• by Sarah Mahoney , June 8, 2007

After announcing some of the industry's best May sales numbers, Saks Fifth Avenue will relaunch its "Want it!" campaign this fall, featuring 18 fashion "must haves."

Beginning in September, the campaign will highlight nine items for women, including the cape, textured cardigan, opaque legs and high-heeled shoe booty. For men, it will spotlight tuxedos, turtlenecks, puffy vests, novel ties and - wait for it - "the gentleman's bag."

No snickering, please: Saks also reports that same-store sales skyrocketed 37.5% over year-earlier figures. Its upscale competitors - while still doing far better than department stores, other specialty stores and mass merchandisers -- didn't even come close. At Nordstrom, same-store sales increased 6.3% in May; at Neiman Marcus, sales gained 7.7%.

But lower-end department stores struggled. At J.C. Penney, comparable-store sales fell 2%. And Macy's - which recently replaced its CMO and is struggling with pricing strategies in many of its stores - says its same-store results fell 3.3%. The company says it will boost its promotional marketing efforts and is looking for improvements by June or July.

Teen retailers also took a bruising. At Abercrombie & Fitch, same-store sales fell 5%, at Hot Topic, they fell 6.1%. Aeropostale managed a 1.9% gain, and at American Eagle Outfitters, teens snapped up some new merchandising ideas, raising comparable store results 5%.

At the Gap, sales fell 3%, while Limited increased 2%. It said Sales were up at Victoria's Secret, but that at its Bath & Body Works, Mother's Day sales were below expectations.

Target's results came in strong at 5.8% gain, while Wal-Mart sales were up 1.3%, primarily because of strength in its grocery and garden departments. And at the fast-expanding Kohl's, comparable-store sales jumped 10.5%, with broad gains in apparel, footwear and home furnishings.