WWD’s Post

Well this just got interesting 🤔 A few thoughts: 🔸Luxury sales are declining. What could this mean for the future of luxury and DTC? 🔸 What will this mean for Saks 🇨🇦 that has seen a significant drop in sales, footfall and relevance. 🔸 Will Hudson's Bay Company finally be divested and sold off? 🔸 Will Amazon’s success have any impact on improving Saks and NM operations/supply chain? 🔸 How will buying power be impacted in merchandising? 🔸 Will any functions or teams be combined since many brands across stores overlap? 🔸 Salesforce also threw in some cash to assist in the adoption of AI. Saks Fifth Avenue Neiman Marcus Group Amazon Suzanne Kapner Lauren Thomas The Wall Street Journal Salesforce #retail #retailnews #fashion #luxury #stores #departmentstores

It didn’t come as a surprise but Saks Fifth Avenue announced they would purchase Neiman Marcus Group with a little help from Amazon and Salesforce which will have a minority share. The negotiations have been on the table for months. Both department stores will continue to operate under their own banners. What i found interesting is who will lead both companies which is Marc Metrick who is CEO of Saks Ecommerce business. Does this mean they care less about the physicals stores by not putting a true merchant and care more about their online business. When experience is such an important component of the luxury experience this seems like a strange appointment. All the chains under Hudson's Bay Company and other department stores have been struggling as more luxury brands focus on their direct to consumer play by opening their own stores and web-sites and the struggle of the aspirational shoppers. #mergersandacquisitions #departmentstores #luxuryretail #retail

Exciting news in the world of luxury and technology. Saks Owner (Hudson's Bay Company) will buy Neiman Marcus Group. ◾ The Wall Street Journal indicates Amazon will take a minority stake in the new co (Saks Global) and would provide technology & logistical expertise - note, this has NOT been confirmed by Amazon. ◾ The boards of Saks parent HBC and Neiman Marcus have approved the transaction, and an announcement could come as soon as this evening. - WSJ ◾ This will be a huge win for Richard A Baker of HBC, a creative deal maker, that's looked at Neiman's over the years. https://lnkd.in/gt_ivMC9 #futureofretail #futureofcommerce #fashion #technology #brands #luxury #businessnews #futureofcustomerexperiences #retail

The Wall Street Journal, Saks Owner to Buy Neiman Marcus—With Help From Amazon. Retail rivals to combine in $2.65 billion deal to woo luxury shoppers. The parent of Saks Fifth Avenue sealed a $2.65 billion deal to buy rival Neiman Marcus, according to people familiar with the matter, creating a powerhouse in luxury retailing that seeks to hang onto wealthy shoppers—all with a little help from Amazon.com AMZN -1.21%decrease; red down pointing triangle . The boards of both companies have approved the transaction and an announcement could come as soon as this evening, the people said. The department-store chains had been negotiating for months and had explored a combination several times over the years. Both have struggled as some consumers spent less on pricey goods and fashion brands opened their own flagship stores. The combined company would have about $10 billion in annual sales, the people said. Luxury behemoth LVMH Moët Hennessy Louis Vuitton, which owns Louis Vuitton and dozens of other brands, had sales of about $94 billion last year. Amazon would take a minority stake in the new company, which will be called Saks Global, and plans to provide it with technology and logistical expertise, the people said. Salesforce is another minority shareholder. Saks already does business with both tech companies, so the transaction would deepen existing partnerships, one of the people said. HBC, a holding company that bought Saks in 2013, is financing the deal with $2 billion it raised from existing investors, the people said. They include Rhône Capital, the Abu Dhabi Investment Council and NRDC Equity Partners, a private-equity firm run by Richard Baker, HBC’s executive chairman, and his son Jack Baker. Affiliates of Apollo Global Management APO -0.20%decrease; red down pointing triangle are providing $1.15 billion in debt financing. By Suzanne Kapner and Lauren Thomas #retail #thefutureofretail #luxuryretail #jobs #management https://lnkd.in/eT5qEiWk

can I just say I never imagined I would read these words, nor even conceive Neiman Marcus, Saks and Amazon would ever be in the same sentence! This will be interesting to monitor! From the article: "The parent of Saks Fifth Avenue sealed a $2.65 billion deal to buy rival Neiman Marcus, according to people familiar with the matter, creating a powerhouse in luxury retailing that seeks to hang onto wealthy shoppers—all with a little help from Amazon.com." Saks Owner to Buy Neiman Marcus, With Help From Amazon https://lnkd.in/e5zz3w-N

In case you missed Sunday's Highlights by Miss Tweed SAKS BUYS NEIMAN MARCUS GROUP IN $2.65 BLN DEAL Together we are stronger. That’s what department store chains Saks Fifth Avenue and Neiman Marcus have been thinking for more than a decade and this week finally agreed to tie the knot. The owners of Saks have agreed to acquire Neiman Marcus Group for $2.65 billion in a deal that should help America’s two biggest department store groups better survive the current downturn by sharing costs, customers and stock. It's a deal that also gives Amazon a long looked for entrance into luxury. Online giants Amazon and Salesforce are taking a minority stake in the newly combined entity called Saks Global. The size of their investment was not revealed. The plan is to use Amazon and Salesforce’s technology to improve the retailers’ websites and make it easier for consumer to search for products. Read more: https://lnkd.in/ekwgcz5C Marc Metrick Nicole J. Schoenberg Geoffroy van Raemdonck #retail #departmentstores #fashion #luxury

Saks Fifth Avenue has a long history of struggling wtih making their online business work. Additional capital always helps the cause but the headline was interesting. Many e-commerce retailers are pumping up their model as the solution whereas Saks notes the “challenging macro economic conditions”. Time will tell but as I often say, the department stores are struggling as they try to find the best “next path”. Retail isn’t for the weary but opportunities abound for those that excute well. #retail #retailnews #retailtrends #ecommerce #omnichannel #departmentstore #cre https://lnkd.in/g7t3xnu5

You've probably heard that Hudson's Bay Company (the parent company of Saks Fifth Avenue) is buying Neiman Marcus Group... ... but did you catch what might be the most interesting part of this deal? Amazon is taking a minority stake in the new company, Saks Global. The Wall Street Journal states Amazon "plans to provide it with technology and logistical expertise". That's big news. And it shows that even legacy department stores are beginning to realize how technology incorporated into their retail locations can help them deliver on both customer and stakeholder expectations. Fortunately, you don't have to be the size of Saks or Neiman Marcus to begin incorporating powerful technology into your retail stores... ... you just need to send Optimum Retailing (OR) a message to get started. #BrickAndMortar #Retail #technology

“You're free to make your own choices, but you're not free from the consequences of that choice.” Operating the e-commerce business from the Stores business was supposed to be a value unlock that made the Saks.com business more valuable than the Stores. In such an interconnected shopping world separating the Reach of the "Clicks"/E-com business from the Touch of the "Bricks"/Physical Stores had the potential for some consequences - some of which are being seen now. Many pure-play E-commerce brands have experienced profitability challenges associated with such a business model and building a path to profitability. For them, Customer Acquisition Costs, building Customer Lifetime Value, and being able to address returns (especially in a sized business where customers continue to 'bracket' their purchases, buying multiple sizes, trying on at home and returning, possibly more than they keep). Your thoughts? Excerpts: Dive Insight: The separation of Saks Fifth Avenue’s online and offline operations centered on the notion that the e-commerce business, thanks to its tech prowess and appeal to young shoppers, was more valuable than its legacy brick and mortar and needed to be unleashed. But signs have emerged that operating online can be a drag on profitability. A few luxury players in particular have faltered recently, with Farfetch facing downgrades before being acquired by e-commerce platform Coupang for $500 million. Last month luxury site Matches went bankrupt just months after it was acquired by Frasers Group for $66 million. In Q4, Saks.com’s gross merchandise value fell 8% year over year, an improvement from Q3’s 19% decline, according to the research from BTIG’s Stichter. That performance points to a “challenged but stabilizing” performance in luxury overall, though online players could be vulnerable to competition, according to that report. #saks #Ecommerce

I too have mixed feelings about this merger. I am particularly concerned about the complexity of managing multiple high-end brands under one umbrella. Maintaining distinct identities for Neiman Marcus, Bergdorf Goodman, Saks Fifth Avenue, and Saks Off 5th could be challenging, although differentiation is key. The new entity may also struggle to compete with global luxury conglomerates like LVMH and Kering, which could limit its growth potential. Overall, while the merger brings opportunities for operational efficiencies and market leverage, it also poses significant challenges in brand management and market positioning. Let’s hope this does not end up like the YOOX - Net A Porter merger. #luxury #departmentstores #neimanmarcus #saks #misstwid