From the very beginning, Saks Incorporated has established itself as a world-renowned retail icon, known for its unwavering dedication to providing customers with an extraordinary product selection and exceptional service. Currently, Saks Incorporated operates Saks Fifth Avenue, Saks Fifth Avenue OFF 5TH and Saks Direct — which each draw upon a rich heritage of innovation, quality, integrity and service that drives our organization.
Saks Fifth Avenue History
Dreaming of a unique specialty store synonymous with fashionable, gracious living, Horace Saks and Bernard Gimbel opened the first Saks Fifth Avenue in 1924 in what was then a primarily residential district of Manhattan along a stretch of upper 5th Avenue between 49th and 50th Streets. By offering the finest quality men's and women's fashions and placing an emphasis on exceptional customer service, Saks Fifth Avenue would eventually become the byword for taste and elegance.
When Adam Gimbel became President of Saks Fifth Avenue in 1926, he brought with him the imaginative foresight that carried Saks Fifth Avenue to extraordinary success. His first action was to redecorate the entire flagship store, creating a series of luxurious specialty shops within a grand space — a formula that has changed the face of the American retail industry ever since. His national aspirations for Saks Fifth Avenue led to the openings of additional branch stores from coast to coast throughout the next several decades. As Saks Fifth Avenue expanded, new and innovative brands were introduced, cementing Saks’ status as a key American icon in luxury retailing. Notable launches at Saks Fifth Avenue included Estée Lauder’s cosmetics line in the 1940s, America’s first Dior Boutique in the 1970s and Donna Karan’s debut collection in the 1980s.
Today, Saks Fifth Avenue remains one of the world's pre-eminent specialty retailers, renowned for its superlative American and international designer collections, its expertly edited assortment of handbags, shoes, jewelry, cosmetics and gifts and the first-rate fashion expertise and exemplary client service of its Associates. Currently, Saks Fifth Avenue has 46 stores in 23 states, as well as four leased international stores.
Saks Fifth Avenue OFF 5TH History
The first of our outlet stores opened in 1992 in Franklin Mills, Pennsylvania, under the name of Clearinghouse. With the 1995 decision to expand, Clearinghouse was renamed OFF 5TH. In 2008, OFF 5TH introduced a groundbreaking new outlet store format with the reopening of the Orlando OFF 5TH Store and has since added and renovated several stores using this new store design. The new “luxury-in-a-loft” format introduced an elevated standard for the off-price luxury industry, offering a brighter, more inviting customer shopping experience with larger aisles, moveable fixtures and better merchandise presentation.
Today, Saks Fifth Avenue OFF 5TH is the savvy shopper's premier source for value-priced designer clothing and accessories, offering customers an unparalleled array of both coveted designer names and unique merchandise under the Saks Fifth Avenue label. OFF 5TH places the highest priority on style, selection and superior customer service and operates 60 stores nationwide.
Saks DIRECT History
Saks Direct launched saks.com in 2000 with products carried in Saks Fifth Avenue stores, as well as exclusive products and content. More recently, saks.com introduced FashionFix, a new series of online flash sale events as well as a number of site enhancements such as user reviews, better search and product videos to improve the online shopping experience. Furthermore, the implementation of Kiva robotics technology in the Saks Distribution Center has allowed Saks Direct to maximize the efficient flow of merchandise to saks.com customers.
Since its inception, saks.com has consistently delivered an enhanced, personalized shopping experience and is committed to providing the same legendary service and style found in all Saks Fifth Avenue stores. Saks.com now ships to over 90 international locations.
