Really?? Lord & Taylor Fifth Ave. Flagship to Open on Thanksgiving

What are they thinking??? Lord & Taylor on Fifth Avenue will be open for business on Thanksgiving Day, taking the competition by surprise by breaking the long-held tradition of remaining closed for the revered family holiday.

All of Manhattan’s other main flagships — Saks Fifth Avenue, Bergdorf Goodman, Macy’s and Bloomingdale’s — will stay closed Thanksgiving Day, although Lord & Taylor’s decision could force the hand of some to extend hours somehow.

Macy’s did open all of its stores last year at midnight following Thanksgiving Day to get the jump on Black Friday and will probably do it again this year because the strategy was considered successful. But under no circumstances will Macy’s or its sister division Bloomingdale’s be open Thanksgiving Day. “It’s parade day. We wouldn’t do that to our employees,” said one Macy’s source.


Lord & Taylor’s decision could irk many of its employees. But one source close to the retailer said, “Lord & Taylor wouldn’t do it if they didn’t have the associates to volunteer. They wouldn’t do it if the workers weren’t happy.” L&T said those working Thanksgiving Day are indeed volunteers and will get holiday pay, and that a portion of the day’s sales will go to charity.

One salesperson at the Lord & Taylor flagship, who didn’t seem particularly excited at the prospect of working Thanksgiving Day, noted those who do will have some flexibility in their schedules for Black Friday if they were supposed to work then. Lord & Taylor will be open from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. on Thanksgiving.

“We have new management,” said another selling associate at the store, giving one explanation for why he thought the Thanksgiving Day policy changed.

Just the flagship will be open on Thanksgiving. Suburban stores will be closed.

Source: WWD

Cam Newton To "Join" Belk

Belk Inc. has drafted quarterback Cam Newton of the Carolina Panthers for a men’s line to bolster the store’s “modern Southern style” campaign.

Beginning this coming spring, Belk will sell an exclusive men’s collection of suits, sport coats and sportswear called Made Cam Newton. It will bear the quarterback’s signature and offer “fashion-forward, versatile, professional apparel options for men,” according to Belk. Made Cam Newton will be carried in 133 stores and on belk.com, and by fall 2013, the collection will add accessories and shoes.

“It really is a collection with a young vibe in terms of mixing and matching,” Kathryn Bufano, Belk’s president and chief merchandising officer, said, noting that the collection can be dressed up or worn for a more casual look, and that items are set at better, entry-level prices including $28 T-shirts, $120 blazers, khakis for $60, and suits around $200. That’s about 30 to 35 percent lower than Polo, she noted.

Made Cam Newton will be housed between Black Brown 1826 men’s wear designed by Joseph Abboud that Belk sells exclusively in its regions, and contemporary denim. “We are dedicating nice square footage, 500 to 1,200 square feet” for Made Cam Newton, Bufano said. The suits will also sell in the suits department for double exposure. The collection is designed by Belk’s in-house team in collaboration with Newton.

“He’s not a designer but he has a very strong sense of style,” Bufano said. “He wants to set an example for young people that looking sharp gives you more confidence.”

“He’s one of today’s emerging style icons,” added John Thomas, Belk’s executive vice president of private brands.