DEI-focused Neiman Marcus has rebranded its historic “Christmas Book” catalog to the “Holiday Book,” a change that has sparked internal controversy within the Dallas-based luxury retailer, FOX Business reported.
Known for its opulent “Fantasy Gifts” since 1959, the catalog has evolved from a modest 16-page booklet to a highly anticipated annual release, drawing affluent shoppers with unique, high-end items.
This year’s catalog features items like a $1.9 million Spanish royal carriage artifact and a “Messika 18.05-carat fancy yellow diamond necklace, plus a flying photo safari across the Kalahari savannah with award-winning photographer and documentary filmmaker Ami Vitale” for $777,777.
The change to “Holiday Book” is one of several decisions under CEO Geoffroy van Raemdonck, whose tenure has seen layoffs, structural overhauls, and a shift towards DEI initiatives.
Some employees are critical, feeling the focus on social priorities distracts from driving the business forward. Additionally, the company is set to be acquired by Saks Fifth Avenue’s parent, HBC, in 2025.
“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 told the New York Post. “Instead, my job is at risk because of our business failure.”
Despite the catalog rebrand, the company remains silent on whether this shift marks a permanent departure from tradition.
Van Raemdonck has faced scrutiny from staff concerned about the company’s direction, citing that prioritizing DEI and internal restructurings has put the brand’s financial health at risk while competitors like Saks experience growth.