US department store Saks to launch Amazon UK storefront

Saks, the heritage US department store chain, is planning to launch a storefront on Amazon’s UK website as it looks to expand its global reach.

The American retailer has a designated section on Amazon’s US site where it sells luxury products from brands including Balmain, Dolce & Gabbana, and Stella McCartney.

Speaking at this year’s World Retail Congress, Saks Global executive chairman Richard Baker said the high-end department store was working with Amazon to launch designated storefronts in “India, Japan, Great Britain, Europe and the Middle East”.

He said the company had been working with the ecommerce giant for six years to create a “walled garden” on the site.

“The idea was to create a place on Amazon where the walls were high enough that when you shop at Saks on Amazon, you can only see the assortment available at Saks and not knock-offs [or] no low priced items,” Baker said.

Amazon said previously the storefronts were operated by Saks, with the retailer able to control its own merchandise and fulfilment.

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