What: Saks Global announces global expansion of its Amazon luxury marketplace strategy, creating exclusive walled garden environments in India, Japan, Great Britain, Europe, and the Middle East.

Why it is important: This strategic move signals the maturation of Amazon's luxury ambitions, as partnerships with established luxury retailers help overcome historical resistance from premium brands while maintaining their prestigious positioning.

Saks Global's executive chair Richard Baker has unveiled ambitious plans to expand the company's Amazon presence globally through exclusive walled garden marketplaces. Speaking at World Retail Congress 2025 in London, Baker revealed that these controlled environments will be established across India, Japan, Great Britain, Europe, and the Middle East. The initiative builds upon Saks' successful implementation of a walled garden concept on Amazon, developed over six years of collaboration. This carefully designed space ensures that customers shopping at Saks on Amazon only encounter curated luxury assortments, effectively segregating these offerings from lower-priced items. Baker emphasised that this approach aligns with luxury consumers' expectations for premium online experiences, predicting that within five years, shopping for luxury goods on Amazon will become commonplace. The announcement comes alongside discussions with Authentic Brands Group, highlighting Saks' broader strategy to enhance its luxury ecosystem through strategic partnerships and technological innovation.

IADS Notes: The global expansion of Saks' Amazon marketplace strategy represents the culmination of significant developments since December 2024's $2.7 billion merger with Neiman Marcus. The April 2025 launch of Saks' dedicated Amazon Luxury storefront, featuring prestigious brands like Balmain and Dolce & Gabbana, demonstrated the viability of this approach. This expansion follows February 2025's strategic reset, where Saks Global streamlined its vendor relationships while strengthening its technological infrastructure through partnerships with Amazon and Salesforce. The successful March 2025 launch of Michael Kors on Amazon has already validated the platform's ability to maintain luxury brand positioning.

Shopping luxury on Amazon to become the new normal, says Saks exec