Saks Bids a Long Farewell to Catalogs

Birmingham, AL–By February 2002, the Saks Folio apparel and home decor catalogs and the Bullock & Jones men’s apparel book will cease to exist. Parent company Saks (formerly Proffitt’s) is phasing out the two titles and integrating the Saks Website operations with that of the Saks Fifth Avenue stores.

As part of the streamlining, roughly 50 corporate positions will be eliminated between now and February. Additional layoffs will occur by the end of the first quarter of 2002 in the fulfillment and call center operations. The catalogs and the Saks Website brought in $126.7 million in sales last year.

To retain its Folio customers, Saks plans to increase circulation of its traffic-driver “store books” and will make them more of a direct sales vehicle, complete with prominent display of the toll-free phone number and inclusion of order forms.

“The integration of the Saks Direct business will create a more cohesive, consistent customer experience across all channels, while improving inventory productivity and lowering operating expenses,” Saks chairman/CEO R. Brad Martin said in a statement. “The catalog business was not necessarily reflective of Saks Fifth Avenue’s core merchandising competency of luxury apparel and accessories.