Neiman Marcus has quietly removed the word “Christmas” from its iconic, 98-year-old annual gift catalog – and some company insiders gripe that the stealthy switch smacks of woke politics, The Post has learned.
The swanky retailer didn’t specifically discuss the pivot in a press release last week.
But for the first time ever, it called the glossy catalog — long known for its extravagant gifts, from last year’s $975,000 electric Cadillac to his-and-her Egyptian mummy cases in 1971 — the “Holiday Book” instead of the “Christmas Book.”
The name change has raised hackles inside the luxury chain’s Dallas headquarters, where veteran employees have chafed under CEO Geoffroy van Raemdonck, whose restructurings and layoffs they fear are wiping out the last vestiges of the 117-year-old retailer’s institutional history.
“If Geoffroy and his team put as much time into running the business as they did on expressing viewpoints about DEI, we would be buying Saks or launching an IPO,” one employee griped to The Post. “Instead, my job is at risk because of our business failure.”
The Dallas Morning News asked about the name and a spokesperson said it was changed “in the spirit of inclusivity as it welcomes customers of all backgrounds, religions and traditions to celebrate the season,” according to the report.
This was more than Neiman had told its own rank and file, according to sources.
“We found out via the Dallas Morning News article,” a Neiman employee fumed. “The book didn’t need a name change. Personal opinions about inclusion — from Geoffroy and his leadership team — changed this.”
A Neiman Marcus spokeswoman wasn’t immediately able to comment on Thursday.
Saks Fifth Avenue declined to comment.
As for the catalog, it doesn’t even bear the new “Holiday Book” title on its cover — instead merely displaying this year’s seasonal marketing slogan, “A Neiman’s Fantasy”.
With only the faintest hints of traditional Christmas imagery — not even snowflakes or evergreen trees — the cover depicts a model with a big, clunky keyhole earring looking through another keyhole against a starry night backdrop.
Neiman Marcus
Indeed, the rebrand was so subtle that media outlets including Forbes and The Hollywood Reporter still referred to the catalog as the Christmas Book.
Women’s Wear Daily doesn’t mention the rebrand at all in a 765-word article about this year’s eye-popping offerings.
Those include a $175,000 VIP styling experience with “Emily in Paris” costume designer Marylin Fitoussi, a $777,777 safari in Namibia, and a seven-foot-long, $1.9 million, 18th century carriage that belonged to the Spanish royal family.
This is Neiman’s last holiday season before it closes a deal to be acquired for $2.65 billion by rival Saks Fifth Avenue’s owner HBC.
While employees are fearful about keeping their jobs, they also reckon it’s the last year some of the current management team will remain with the company — including the CEO.
“We do feel that this was a last hurrah for Geoffroy,” said the employee.
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