Stores

Investors demonstrated just how pleased they were with J.C. Penney’s new vision when the store’s shares skyrocketed 18.8 percent on the New York Stock Exchange to $40.72 on Thursday. According to WWD, the increase in stock price was “the highest for Penney’s in at least 30 years.”

Want to know why investors are so excited — and why you should be equally thrilled? Check out the dramatic changes in store for Penney’s below.

New Promo Plans

Instead of the 590 annual promotions J.C. Penney currently does, they’ll narrow their focus down to 12, or one per month. For example, February will focus on Valentine’s Day, August will highlight back-to-school goods and beachwear will be May’s focus.

“Every month, every store will go through a radical transformation,” said Michael Francis, Penney’s president. He explained that people tend to organize their lives by month and that Penney’s wants to get in sync with their shoppers’ lives.

No More Antiquated Merchandise Jargon

Terms like “missy,” and “pant” are no more with Penney’s new vision. Instead, they’ll focus on shoppers’ lifestyles and how they shop today.

New Accessories/Cosmetics “Town Square”

Instead of the random accessories and cosmetics islands currently scattered throughout the center of Penney’s, shoppers will enjoy a new “town square” shopping design. The new look will be revealed in 2013.

100 Concept Stores

Instead of the open racks shoved against the exterior walls of J.C. Penney stores, they’ll implement “100 individual shop concepts for private and national brands, including Izod, Arizona and Liz Claiborne.” To visualize it yourself, consider IKEA’s individual compartments that customers walk to along the shopping floors. J.C. Penney’s new look will be akin to that.

For example, the Martha Stewart “stores” within the J.C. Penney Walls will have their own look and feel. Johnson said they’ll have an Apple-meets-Martha Stewart vibe. The Arizona store will have a completely different look. It’ll basically be like a door-free mall.

The 100 new concept shops will be phased in at a rate of two or three per month over the course of four years. At the moment, 30 shops are under development. The 100-shop concept also means that Penney’s will phase out roughly 300 of its current brands.

Read more at WWD.

By Wendy Rose Gould 

Saks Fifth Avenue goes hand in hand with Christmas in New York City. A yearly visit to their famed windows is a must for many, and a shopping venture to each floor of their luxury mecca is necessary for designer loving shoppers. As the countdown nears the big, merry gifting day, stores are slashing prices left and right, hoping to drive in the procrastinators and hungry deal seekers.

If you are looking for basic, top shelf presents, there are some great tables set up around the first floor with gift ideas for under $200 – just beware of the crowds, this floor is the most difficult to maneuver. Some great gifting ideas are the Chanel Pocket Mirrors ($42), Lafco Winter Wonderland Mini Candle Sets ($85) and Saks Classic Complete Color Spectrum Palettes for Eye, Lips and Cheeks ($65).

As you ascend the escalators up to the big leagues, brace yourself for Designer Wonderland. I was shocked to see the unbelievable (and organized) sale selection from nearly every designer Saks Fifth Avenue carries. Each sale rack is marked with a sign indicating 40% is taken off already reduced sale items upon checkout. On top of this, if you spend between $5,000 – $7,400 you receive $500 in Saks spending vouchers, $7,500-$9,999 you receive $1,000, and anything about $10,000 you receive $2,000.

“At this time either every year, or every other year, I come take advantage of this sale in order to revamp my wardrobe. I’m a member of the Saks Fifth Avenue Club so I utilize a personal shopper. There is an amazing collection of half off items for the female professional from Giorgio Armani and Ralph Lauren, and then some fun items and dresses from designers like Theory,” Jeanne Peterson, a resident from Chester, New Jersey shared.
Surprisingly, the best sale was located on the second floor, home to many top designers.

A massive amount of Stella McCartney items lined the halls of the second floor, everything up to 60% off. Some standouts were the Blue Midnight, Green, and Cream Sweater ($321, orig $895), White Camel Waist Coat ($519) and Hounds Tooth Knee Length Dress ($867).

Ralph Lauren Black Label was also plentiful: cashmere sweaters galore and a fabulous Olive Sleeveless Dress w/ Brown Leather Straps ($394). Donna Karen Casual Luxe Stretch Cotto in Pebble ($322), Calvin Klein G Hamdi Black Wool Jacket ($718), Agnona White Cashmere Hat ($143), were among the best of the second floor selections.

The third floor, also a designer haven, houses selected additional 40% off options from designers like Zac Posen, Philosophy, Bee Queen, Maxx Mara, Arkis, Punto, Escada, Moschino. Additional fabulous finds was the Armani Collezioni’s Simple Ruby Red Short Sleeve Blouse ($219), Piazzo Sempione’s Camel Grey Wool Viscosel ($357), Michael Kors Cape in Black and Ivory ($717), Covertable Dress w/ Zip in Fire Red, by Jean Paul Gaultier ($323) and my absolute favorite find: Jason Wu’s Violet Full Zip Knee Dess ($430). Don’t forget to stop by the Dolce and Gabbana, Roberto Cavalli, Chanel, and Caroline Herrera nooks – although only a handful of sales in here, it’s fun to browse.

Floor Four had an array of gowns (funky, glittery, or simple) as well as Ralph Lauren Blue Label, Rachel Zoe, and a selection of Tory Burch wallet and accessories for under $250. The Fifth Floor had a great selection of denim from Current Elliott, Joe’s Jeans, 7 for all Mankind, and Vince, prices reaching as low as $50. Other contemporaries from Vince were worth checking out, as well as the Rinon P Polymembrane Ash Blue Dress from Theory ($80).

The sale on shoes was less than impressive, they don’t offer the same additional 40% off discount, all are “price as marked.” However, there are fun finds from Ash like their Virgin Canvas Buckle Sneakers ($84), Michael Kors Irving Wollabee High Heel is Slate ($206), Kate Spade Poppy Glitter Café ($226) and Elizabeth &James Boot in Navy Suede with Indian Blanket Lining ($275).

If you are brave enough to take on Saks Fifth Avenue (which we all know you are!) then get ready to take on designer discounts with full force. Like Ms. Peterson confirmed, this is the time to revamp your wardrobe, as you won’t see designer deals and steals like this on such an amazing selection for a very long time (unless your favorites are still lingering in the store during their additional sales beginning the 26th, but this is unlikely).

By Caitlin Colford

Bloomingdale’s, unlike other luxury department store sales, has worthwhile markdowns store wide. “If you have a Bloomingdale’s charge card you can get an additional 15% off a lot of great items. The best deals in the house are in the jewelry department, where so many items are 50% off, and also in the handbag department, but for the most part you can’t use your added bonus, the discounts are already applied,” an excited Bloomingdale’s associate proclaims. “There are also some really ridiculous prices in clothing, mainly in Aqua and Bloomingdale cashmere where everything is an additional 50% off the already marked down tags!” The Aqua and cashmere sale ends on the 24th, so she urges you to get down to Bloomingdale’s to check it out!

On the Main Floor of Bloomingdale’s on 59th Street there is a small collection of Marc by Marc Jacobs wallets ($34), iPad cases ($40) and bags, namely the Metallic Classic Q Hillier Hobo in Gold ($313), on sale for 30% off. The Tory Burch section also offers select items for 30% off, such as the Robinson Small Tote, Edye Satchel in French Red and Moss Gold Handbag ($346). An assorted table toward the back of the handbag department houses fantastic deals from brands such as Kate Spade, Coach and Michael Kors, offering an additional 40% off of their already marked down prices.

En route to the Balcony for some great jewelry deals (50% off a selection that includes diamonds, gemstones, culture pearls, and 14K & 18K gold), make a pit stop in the Burberry department – their Magenta Check Brushed Wool Scarf is on sale for $220.

The Second Floor features up to an additional 40% off sale items, with discount racks in each brand’s department. I spotted a DVF Hazina Red Spice Dress for $153 (orig. $365), and some fantastic little black dresses in the Theory department, an excellent option for Holiday parties and New Year’s Eve bashes, like the Nillon Georgette Dress in Black ($381, orig. $795). I love everything about Rag & Bone, so I was especially thrilled to see most of their denim on sale plus an additional 40% off, with their Winter White Skinny Cords for $106 thrown in the mix. Comptoir Des Cottoniers is an interesting brand that I don’t know much about, but they certainly caught my eye. This brand had a vast array of 1970’s chic jackets, jeans, and tops on sale for 20% off.

There were some great options in the Contemporary Shoe Department, with an extra 40% off select items. Many will be thrilled to hear this discount applies to the Hunter Boots on sale, such as the Original Gloss Short ($46, orig. $115). Frye boots were also on sale, like the Naiya Kiltie Moccasin ($174). I fell in love with the Marc by Marc Jacobs Stacked High Heel Loafer ($161, orig. $390).

Overall, it seems Marc by Marc Jacobs had the best deals throughout the store; even though there was only a limited selection per category, the deals were great for the quality and fabulous designs, clothing department included. Alice + Olivia is worth a peek, as is the denim collections, with an extra 40% off designer jeans.

As the sale associate mentioned, Aqua steals the limelight and takes center stage (beating out Marc by Marc Jacobs) with their offering of 50% off their wool and cashmere sweaters. Their basic cashmere collections will ring up as $100 per sweater, and their wool, $70. I especially loved the Aqua Ribbed Cashmere Zip Up, in a variety of bright and cheery colors ($90).

Third Floor highlights included 30% off a wide selection Ralph Lauren, namely the Sergeant Blue Silk Blouse ($95), as well as 40% off select Elie Tahari and Nanette Lepore (there was one, super cute, Valley Coat in Teal Blue left in a size 4!).

I was slightly disappointed with the designer collection sale offerings, however, there were beautiful Zac Posen fur coats and an extra 40% off a handful of Giorgio Armani and Calvin Klein items. As far as designer shoes go, the only good sale was an extra 40% off a few Miu Miu (Catzatore Donna Heel $329) and Prada heels, with a few less than thrilling Stuart Weitzman’s ($137) mixed in.

Sales on contemporary clothing really outshined the designer collections options at the Bloomingdale’s sale. Your dollar will go a long way if you stock up on cute sweaters and jeans, rather than splurge on a designer dress or two. This sale truly is also a great opportunity to purchase a gorgeous new bag, with a matching new wallet, as well as some sparkling new jewelry. With all the gifts you purchased for others this holiday season, don’t you deserve to gift yourself something fabulous?

By Caitlin Colford

Since mid 2008, consumers and retailers alike have heard and read nonstop prattle regarding the state of our national and global economy. From collapsed markets to inflation to increased costs of living paired with decreased salaries, times are certainly uncertain.

Naturally, consumers are wary of our economy’s current state and have resorted to more frugal tendencies. Even fashionistas who once splurged at Saks are bucking the urge to spend spend spend and are instead squirreling away their cash while wearing last year’s products.

To make money, or at least break even, retailers have had to get creative. Luxury brands like Saks, Neiman Marcus and Nordstrom decided the best thing to do was to extend their brands and begin opening outlets. Their goal? To reach more people — including new demographics — in hopes of resurrecting clientele who appreciate the finer things in life.

The decision to branch out was undoubtedly an intrepid one since nobody knew for sure what would happen after investing in new outlet store fronts. Many were afraid that outlet stores could harm the brand’s name, but the plan has, so far, panned out successfully.

After other stores, including those listed above, tested the waters, Bloomingdales also decided to hop aboard this “branching out” outlet train. They plan to open a cluster of stores in the spring and fall of 2012.

According to Arnold Orlick, Bloomingdale’s senior Vice President of their outlet stores, they will focus on selling the brands of Bloomingdales instead of private labels. They hope that the new stores will draw in aspirational luxury shoppers who don’t want to — or simply can’t afford — the lofty price tags at the traditional stores.

By Mirela Gluck