Neiman Marcus has rejected a $3 billion takeover bid from rival luxury retailer Saks Fifth Avenue. The luxury retail sector is facing a downturn, adding more urgency for Neiman and Saks to finalize a deal. A merger between Saks and Neiman could help the companies negotiate better terms with suppliers and reduce duplicate costs by streamlining operations. Deal talks between Neiman and Saks have been ongoing for a long time but they have struggled to come to an agreement on valuation and structure.