, the number of stores has remained steady in recent years.

Saks Off 5th possible at Nebraska Crossing outlets

Saks Outlet may come to Gretna
By Michaela Saunders
OMAHA WORLD-HERALD STAFF WRITER



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Saks OFF 5TH to open at the Tuscany Place Designer Outlets

New York, NY (January 18, 2011) —Saks Fifth Avenue OFF 5TH today announced that it has signed a letter of intent to open a new store at the Tuscany Place Designer Outlets, a new, upscale pedestrian-friendly lifestyle outlet development in Madison (metropolitan Jackson), MS. The center and the Saks Fifth Avenue OFF 5TH store are expected to open in the spring of 2012.

“We look forward to opening our first Saks Fifth Avenue OFF 5TH store in Mississippi where the temperate climate allows for year round shopping,” noted Robert Wallstrom, President of Saks Fifth Avenue OFF 5TH. “We are excited to join the retail community of Madison and metro Jackson to offer customers a wide variety of the latest fashion and high quality merchandise as well as exceptional service.”

The new store will be 20,000 square feet and is to be modeled in Saks Fifth Avenue OFF 5TH’s innovative ‘luxury in a loft’ store design that debuted in 2008. This OFF 5TH store layout is modern, uncluttered, easy to shop, and includes open floor plans, moveable fixtures, and bright lighting.

The Madison store will offer a wide selection of luxury brands in key merchandise categories including apparel for the entire family, fine jewelry, shoes, handbags, and sunglasses.

Madison customers will be able to participate in Saks Fifth Avenue OFF 5TH’s MORE! Rewards loyalty program. This free program offers weekly discounts, sales and promotions on merchandise throughout the store.

An operations center housing several support functions including information technology services, accounting services, supply purchasing, credit services, and customer call center

Mark Libell

Saks OFF 5th opening two new locations.

Saks Fifth Avenue OFF 5th will open two 28,000-square-foot shops in 2011 in Oklahoma City and Charleston, S.C., in August and October, respectively.

The New York-based retailer's first store in Oklahoma will be in the under-construction Outlet Shoppes at Oklahoma City. The South Carolina store will open in the Tanger Outlet Center in North Charleston. Saks' 2011 plan includes relocating the Hilton Head store next summer.

Saks operates 58 OFF 5th stores in 23 states in addition to its 47-store chain of traditional bricks-and-mortar locations and an online store, saks.com.

SOURCE: CityBiz Real Estate

Saks OFF 5th moves to Tanger Outlet in Hilton Head

NEW YORK, Dec. 13, 2010 /PRNewswire/ -- Saks Fifth Avenue OFF 5TH today announced that it plans to relocate its Hilton Head, South Carolina store from the Mall at Shelter Cove to a new store in the Tanger Outlet Center in Hilton Head in the summer of 2011. Tanger's Hilton Head I Outlet Center is currently undergoing a major renovation and expansion, scheduled for completion in spring 2011.

"Hilton Head is a great market for Saks Fifth Avenue OFF 5TH, where we have many loyal customers. We look forward to relocating to the newly renovated and expanded Tanger Outlet Center, which will be the premier destination for outlet shoppers in this vibrant market," noted Robert Wallstrom, President of Saks Fifth Avenue OFF 5TH. "Our new store will allow us to even better showcase our unique product and great service."

The new Tanger Outlet Hilton Head I location will be the 13th OFF 5TH location to be modeled in Saks Fifth Avenue's innovative 'luxury in a loft' store design that debuted in 2008. This OFF 5TH store design is modern, uncluttered, easy to shop, and includes open floor plans, moveable fixtures, and bright lighting.

The new Hilton Head store will offer an increased luxury brand selection as well as expanded key merchandise categories including fine jewelry, shoes, handbags, sunglasses and contemporary sportswear.

Department Stores Continue To Expand Into Outlet Centers

Chief executives of high-end department stores are betting on off-price outlets to generate growth, even as they curb discounts at their main stores.

Luxury CEOs dislike heavily discounting their regular merchandise—it erodes profit margins and hurts cachet. But tony retailers can't rely solely on full-price shoppers for growth now because luxury spending remains muted.

So more executives are expanding their outlets, which let them sell to a wider range of customers without having to offer big discounts at regular stores. And they're stocking more outlet-only products, not just marked-down leftovers.

Bloomingdale's will open its first outlet store, in Woodbridge, Va., on Aug. 20 and three more by year end. Lord & Taylor opened its first outlet in February, in Elizabeth, N.J., and will open two more this year. In April, Neiman Marcus Group Inc. began testing a new outlet concept called Last Call Studio in Dallas that doesn't sell overstocked merchandise, just outlet-only products.

Saks Inc. has opened one new Off 5th outlet this year and plans three more by year end. It is remodeling two existing outlets as well. Saks isn't opening any full-price stores this year.

Nordstrom Inc. opened its first New York City Nordstrom Rack outlet in April, one of 17 that the retailer plans to open this year, up from 13 last year. It will open only three full-price stores this year.

Retailers rush for outlets

This month's opening of a Nordstrom Rack store in the heart of Manhattan shows just how far outlet stores have come, from being distant outposts for liquidating unsold inventory to taking center-stage in retailers' growth strategies.

Nordstrom Inc and other U.S. retailers from Coach Inc and Nike Inc to Chico's FAS Inc and Saks Inc are expanding their outlet stores, with more and more merchandise made exclusively for those stores. So far, Wall Street has cheered the approach, but analysts say the the strategy is not without risk.

If retailers are careless about how many outlets they open and where, they can harm the very traits that give high-end brands their luster: exclusivity and high prices. "Brands have to be very careful. The death of a brand is over distribution," said Todd Slater, retail analyst at Lazard Capital Markets. "One would intuitively expect some dilution to brand cachet," though it hasn't happened yet. 

So far, outlet stores have avoided eating significantly into sales at full-priced stores because retailers have been disciplined about keeping their clienteles separate through product differentiation and geographic distance, said Needham & Co analyst Christine Chen. Traditionally outlets, or factory stores, have carried unsold merchandise left over from full-priced stores, so their size and color assortments were often incomplete, or their fashions less current. They are also generally located in shopping centers away from big cities, making them good choices for occasional all-day trips, rather than impulse or everyday shopping. But now they are in more convenient locations such as the Nordstrom Rack in Manhattan's Union Square. In San Francisco, Nordstrom has both an outlet and a full department store, and that could present a problem, Chen said. "That's where I wonder if there's  cannibalization, even though the merchandise is outlet-specific ... and priced accordingly," she said. There is no full-priced Nordstrom in New York City. The company has cited the difficulty of finding a large enough space in Manhattan. But Chen wondered if opening an outlet first will train the city's legions of shoppers to go there first, even if a full department store eventually opens. "Is it a sign of the times or does it teach Manhattanites that that becomes their preferred destination?" Chen said. Nathaniel Bisson, who was shopping at the Rack in New York on Wednesday, said he went there looking for brand name items. "I can see that they're competing in both high and low categories," he said. A shopper at the Rack could find men's shirts by John Varvatos for about $40, a fraction of the regular price. But, as if to remind people of the cachet of the department stores, one Hugo Boss suit had a tag saying it came from a Nordstrom.

FULL STEAM AHEAD
Nordstrom plans to open 17 Rack stores this year, bringing the total to 89, versus only three new department stores. Rival Saks Inc, which already has more Saks Off 5th stores than full-priced Saks Fifth Avenue stores, plans to close three Fifth Avenue stores in July, but open about five Off 5th stores per year for the next few years.
Even Neiman Marcus Group Inc is getting in on the action, expanding its Last Call off-price chain. Karen Katz, chief executive of Neiman Marcus Stores, recently told Reuters that Last Call could be "a much bigger business than it is today." At a recent meeting in New York, the head of Nike's direct-to-consumer business, Jeanne Jackson, explained why Nike is "elevating its game" in outlet malls around the world where it already has 472 factory stores. Industry wide, she said sales at outlet malls open at least a year outpaced comparable sales at traditional malls by 4 percentage points over the last year. She said outlet malls also gained more than 6 percentage points of market share in the athletic shoe and clothing market over the past two years. Outlets have been crucial to keep growth going and shares rising. Since March 2009, Saks' shares have risen 270 percent, Nordstrom 105 percent, and Coach 125 percent.

MARGIN OPPORTUNITY
When outlet stores were purely clearance destinations, they often resulted in lower profit margins. But that is no longer the case, said Wedbush Securities analyst Betty Chen. They now offer similar or even better margins because real estate costs are often lower, and with more of their product made to be sold at lower prices, there are fewer unplanned, profit-eating markdowns. "It's a combination of scale and the fact that it's product made specifically for the outlet," Chen said. "You've sourced it and priced it knowing that your cost is lower."
When Coach reported earnings for its fiscal third quarter in April, it cited "significantly higher profitability" in its factory segment because about 80 percent of the goods sold there was made for them, up from 60 percent a year earlier.

Chico's this week also cited the benefit of more outlet exclusives. The clothing retailer, which plans to open 20 more outlets this year, has a "very promising" opportunity to increase its profit margins, said Wedbush's Chen, noting that its White House/Black Market brand sells very few outlet-specific goods. For Nordstrom Rack and Saks Off 5th, the proportion of outlet-exclusive merchandise to leftover merchandise is roughly similar to that for Coach. A crucial benefit is that outlet-specific merchandise lets high-end brands reach shoppers who might not be able to afford full price product yet but may trade up when their finances allow it. "Customers who shop in the off-price arena are different customers -- but they aspire to the brand," said Neiman Marcus' Katz, who will become the group's CEO in the autumn. With so much potential upside, the enthusiasm from Main Street to Wall Street is unlikely to wane any time soon. "It's a proven, profitable channel," said Lazard's Slater. "And until such time as this off-price strategy causes a significant brand dilution, Wall Street will probably continue to applaud."


Source: News Center