Down the Avenue, Fifth Avenue

Michael Salinas, a 25-year visual merchandising veteran who was most recently corporate director of merchandise presentation at Saks Fifth Avenue (New York), has joined May Department Stores (St. Louis) as vp of visual merchandising and creative services at the New York-based Lord & Taylor division.

Salinas began his career with E.S. Levy & Co., a family-owned department store on Galveston Island, Texas. His career then took him to Marshall Field's Post Oak Galleria store in Houston; Tootsies, an upscale specialty boutique in Houston; and then back to Post Oak Galleria with Saks Fifth Avenue. He later served Saks in Tulsa, New Orleans and Beverly Hills before moving to the New York corporate office.

As director of merchandise presentation for the retailer's main floor, he was responsible for all aspects of a number of major exclusive fragrance launches. including Terry Muglier's “Angel,” Jean Paul Gaultier's “Gaultier,” Versace's “Blonde,” Gucci's “Envy” and Jil Sander's “Jil.”

Salinas was also responsible for the redesign of the open-sell programs for the prototype SFA store in the Houston Galleria.