Luxury's Angst Spells Opportunity for Off

“Right now there is a overabundance of excess inventory — every place — like I’ve never seen in my career.”

So says Tom Ott, former Saks Fifth Avenue senior merchant turned off-price consultant who links brands with TJMaxx, Ross, and even Loehmann’s, which is about to resurface. He sees excess inventory at a level that’s 35 percent higher than two years ago — enough to fuel business at off-pricers and outlets.

Ott rose from a men’s buyer to senior vice president of men’s, home and concessions at Saks, where he spent most of his career, before becoming chief merchant at Saks Off 5th, and subsequently tackling other industry roles, including four-and-a-half years at the Icon Luxury Group, a SoHo, N.Y.-based distributor of ready-to-wear, accessories, shoes and luggage. Icon deals with hun