As Gilt Group continues on its meteoric rise, similar, quasi-private, limited-time online sample sales from small ventures seem to pop up every day. Seems like the players are getting bigger, however. Just this week, it was Daily Candy and now the latest is Saks.
The traditional retailer tried out its first private sample sale over the weekend, inviting a select group via email to partake in the 36-hour event. As the first really established company to engage in the temporary, discounted inventory, Saks changes the game. Of course, there's no time like the present (and by present, we mean recession) for everyone - including the top-of-the-market vendors associated with Saks - to explore the possibilities of off-price alternatives.
The Wall Street Journalreported that another test run will go in November before launching full-time in 2010.
