But then the coronavirus hit. Many brands were forced to lean on their own sales channels, with retail partners leaving them high and dry. Elie Tahari came to realize the benefits of going it alone and decided to do so on a permanent basis. As brands have explored new sales options, department stores have also updated their business models to be less reliant on them. For example, Hudson Bay Company has launched co-working space SaksWorks, which has locations in its Saks stores.
NEW YORK, NY – FEBRUARY 07: Zoe Tahari and Rory Tahari attend Elie Tahari FW 19 Runway Show on February 7, 2019 in New York City. (Photo by Sean Zanni/Patrick McMullan via Getty Images)
