[November 15, 2004] Let It Snow! Let It Snow! Let It Snow! Saks Fifth Avenue Unveils Giant Snowflake Spectacle - High Tech Light Show in Conjunction with Philips Electronics NEW YORK --(Business Wire)-- Nov. 15, 2004 -- Saks' Holiday Windows Launch First-Ever Children's Book from Best Selling Author James Patterson Saks Fifth Avenue will unveil its new Holiday Snowflake program at its flagship Fifth Avenue store on November 23rd, 2004 at a special launch event. The event will focus on the premier of the high-tech Snowflake Spectacle - a sound and light show on the flagship's facade featuring 72,000 Philips LEDs that illuminate 50 giant snowflakes choreographed to a modern version of 'Carol of the Bells'. Philips Electronics (NYSE: PHG, AEX: PHI) in a partnership with Saks made the holiday fantasy a reality by providing the technology for the snowflake display, which will dazzle crowds every half-hour throughout the season. The store's legendary mechanical holiday windows will also be unveiled that evening, this year launching best selling author, James Patterson's first children's book SANTAKID. The festivities will culminate with snow falling on Fifth Avenue and a fireworks display. Among those who will be on hand to celebrate will be luminaries: New York City Mayor Michael R. Bloomberg, world renown designer Oscar de la Renta, author James Patterson, Saks Fifth Avenue CEO Fred Wilson and Philips Lighting CEO Erik Bouts. The event will officially launch the Holiday Snowflake Spectacle program, which will be represented in all 64 SFA stores nationwide, online and in the holiday catalogue through December 31st. "We have energized Saks Fifth Avenue's tradition of celebrating the holidays with excitement, innovation and great style," says Fred Wilson, CEO Saks Fifth Avenue. "We are thrilled to have partnered with Philips to create this incredible break-through program, as a gift to our customers and the City of New York." "As the company that lights some of the world's preeminent landmarks, including The Eiffel Tower and Big Ben, Philips is delighted to partner with Saks to bring a world-class lighting experience to such a renowned New York landmark," said Erik Bouts, CEO of Philips Lighting. "Our LED technology used to illuminate the snowflakes, while being technologically advanced, will provide New Yorkers and tourists alike with a spectacle that truly reflects the simplicity and beauty of a snowflake." The Saks Fifth Avenue Holiday 2004 Facts: -- SNOWFLAKE SPECTACLE -- 50 fully programmable, unique snowflakes reaching 10 stories high (36-8'-0"; 14-20'-0") inspired by William "Snowflake" Bentley's snowflake photos from the 1920's -- The project required 8,000 feet of steel, five miles of lighting, 72,000 LED modules, 15 multicolor changing uplights, 40 strobe lights, 13,000 feet of cable and more than 5,000 hours of production. -- HOLIDAY WINDOWS Saks Fifth Avenue's famous mechanical holiday windows in the six front windows facing Fifth Avenue, will feature scenes from SANTAKID, the first children's book by world's best selling author, James Patterson. They will capture all the magic of the most anticipated illustrated children's book of the year. Saks Fifth Avenue has partnered with Reading is Fundamental (RIF) and will donate 10% of profits made nationwide to RIF from the sale of SANTAKID and all SANTAKID themed merchandise (mug, platter and ornament). -- FASHION WINDOWS For the first time, as a part of Saks Fifth Avenue's ongoing commitment to the designers of tomorrow, SFA held a competition with the senior class at Parsons School of Design. The six winning students won the opportunity to have their designs fabricated and displayed within the world-famous holiday windows. The student's designs will occupy the 28 windows surrounding the flagship store. All textiles were donated by the Italian Trade Commission, furs donated by Saga furs, and crystals donated by Swarovski. Additionally, 38 custom-made snowflakes will adorn the inside of the New York City fashion windows. The snowflakes are made with 2,300 custom-made Philips Halogena Brilliant Crystal light bulbs identical to those featured on the Times Square New Year's Eve Ball--except that the Saks bulbs feature hand-painted, reflective chrome tips for extra sparkle! -- SANTA SUIT Saks Fifth Avenue is energizing a Holiday tradition and modernizing style with an elegant new Santa Suit design. This year's Santa Suit has been designed and by Saks' very own menswear designer and master tailor Domenico Spano. The suit is made from England's finest Moxon flannel, the double-breasted jacket and pants are red and white striped along with Santa's top hat. Adrienne Landau provided Saks with the fur trim and Ferragamo has provided Santa with his black leather belt and calf boots. -- SAKS FIFTH AVENUE SNOWFLAKE PROGRAM In addition to the launch event, the SFA Holiday Snowflake Spectacle program includes: brilliantly lit snowflakes in holiday windows and in-store treatments at SFA locations nationwide. Holiday shoppers will find the snowflake motif throughout their SFA experience, on bags, boxes, in the catalog as well as through the purchase of holiday ornaments. The Holiday Snowflake Program also includes exclusive holiday merchandise--more fur, more jeweled details and more color--from designers like Tse, Nannette Lepore, Ashleigh Verrier and Carlos Miele. About Philips Electronics Royal Philips Electronics of the Netherlands (NYSE: PHG, AEX: PHI) is one of the world's biggest electronics companies and Europe's largest, with sales of EUR 29 billion in 2003. With activities in the three interlocking domains of healthcare, lifestyle and technology and 166,800 employees in more than 60 countries, it has market leadership positions in medical diagnostic imaging and patient monitoring, color television sets, electric shavers, lighting and silicon system solutions. News from Philips is located at www.philips.com/newscenter. About Saks Fifth Avenue Enterprises Saks Fifth Avenue Enterprises, a member of the Saks Incorporated group of stores, comprises 64 stores throughout the United States, 53 Off 5th outlet stores, and saks.com, the company's e-commerce site. [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ]