'The Room' is coming to The Hudson's Bay Company in Vancouver British Columbia

It has been confirmed that The Room, a luxury women's designer department including clothing, shoes and accessories, will be opening September 2011 on the second floor of The Hudson's Bay Company (aka 'The Bay') in Downtown Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada. It will be about 23,000 square feet and will include a 'Platinum VIP Suite' and a concierge service. 

The Room at The Bay, Toronto

The Room opened at The Bay in Downtown Toronto, Queen Street, in October of 2009. Here is its website: http://www2.thebay.com/theroom  It has been met with both praise and criticism. Some have praised Nicholas Mellamphy, its creative director, for stocking boldly glamorous clothing designs, unique fashion designers, and hard-to-find couture pieces often only found in Paris or Moscow. Others have criticised Mellamphy and The Bay, saying that some clothing stocked in The Room are Too bold, too expensive, and that the designers are irrelevant castaways that Holt Renfrew does not want.  One example pricey garment was a $21,000 Balmain dress, though I note that Holt Renfrew in Toronto has since started selling Balmain clothing themselves. Although Bay management claims that The Room is both profitable and popular, insiders have told this blogger that The Room in Toronto has been a loss-leader, and that Holt Renfrew's designer floor, up on more fashionable Bloor Street (closer to affluent neighbourhoods like Rosedale, Forest Hill, and The Bridle Path), is still taking in the vast majority of Toronto's vacuous socialite dollars.

Expect Parties: The Room has become known as a place for fashion-related parties. Big ones. And fun ones. In October 2010, The Room held a massive two-day event called 'God Save The Queen', where various British fashion designers and their collections were profiled at the Queen Street store. The public got to meet the designers and see their wares. Time will tell if Vancouver gets similar party-treatment.

'God Save The Queen' fashion event at The Room, Toronto. October 2010.

Expect New Designers: The Room in Toronto carries over 70 fashion labels, and insiders have informed me that Vancouver will be getting many of the same designers, and some designers not available in Toronto. Look for:

-Alaia

-Ungaro

-Balmain

-Jason Wu

-Roland Mouret
-DSquared2

-Proenza Schouler

-Nina Ricci

-Martin Margiela

-Halston

-Barbara Bui

-Rochas

-Thakoon

-L'Wren Scott

-Giles Deacon (Who also designs for Ungaro)

-Doo.Ri

And others.

Shoes and Accessories will include: 
-Christian Louboutin

-Brian Atwood

-Pierre Hardy

-Repetto

-Nicholas Kirkwood

-Charlotte Olympia

And handbags by such designers as:

-Pauric Sweeny (swoon!)

-Be&D

-Jamin Puech

-Corto Moltedo (Seriously, check them out: (PDF): http://www.corto.com/CORTOMOLTEDO_FW1011.pdf

-Olympia Le Tan

The Room at The Bay, Toronto

There is no question that these efforts have made The Bay, at least in Toronto and soon, Vancouver, a major high-fashion designer-floor destination.

Saks Fifth Avenue: Store Closures Becoming Common

Over the past few years, Saks Fifth Avenue has closed many of their American branch stores. Their most recent closing is in Denver: Saks Fifth Avenue's Denver Store to Close

Saks, San Diego, Summer 2010

I was in San Diego in September, 2010, only to find that Saks Fifth Avenue at Fashion Valley Shopping Centre had closed. I gazed into the empty shell of a store, noticing a dated (though lovely) interior.  Saks' closest competitor, Neiman Marcus, has almost never closed a store.

Saks Fifth Avenue Flagship Store, Manhattan

The flagship Saks in Manhattan is fabulous. It's about 660,000 square feet. Its first floor has ceiling so high you could fly a blimp. Ok I'm exaggerating. The second floor carries fabulous women's designer sportswear and the uber-fabulous third floor is one of the best women's designer departments in the world. It's one of a handful of department stores carrying Louis Vuitton ready-to-wear, for example. Saks Third Floor/Vuitton.  It has a large women's shoe salon, covering almost an entire floor and having its own Zip Code. Its men's store is two floors and is legendary.

Renovated 3rd Floor at Saks Fifth Avenue, Manhattan

Shoe Floor at Saks Fifth Avenue, Manhattan

My first encounter with a Saks Fifth Avenue store was in 1991. I was in Minneapolis, and got some time to myself to hit the shops downtown. My aunt had told me about the magic of Saks, so I visited. Being from a small-town, it was like escalator rides of glamour. I'll never forget my first visit to Saks. My tastes are now more refined, but it also appears Saks has since lost its way.  

And that Minneapolis store has since closed.

Saks Strategy Makeover

Saks may benefit from a better branding strategy that includes more unique store environments.  Creating an interior environment that is both glamorous and 'only Saks' might benefit, including references to its Manhattan store.  Differentiating store interiors from competitors, especially Neiman Marcus, would be key. Saks then would have to (continue to) follow up with excellent customer service and (more) exclusive brands. This is easier said than done, I realize, and I hope Saks survives and thrives.


In September, 2010, I visited Saks at South Coast Plaza in Costa Mesa, California. It was clean and contemporary, but didn't feel much different than a 'nice' Macy's or a Lord & Taylor store. Saks could have benefited by creating a 'punch' of luxury, references to Manhattan, Hollywood maybe, the past, unique boutiques, music, and anything else that might make customers say "I like this and I want to continue shopping here". 

I didn't, and I ended up heading over to Bloomingdale's.