Reports say Sales are Down at Major Bridal Salons including Kleinfeld

By Paul Pannone

A tip last week told eWedNewz sales are down at major bridal salons that sell wedding dresses above the national price average. High-end stores are vulnerable to the downward price compression caused by off-shore manufacturing, discounting and websites that are eroding pricing power, without recourse.

An email from national sales manager at Priscilla of Boston, Kimberly Marcoux,  obtained by eWNz gave a heads up to wholesale accounts and buyers on a  private 20% sale scheduled to appear on Priscilla of Boston’s website beginning today.

According to the email from Marcoux, “Priscilla of Boston retail salons, which are located in most major cities throughout the U.S., will be having a private 20% off sale in-store only 5/19-5/22.  They will also be having a public 20% off sale that will be advertised on the website 5/23-6/6. 

I wanted to make sure that all of you are aware of this sale that will occur at the POB retail salons only.  Please feel free to contact me or George Manley, our Director of Wholesale with any questions.”

Sources that gave accurate information about Priscilla of Boston allege sales are down at Kleinfeld.

The same sources that said Priscilla would offer a 20% discount on their website also revealed lower sales at major stores, including Kleinfeld in New York. According to reports, “Sales are down “big time!”. Their top-selling gowns are Maggie Soterro and two house labels; Pnina Tornai and Henry Roth.”

eWedNewz is watching all portions of the wedding dress business, expecting sales to drop because of over-production and lower demand. Declining support for Wedding Markets strongly suggests a glut of products on the market. Increased competition and discounting also hinder the bridal dress market.

As for Kleinfeld’s; it long has been rumored that they aren’t at the top of their game.  Maggie Sottero is one of the three top lines in the country.  Therefore, it doesn’t surprise me that Maggie is the top line at Kleinfeld’s.  Pnina Tornai is heavily promoted on Say Yes To The Dress.  It makes sense that they do well with it.  There’s nothing extraordinary about the styling.  It’s a house brand.  Henry Roth probably sells because of Henry — not because of the dresses.  Henry is fabulous; he’s a fantastic sales person.

Kleinfeld’s also sells a lot of Mon Cheri and Allure.  However, they increase the mark-up on these brands dramatically.  Bridal consumers are dull-witted but not entirely stupid.  Most discover very quickly that they can go to RK in Manhattan and get the same dress for $500 less.  Kleinfeld’s would probably have gone out of business a few years ago if it didn’t have the TV show.  They got lucky once.  Lightening doesn’t necessarily continue to strike in the same place again and again and again.”

 Attempts to contact persons mentioned in this story remain ongoing. A message was left for Mara Urshel of Kleinfeld after no one answering the phones would comment on the report of lower sales.

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