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Agenda-setting intelligence, analysis and advice for the global fashion community.

Inside Luxury Retailers’ Bare-Knuckle Fight to Win the Holidays

With market leader Saks struggling and Ssense in bankruptcy, competitors from Bloomingdale’s to Mytheresa to FWRD see a rare opportunity to grab market share. They are openly courting top customers, vendors and even the employees of their struggling competitors.
Bloomingdale's holiday façade
Bloomingdale’s is turning up the holiday theatrics this year, unveiling a dramatic new façade at its 59th Street flagship Wednesday night in a star-studded event capped by a performance from rising singer-songwriter Raye. (Marc Patrick/BFA.com)

For American department stores, this holiday season is shaping up to be a battle royale for shoppers’ attention and wallets.

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Further Reading

Bloomingdale’s CEO on the Future of American Department Stores

To survive and even thrive, the ailing retail format doesn’t have to reinvent itself, according to Olivier Bron. Bringing his international experience to parent company Macy’s Inc., the new chief executive wants to give customers a more exciting experience and be a better partner to brand vendors.

What Went Wrong at Ssense | The Debrief

Montréal-based Ssense is entering bankruptcy protection to head off a sale by lenders. The Debrief looks at how tariffs, “always-on” discounting and other problems toppled the indie darling of online luxury, and what a reset might look like.

About the author
Cathaleen Chen
Cathaleen Chen

Cathaleen Chen is Retail Editor at The Business of Fashion. She is based in New York and drives BoF’s coverage of the retail and direct-to-consumer sectors.

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