What: Joining the likes of Nordstroms, Macys, and Target, Saks Fifth Avenue recently developed a housebrand menswear line to compete directly with higher priced named brand labels like Gucci, Armani, etc.

Wall Street Journal : “The “Men’s Collection” is an unusually comprehensive, soup-to-nuts line of everything from suits to shirts, socks, ties and shoes, manufactured at many of the same factories used by European designers but priced at about half of today’s designer levels. The collection is trickling into New York now, and will be at Saks stores around the country by mid-August.”

See Jack Says: This is a smart way for Saks to retain customers who love the brand, but can’t afford the higher priced european labels. Interestingly, Saks isn’t the only one who understands this fact. Bloomingdales is also launching a men’s house brand named “Bloomingdales: The Men’s Store,” with items priced at 30% or even 40% less than designer labels.