Saks Fifth Avenue Flagship To Open New Shoe Floor: 10022-SHOE

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A F SAKS FIFTH AVENUE NEW SHOE FLOOR SAKS FIFTH AVENUE NEW SHOE FLOOR A 70 foot long Murano glass curtain is illuminated from the ceiling. (PRNewsFoto/Saks Fifth Avenue)[AL] NEW YORK, NY UNITED STATES 05/24/2007

    NEW YORK, May 24 /PRNewswire/ -- Saks Fifth Avenue announced today its
 plans to greatly expand its New York store's designer shoe salon, which
 will move to the completely redesigned eighth floor. The dramatic new space
 will be named 10022-SHOE, referring to the eighth floor's dedicated zip
 code. 10022- SHOE is slated to open with a gala celebration this September.
     (Photo: http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20070524/NYTH075 )
     "The new eighth floor will be an impressive venue for our world-class
 collections and a true landmark for shoe lovers," remarked Steve Sadove,
 Chairman and CEO, Saks Fifth Avenue. 10022-SHOE will also hold a place in
 U.S. history as the first floor to be granted its own designated zip code
 by the United States Post Office. Saks Fifth Avenue will support the eighth
 floor's launch this fall with a widespread marketing campaign featuring
 10022-SHOE as well as a set of limited edition stamps commemorating the
 event.
     Visitors to the new eighth floor will be greeted by a seemingly endless
 array of shoes -- nearly double the number currently carried on the fourth
 floor. "We're adding a number of exciting new designers, plus we're vastly
 increasing the depth and breadth of our current vendor assortment," said
 Ron Frasch, President and Chief Merchandising Officer, Saks Fifth Avenue.
 "To be quite honest, we needed a space this big just to have enough room to
 showcase all the new merchandise we're so excited about."
     Saks Fifth Avenue will also expand the luxury amenities available to
 its shoe customers. A VIP room has been added for private shopping,
 complete with spacious seating, refreshments and an adjacent fitting room.
 An expert shoe repair and refurbishing service will be on hand. Associates
 will be able to check inventories instantly on state of the art computer
 terminals located throughout the floor. Customers will even be able to go
 straight to eight via the 10022-SHOE express elevator.
     When those elevator doors open, shoppers will be struck by the
 expansive, wide-open environment. New York's most prestigious new zip code
 will feature 50% more selling space, clear sightlines and a truly dazzling
 centerpiece: a 70-foot-long curving wall of enchanting hand-blown Murano
 glass bubbles. At the floor's perimeter, tall, undulating walls will create
 a flow of brands rather than a row of individual shops. The fluid layout is
 designed to encourage browsing and ensure flexibility for Saks as
 collections expand.
     The colors of 10022-SHOE will be primarily warm, light neutrals
 highlighted by gold and silver metallics and jewel toned upholstery. Shoes
 will be presented on white glass, antique mirror, limestone, white Carrera
 marble and grey stained wood. The space will be accented by a unique
 variety of chandeliers, modern tables from Eero Saarinen and Warren
 Platner, vintage furniture pieces and curved banquettes of custom designed
 chairs creating intimate circles of seating.
     The 10022-SHOE environment has been designed by Hambrecht Oleson Design
 Associates, chosen for their inspired interiors and wealth of experience
 with luxury retail endeavors. Their recent projects include shops for
 Madison Square Garden and Colonial Williamsburg, renovations for Saks Fifth
 Avenue stores in Atlanta, Beverly Hills and Boca Raton, and a new 150,000
 square foot Saks Fifth Avenue store in Mexico City, slated to open in
 November, 2007.
     About Saks Fifth Avenue
     Saks Fifth Avenue, one of the world's pre-eminent specialty retailers,
 is renowned for its superlative American and international designer
 collections, its expertly edited assortment of handbags, shoes, jewelry,
 cosmetics and home furnishings, and the first-rate fashion expertise and
 the exemplary client service of its Associates. Today, Saks operates 54
 full-line stores in 25 states, 2 stores in the Middle East in Dubai and
 Riyadh, 50 Off 5th outlet stores and saks.com, the company's online store.
 
 

SOURCE Saks Fifth Avenue