- Macy's began as a small dry goods store in New York City in 1858 and has since grown to become a major American retailer through expansion, acquisitions of other stores, and pioneering business practices. - Federated Department Stores acquired Macy's in 1994, expanding its operations further. By 2006, Macy's operated approximately 800 stores across the US. - Macy's strategy focuses on localization, omnichannel integration, and tailoring assortments and marketing to individual store locations and customer demographics. The company aims to provide seamless shopping experiences across stores and online.

1. Historical Information on Macy’s
A fancy dry goods store on the corner of 14th street and 6th avenue in New York City in 1858 wasn’t a
likely choice be something as big as it is today. Several times Macy’s has failed but, Rowland
Hussay’s determination paid off at age 36 with the launch of R.H. Macy and Co. He adopted the red
star as his symbol of success, dating back to his days as a sailor.
Macy’s is known for a lot of firsts that changed the retail industry. Macy's was the
first retailer to promote a woman, Margaret Getchell, to an executive position,
making business history. Macy’s pioneered such iconic business practices such as
the “one price system” which makes it so that the same items are sold at one
consistent price, price and also quoting specific prices for goods in newspaper
advertising. Macy’s is also know for its creative merchandising, and was the first
retailers to introduce such products as the tea bag, the Idaho baked potato and
colored bath towels. Also Macy’s was the first to to hold a New York City liquor license.
In November of 1902, the small store moved uptown to its present Herald Square location on
Broadway and 34th Street, establishing an attraction Avenue expansion completed in 1924, Macy's
Herald Square became the "World's Largest Store," with more than one million square feet of retail
space.
By 1918, R.H. Macy and Co was generating $36 million in annual sales. This prosperity of the retailer
was never more apparent than when the company went public in 1922 and began to open up regional
stores, and by taking over competing retailers. In 1923, the Toledo-based department store Lasalle and
Koch was acquired; and in 1936, the Newark-based Bamberger's was purchased.
To help celebrate their new American heritage, Macy's immigrant employees organized the first
Christmas Parade in 1924. The procession featured floats, bands, animals from the zoo and 10,000
people watching, beginning a time-honored tradition now know as the Annual Macy's Thanksgiving
Day Parade.
In 1945, the company expanded west by purchasing O'Conner Moffat and Company in San Francisco.
Two years later, O'Conner Moffat stores, including the landmark Union Square store that opened in
1866, was renamed Macy's after a survey indicated that San Franciscans would welcome the name.
Macy's had yet another iconic achievement when they became the first department store flower shop in
1946. What began as a fragrance promotion in the cosmetics department now happens every year
welcoming the spring season; it is held in New York City, Chicago, Minneapolis, Philadelphia and
Washington, D.C., and San Francisco.
In 1971, Macy's Union Square store's lower level, once cluttered with bargains, now was transformed
into "The Cellar," changing the way that customers shop for housewares. Due to its success, the Herald
Square store followed suit five years later.
 On December 19, 1994, Federated Department Stores, Inc. acquired R.H. Macy and Co.,
creating the world's largest premier department store company.
 Federated Department Stores operated over 400 department stores and more than 157 specialty
stores in 37 states.

2.  A&S Department Stores was converted to the Macy's nameplate in May 1995. Also in 1995,
Federated acquired The Broadway Department Stores, bringing Broadway, Emporium and
Weinstocks to the Macy's nameplate. Following the model of A&S, Jordan Marsh Department
Stores of Boston, already owned by Federated, was converted to Macy's in March 1996.
 In January 2001, Macy's absorbed 17 Stern's Department Stores located in New York and New
Jersey. In June 2001, Federated purchased the Liberty House operations in Hawaii and Guam,
bringing the proud Macy's tradition and heritage to the Pacific.
Macy’s entered 2005 with 240 locations primarily on the East and West Coast. With the conversion of
all Federated regional store nameplates in March 2005, Macy's grew to 425 locations across the
country. In September 2006, with the conversion of stores acquired from the May Department Stores
Company, Macy's now serves customers through approximately 800 stores in virtually every major
geographical market in the United States, as well as over the macys.com website.
Main Strategy and Operations
Localization and omnichannel integrations are key components of Macy’s strategic formula for
continued growth and success as they redefine the customers' shopping experience. Using the Through
My Macy's program, they have invested in talent, technology and marketing that allow them to ensure
that each and every Macy's store is "just right" for the customer who shops in that location. They have
experience in delivering in stores, online and mobile devices, and they have developed systems and
processes to access Macy's vast inventory in stores and fulfillment centers across the country to satisfy
the needs of each customer no matter where he or she is located. They are primarily clothing store, but
with some food accessories and other housewares.
The company's momentum continued to build in 2013 as they drove improvement in Macy's, Inc.'s
financial results, as well as in the use of the key strategies. They again outperformed major other
competitors across the retail industry. Macy’s continue to refine and improve the My Macy's process
localizing merchandise assortments by store location as well as to maximize the effectiveness and
efficiency of the extraordinary talent in our My Macy's field and central organization. They have
doubled the precision of merchandise size, fit fabric, weight, style and color preferences by store,
market, and climate zone. Macy’s has also developed a better understanding of multicultural customers
who represent an increasingly large population of their customers.
Store fulfillment- is the process of shipping direct-to-customer orders that originate online on from
other stores- was expanded to 500 Macy's locations in 2013. Store fulfillment was piloted in 2010,
rolled 23 stores in 2011, and then to 292 stores in 2012. Macy’s will complete the rollout in spring
2014 when all 650 full-line stores will have shipping capability. With store fulfillment- they are able to
leverage the inventory and customer relationships inherent in our bricks-and-mortar stores in support
of an omnichannel strategy that is being driven by emerging customer shopping preferences.

3. Significant Lines of Business
Bloomingdales
Started in the 19th century with fads and one of them was the hula
skirt. It was the first item that Joseph and Lyman Bloomingdales
carried in their Ladies' Notions Shop in New York's Lower East
Side. In the late 1800's, most fashion retailers specialized in just
one type of garment. Their East Side Bazzar, opened in 1872, sold
a wide variety of European fashions. This was the beginning of
what would become a “Department Store". In 1899 came the
visionary move uptown to 59th Street and Lexington Avenue.
Bloomingdales expanded steadily and by the 1920's, came to occupy an entire city block. In flexing his
marketing skills, Lyman created splashy ad campaigns to bring people in the door. People started the
“All Cars Transfer to Bloomingdale's" slogan everywhere - on billboards, delivery wagons, and even
ladies' beach umbrellas. Bloomingdales became the stage for gala events and fashion shows, including
"Woman of the Year, 1947"; with music, lighting and sophistication, it was retailing as theater. In 1961,
the Bloomingdale's team came up with the first designer shopping bags. Since then, many of these bags
have since become collector's items.
By the 1970's, everyone was stopping by 59th Street and Lexington Avenue for a look, including
Queen Elizabeth. People came to see and to be seen. Once there, they were dazzled by the cutting-
edge fashion of designers such as Ralph Lauren, Perry Ellis and Norma Kamali, who got their first
truly big opportunities at Bloomingdale's. Bloomingdale's is committed to once again leading the way
with exclusive merchandise, customized services, and alternative shopping venues. Carrying on the
Bloomingdale's brother’s dream, they are always finding ways to set our stores apart. That's both the
legacy and the promise of Bloomindales.
The difference between the Macy’s and Bloomingdales is that, Bloomingdales caters to more upscale
customer. Bloomingdales separates itself from the mainstream and reinforcing its position as an
authority for upscale, contemporary fashion. Customers are attracted by the latest styles from the
famous brands, such as Armani, Burberry, Chanel, Christian Dior, David Yurman, Gucci, Jimmy Choo,
John Varvatos, Louis Vuitton, Maje, Miu Miu, Prada, Sandro, Theory and Tory Burch. Bloomingdales
shopper can expect the newest styles and looks and also unique products from upcoming new and
young designers. Helping Bloomingdales be the best store it can be are the customer amenities-
international visitors', personal shoppers, outstanding fitting rooms and lounges- elegant events and
personalized, and attentive service that strengthen customer relationships and build loyalty.