Saks Fifth Avenue to open 20 new Fifth Avenue Club locations by year-end

Saks Fifth Avenue is expanding the Fifth Avenue Club, its luxury personal shopping and styling service.

The Fifth Avenue Club plans to have 20 stand-alone locations by year-end. Based on positive customer response to existing locations, the expansion comes one year after the Fifth Avenue Club introduced the concept of private stand-alone suites in hotels and resorts across the United States.

The strategy is to reach a wider audience and offer personal service in locations where Saks does not operate stores.

The newest Fifth Avenue club opened this week in Austin, and additional openings are planned throughout the summer in Fort Worth, Texas; St. Petersburg, Florida; and Rancho Santa Fe, California, building on recent openings in Savannah, Georgia; Denver; and Minneapolis.

The leading category among the suites’ visitors is women’s ready-to-wear.

“The success of our standalone Fifth Avenue Club Suites demonstrates that luxury customers are increasingly seeking personalized fashion advice tailored just for them,” said Larry Bruce, President of Saks Fifth Avenue Stores. “Since launching this concept last year, we are proud to have built a new, dedicated customer base and an experienced team of stylists who provide one-of-a-kind personal shopping and styling tailored to the unique lifestyle of our customers in each community. We look forward to continuing to expand the highly personalized service and expertly curated luxury assortment that Saks is known for to even more customers across the U.S.”

The openings also reinforce Saks’ ongoing partnership with leading luxury resort operator Marriott International and its portfolio of luxury brands, including The Ritz-Carlton and St. Regis Hotels & Resorts, where nearly half of the locations are located. Auberge Resorts Collection is the key partner in the Fifth Avenue Club’s expansion into Texas with openings in Austin and Fort Worth. The upcoming opening at Rancho Valencia in Rancho Santa Fe will be the first location within a Relais & Chateaux property.

The standalone Fifth Avenue Club suites are an extension of the brand’s existing Fifth Avenue Clubs located within Saks Fifth Avenue stores. There are 28 Fifth Avenue Clubs located within Saks Fifth Avenue stores. All Fifth Avenue Club locations offer personal shopping and styling appointments in addition to special events and fashion shows.

The Fifth Avenue Club employs experienced personal stylists in local communities to provide clients with professional styling services tailored to each client’s specific needs and preferences, from clothing and accessories to shoes and fine jewelry.

The suites are not temporary and hours vary by location. Saks’ goal is to continue serving these new markets through this format. In a WWD article last year, Saks said it leases the suites at the resorts for at least a year.

Through Fifth Avenue Clubs, customers can connect with a stylist and schedule a consultation to discuss style preferences, wardrobe needs, sizing and designer preferences. After the consultation, the stylist uses inventory from Saks.com and Saks Fifth Avenue stores.

Here are the locations of the standalone Fifth Avenue clubs.