Neiman Marcus ‘bans’ the word Christmas from its almost century-old gift catalogue to the fury of workers

A major department store has quietly removed the word ‘Christmas’ from its iconic gift catalog – and employees are blaming ‘woke politics’ for the change.

For the first time ever, Neiman Marcus has rebranded its 98-year-old “Christmas Book” gift catalog, now calling it a “Holiday Book.”

The retailer had previously stated, in response to the Covid-19 pandemic, that the ‘Christmas book is tradition’ and something for shoppers to look forward to.

‘Christmas is a time of celebration and our Christmas book is about celebration. It’s part of our legacy and if you look back at our history, our founders and our brand, we’ve always been very strong on belonging and inclusion,” Neiman Marcus Chief Marketing Officer Daz McColl shared. Forbes in 2021.

He added: “The title of our book is in no way exclusionary. It’s part of our tradition.’

This year, however, attitudes toward the catalog tradition seem to have changed.

A spokesperson for the retailer said this The Dallas Morning News: ‘In the spirit of inclusivity, where customers of all backgrounds, religions and traditions are welcome to celebrate the season.’

Seasoned employees at the retailer’s Dallas headquarters, amid the brand’s restructuring, have weighed in with the New York Post that Neiman Marcus’ 117-year history is being wiped out by breaking a tradition that has existed for nearly two decades since its launch.

Neiman Marcus CEO Geoffroy Van Raemdonck has received a lot of criticism from veteran employees over the changes within the brand, including job cuts

Older editions of the ‘Christmas Book’ were decorated with Christmas-style images and colors, this year the change in holiday influence is noticeable not only in the name change, but also on the front cover

A spokesperson for the retailer said: ‘In the spirit of inclusivity as it welcomes customers from all backgrounds, religions and traditions to celebrate the season.’

They also point the finger at the CEO, Geoffroy van Raemdonck, who announced last year that five percent of the workforce would be cut, despite record bonuses in the two years before.

“If Geoffroy and his team put as much time into running the company as they do voicing positions on DEI, we would buy Saks or launch an IPO. Instead, my job is at risk due to our corporate failure,” one employee told the newspaper.

Other employees were equally upset after feeling blindsided by the news and said they found out through a media report.

One said: ‘The book didn’t need a name change. Personal views on inclusion – from Geoffroy and his leadership team – have changed this.’

The subtle, under-the-radar change didn’t even make it to the front of the catalog, where instead of the title “Holiday Book,” it instead reads “A Neiman’s Fantasy.”

The images on the front also do not resemble the Christmas season, as before. In this issue, a woman is depicted against a blue background looking through a gold keyhole and glittering across the cover.

Previous issues were decorated with Christmas colors of red, green and gold, or Christmas images, such as presents, antlers, sleighs or Santa Claus.

One employee said, “We found out through the Dallas Morning News article. The book did not require a name change. Personal views on inclusion – from Geoffroy and his leadership team – changed this’

‘Christmas is a time of celebration and our Christmas book is about celebration. It is part of our legacy and if you look back at our history, our founders and our brand, we have always been very strong on belonging and inclusion,” Daz McColl had said earlier in 2021.

The catalog is known for its range of extravagant and luxurious gifts. In an announcement about the new 2024 catalog, the brand made no mention of the name change.

“This year’s Christmas activation and campaign are an invitation to embrace the magic of Neiman Marcus. The stories are inspired by the theatrical traditions and folklore of the period the brand was founded,” said Chief Brand Officer Nabil Aliffi, the release said.

The release further stated that the catalog would “evoke boundless optimism and childlike wonder for the holidays,” inspired by fables, fairy tales and folklore, which the “Holiday Book” draws on.

Employees across the brand feel their jobs are in jeopardy, including that of the CEO.

Employees have said the change feels like “a last hurray for Geoffroy” before the brand closes a $2.65 billion deal with Saks Fifth Avenue owner HBC, which is expected to close by the end of the fiscal year.