Marigay McKee, the new president of Saks Fifth Avenue, gave an interview to Glamour's editor-in-chief Cindi Leive. There's quite a bit of career advice there, if you're interested, but the quote that caught my attention was this:
“Saks is an iconic brand; there’s so much heritage.… I spent three days in our archives selecting photos for our offices: The Supremes shopping here, Grace Kelly trying on Dior dresses, Jackie Kennedy head to toe in Gucci buying lipsticks. That gave me the drive to bring Saks back to where it was in the fifties and sixties—the most iconic, glamorous, magnificent store.”
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| McKee, right, with Glamour's editor-in-chief |
If you've been to the Saks flagship store (I'm not even talking about the horror shows of Saks stores at various malls) over the last ten years you know that Ms. McKee has a lot of work ahead of her before Saks returns to its former glory. Cranky, less-than-helpful sales people on the fashion level, and aggressive not-taking-no-for-an-answer ones in the fragrance and beauty counters. To add insult to injury, some of the SAs at the counters lie to your face ("this is a Saks exclusive. No one else will get it", conveniently forgetting the existence of Bergdorf Goodman just a few blocks up Fifth avenue, where one has purchased the item in question three weeks prior).
Let's hope for a resurrection of the golden age of department stores. Grace Kelly and Jackie will not be back shopping there, but you and I just might.
I'd say she has certainly her work cut out for her, it will be interesting to see what happens next.
ReplyDeleteIn regards to visiting the top 20 clients, I'd wish she would visit a few under-performing clients as well; she might learn more from what not's being done well than visiting clients who are doing things correctly, just a thought.
Saks sends me survey requests at least once a month and I haven't been responding but maybe I'll start. I was a regular shopper there years ago, but the snotty salespeople got to me along with their only having plus sizes available online.There are too many other retailers that appreciate me and my money and I'll shop with them.
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