Saks Fifth Avenue is rolling out its appointment-only system at its San Francisco location. The luxury retailer has opened a dozen other "Club" concepts across the US in the past year. Retail analyst Neil Saunders told BI that requiring appointments will likely help prevent shoplifting.
Saks Fifth Avenue shoppers visiting the brand's San Francisco store may need something they previously haven't: a reservation. The retailer said last week it will convert its Union Square location from a traditional department store format to an appointment-only concept, beginning on August 28. Saks has opened roughly a dozen similar — but much smaller — "Club" concepts across the US in the past year, usually on-site at hotels and resorts.
Saks currently has two such Clubs near San Francisco: one in Napa, and one in Palo Alto. "We're always looking for innovative ways to optimize our store experience to match luxury consumers' evolving expectations, including by meeting our customers where and how they want to shop with us," a company spokesperson said in an email to Business Insider about the change. Saks President Larry Bruce previously touted the success of the new concept in an announcement last month about the expansion of new locations.
"The success of our standalone Fifth Avenue Club suites illustrates that luxury clients are increasingly seeking one-on-one fashion expertise tailored just for them," he said. "We are proud to have cultivated a new, engaged client base and a skilled s.