Neiman Marcus has a new home for shoes at its Beverly Hills store.
According to Ryan Ross, president of Neiman Marcus and head of NMG customer insights, the Beverly Hills shoe salon has moved from the first floor to the third floor as part of the store’s recent renovations.
And along with the move comes a grander footprint, with the Beverly Hills location now boasting the largest footwear department in the company with over 7,000-sq.-ft. of shoes, an 18 percent increase over the previous space.
“Not only does the new space allow us to create a more open and inviting environment for shoes, but it also lets us build really great adjacencies with other categories,” Ross told FN in an exclusive interview. “Now shoes sit alongside women’s apparel to create a much more dynamic shopping environment.”
As for what took over the category’s former space on the main floor, Ross noted that women’s accessories, like handbags and jewelry, have grown in its place. “These strategic renovations aim to curate thoughtfully designed environments that elevate the in-store shopping experience, develop inviting spaces for extraordinary events and deliver next-level service to our customers and communities,” the executive said.
Making more room for categories like women’s shoes and accessories are at the core of the company’s ongoing store renovations, given that these items have seen steady growth over time.
“Women’s shoes have been a category of comparative strength in recent quarters, along with jewelry, handbags and beauty,” Ross said. “We are expanding key [segments] that are experiencing product growth, prioritizing branded expressions and updating services. It’s all about investing in creating more reasons for customers to come into stores through one-of-a-kind, multi-sensory, exclusive, and engaging activations.”
Ross noted that top footwear brands at the Beverly Hills store are Chanel, Dior, Christian Louboutin, Prada, Gucci, Saint Laurent and Manolo Blahnik. “All of these brand partners have experienced growth this season,” Ross said. “Other brands performing well are Loewe, Fendi, and Roger Vivier.”
Popular styles right now include ballerina shoes, Mary-Janes and flats, the executive noted. “Flats are one of the fastest growing classifications,” Ross said. “Many of our luxury designer brands have amazing flats in their assortments including Christian Louboutin, Dior, Miu Miu, Roger Vivier and Valentino.”
Store renovations like the one at Beverly Hills support the company’s growth strategy to “Revolutionize Luxury Experiences” for customers, Ross noted. “We intend to address at least 10 stores from 2022 to 2026. These include our locations in Atlanta, Bal Harbour, Tysons, Paramus, Houston, San Diego, St. Louis, Michigan Avenue, Oakbrook and Beverly Hills. Our overall goal is to continue to lead the industry with our premiere shopping experience as the top luxury retailer.”
The renovation of Neiman Marcus Beverly Hills comes months after its rival Saks Fifth Avenue relocated its women’s store to the former Barneys New York flagship on Wilshire Blvd. The new store featured an expanded shoe department that is nearly double the size of its previous women’s location.
But the two may not be rivals for long. According to a report from WWD earlier this month, sources said that the two retailers have reached the “final stages” in takeover talks that restarted last summer. The deal could come together in a roughly $3 billion deal in the next month, the report said.
