Saks Fifth Avenue
Frédéric Fekkai Shampoo Giveaway at Saks
What: The luxury haircare brand Frédéric Fekkai wants you to make the switch. The company is hosting a “Shampoo Swap” day at Saks Fifth Avenue stores across the country on September 17th, asking women to trade in any bottle of full sized shampoo for a completely free 8oz bottle of the company’s new Fekkai Advanced shampoo, which normally retails for $23.
What Frédéric Fekkai Says:
“The promotion is part of the exciting launch of Fekkai Advanced, the newest incarnation of luxury hair care from Fekkai. The Fekkai Advanced collection redefines the original Fekkai product families, elevating them to a new level with improved technologies, textures and fragrances for an experience like never before.”
What We Say: Does hair really look better when it’s washed with designer shampoo? Now’s your time to see for yourself. Pretty much everyone has an old bottle of shampoo sitting in the bathroom, and now is the perfect chance to throw it out and get a new bottle of Fekkai Advanced in its place—for free. And really, who turns down free beauty products? Not us!
Saks Lowering Prices
What: There have been all kinds of rumors about the future of Saks over the past year, especially with the recession beating down luxury brands of late. Well, word has gotten out that Saks will indeed cut back some of its prices. Even select products from Prada and other upscale brands will go down in price. This, of course, is happening all while Saks struggles to save its high-end image.
What They Say: “Prada is now selling a $700 handbag, versus their lower- priced one being $1,000 ... At Christian Dior, an entry price handbag was about $1,500. If you look to this fall, you are going to see Christian Dior sell a $950 handbag,” [Saks CEO Steve Sadove] added.
What We Say: Great, a $700 handbag instead of a $1,000 one. Let’s get out our credit cards now! (just kidding).
Have you been to Saks recently? Are there more affordable options than there was before?
Less Sales at Saks?
What: We’ve all been waiting to find out what luxury brands like Saks and Neiman Marcus do to weather the Recession storm. Seems they’ve come up with a solution: order less stuff. Yep, that’s right, uppity chains like these are planning to cut back on their inventory and generate more demand for it as a result. This means they won’t have to resort to huge sales to get shoppers into their stores.
What They Say:
“Across the board you are going to find less of the sizes, less of the availability in almost all of the categories,” Stephen Sadove [Saks CEO], 57, said yesterday in a telephone interview. “You are probably going to see less aggressive markdowns than you saw last year.”
What We Say: Okay, so here’s what’s going on. Saks is too stubborn to come down to our level. Instead of compromising their upscale identity, they’re just making their apparel more valuable by providing less of it. On one hand, we’re bummed and hoping this plan will backfire on them. On the other hand, we’re thinking it’s kind of a logical move.
The bottom line, though, is we can’t afford to splurge at Saks anymore, regardless of the availability of our favorite clothes and accessories. We don’t predict this will dramatically change too much. In fact, it may just disgruntle the customers who actually can afford to shop at Saks, but now can’t find what they’re looking for.
Kathryn & The Crazy Saks Fifth Avenue Sale: The Wall Street Journal
What: Yours truly is quoted in a front page story in the Wall Street Journal regarding the crazy Saks Fifth Avenue sale in December.
From Rachel Dodes at Wall Street Journal:
“When Saks Fifth Avenueslashed prices by 70% on designer clothes before the holiday season even began, shoppers stampeded. “It was like the running of the bulls,” says Kathryn Finney, who says she was knocked to the floor in New York’s flagship store by someone lunging for a pair of $535 Manolo Blahnik shoes going for $160.”
What I say: It was the craziest shopping experience of my life. Seriously…. Normally rational people lost their minds and it was fun to watch the normally snooty Saks shoe sales people scramble to keep up with the mess that was created by the stampede of shoppers. The sales floor looked like DSW on a weekend.
It’s interesting to note, last week I saw leftover items from the main store sale at the Saks Fifth Avenue Outlet in Bergen County and they had raised the prices back to the normal Saks sale/clearance level. (click here to read about the difference between a sale and clearance).
And to the women who knocked me to the floor…. I am not hating…
Saks’ Crazy Sales: Is the End Near?
The store’s in-store reductions are so crazy that we’re wondering if deflation and store closingrumors are true. This past weekend, prices were marked down up to 50% off with an additional 50% off the markdown price.
Rumor has it that there’s going to be yet another round of massive discounts (along with crazy employee discount day and a possible friends and family coupon) in the upcoming weeks, bringing some prices around the 90% off mark, including designer handbags and shoes.
Saks Designer Sale Up to 70% Off
“THIS SALE HAS ENDED”
The Deal: Get up to 70% off through Dec. 7 during the Saks Designer Sale
The Lowdown: The way to shop Saks is during a sale, and with designer items from 40-70% off, now’s the time to go. This Premise Sleeveless Dress caught our eye—in eye-popping pink—on sale now for $56.95 (regularly $285!).
Shop: Saks
Off Fifth Saks Fifth Avenue Outlet 25% Off coupon
This used to be my favorite store. However with the introduction of the straight to outlet line SFA, the store is on it’s way to becoming an outlet version of Macy’s. (tears rolling down my cheek). Enjoy the coupon
Shopping Guide to Minneapolis
The Twin Cities is the home of Prince, the Mall of America, cold weather and the best shopping in the Upper Midwest. It’s also my hometown. Whether it’s Saks Fifth Avenue in downtown Minneapolis or the Outlet Mall in Albertville, Minneapolis has enough shopping to satisfy the most discriminating fashionista. Here’s my tips for shopping the Twin Cities.
Minneapolis Shopping Tips
- Shop downtown - Downtown Minneapolis boasts two of the best outlet stores in town- Off Fifth, the Saks Fifth Avenue Outlet
- Check the temperature and plan accordingly - There are two seasons in Minnesota: cold and colder. Check the weather before coming, and dress accordingly.
- Head uptown - Scandinavian sensibility meets urban flair with a wide range of boutiques and great restaurants (Figlio is a favorite). Stop by Ragstock, a vintage seeker’s delight, located a block west of Hennepin Avenue on Lake Street. If you have time visit their warehouse location downtown.
- Rent a car - There are no major shopping malls within the city limits. You need a car to scope out the hot spots. However, if you are staying downtown, you can easily get uptown via the bus system, or the Mall of America via the newly installed light rail.
- Visit the Mall of America - MOA, as it is called by the locals, is like your local mall on steroids. Don’t expect to find high fashion - but you will find an IKEA and four Gaps
.
- Bring your checkbook - Minneapolis is one of the only places left where the stores will take a check.
- Pick up a copy of City Pages - This alternative paper has the most comprehensive listing of activities in the area. Plus, it’s free. Also check out the Minneapolis Star and Tribune.
- Go to Target - It’s big. It’s red. It’s nationwide. Visit the store in its hometown.
- No sales tax - The great state of Minnesota levies no sales tax on necessities such as clothing and groceries, leaving you more money to spend at the Mall.
- Don’t miss the local malls - Minneapolis has great local malls. Visit Southdale, in Edina - the first enclosed mall in America.
Minneapolis’s Top Shop
Opitz Outlet
Address: 4320 Excelsior Blvd, St. Louis Park, MN (right outside of Minneapolis)
Monday-Wednesday: 12-8pm, Thursday-Friday: 10am-8pm, Saturday 10am-6pm, Sunday 12-5pm
The best bargain hunters in Minneapolis are frequent vistors to this designer outlet mecca. Find incredible bargains like Marc Jacobs Stella bags for $200 and Manolos for $75 (true, I’ve seen the prices with my own eyes!). Sign up online to receive emails and listings for upcoming designer events.
More Minneapolis Information
- Albertville Premium Outlet - A great outlet mall in the middle of farm country.
- Minneapolis Star Tribune - Main newspaper of the Twin Cities
- Mall of America - Your local mall on steroids
- Tourist Attractions - Sick of the mall? Learn what else to do.
- General Mills - Take a free tour and score a sample box of Cheerios.
Wanna Share a Shopping Tip for Minneapolis/St.Paul? Post it in the comment section below.
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