Saks Fifth Avenue is set on making its Canadian debut on February 18 and it won’t be just another store opening. The company will be armed to better serve its new clientele by taking note of customer clothing size, shopping preferences, and past purchases in the U.S. – the retailer’s new “high touch” experience.
Saks Fifth Avenue President Marc Metrick explains that this is a growing trend in today’s retail industry as a result of more and more people turning to shopping online. Saks is hoping to bring more people back into the store with this new personalized shopping experience.
“The consumer is beginning to move towards experiential spending,” says Metrick. “The role of the department store is going to change. If you’re not empowering yourself with information, you’re making the shopping experience clunkier for the consumer than they’re getting at home or on their mobile device.”
The service becomes more exclusive depending on the shoppers’ budget. The Fifth Avenue Club, which will be found inside the new Saks locations, will offer clientele an exclusive and private space to try on clothes as well as a stylist.
Aside from Saks, Nordstrom has already opened a number of its mid-level luxury department stores in Vancouver, Ottawa and Calgary and plans to open a Toronto location in 2016.
The retail scene will continue to get more saturated in Canada with plans of expanding Quebec-based retailer Simons and more locations from Holt Renfrew and Harry Rosen on the horizon for 2020.
Saks flagship Canadian store will open at Queen Street and Yonge Street in downtown Toronto while a second Toronto location is scheduled to open in Sherway Gardens on February 25, 2016.
