We welcome thoughtful comments and respectful opinions that help make the case for the restoration of Marshall Field's to State Street and elsewhere. Off-topic, obviously incorrect, disrespectful or abusive posts will removed at the host's discretion, although an attempt will be made to contact the author, assuming a valid email address is provided with the post. The ethos is conversational--corrections are welcomed. Differing or opposing views are welcome and such posts should respect that this is a blog for opinions of Field's supporters. Due to problems with spam attacks--some even from those opposed to our cause--during certain periods, posts are moderated. As a result, it may take up to seven days for your post to appear, but usually it will take less than a day, and sometimes even immediately. Thank you for your patience, support, and written contributions.
Blog posts from May 31, 2007, back to January 9, 2007.
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Date: Thu, May 31, 2007, 11:08 pm CT
Steve
Date: Thu, May 31, 2007, 11:00 pm CT
If Ms.Martha Stewart is the key to getting Macy's back in the black in homegoods, then she may also be the key to this whole issue ! MARTHA STEWART'S WHOLE BRANDING STRATEGY IS ABOUT PROMOTING THE GOOD LIFE ! THE GOOD LIFE IS WHAT MARSHALL FIELD'S WAS ALL ABOUT !
MACY'S PROMOTES THE CHEAP LIFE, FIELD'S PROMOTES GOOD LIFE ! GET THE IDEA ?
WE NEED TO ENGAGE MARTHA STEWART IN THIS WHOLE ISSUE OF GETTING OUR MARSHALL FIELD'S BACK...NOT JUST IN NAME, BUT IN QUALITY PRODUCTS, FIRST CLASS SERVICE...THE WORKS !
TERRY HAS STAKED HIS REPUTATION ON MARTHA...SO WE THE GUESTS MUST ASK HER IF SHE WANTS TO PUT HER REPUTATION AT RISK. IT'S WAY TO FLOP IF MARTHA THINKS IT'S OK TO DUMMY DOWN HER PRODUCTS VIA PRICE AND QUALITY BY SUCCUMBING TO THE WAY TO SHOP BRAINWASH TAPE.
NOTE TO MARTHA: YOU HAVE A CHANCE TO SAVE AMERICA'S WORLD CLASS DEPARTMENT STORE, MARSHALL FIELD'S. YOU CAN CHANGE THE COURSE OF HISTORY BY CHANGING THE HEARTS OF MID-WESTERNERS WHO HAVE BEEN SLAPPED IN THE FACE BY THE TERRY LUNDGREN MACY'S MACHINE !
VOTE MARSHALL FIELD'S MARTHA ! MAKE THE GUESTS HAPPY AND YOUR BUSINESS HEALTHY ! THE GOODWILL CREATED WOULD MAKE YOU A RETAIL HERO ALL OVER AGAIN !
THANK YOU ALL...
Date: Thu, May 31, 2007, 10:41 pm CT
----THAT IS EXACTLY THE SAME THING THAT TERRY LUNDGREN AND HIS PEOPLE ARE DOING NOW ! TAYLORED ASSORTMENTS BY REGION...HUH...WHEN MY FAMILY WENT TO FLORIDA, THEY WERE PEDDLING THE SAME DARK COLORED ALFANI ATTITUDE-WEAR IN THE FORMER BURDINE'S STORES AS THEY WERE IN THE GREATER NEW YORK AREA !
----The "WOW FACTOR," is was the thing that Federated and May worked to destroy it. At one time, department stores were the leading civic organizations, people looked up to them ! It is seriously disappointing that the MANAGEMENT IS SO OUT OF TOUCH WITH THE SHOPPERS...I.E. THE MARSHALL FIELD'S DEBACLE !
----I believe that Terry Lundgren would be thrilled if he could just throw out the goods...put on a tape over the a loudspeaker that says BUY BUY BUY...and just get on with it...no traditions, no questions, just price scanners and check out ! Wouldn't you think he learned something from his Bullock's days ? I GUESS NOT !
----MARKETING MANAGER OUT AT FEDERATED ! SHAREHOLDERS SHOULD SAY CEO,PRESIDENT,AND CHAIRMAN...YOU ARE NEXT ! P.S. YOUR CUSTOMERS AND SALES ASSOCIATES ON THE FRONT LINE ALREADY HAVE !
NO CONFIDENCE VOTE FOR TERRY LUNDGREN AND THE FEDERATED/MACY-IZATION OF AMERICA PLAN ! THAT'S THE NEXT ARTICLE LEAD FOR THE PRESS...AND MAYBE THE SHAREHOLDERS WILL GET THE MESSAGE BEFORE ANOTHER FEW MONTHS OF HEARTY DECLINES !
Date: Thu, May 31, 2007, 8:21 pm CT Date: Thu, May 31, 2007, 8:11 pm CT
The customers didn't want to lose their home town stores, but Lungreed assured the nation that everyone would come to love macy*mart. He totally ignored the feelings of customers and charged ahead. Obviously his grandiose dreams have been shattered and his "one size fits all" downmarket discount stores haven't been (and probably won't be) successful. Instead of the pompous blowhard admitting his mistakes and trying to correct them, he places blame on the underlings who are only carrying out his orders. There is an old saying, "Power corrupts, and absolute power corrupts absolutely." Federated really has no system of checks and balances with so much power vested in Lunkhead. The final results of his unrestrained arrogance will be even more disastrous.
Does he really think that a new marketing director can save the sinking ship? I would suspect that this new person will be another Lunkhead lackey whose head bobs up and down at everything TL says. None of the real issues will be addressed, and this new marketing director will be on his way in a few months.
Would anyone care to place bets on which high-level executive(s) will be next to go?
Date: Thu, May 31, 2007, 7:00 pm CT
Whenever something in my corporate career occurs ---a la the departure of a top officer who was obviously the wrong choice for the job from the moment it was announced-----I always ask myself: Who hired her and why are there no consequences for him?
Did not many of you on this blog know immediately that McDonald was the wrong choice to head up Marketing at Federated the minute you saw her resume and learned her background? So why is Lunkhead allowed to keep his position after yet another colossal Marketing mistake that cost the company millions to hire her, millions to implement her wrong ideas and no doubt millions to maker her go away before her contract expires?
In yet another misguided attempt to revive sales in Minneapolis, the Nicollet Mall store is selling $250 tickets to a Prince concert that will occur in the 8th Floor Auditorium to attract "young shoppers" and to show how hip & cool macy's is, on 07/07/07. Now, I am guessing there are people who will be able to pay the $250, but I don't think it's going to be the high school crowd they are trying to attract. It's going to be more people with real jobs, probably in their mid-20s, 30s, and even 40s. In other words, the people who would like to shop there for nice clothes, great suits for work, and hip evening wear, but who stopped going there because they cannot buy those things at macy's.
Regards.
Date: Thu, May 31, 2007, 6:09 pm CT
One thing is for sure, Lundgren can fire anyone he wants but as long as these stores stay Macy's , the results will only get worse. One has to wonder how long shareholder patience is going to last before Lundgren himself will be looking for "exciting new opportunities" elsewhere.....
Date: Thu, May 31, 2007, 4:16 pm CT
Is this really true?
Target rebranded a lot stores as Marshall Field's. My guess is that these new stores which were never Field's and those newer ones in places like Madison, Wisconsin, were being outcompeted by Target, et al..
My hunch is that State St Fields, Old Orchard, Oak Brook, Lake Forest probably did fine with sales gains or held their own. Does anyone have access to these figures? I was told that Water Tower was down after 9-11. as they have a lot of tourist customers and tourism was down.
Unless there is a break down of individual store's statistics, Comrade Lundgren will use the "sales have been down at Field's for years" argument to justify his misguided strategies.
So, does anyone know what the figures are for the last 10 years?
Cheers,
Wm
Date: Thu, May 31, 2007, 3:58 pm CT
Furthermore, in the year before Macy's takeover, Field's sales were trending UP and were poised to continue that upward trend as they have with Field's competitors Nordstroms, Saks and Neimans. Analysts provide compelling evidence that had stores had remained Field's today they would also enjoye the double digit gains seen by their competitors!
It Macy's own arrogant and misguided expansion strategy that is to blame for their current PR problems and sales declines. As long as those wonderful Marshall Field's stores remain Macy's, these problems will continue to plague Macy's - their customers will continue to be disappointed and cities like Chicago will continue to lose tourist tax revenues while they watch their historical identities and unique shopping appeal diminished by Macy's generic discount mediocrity.
Date: Thu, May 31, 2007, 3:43 pm CT
I tell you one thing, the day Marshall Fields returns, I am going to shop there until I personally go bankrupt! I miss it so much!
Viva La Boycott!
Date: Thu, May 31, 2007, 3:42 pm CT Date: Thu, May 31, 2007, 2:24 pm CT
Whether you left in disgust or were fired, C'mon, Anne, we're ready and eager to hear it----all the juicy behind-the-scenes stuff that is leading to Macy's downfall!!!
Date: Thu, May 31, 2007, 1:51 pm CT
Hey Terry -
Be a REAL man and adult and realize you made a mistake. Life is full of them. Admit it, you were wrong. You bulldozed in your typical fashion over every other idea and opinion so yours sat on top with this stupid name change.
It takes a person with mature and adult qualities to admit they are wrong. What a shame you insist on behaving like the Little Dictator and spoiled brat child.
You will lose this fight. We will win. By the time this is done, you will no longer have a job.
John
Date: Thu, May 31, 2007, 9:33 am CT
She is the one who lectured the media on their "responsibility"...well...
Date: Thu, May 31, 2007, 9:22 am CT
Date: Thu, May 31, 2007, 9:22 am CT
>From the Chicago Tribune 05/30/2007 Late afternoon story
highlights:
Former May stores open at least a year probably declined an average of 7.1 percent in the first four months of the year, according to Charles Grom, a JPMorgan Securities Inc. analyst in New York.
"When you are a behemoth company taking over local companies, you really need to give people a sense of why it's an exciting thing to come to your town," Liebmann said.
Macy's is primarily apparel plus other very personal products, and that's a different thing to market than financial services."
Anne MacDonald joined Federated in February 2006 from Citigroup Inc and earlier headed brand management at PepsiCo Inc.'s Pizza Hut unit.
Well, heads, they be a rolling!
I happened to be in Chicago yesterday and walked through the main floor of State Street. Glad to see the red neon off in the north light well and sad to see the unpolished Marshall Field and Company plaques at the corners.
Date: Thu, May 31, 2007, 7:51 am CT
Date: Thu, May 31, 2007, 7:07 am CT Date: Wed, May 30, 2007, 6:24 pm CT
It looks like the boycott definitely works. Please read:
Keep up the good works guys!
Date: Wed, May 30, 2007, 5:07 pm CT
Luann
Date: Wed, May 30, 2007, 4:59 pm CT
http://www.chicagotribune.com/business/chi-070530macys-story,0,2140870.st
ory?coll=chi-bizfront-hed
Date: Wed, May 30, 2007, 4:39 pm CT
"Federated replaces marketing chief after 15 months"
Federated Department Stores Inc., the second-biggest U.S. department store, said Peter Sachse will replace Anne MacDonald, who was hired 15 months ago as chief marketing officer.
----
So another head rolls. Unfortunately, it's the wrong head.
I'd be interested to know if she got canned, or walked. Because we all know, head of marketing at Macy's is a thankless, no-win job. Because Macy's will never win. Never.
Shall we have a group "BUYCOTT" the Saturday before Father's Day at Nordstrom on Michigan Avenue?
Date: Wed, May 30, 2007, 11:32 am CT
An open letter to Terry Lundgren:
Macy's is no longer special.
Dear Terry:
I am a senior executive in a large retail company, and also grew up in America's Department stores.
I am also one of the many that are boycotting Macy's because of your inability to understand the negative impact that your May Company takeover has had on our country.
I have always enjoyed shopping, as well as traveling. When I started traveling on business as a buyer, actually a buyer for Macy's New York at the time, it was exciting to experience stores such as Bullocks, I . Magnin, Marshall Fields, Burdines, Hechts, Wanamakers, and Woodies, amongst so many others.
I live in New York, and often traveled to Florida, where Burdines became a must visit, as important to my vacations as a trip to the beach. It truly was the Florida store.
The first time I went to Chicago, Marshall Fields won its place in my heart as my favorite store in the entire country. Although I mourned the loss of G. Fox in my native Hartford, and B. Altman & Co. here in New York. Marshall Fields and Burdines kept me going, and for almost two decades filled that gap.
Traveling the country and having now, really only Macys has truly had a negative impact on my shopping, and my sense of place.
The fact is I have not shopped at Macy's since September 9, 2006, I will not accept gifts from there. And often when shopping with my friends and family, I will not as much as darken the door step.
It's been almost a year, and I still so much miss Marshall Fields, and even now over 2 years later, I get sick looking at the Macy's signs on the Fort Lauderdale Galleria, and the Miami Beach Burdines stores.
I have taken my business elsewhere, as have my friends, as has my family.
Two poignant stories:
I was at a business dinner in Manhattan last week with our stores teams, and my market manager from Chicago told me her 7 year old daughter will not go near Macys. Her grandmother has completely poisoned her against Macys, as this family so laments the loss of Marshall Fields.
My best friend from college has a 10 year old daughter Katie, who told me two months ago when I was visiting Northern Virginia, C,we don't like Macys, we like Hecht's.
Even this young generation is impacted by this final American Department store disaster, and I urge you to consider how you are going to re educate a 7 and 10 year old whose parents and grandparents have educated them on the loss of their local, special, and only remaining home town department stores.
Some of your initial quotes during the onset of the consolidation, said that this is not an emotional decision, it's a business decision.
Terry, have you ever studied branding? Making an emotional connection with the customer? You can't be serious?
You and your team have destroyed what was best about American shopping in so many ways, the history, the uniqueness, the excitement of getting off the plane in a different city and checking into the hotel, and going straight to the hometown department stores to see what it is like. To see the different goods, bags, monikers, store designs, flagships, name tags, colors, and feeling like you are someplace else.
Macys is a good name, but it belongs in New York and San Francisco. It was amongst the special stores as well of course.
We will not get used to this Terry. I can't imagine you would ever give us back all of those names you took away.
But imagine the good will, good press, and good sales if you just gave back Marshall Fields, Burdines, and John Wanamaker?
Brands do come back, it's happened before, and with promising results.
Be revolutionary, differentiate your strategy, and I promise you, we will all shop at Macys again too!
Give us back the uniqueness that was once American Retailing, you have the power, use it wisely.
Best
Date: Wed, May 30, 2007, 8:22 am CT Date: Wed, May 30, 2007, 8:06 am CT
Addendum to previous post re: visit by Friend from other part of the country who works for macy's.
On our visit to Nicollet Mall Store, when Friend had introduced self to employees in the store, Friend also learned that the Donald Trump Men's Suits pretty much have not sold AT ALL in Nicollet Mall Store and will be shipped back. This is not surprising since that store would have perhaps the most upscale Men's Suit clientele of any of the Twin Cities Area Stores.
Then it is also not surprising that Brooks Brothers is returning to Downtown Minneapolis after a 10 year hiatus; Len Druskin, a suburban purveyor of clothing for men & women is opening a men's store Downtown; and the owners of an upscale men's trendy clothing shop Downtown just opened a high-end suit store as well----you guessed it---Downtown.
Regards.
Date: Tue, May 29, 2007, 10:27 pm CT
Ms. Guy presents Macy's "savings pass" as a something innovative, previously described as confusing for former Marshall Field's customers. Ms. Guy repeats Macy's claim that same-store sales are down because it must wean Field's customers from the abundance of coupons and sales to which they had become dependant.
I say these claims are bold-faced lies.
First, Macy's has far more sales and promotions than did Marshall Field's. Macy's is far more aggressive in its promotion of sales and promotions with never-ending direct mailing and by blanketing the Sun-Times and other papers with inappropriately prominent advertisements.
Second, there has been nothing to substantiate that Macy's sales at former Marshall Field's stores have dropped because of confusion over sales. Yet this is still printed as the cause despite an abundance of evidence that customers are angry over the name change and that customers don't like Macy's merchandise and poor service.
Third, the article fails to mention that the "savings pass" excludes an extraordinary assortment of merchandise, leaving mostly the Macy's private label brands and less desireable, lesser known brands subject to the discount. It's value for cost savings is questionable.
Third, Macy's "savings pass" is neither an innovative new concept introduced by Macy's nor is it particularly newsworthy. Marshall Field's offered a "Rewards Pass" to Rewards program particpants based on their spending each month. The "Rewards Pass" offered 15% off of EVERYTHING in the store. No exclusions. Field's didn't have to lure customers into their stores. Field's rewarded good customers and built loyalty. I wonder if the Sun-Times ever printed an article to promote the "Rewards Pass"?
Ms. Guy's article provided the public with false information and the Sun-Times should be held accountable. Not only have they not printed anything to correct the errors, they refuse to print any letters to the editor through which the public has attempted to correct the inaccuracies. Perhaps the other local newsmedia will take it upon themselves to expose the unethical behavior of Ms. Guy and the Sun-Times.
Date: Tue, May 29, 2007, 10:23 pm CT
I can't believe Macy's sent you a letter filled with such dishonesty! It was widely reported in numerous publications that Field's sales were increasing. What investments have they made to the store? The ripped out beautiful elegant signage and replaced it with tacky black and white stuff. What about all the desingers that are no longer available??
I truly hope that you are doing much better and on your way to a 100% recovery.
On a different note, a poster below mentioned the old bakery that was once in the State Street store. It reminded me of a comment a former Field's employee said on this site many months ago. The former employee talked at great length about the pride she experienced working for wonderful store, and I remember her saying what a joy it was working in a building that had fresh bread baking and Frangos being made, and that she freqently would have meetings and smell like a Frango! The comments she made were so positive and heartfelt, I can only dream of working in such a terrific environment with such a strong emotional connection to what I do.
Date: Tue, May 29, 2007, 5:55 pm CT
Date: Tue, May 29, 2007, 4:52 pm CT
There used to be an electric railroad, The North Shore Line that operated from Milwaukee to Chicago. It came into Chicago on the "L."
So, before 1963 when the line closed, and they wanted to shop at Filed's and lived in Waukegan, Kenosha, Racine or Milwaukee they could take the NSL to Chicago, go to Field's and spend the day, walk through that covered bridge back to the "L" station, board their train and go back north without ever having to be exposed to the weather.
I withstood the loss of the NSL but I'll never get over Field's becoming Macy's.
A lot has changed and gone. We're modern now.
Mitch
Date: Tue, May 29, 2007, 2:54 pm CT
I was honored to receive the latest Macy's flier, the one that is so special it made front-page business news in the Times. I do have a few questions about it, however...
First of all, it screamed "lowest prices of the summer!"...but it's not summer yet. Maybe lowest prices since last summer? Summer in the southern hemisphere? Or maybe they won't have any more sales until fall? Gee, I'm confused.
Also, they seem to be using some sort of new math which I don't understand. On an ad for sheets, they had a large headline that screamed "50% off!" Note, it didn't say "up to 50% off" but straight-out 50% off. I don't have the exact prices in front of me, but the prices read something like "regular price $199.99, sale price $159.99, now $119.99." Huh? 50% of $199.99 is...$119.99? Pretty much all the percent-off items were the same...the reduced price was always higher than it worked out on my calculator!
FDS's new marketing plan: target math-impaired customers only!
Date: Tue, May 29, 2007, 12:34 pm CT
The Jordan Marsh was considered by many Bostonians to be on par with Field's. JM was converted to Macy's in 1996. Macy's hung up a couple of commemorative plaques for the event. Both are faded and cracked in just 11 years. One has a chunk missing from it. Clearly it was made of cheap materials as another plaque JM hung in 1977 is in relatively decent shape.
To me, this demonstrates the lack of stewardship Macy's has for the former landmarks it takes over.
Each Saturday when I leaflet at State & Washington, people come by all the time to have their photo taken by the "Marshall Field and Company" plaque. Yet, as someone showed me in a photo, Macy's barely cleans or polishes it. Actually it appears as if they don't care for it all. I sure hope the plaques don't meet the fate of the 1996 plaques outside of Jordan Marsh. Given Macy's track records, it really concerns me.
Jim
Date: Tue, May 29, 2007, 12:09 pm CT
Then we have Macy's East. It's head has retired after 46 years with FDS. Seems logical, but wait, look at his successor: he's being replaced not by a merchant, but by the senior vice president of PROPERTY DEVELOPMENT for Macy's! What kind of a move is that?
Date: Tue, May 29, 2007, 10:45 am CT
In an earlier post I mentioned a letter I received from FDS were they went on about all the stores that have closed on State Street over the years. It occurred to me FDS hadn't done their homework and were just using smoke and mirrors to defend their carpetbagger approach to retail.
For example, here's a list of some stores which have left State Street over the years: Carson's, Evans, Baskins and Charles A. Stevens. Below are my reasons why I and many of my piers stopped or cut back on their shopping to these stores.
Carson's--The store was dark and always looked as though it needed or was undergoing renovation. Over years women's jewelry went down hill. I did enjoy shopping in the Corporate Level when it first opened mainly because of the special service--however, Marshall Field's provided this same "special" service in every department. The Sixth Level (upscale linens/housewares)was innovation for awhile. The shoe department never impressed me.
Charles A. Stevens (The Store for Women)--The ad says it all. The store lost me when they started marketing more to teens and the quality became less than adequate. The store at its peak featured stylish yet feminine attire.
Evans--What can I say. By the time I moved to Chicago in the 80's their clothes looked like today's Dressbarn. I could find the occassional Herve Bernard coat but that was about it. As for Evans, advertising they were the place for furs--would you purchase a fur from a place which sold sweaters that shedded and dresses which looked like they belonged in a Wal-mart? Not to mention the outside of the store always needed a good scrubbing.
Baskins--This store provided women with fine tailored traditional business attire but they should have tried to break into the feminine line as well. Baskin's treated their women's line similiar to their men's line and you could not wear those suits out! All the men in my family looked forward to receiving gifts from Baskins.
To keep a women happy, at least me when it comes to clothing, a retailer needs to walk a fine line. Speaking for myself I demand quality, I don't want crap but I don't want to feel guilty when purchasing the latest styles. Marshall Field's did this for me. If I wanted something to just brighten up an old outfit there was 111 State Street; if I wanted to go for a tailored look there was Ellen Tracey; special occasions there was BCBG and Dana Buchman; fresh crisp linen David Dart dress for summer; most anything Ralph Lauren and Jones of New York; a warm DKNY sweater; Hilary Radley coat, a little Lois Hill jewelry; oh and the shoes, Nordstroms really had nothing on Marshall Field's. Gee I miss my Marshall Field's!
Date: Tue, May 29, 2007, 10:38 am CT
My favorite quote from Pitts: "Damage control in the modern era requires the ability to insult the public's intelligence with the dewy eyed earnestness of a six year old girl and the shamelessness of a home remodeling contractor. He goes on to say, "the one thing they all have in common with one another.....is the inability to take responsibility for one's own mess, the preference for shifting it to something external, or flat out lying..."
In general, I have found that companies and individual people who are honest in their dealings, take a thoughtful approach to what comes out of their mouths and have integrity of purpose, don't need spin doctors at all. The fact that Macy's can't make it as a retailer in Chicago but has to rely on spin while blaming everything else but themselves says it all in my book. Pitt's final sentences: "It's a spin doctors's world, folks. We're just living in it"
Date: Tue, May 29, 2007, 12:30 am CT
Please check out this link, it is an article that pleads with Terry Lundgren to let Marshall Field's be Marshall Field's !
TERRY LUNDGREN DOES NOT REALIZE THAT SHOPPING IS AN EMOTIONAL EXPERIENCE !
Date: Mon, May 28, 2007, 11:55 pm CT
David Roeder's Business column in both the print and on-line edition closes with:
CLOSING QUOTE: "The Macy's in downtown Chicago is one of the weakest links in U.S. retail, certainly in the department store sector. Marshall Field's was the one big brand that should have stayed and maybe should be brought back." --Burt Flickinger, managing director of retail consultancy Strategic Resource Group, discussing Federated Department Stores (FD) with Bloomberg News
Date: Mon, May 28, 2007, 10:55 am CT
As a matter of information let me recall my memories of what Field's was like from the first time I entered the store in 1952.
What i remember clearly was that there was one bank of elevators that had yet to be modernozed from their open cars and manual operation to the Westinghouse semi-autonatic types with the stainless steel enclosures.
I would go to Field's constantly on Saturdays, and later when I worked on the railroad I would spend a considerable amount of "layover" time there between runs. It was also my goal to only date girls that worked at Field's. Class is class you know.
The first floor on Wabash had candy, the pharmacy, jewelry, and men's and women's fragrences. I can recall in '64 the section known as F"Field's Affar' that had imported men's grooming products. This included a small hot lather device and straight razors. What a marvelous place I thought.
The second floor had china. The third, on the Wabash side, had a huge book department. If you walked west across the floor, the narrow section over the alley had the optical department with a variety of telescopes and an optomotrist's office. Beyond that there was a narrow room that I recall was named the "Tourneur Salon." It appeared that women could have make-overs done there in private rather than out in the center of a selling floor. Next was a short stairway that led to the main women's room. Beyond that was the wailting room that was like a lobby with parcel lockers. there was a post office station in the back along witrh a travel agent and a hair salon. The Crystal Palace was added sometime in the late '60s and only sserved ice cream.
The fourth floor on Wabash was toys, hobbies, and a girl scout and boy scout trading post. Walking west to go over the alley, beyond the art supplies was what I referred to as the "rich kids' hallway." there were motorized go carts and doll houses big enough for a child to sit in. I knew that this stuff was destined for the suburbs. On the State Street side was children's clothing.
The seventh floor had on Wabash, The Cafeteria, The Narcissus Room, The Bakery and up a short flight of stairs, the dry cleaners and fur storage.
Along a narrow corridor towards the State Street side there was the liquor department. At the end of the hallway was imported food items. To the north were the Veranda (economy tray meals) and the English Room.
To the south was The Walnut Room. From time to time they had fashion presentations and at the back wall was a double door that stated "Models' Dressing Room."
I remember the ninth floor having camping and outdoors goods and kitchen ware. I may not be clear on this.
All this remained the same until 1977. A remodeling job saw the original sales cabinets and shelves that were dark mahagony replaced by modern kiosks in a lighter shade of red-brown. Some of the signs on the first floor were replaced by brass plated letters in a faux art deco style that was in vogue at the time. Up in the Walnut Room the standard menues were replaced by plastic coated ones with photos of the menu items. Thsi struck me as the same type of thing one would find at Walgreen's restaurants run under the name of "Wag's" in that era.
In 1980 or so Field's was sold to an English group I believe known as "Batus." The next changes I noticed were with the wrapping paper and bags. They went from a more olive shade of green to the Kelly Green we speak of so much here. The name on the old bags was printed in yellow. It was now in white and the Field's family crest, long the insignia of the store was gone.
Bit by bit the store was changing, and so were a number of old time establishments. At some point a 3 striped insignia began to apear on the Field's bags. It sooned earned the monicer "The Venture Logo," and didn't last too long. It was quite upsetting however and public pressure saw to its removal. Around this time the words 'and Company" vanished from the store name.
The mid eighties saw things starting to change more drasticly. At some point the pharmacy closed and so did the Men's Annex across Washington Sreet. I could no longer bear to go to the toy floor.
Late in the eighties the store was sold to Target or dayton's or whatever but I noticed more changes. The Crystal Palace moved up to the 7th floor. The Walnut Room received some awful phoney marble wall paper on the walnut columns and the kitchen was moved to the back end of the room, reducing seating. the Narcissus Room became an oriental cafeteria. The Veranda had already been changed to "It's Italian," and during the '70s the English Room had become a walk up deli.
I feel the most ill-advised of the changes came with the construction of the atrium. Elevators were reduced in number in some banks, new ones were installed in far off locations with only one car available. The Budget Floor (the basement) suddenly became the stocked with what should have been on the first floor. I was told because of the new Pedway. I felt this silly as the Pedway sees traffic only during bad weather. One now would enter the Wabash side right into rows of men's trousers.
But bit by bit the old Field's family crest insignia started to show up again in concert with the newer logo that featured the clock.
Things were changing everywhere and I won't comment on my opinions as it's irrelevant. But none of these changes, including the several months of brown shopping bags, could top the absolute arrogance and dissrespect shown by the removal of the name Marshall Field's.
Did I hear correctly that a statue of Terry Lundgren will be erected in The Narcissus Room?
Mitch
Date: Mon, May 28, 2007, 12:28 pm CT
I've been having a grand weekend so far with a friend visiting from a different part of the country. Friend works for macy's and had interesting things to say:
macy's is putting exceptional amounts of resources into the rollout of the Martha Stewart home products including hiring numerous new people to oversee it, market it, merchandise it within the stores, etc. They are counting on said rollout to "really turn things around for them". Friend knows as well as we all do how absurd that idea is, so the two of us enjoyed some hearty laughter at the expense of the buffoons running the company.
Friend wished to tour the Nicollet Mall Store to see the damage first-hand. While we were in the store, Friend introduced self to a couple of employees to get their take on things. Friend learned from perfumes & cosmetics that employees are told to NOT give customers paper bags for their purchases unless the customer specifically requests one, as the plastic bags that tear easily "are more cost-effective." Friend also learned from Men's Suits that employees there are really concerned re: slow sales and what will happen now that Brooks Brothers has decided to return to Downtown Minneapolis to fill the void left by Marshall Field's.
Regards.
Date: Sun, May 27, 2007, 12:09 pm CT
February 9, 2007
Dear Ms. Ray:
At the request of Meyer Feldberg, I am replying to your letter dated January 5, 2007 to him regarding the name change of Marshall FieldC-s to MacyC-s.
First of all, thank you for your loyalty to Marshall FieldC-s. We very much respect your opinions and the time you took to express them. I understand the significant emotions attached to the Marshall FieldC-s name and heritage.
We have worked very hard to handle the transition from Marshall FieldC-s to MacyC-s with great sensitivity to the feelings of customers like you. We understand that Chicagoans have a very strong connection to the Marshall FieldC-s name.
Unfortunately, many, many Chicagoans stopped shopping at Marshall FieldC-s long before MacyC-s became involved. After a seven-year slide in sales, it is fairly safe to say that it would be extremely unlikely that this trend would have turned around had we just kept the store name in place, and continued with the status quo.
The competitive landscape has changed dramatically in Chicago and around the country. Regional department stores have struggled and Marshall FieldC-s has been one of the weakest performers on most levels for many years. So while we are sensitive to the emotion around the change-and as much as we appreciate the many ideas you forwarded in your letter-we do not believe that a different solution could produce a more desirable outcome over the longer term.
The State Street store is, indeed, special. And we have invested millions of dollars to preserve and upgrade the interior and exterior of the store as a MacyC-s flagship. We cleaned up the aisles, improved the merchandise assortments and kept the people who had worked for the former Marshall FieldC-s organization. We have re-opened the Frango Mint Kitchen which had been closed for years and we filled the 28 Shop with new, young designer merchandise, including Chicago-based fashion companies who have not had such an opportunity to receive this type of exposure in the past.
[Sidebar: This could have been done under the Marshall FieldC-s
name.]
In the meantime, other retailers in the South Loop are closing their doors on State Street and, presumably, laying off hundreds of employees.
[Sidebar: Maybe they just couldn't compete with Marshall
FieldC-s!]
We are doing the opposite by investing in Chicago. Ironically, by not shopping in this beautiful State Street store, the people hurt the most are the people of Chicago and the wonderful employees of the former Marshall Fields, [no apostrophe here] who are active contributors to the Chicago economy.
[Sidebar: Are these the same employees that are ashamed to be
working at this "beautiful store"?]
We have had extremely good feedback from customers in Chicago and elsewhere to the MacyC-s brand now being available on a nationwide basis.
[Sidebar: I pity the fool that is being duped into believing
that when they shop at any of the hundreds of MacyC-s nationwide
they are receiving merchandise and service equivalent to that
of a Marshall FieldC-s.]
In fact, one independent study conducted by Deloitte & Touche noted that 85% of shoppers in the Chicago area who have visited MacyC-s believe the stores are as good as or better than Marshall FieldC-s. [Aw what!?] So I believe we are headed in the right direction.
I wish you and yours a very happy and healthy New Year. Thank you for caring enough to write to us. I hope that you and your family will give us chance to serve your needs. [WHEN PIGS FLY!]
Sincerely,
Jim Sluzewski
Any thoughts, comments, reactions, etc. from the Field's Fans?
Date: Sun, May 27, 2007, 7:47 am CT
The 3 broken escalators have been broken awhile. From the looks of things, it looks like it will be some time before they're working again. Marshall Field's always took good care of its stores. I don't ever remember seeing a broken escalator in all my life in a Marshall Field's store. Now, when I go mall-crawling, it seems strange to go in a "store" that does not have a broken escalator!
Date: Sun, May 27, 2007, 7:37 am CT
FOR HIM:
- Designer apparel (eliminates everything but Macy house brands)
- Premium denim (eliminates everything but Macy house brands
- Tailored clothing (on no, Donald Trump not on sale)
- Joseph Abbound and Hugo Boss sportswear,
- Dockers (everyone in the world has Dockers on sale this weekend)
- Tommy Bahama
- Polo Ralph Lauren
- Tasso Elba (no big loss)
- ML/Material London
- Designer shoes
- Games
So exactly what can I use this shopping pass for? Just for fun, I entered the evil empire in the name of research. Not one sales person in the men's department knew...I was told to "just run the item under a price scanner to see what would come up."
Macy's has also begun to use three-tier pricing. For example:
Charter Club sheet sets (king and queen)
- Reg. $105-$125
- Sale: $59.99
- Special $39.99
OR
Alfani dress shirt
- Reg. $59.50
- Sale: $39.99
- Special $19.99
Macy's regular prices are always horribly overpriced in terms of quality and value. Their sale and special prices are about where the item should have been originally priced.
Sending a copy of this email to my local Macy's. I can't wait for a response!
Date: Sat, May 26, 2007, 8:11 pm CT Date: Sat, May 26, 2007, 5:13 pm CT Date: Sat, May 26, 2007, 1:59 pm CT
He stated to the Sun Times, "I want the customer who buys a $12.99 T-shirt and the customer buying a $1,200 suit to feel exactly the same way about their purchases -- 'Wow, I feel really great.' "
OF COURSE HE WOULD WANT CUSTOMERS TO FEEL THE SAME WAY...THE T-SHIRTS AND SUITS ARE MADE FROM THE SAME CHINA-MART CRAP ! The only difference is how much Terry gets to pocket after he rips off some young man or woman who was strong-armed into getting the credit card they probably can't afford anyway when you consider the interest rates on the cards !
Of course Mr.Yustin made sure to follow the brainwashing talking points from Macy's Inc. Chairman,CEO,President and Chief Crap Salesman Terry Lundgreed, the emperor with no clothes. According to the Macy-Mart Lundgren Book Of Lies, talking points textbook he was sure to state that the retailer (Macy's) made changes too quickly and that it will have to work hard to tell shoppers about the quality and fashions behind Macy's brands.
Come on already Federated,PUT TERRY LUNDGREN ON CLEARANCE AND RESTORE MARSHALL FIELD'S TO WHAT IT WAS WITH NAME,QUALITY,SERVICE and SOPHISTICATION !
Date: Fri, May 25, 2007, 7:44 pm CT
And FYI, about the Sun-Times, word is that there are several part-time Sun-Times stringes (NOT Guy) who write press releases for Macy's corporate. Now that would make a
great article.
Date: Fri, May 25, 2007, 7:11 pm CT
Also, I just realized that finally, after all of my complaint letters, Macy's has stopped sending me their crap. I'm wondering what they're doing with all the names and addresses of former loyal Marshall Field's charge customers like me who told them to get lost. What do they do with the the list-- just toss it? Delete it from their records? Or do they save it for later in case they change their mind and return to Field's? Or maybe they sold the list of names and addresses to Lord and Taylor....
Date: Fri, May 25, 2007, 6:32 pm CT Date: Fri, May 25, 2007, 5:35 pm CT
This message is going to Maura and all the others that feel the pain of lossing Marshall Field's. Each day it is in our hearts and we know we will prevail. Good always circumvents evil and there is no doubt that the glory of Field's shall return to Chicago. I've tried to take this void in my life to seek out specialty stores throughout Chicago and find the passion that has left State Street. There are so many wonderful stores and boutiques in the neighborhoods of Chicago and suburbs. Maybe some of us can continue to contribute uplifting, uniques shops here for everyone to go visit versus stepping foot into that morgue on State Street. Some of the best shopping is currently in Bucktown and Wicker Park, no one is certainly wearing funeral garb in these trendy, colorful boutiques. Alot of energy in these stores!
Whenever I pass the State Street store I always remind myself of the Elliot Ness movie "The Untouchables" when the Canadian Mounted Police didn't approve of our tackits; "Oh yea, well you're not from Chicaaago". Keep up the good spirits we are a tough, proud bunch here and we're not going to take it from some corporate serpeant named Terry Lundgren. Keep the dollars flowing anywhere but to Macy's.
Mrs. W
Date: Fri, May 25, 2007, 4:41 pm CT
Oh, isn't it something how the CEOs of Von Maur, Nordstrom, Neiman Marcus, Saks, Bon-Ton all seem to just keep doing their jobs of overseeing merchandising and ensuring fine service to their guests without being the "stars of the show", while it seems that Terry Lundgren does nothing but issue edicts, double-talking, kissing up to the media, meaningless excuses, spin, and self-fulfilling Narcisstic characterizations of himself. The other CEOs practice the Cardinal Rule of avoiding any type of negative feelings, as much as possible, against their stores and ensuring that their stores are held in the best possible esteem and reputation always. The others are trying to be merchants and to focus on it to the fullest extent.
It would be interesting to know whether or not Oprah Winfrey STILL shops at the store which formerly was known as Marshall Field & Company for shoes, sweaters and other merchandise.
I remember reading an article from 2005, when Marshall Field's was owned by May Department Stores, that described where stars shopped in Chicago. Somehow I just cannot visualize Oprah wearing INC, Charter Club and giving Alfani clothing as gifts to friends and family, the brands which dominate the merchandise lines in macy's stores presently.
By the way, having lived through what we have been subjected to since last September 8 by the macy-ification of Field's, we need to give due credit to May Department Stores which maintained a tremendous respect for the Marshall Field's name and reputation for fine merchandise and service, the elegance of Field's stores, a great number of the designer lines of apparel, the unique merchandise with ties to Chicago and the midwest, the restaurants, the service including automatic tissue paper packaging within the traditional famous forest green boxes, the respect for the traditions throughout the year, the full service delivery and customer service in locating merchandise from other MF stores for the guests.
Hello, Oprah...are you reading this? Could we have a moment of your time, please, for a business proposition? The 111 North State Street property and restored business name of Marshall Field's could be yours. :)
Date: Fri, May 25, 2007, 2:41 pm CT
I agree with your friends. However, not breaking out individual store performance and not reporting the breakout are two different things.
FDS should really say that they decline to report individual store performance as opposed to saying that they don't break it out.
By saying they don't break it out leads people to believe that they don't have the ability to do so. Otherwise how would they be able to make the statement that State Street is in trouble?
FDS knows how each individual store is doing. Good god, rocks on the ground would know how they are doing. We don't need a stinking financial report to tell us that they're tanking.
Date: Fri, May 25, 2007, 2:00 pm CT
If you are ever approached by one of the few people, and I do mean few, which insist this movement is only about changing a store's name lets "educate" them by saying Chicago is fighting to preserve its heritage. Or better yet, break it down like this:
Marshall Field's: "Give the lady what she wants."
Macy's: "Do you want fries with that?"
Viva La Boycott!!
Date: Fri, May 25, 2007, 1:58 pm CT
After reading this Women's Wear Daily article I really don't see Marshall Field's coming back until Mr. Lundgren is ousted. The only way he is going to be shown the door is if we shop at other stores. Both Nordstrom and SAKs are doing very well in Chicago. Maybe it's hard to buy as much there but it's still got quality and good customer service.
What's amazing is Mr. Lundgren is now blaming the poor State Street store figures on not enough retail on State. Things have gotten worse since Carson closed. Okay so I guess he is out of weather excuses. Acutally his Macy's quality and no customer service goes perfectly with the rest of the stores on State Street as now it is discount row. He is competing with Filene's, TJ Maxx, Nordstrom Rack, Old Navy, Ann Taylor Loft, Lerner NY, H&M and Forever 21. My goodness thats 8 large stores within a block and I haven't even named them all. And frankly he has no competition for home goods and yet no one is shopping at Macy's for that any longer as they can't seem to deliver what people order.
Date: Fri, May 25, 2007, 1:37 pm CT
Date: Fri, May 25, 2007, 1:35 pm CT
I have a Marshall Field's gift card for $50 which I received as a wedding gift in October. I will use it at Macy's in order for them not to get a free ride. I just can't stomach going into the State Street store. And I don't mean to be over dramatic but I get so sad about it being thrown away I can barely spend any time in the store. I used to go out of my way to cut through the store. Now even if it is raining out I won't cut through.
I miss Marshall Field's so very much. I am surprised that it just doesn't seem to be getting easier with time.
I truly don't understand why Macy's threw Marshall Field's in the trash.
Broken Hearted in Chicago
Date: Fri, May 25, 2007, 12:52 pm CT
According to JP Morgan Analyst's sales are down an average of 7.1% for the first four months of the year at the converted May stores. What must be the sales decline at State Street, 30 or 40%? Nobody knows for sure, except the Federated spin machine led by Ms. Karen Hoguet. The blame on to many changes at Field's was their insistence that Chicagoan's wanted cheap, dowdy, unexciting merchandise thrown into a cheap plastic sack. Yes, by having additional mark-downs is going to make us all just hop on the EL and head to Messy's for a fun afternoon, NOT! The "flea market" being back again just takes it to a whole new level of experience at State Street. I loved Mr. TL's comments that State Street's sales are off because Carson's closed down, how over the top is that statement! No one wants to come to Messy's State Street Mr. Lundgren because you have made a mockery of destroying the greatest brand name in Chicago, which pre-dated the Civil War. You have taken the most exciting shopping experience away from us and the millions of tourists that made Marshall Field's a cult quality following that Messy's will never have here. On a lighter note....
Has anyone seen their way to slop "Father's Day" theme in the State Street windows? They just get worse and worse, it looked as if they just subleased the few windows that were even open to Old Navy. The displays showed nothing but cheap, wrinkled shorts and t-shirts. Alot of the windows now are just covered in the obtrusive white and red stars, it's so so sad about how glamerous the window displays at Field's used to be. Messy's cost cutting continues, they must be hiring high school part-timers to put the display's together now.
`
Date: Fri, May 25, 2007, 12:47 pm CT
How this mere marketing ploy by Macy's can possibly be considered news by a TV station rather than a blatant use of Macy's press releases that provides them free advertising is beyond my comprehension. Were I management of a Macy's competitor store I would be incensed. Where is the free advertising for Nordstrom's, Carson's and Kohl's? And since when did Memorial Day, the most solemn of our national holidays, become a day to promote "FUN" shopping?
Date: Fri, May 25, 2007, 11:17 am CT
The article is one big advertisement for Macy's Memorial Day weekend "savings pass"! It claims that Macy's is stepping up its efforts to get Field's customers back into Macy's stores.
Stepping up its efforts? Macy's already fills our mailboxes and newspapers with more sales promotions than we ever saw from Marshall Field's. This is probably because Field's didn't need sales to attract customers to their stores as Field's sold quality merchandise and didn't compete with discounters like Target and JC Penney as Macy's does.
When will the Sun-Times regain some jounalistic integrity and start investigating and reporting news ather than repeating Macy's press releases and promoting Macy's sales?
When will the Sun-Times acknowledge the real cause of Macy's declining sales, as have so many respected analysts and national news services? Thankfully, the Tribune makes an effort to serve the interests of its reader rather than just those of its advertisers!
Date: Fri, May 25, 2007, 9:32 am CT
Federated's misguided and half-hearted attempts to pass off an overpriced discount store as the source of "affordable luxury" didn't work. Federated's arrogance in refusing to "give the lady what she wants" has driven customers elsewhere. Their uninspired attempts to "re-educate" the "confused" shoppers have ranged from laughable to pathetic.
Perhaps Gail or Jim will write a book on this debacle after the dust has settled. There are numerous books focusing on big business, and the failed saga of Terry Lungreed's attempts to re-invent the department store would be an interesting analysis of corporate greed, arrogance and stupidity.
Date: Fri, May 25, 2007, 7:06 am CT
Date: Fri, May 25, 2007, 1:13 am CT Date: Fri, May 25, 2007, 12:16 am CT
It has been a long time since I have posted here but have been enjoying all the great posts and find myself checking in almost every day. And, like hundreds of thousands of others across the country, I am continuing to shop anywhere but Macy's. And I have one literally across the street from where I live. Just drive on by it on my way to Nordstrom or Kohl's, depending on what my needs are.
Was recently at our suburban mall where Macy's "A" store is, just cut though because of the easy parking there. But did happen to see one of those stupid Ipod vending machines in the middle of one of the apparel departments. I just don't get the purpose of that, is it supposed to be "cool"? When I buy expensive electronics, I don't want it dispensed from a vending machine, but sold from a merchant so I know I can take it back without a hassle if needed. Just dumb! Otherwise the store is pretty dull, had about a quarter of the people that Nordstrom's did. Interestingly enough at this mall the JCPenney is getting a big remodeling...wonder why? ;) They are doing a nice job too, may have to give them a second look once it is done.
The downtown Portland Macy store is still closed for remodeling, it is supposed to reopen for the holidays but I still have my suspicions about that. If I get near there again I will have to see if any work is really being done on it. Federated is facing a long, hot summer with its stock price dropping daily, down almost $6 (13%) in the past month, woo-hoo!, something the boneheads running this company can not shift the blame on. Unless the money is already spent, I could see them pulling the plug on the remodel of the old Meier and Frank flagship, even though they promised the city that they wouldn't.
I think they are promoting more here too. Heard a radio ad this morning for a Wednesday One Day sale, took me a couple of minutes to realize this ad was playing on Thursday morning! Hahahaha, keep throwing your dwindling funds away!
Was surprised to see that our paper picked up the Bloomberg story, probably the most scathing yet. It was on the front page of the business section with a picture of the Marshall Field's brass nameplate. Here is the link although it is pretty much the same story:
Not sure if I mentioned yet that I was back in Chicago area just before Christmas and was at 111 State for the first time in about 20 years. Was really depressing. Had a bad vibe all through the store, and while I do like Lush products, it seemed out of place there and could smell it every where it seemed and got really annoying. And Frangos were everywhere, stacks and stacks. And of course those red stars everywhere, every column, sign, elevator, etc. The final straw was when we wanted to get a look at the tree from ground level in the Walnut room. There weren't very many people waiting in line but just wanted to peek in at it but the Macy's person actually stuck her arms out and blocked us! I said just wanted to get a quick peek at the tree but she said "No, you have to go upstairs!" So went upstairs, which was odd because they had a few people eating at tables there with all kinds of people wandering around between them, was unimpressed by the tree and left quickly. I am sure they realized that by holding the tree hostage they could squeeze a little cash out of people. Probably would charge admission if they thought they could get away with it! Almost spoiled the whole day (was kind of my fault for going in there anyway, should have seen it coming) but once got back out and heading up to the Mag Mile, my spirit returned and dropped some coin at several shops there, of course they were ones that I do not have locally (L&T, H&M, etc.). Still it depresses me to no end that I missed a trip to Marshall Fields by one year.
So I will wrap up this long post by thanking those of you in Chicago for actively protesting this disaster. I actually thought we would not see these kind of results until after another poor holiday that you just know Macy's is going to have this year. The numbers tell the story but by you there actively protesting you put a face and a voice to the rest of us protesting all over the country who are not shopping with Macy's. Just think that each of you represent thousands of people who also will have nothing to do with this company. Thanks again and keep up the good work!
Date: Thu, May 24, 2007, 9:52 pm CT
I hope I am wrong...but it truly seems like Federated is doing all they can do to suck the life out of that downtown store. Certainly as Macy's, they have certainly taken the "Florida fun" out of the store.
It is so very upsetting because Federated had a world class brand in "the Florida store." The truly beautiful colorful stores were set up to make you feel like you were truly in another world...on vacation...or just down south for the winter.
FEDERATED GETS POSITVE PRESS FOR TESTING OUT FOOD COURT RESTAURANTS IN THEIR STORES WHEN IN FACT THEY JUST GOT DONE CLOSING THE BEAUTIFUL ROYAL PALM RESTAURANTS IN THE STORES. THESE RESTAURANTS...ESPECIALLY ON THE WEST COAST AT THE SARASOTA SQUARE MALL HAD A WONDERFUL BUSINESS THAT EVEN SERVED A FULL DINNER ON SUNDAY...AND NOW IT HAS BEEN TURNED INTO A MATTRESS DEPARTMENT...EMPTY AS ALL COULD BE....ONE OF THE MOST COMPETITIVE PARTS OF RETAIL...WHO THE HECK WANTS TO SLEEP IN A MACY BED ANYWAY ?
Oh...and by the way...as far as restaurants go...although I am glad they are finally waking up to the fact that food service is important in a store...I believe that they are making a major mistake by not also including FULL SERVICE WHITE TABLE CLOTH RESTAURANTS IN UPSCALE MARKETS THAT CAN HANDLE THEM IN THE MIX WITH THE FOOD COURTS GOING IN OTHER PLACES.
NOTE TO CALIFORNIA SHOPPERS: When Macy's came in and took away your THE BROADWAY, THEY CLOSED 25 RESTAURANTS...LOSING ALMOST 400 EMPLOYEES....JUST LIKE THEY DID WHEN THEY TOOK OVER BAMBERGER'S HERE IN THE NEW YORK/NEW JERSEY AREA....NO MATTER WHAT...IT'S ALWAYS ABOUT TAKING AWAY RESTAURANTS AND DEPARTMENTS THAT DIFFERENTIATE THE DEPARTMENT STORE FROM ALL OTHER SHOPPING EXPERIENCES.
AS FEDERATED MADE THEIR BILLIONS, THEY DID SO AT THE EXPENSE OF THEIR EMPLOYEES,THEIR SHOPPERS AND THEIR DEPRECIATION...JUST LOOK AT SOME OF THE REPORTS OUT THERE...AND YOU WILL SEE THAT FEDERATED ISN'T EVEN SPENDING WHAT IS REQUIRED IN DEPRECIATION...TO KEEP UP CURRENT ASSETS ! OH, BUT THAT'S NOT IN THEIR EDUCATION PLAN....
ALL WE ARE SUPPOSED TO DO IS PICTURE LUNDGREN UP THERE AT THAT PODIUM HOLDING HIS HANDS UP WITH MACY'S AT STATE STREET WRITTEN BEHIND HIM....
WHEN THE FAILURE OF THIS MERGER IS FINALLY TOLD...THAT WILL BE THE PICTURE THAT WILL FIT RIGHT INTO THE STORY WHEN IT'S FINALLY TOLD !
60,000 LOYAL SHOPPERS COULDN'T BE WRONG...EVEN THOUGH TERRY LOOKED AT THE FIRST 100 OR SO PEOPLE ON THAT PETITION....SO HE SAYS TO SEE IF THEY SPENT MONEY ON A STORE CHARGE.....THAT DOES NOT TELL THE WHOLE STORY....BECAUSE MANY CUSTOMERS ARE CASH CUSTOMERS LIKE US !
I WANT MY FULL SERVICE DEPARTMENT STORES....LOCAL...FULL OF TRADTION AND FULL OF QUALITY ITEMS, DEPARTMENTS AND SALES ASSOCIATES.
I WANT MY MARSHALL FIELD'S !
Date: Thu, May 24, 2007, 7:19 pm CT
VIVA LA BOYCOTT
Date: Thu, May 24, 2007, 6:58 pm CT
Our movement is growing stronger every day!
On a more personal note, the flea market is back at the State Street Store. Last year, when it was still Field's, I LOVED the flea market! I spent about $1200 there. This is the very first time when I discovered I was truly tempted to at least look around. But here's what I discovered: Even if Macy's has something good, I'm not going to buy there -- ever! Even if they put back the maintenance workers, re-open the warehouse, let the staff wear regular clothes,get back the great designers, etc etc etc. If it ain't Field's, I'm just not shopping there. It's that simple. And all these great articles about the decline of sales tells me I am not alone.
VIVA LA BOYCOTT. TOGETHER WE CAN BRING BACK FIELD'S.
Date: Thu, May 24, 2007, 6:16 pm CT
I also noticed same article online at an Oregon news site. It's only a matter of time before EVERYONE knows about the boycott and about how poorly Macy's is doing. Too bad the article didn't appear before the annual meeting. Then perhaps they could have added the words "shareholders' revolt" too.
Date: Thu, May 24, 2007, 4:59 pm CT Date: Thu, May 24, 2007, 1:02 pm CT
I also don't sympathize with gutless newspapers who don't honor their right to free speech and the public's right to know. Politically incorrect celebrities think nothing of creating controversy. It's a shame some papers are afraid to do a little investigative reporting on their advertisers.
A recent news article quoted Lunkhead saying he was committed to the State Street store. What about Chicagoans who are committed to Chicago? WE live here--he doesn't. We didn't elect him to any office, and aren't going to!
And as long as dictator Lunkhead is so obsessed with re-naming everything Macy's, I'm surprised he hasn't changed his own name to Macy's. As a descendant of Swedish immigrants, I don't think he deserves a Swedish name. I'd like to see him deported someplace where he has to eat Norwegian lutefisk the remainder of his days (Minnesota Field's fans will know exactly what I'm talking about--UFF DA!).
Date: Thu, May 24, 2007, 11:05 am CT Date: Thu, May 24, 2007, 8:42 am CT
I asked two CPA friends from my college days, who are now partners with major accounting firms in Denver and in Minneapolis, about those statements.
Both had the same reply: "What do they mean they don't break out the sales figures for each store?! In order to come up with a aggragate total figure for the spreadsheet ledger sheets, they HAVE to have the individual figures for each store. There's no way of getting around it. By saying they do not break the figures out separately is a bold face lie. They just do not want to embarrass themselves by how strikingly LOW the sales figures are. If the figures were good, they would plead with the media to publish the figures.
We Field's Fans should take comfort in how our statements have been validated increasingly so as each week goes by. At the same time, we need to continue our quest and explain our aims to whomever, wherever. We can act individually to get the word out, just as Jim and his faithful group of leaflet Field's Fans do in front of the Marshall Field & Company store building. If you are riding in an elevator, for example, just don't look up to the ceiling, or uncomfortably look blankly toward the door if there are other people onboard. Take that opportunity to say an "ice-breaker" such as "Lunch hours are just not the same without Marshall Field's", are they?" See what the reaction is. Chances are people will chime in with mutual feelings. Mention the www.fieldsfanschicago.org website and how we are boycotting macy's and bloomingdale's until not only the MF name is brought back, but also the identical levels of service, unique merchandise, name brands and quality of food. We each can do out part. If you have bulletin boards back in the office areas, ask Jim McKay for some copies of the bookmark flyers which his team hands out in front of Field's. Then post them on the boards. The important thing is that we continue to get the word out! It IS working, folks! Keep the faith. Keep up the fine work.
Date: Thu, May 24, 2007, 8:02 am CT Date: Thu, May 24, 2007, 1:39 am CT
Is it true that the Federated stockholders meeting went by already ? If so, what kind of Cool Aid did the Fed folks give the attendees to not question how the destruction of the greatest trade names in our nation could be flushed down the toilet (along with their business) ?
Why can't someone rise up at Federated/Macy's and admit that this whole merger strategy of destroying local department stores was a MAJOR MISTAKE.
If the merger would have done anything positive, it could have provided the opportunity to fill each store with the best of each company...not just the scaled down Macy's !
Come on Terry...bring back Marshall Field's already !
Date: Wed, May 23, 2007, 9:17 pm CT
As most everyone knows, Federated had their annual shareholder meeting recently. Having attended various company shareholder meetings, I'm sure that Mr. Lundgren and the FD board did their best to candy coat the truth about how things really are at the fromer Marshall Field's stores. People don't get into those high level positions without knowing how to 'fast talk' and 'dance a little side step'. I do know from experience, however, that ANY shareholder-even those who own only 1 single share-has the right not only to attend these meetings, but also to speak. In the Chicagoland area alone, there are over 9 million people. If everyone in the Chicagoland area bought just 1 single share of Federated Stock, collectively we would own enough to show Mr. Terry Lundgren and the Federated Board of Directors what 'Chicago Hard Ball' is all about. Collectively, we could cause more of a stir at Federated than what Mr. Carl Icahn did to Ed Zander and the Motorola Board of Directors in his bid for a seat on their board. In other words, as shareholders we could demand the return of Marshall Fields and they would have no choice.
I have actively supported the boycott of Macy's because Federated has tried to erase Marshall Fields. As a shareholder activist, I now encourage my fellow Fields Fans to consider buying Federated Stock-especially when it is low. In my letter to Mr. Ludgren and the Federated Board of Directors dated 8/17/2006 I told them, "Do not think that it is beyond loyal Marshall Fields customers to mobilize Federated stockholders in order to save our beloved history!" I meant what I said, even if it means that I have to go at it as a Federated shareholder.
Make no mistake, Fieldsfans, we are making a difference! Continue to boycott Macy's, continue to participate in protests, but also consider taking the shareholder activist approach. Together, we will bring back Marshall Fields!
Daniel W. Harcourt II
Date: Wed, May 23, 2007, 6:56 pm CT Date: Wed, May 23, 2007, 6:25 pm CT
Or is this a ploy for Macy's to kill another legacy of Marshall Field's? I can hear TL sniffing to some Sun-Times lackey now: "Well we tried to keep Glamorama but there just wasn't the level of support we needed."
Oddly enough, Gretchen Wilson DOES seem like the perfect spokeswoman for Macy's with her lyrics:
Date: Wed, May 23, 2007, 3:27 pm CT
"It's definitely a consumer retail revolt"
"Marshall Field's was the one big brand that should have stayed and maybe should be brought back."
Date: Wed, May 23, 2007, 3:27 pm CT
Date: Wed, May 23, 2007, 1:43 pm CT
Now, of course, they are too pig headed to admit their mistake. I am one who cut up my Macy's card and mailed it back to them - and have not set foot in any Macy's store - Nordstrom and Von Maur are now my shopping destinations.
Nuts to you Macy's!
Date: Wed, May 23, 2007, 1:40 pm CT
Just returned from Miami for a graduation. Good to see that the passion is still ablaze for the legendary Marshall Fields.
I remain committed with my decision to not shop at Macy's because of the loss of Fields. This weekend, I shopped at Miami's biggest and high-end mall at Aventura and deliberately avoided the two Macy's (one a men's store that was formerly Burdines)and explain to a relative why.
So it took this long to Federated to admit that Macy's on State Street is doing badly? There maybe a chance that it will dawn on them that Chicago does not like Macy's and want their Field back. Maybe we should tell them. Oops! We did, 60,000 of us.
Viva La Boycott!
Warmest Regards
Date: Wed, May 23, 2007, 11:40 am CT
As Jim said, Fields on a "bad day" was still the best! I remember a brief period between Batus and DH when the stores got a little tired, but I still managed to find plenty to buy. Once Target started pumping money into them, they were great! The Oak Brook store was spectacular with its full-service restaurant, Marketplace food court, and little designer boutiques.
I really wonder if those people who keep saying "it wasn't what it used to be" were actually Fields shoppers, or if they're just parroting hearsay. I was in those stores spending money several times a week, and it always exceeded my expectations.
gayle
Date: Wed, May 23, 2007, 11:01 am CT
Can anyone believe that Glamorama is going to be a Country music theme? Nothing against that genre, but my guess is that FDS truly believes we're just a bunch of hicks out here and that's what we like. Plus, what designers do they have left to highlight on the runway? ALLfanny? Other "affordable luxury" house brands? AND what's the Glamorama party going to be like at the newly refashioned State Street clearance center? Maybe they can bring in some merchandise from Nordstrom's Rack or Neiman's Last Call outlet stores to upgrade the merchandise assortment during the event. They could have Kentucky Fried Chicken cater the party; that would be about their speed.
Date: Wed, May 23, 2007, 10:59 am CT Date: Wed, May 23, 2007, 10:54 am CT
Obviously, the macy*mart accountants have been successfully "re-educated" to deliver "exciting" results to the media and shareholders. The past few weeks must have been very challenging for the "spinmeisters" at macy*mart!
Date: Tues, May 22, 2007, 11:59 pm CT
Here's my response:
The few times I had less satisfying experiences at Field's were the rare exception rather than the rule; I've outlined before how common it was for me to be out of town visiting Macy's in the past 15 years, open to buying something--sometimes most anything--and I've come away empty handed and disappointed.
When people tell me Field's wasn't what it used to be anyways, I respond, "So that makes it OK to kick it down market by turning it into Macy's?"
If Macy's was truly a great retailer and steward of the Field's legacy, it would make an effort to make Field's better than ever--as FIELD'S.
The fact they gave away much of the Field's archives to the Chicago History Museum shows how little they understand about Field's and Chicago.
Date: Tues, May 22, 2007, 9:23 pm CT
Date: Tues, May 22, 2007, 8:21 pm CT
My problem with those statements is no one ever backs it up with examples EVER.
Since I am not a native from Chicago but my family is from Wisconsin I only made it out to the State St Field's once a year along with the Mayfair location starting about five years ago.
The first time at the Chicago store must have been in 2001 and I was blown away at how impressive it was. The building itself was sublime but what impressed me wasn't just the architecture but how it all came together. I loved the fact that you could buy a pound of Belgian chocolates or a bottle of wine, a $10.00 t shirt and a pair of levis, or a Prada suit, have dinner at a table cloth restaurant or just a bite, all under one roof. The selection of merchandise was unlike any store I have ever been, the merchansdising was sophisticated and witty, the salespeople were helpful and friendly and the stores always looked so polished and put together. Now for me living in the San Francisco Bay Area all we had was Macy's and I hadn't shopped in one in probably 8 years so to go into Field's just blew my mind we have nothing like it in California. The Union Square store circa 1989 was pretty sharp but that was in the 80's. Macy's went to pot in 1995. People kvetch but I don't think they really knew how good they had it with Field's. Field's on a bad day, (whatever that is, I am still trying to find out) was still superior to what Chicago has now.
Also if some people are so high minded and sophisticated not to bother with such petty squables about department stores why do they bother to write on a blog in the first place? Shouldn't they be out there saving (fill in the blanks) some cause or some other injustice in the world?
Date: Tues, May 22, 2007, 6:30 pm CT
I have seen the steps you listed take place at other department stores. Owners have had locations they wanted to abandon, but they were required by a lease to operate a store in the given location. They then downgraded the "regular" department store into a "clearance" department store to avoid penalties for breaking the lease. Dillard's did that in several locations where they were tied into a lease they didn't want. Bon Ton did this with several of the downtown stores they inherited ( for example, Watt & Shand, formerly in Lancaster PA)and didn't want to operate.
Here in the Pittsburgh area, people fear that the former downtown Kaufmann's will be closed. It is a massive old building that costs a fortune to operate, and the business isn't what it was. Already sections of floor space have been closed as selections and departments are dropped. No doubt several floors will close as Lunkhead "right-sizes" the building. Look around your beloved State Street edifice and notice all the unused, non-productive space since macy*mart made all the "exciting" changes. I would be willing to bet that store will be downsized before too long.
Date: Tues, May 22, 2007, 6:02 pm CT
Date: Tues, May 22, 2007, 3:46 pm CT
How about that, TJ Maxx outshines the "largest department chain in the country"!
Viva la boycott!!!!
Date: Tues, May 22, 2007, 3:05 pm CT
Surveying 50 Chicagoist articles before yesterday, the maximum number of "Comments" generated by any single article was 26, with the average being under ten comments per article.
In contrast, within one day, there have been over SIXTY comments posted at the end of the article entitled "Marshall Field's Boycott Working?"
Date: Tues, May 22, 2007, 3:02 pm CT
Unfortunately, like Fields, Burdines is no more--
gobbled up by Federated and renamed. What can I say. The more I shop in Macy's the more I miss Burdines. I wish all you Marshall Fields
loyalists good luck. (I still have two wicker baskets that I got at the State Street store in about l962 and have used as clothes hampers in every home I have lived in. Fond thoughts of Fields and shopping with friends in every season but especially Christmas!)
Oh, we do have Dillard's in many southern cities and I enjoy shopping
them for the same reasons I liked Fields and Burdines. I shop at Jacksonville and Orlando area Dillard's having escaped from Miami.
Date: Tues, May 22, 2007, 10:52 am CT
In Chicago, it seems that each week I find a new Macy's sale/coupon promotion in my mailbox and prominently positioned in the Sun-Times. I don't remember Marshall Field's ever so dependent on sales and coupons, but then again, Marshall Field's wasn't a discount store and didn't need to lure me in with promotions. I shopped at Marshall Field's for their quality, service and selection. Macy's promotions go straight to the recycling bin!
If this latest of Macy's excuses is yet another lie, we should provide documentation of the lie to the media, analysts and the SEC. How could we document that there has in fact been an increase in sales and coupon promotions in Chicago? Perhaps with proper documentation it would be more difficult to ignore the truth behind Macy's lagging sales at former Marshall Field's locations.
Another Macy's lie would appear to be their claim that sales at former Marshall Field's locations are performing no worse than than the other May Company stores - with the exception of State Street. I find it hard to believe that Macy's at former Marshall Field's stores in Lake Forest, Northbrook Court, Old Orchard, Woodfield and Oakbrook are doing no worse than any of the other converted May Company stores. Might this assertion require that Macy's release specific same-store sales data to substantiate such a bold claim?
To simply lump Marshall Field's in with all the other May Company stores obscures the profound lack of judgement demonstrated by Macy's when they replaced our proud Marshall Field's with Macy's tacky "way to shop".
Even now, Macy's has failed to admit that their "enhancements" to Marshall Field's are actually quite dramatic downgrades to the traditions, merchandise, service, store designs, displays and advertisements we grew to love at Marshall Field's. To admit that former Marshall Field's locations are doing worse than other May Company locations would certainly motivate outsiders to investigate why. Perhaps this will happen in response to Macy's admitted problems at 111 North State Street.
Marshall Field's sold quality, name brand merchandise with outstanding service and didn't need sales or coupons to attract customer because it wasn't a discount store. Marshall Field's was a respected and admired brand, woven into the fabric of our lives and the pride of Chicago.
When will reporters, analysts and SEC watchdogs start doing their jobs to investigate and expose Macy's misrepresentations and lies?
Date: Mon, May 21, 2007, 11:00 pm CT
ATTENTION MEMBERS OF THE MEDIA:
The blurb in the New York Times this weekend was really over-the-top. Sales are down and Federated stock has tanked. Nevertheless, somehow the Times reports that Federated CEO Terry Lundgren feels "vindicated." Huh?
I realize that newspapers these days are under a lot of pressure to please their advertisers, and that department stores are the single most important category of advertiser in almost every newspaper in the country. But enough is enough.
Have you been discouraged from writing a story that Federated might not like? Have you been pressured to spin a story in a way that will satisfy Federated? Do you know of anyone else who has been discouraged or pressured at your place of employment? If so, please email me about it. I'd appreciate it if you would do so with your name attached (which I would keep confidential), but if you want to tell me anonymously, that's okay too. If you don't trust e-mail to be anonymous, send me a letter by snail mail. If you use your employer's stationery, I will at least know that the letter is coming from someone in the media. Send it to me at 4830 Hart Drive, San Diego, California 92116.
Date: Mon, May 21, 2007, 8:00 pm CT
Check it out!
Date: Mon, May 21, 2007, 7:00 pm CT Date: Mon, May 21, 2007, 6:38 pm CT
Federated merger causes disputes ...
Now, three former executives of Federated are suing the company for $775,000, which they claim the company owes them as severance pay.
Jeanice Netzel, Jon Gunnerson and Steve Malashock, all Texas residents, were senior executives at May. Their contracts were not renewed after the merger.
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Whether the plaintiffs complied with the noncompete agreements will be the issue at court. Federated is expected to assert that the plaintiffs failed to abide by the agreement when they took jobs at Stage Stores Inc., a Houston-based regional department store retailer.
I HOPE THESE PEOPLE WIN !
Date: Mon, May 21, 2007, 5:00 pm CT
According to what some Messy insiders have told me, at some locations:
- you can only get a high qual shopping bag if you ask for it...make that "beg for it." Want a gift box? HA! again, sparingly.
- staffing hours will continue to be cut until the back to school rush in August (yeah, like Messy's will have a rush!)
- you think the 2006 holiday windows and "great" tree were a major let down...wait till you see what is in store for the 2007 holiday season
Date: Mon, May 21, 2007, 3:16 pm CT
The difference between these men and Mr. Lundgren's Federated is that the former's success was based on giving, the latter on taking.
It's yet another retail operation that merely processes the wallets of those that enter with a fakement of faux service.
Date: Mon, May 21, 2007, 1:26 pm CT
Perhaps they can have Ms Red Star do special promotions: Attention macy*mart shoppers! For the next 15 minutes only, all Alfani shoes will be 50% off the lowest ticketed price. Just look for blinking Ms Red Star and save, save, save!"
Date: Mon, May 21, 2007, 11:14 am CT
It's not uncommon for stores like Macy's not to break out sales by specific store location. It is unusual that they actually commented on State Street. Combining Lundgren and Houguet's comments, the former May stores are performing weaker than hoped for by Federated and that includes former Field's locations. ]
Date: Mon, May 21, 2007, 9:46 am CT Date: Mon, May 21, 2007, 9:12 am CT
1) Fill the store with marked-down, out-of-season merchandise
2) Draw lower-income shoppers
3) Drive away high-income shoppers
4) Eliminate high-end merchandise which has now lost its customers
5) Close full service restaurant(s)
6) Close a floor or two
7) Paint over some show windows
8) Eliminate bridge merchandise which has now lost its customer
9) Close another floor or two
10) Paint over all show windows except one on each side of front door
11) Consider a Clinique poster a window display
12) Close final limited service restaurants
13) Close the doors
Someone has to find a buyer for that building, quickly.
Date: Sun, May 20, 2007, 10:12 pm CT
I hope Macy's sales become terminal!
Published May 18, 2007
[ From Lansing State Journal ]
Ailing sales: Shoppers leave a Macy's store at the CambridgeSide Galleria mall on Wednesday in Cambridge, Mass. Federated Department Stores Inc. said Wednesday it swung to first-quarter profit, but adjusted earnings missed Wall Street estimates as sales at newly converted Macy's stores remained weak.
Date: Sun, May 20, 2007, 3:41 pm CT
PLANO, Texas - J.C. Penney Co. posted a 13 percent increase in first-quarter income on strong sales of exclusive fashions, and the department store chain raised its profit outlook for the year on Thursday...
Penney's upbeat report came after Federated Department Stores Inc., the owner of Macy's, missed Wall Street's profit target,....
http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20070517/ap_on_bi_ge/earns_j_c__penney;_ylt=Ai482XHj8RfZjgiRr4pi4B.yBhIF
Date: Sun, May 20, 2007, 3:24 pm CT
They also asked about kitchen appliances (!) which I am pleased to say I now get at Target. Also got the question about work and formal wear clothing.
Then I received what is probably my last ever box of frango mints which, and I need a kleenex here, were not properly shipped or stored. They are hard as rocks and nearly without flavor. They have that white tint chocolate gets when its been the wrong temp. I just can't believe it. Really, if the free frangos were supposed to lure me back and establish some small spark of interest in Macy's - why would they give me spoiled ones?
Date: Sun, May 20, 2007, 2:09 pm CT
The blurb in the New York Times this weekend was really over-the-top. Sales are down and Federated stock has tanked. Nevertheless, somehow the Times reports that Federated CEO Terry Lundgren feels "vindicated." Huh?
I realize that newspapers these days are under a lot of pressure to please their advertisers, and that department stores are the single most important category of advertiser in almost every newspaper in the country. But enough is enough.
Have you been discouraged from writing a story that Federated might not like? Have you been pressured to spin a story in a way that will satisfy Federated? Do you know of anyone else who has been discouraged or pressured at your place of employment? If so, please tell me about it. I'd appreciate it if you would do so with your name attached (which I would keep confidential), but if you want to tell me anonymously, that's okay too. If you don't trust e-mail to be anonymous, send me a letter by snail mail. If you use your employer's stationery, I will at least know that the letter is coming from someone in the media. Send it to me at 4830 Hart Drive, San Diego, California 92116.
Date: Sun, May 20, 2007, 11:34 am CT
Date: Sun, May 20, 2007, 1:53 am CT
It is the ultimate insult to rename a iconic store right in front of the family's face. I can imagine T.L. coming up to Mr. Lazarus and saying, "You know what, I think I'm going to call you macy's from now on. I just like it better."
Glad to see mac*Fed's is admitting to poor sales at State Street. Maybe one day Marshall Field's will return, but I'm really not sure what could convince Lunkhead to bring back the other stores across the country. He could never understand the connection between a community and its local stores. I miss Meier & Frank, The Bon Marche, and Robinson's-May dearly.
"macy*s: As trashy as it gets"
Marshall Field's forever in our hearts and minds!
[ Note from Jim: Also consider how the Strauses felt about what R.H. Macy and subsidiaries became under Finkelstein and then Federated. They were devasted in a similar fashion as Lazarus. ]
Date: Sun, May 20, 2007, 1:12 am CT
Date: Sun, May 20, 2007, 12:35 am CT Date: Sat, May 19, 2007, 10:43 pm CT
After I mentioned our Field's Fans efforts, she told me some observations (which I recall as best as I can through scribbled notes), which vividly and poignantly demonstrate the loss of the Marshall Field's department stores to her:
"I miss shopping in Marshall Field's because Field's IS Chicago. For me shopping at Field's was an adventure because Field's was more than a store...it was an institution which made people feel special just being there amongst the special merchandise that only Field's could offer and the sales people made even the transactions memorable because of the way they wrapped items, hard and soft, in white tissue paper sealed with a green MF sticker before generously pulling out a large MF forest green shopping bag in which to place my purchases. That was 'the frosting on the cake'."
"But you know what I r-e-a-l-l-y notice at commuter train stations, on North Michigan Avenue, on State Street and in the Chicagoland shopping centers, at O'Hare and Midway and at other airports around the country???? I miss seeing people, by the dozens and dozens carrying the distinctive green Marshall Field's sturdy shopping bags with the handles! The absence is so barrenly striking. You readily KNEW they were either FROM Chicago or had a fun shopping trip as a tourist and were going back home. You just do not find people carrying macy's plastic sacks anywhere it seems, she added. Why should they?! Macy's is everywhere, and therefore not special at all. It is all so sad."
Date: Sat, May 19, 2007, 10:20 pm CT
The Columbus (Ohio) Dispatch, in honoring Mr. Charles Lazarus, printed two sentences which speak volumes about his philosophies and personal humble nature.
Here is one quote from Mr. Lazarus: "It doesn't make any difference what I think. The only thing that matters is what my customers think."
The obituary also stated that "Mr. Charles", as he was known, "treated employees like members of his extended family."
The comparisons between Mr. Charles Lazarus (a founder of Federated Department Stores, Inc.) and Terry Lundgren, the one who destroyed local department store names after names, traditions after traditions, old-fashioned tried and true business philosophies of true customer selection and true customer service. The two men are so divergent as polar opposites that it causes us to long more and more for true merchants to lead retail companies rather than the bean-counting types who destroy what the pioneering department store founders brought to us.
Marshall Field's IS Chicago, just as Lazarus was Ohio, Filene's and Jordan Marsh were Boston, Kauffman's was Pittsburgh, Dayton's was Minneapolis, Hudson's was Detroit, Burdines was Florida, Foley's was Texas, Hecht's was Washington DC, Strawbridge & Clothier was Philadelphia, Robinson's was California, Liberty House was Hawaii, Rich's was Atlanta, The Bon Marche was Seattle, and on...and on...and on...and on to what we have today---bland, boring, identical stores from city to city that are nothing special or memorable at all with no element of giving the customers was they want, but instead, gross antaganistic, "re-educating", edicts that "they" know what is best for us. What macy's has done is NOT working.
What IS working, Field's Fans IS our unrelenting efforts of getting the true facts out to more and more members of the public on a daily basis. Keep up the spirit. It is now May of 2007. Remember that Lundgren & Co. stated that we would all be piling back in the doors of macy's by Thanksgiving! Well, it has not happened and it will not happen, no matter how many 50% to 75% off sales macy's hands out every other day to get us in the doors. To paraphrase Senator Lloyd Bentsen of Texas in his famous debate with V.P. Dan Quayle, for our edited purposes, "I knew Marshall Field's, and let me tell you, macy's---you are no Marshall Field's!"
Date: Sat, May 19, 2007, 9:37 pm CT
Chairman and Chief Executive Terry Lundgren was quick to interject that operating a Midwest flagship in Chicago remains core to Macy's strategy.
"We're very committed to that store," said Lundgren...On Wednesday Lundgren characterized the former May stores' sales performance as "disappointing..."
Marshall Field's State Street was a destination for tourists and visitors in addition to the Chicago market. Macy's cache is not the same so it would seem that Lundgren's ego may have been knocked off its high horse, or at least slapped in the face, with his comment that:
Lundgren explained the sales miss by saying that HE threw too many changes at the former May stores too quickly, namely lots of new in-house merchandise and fewer promotions."
Now what will he do about the merchandise, if not the name?
The survey tables in the Detroit stores that I've seen are busy...and off the cuff comments seem to be consistant about the downgrading of the merchandise lack of sizes and selection and staffing changes.
Like AA...you have to admit you have a problem as the first step? Well, it will be interesting to watch what happens now!
Date: Sat, May 19, 2007, 8:34 pm CT
All our members should voice their opinions on the Times' blog.
The boycott is working!
"5-12-7
Macy's Ads May Be Affecting LAT News Coverage
A question of journalistic integrity arose at the L.A. Times Friday in its failure to report explicitly on declines of Macy's revenues from April sales. The omission in a Business section story by Leslie Earnest and Ronald D. White took place in the same week that Macy's has been allowed to annoy Times readers by its wrap-around ads in the metro (California), sports and home sections.
On a day that the L.A. Times and the New York Times both had lengthy Business section stories on a decline in department store revenues across the country, the New York Times discusses the 2.2% revenue decline in Macy's stores explicitly, while the L.A. Times story does not[....]"
Date: Sat, May 19, 2007, 11:48 am CT
And now the ads touting massive discounts and clearance sales only available at the State Street store. So they've decided to turn it into a clearance center? Customers want the stores converted back to Marshall Field's not Marshalls. This can't possibly work as a long term strategy - the customers that Macy's lost were the ones who didn't need a sale to shop at Field's. Any customers that they gain will only shop there if they can expect discounts and clearance sales.
How about letters to the Mayor and City Council pointing out that the conversion to Macy's has been bad for the city - loss of tourists, loss of tax dollars, loss of jobs.
You can write to the Mayor at:
Correspondence to City Council can be sent to:
121 N. LaSalle Street
Date: Sat, May 19, 2007, 11:44 am CT
A child who had delivered newspapers or babysat for money could find a nice, but inexpensive holiday present for their Mom that would be appropriately gift wrapped in a Marshall Field's box. How proud that made both the Mom and child feel! When the same child graduated from 8th grade or celebrated a religious milestone, an appropriate suit or dress could be found at Marshall Field's at many price ranges to fit whatever was the family's current financial status.
When folks were just starting out in the job market, Field's was the place to find well made classic and classy career clothes at prices that were still manageable on a starting salary. (My mother always said, "better to have a few pieces of good quality clothing that fit well and last than a dozen pieces of something cheap." As people got raises and climbed the career ladder one could move up to higher end brands at Field's and enjoy the specialty departments.
Same with weddings. Whether a guest could afford to spend only a little or a lot on a present for the happy couple, there were excellent choices to be had at Marshall Field's and a knowledgeable and helpful staff in all departments who could help find the perfect thing and get it delivered in a timely fashion and in a Field's box. Many many Field's sales people worked there for years because of the prestige and satisfaction being a Field's employee brought. Customers benefited enormously from this employee efficiency, loyalty, and pride and from the relationships built and nurtured over time.
Furnishing an apartment or new home from Field's, again, was a case of choosing quality merchandise at whatever price range you could afford because Field's stocked to suit many budgets, styles and tastes.
Tourists flocked to Marshall Field's, and Chicago ex-patriots who returned "home" couldn't wait to buy something at Fields. Field's was a "destination store", a "lifetime" store, a "cradle to grave" store. A store that was part of our lives and life's events. A store that was part of our culture. Those who say "hey, it was only a place to buy stuff" truly just don't get it.
Chicago misses Marshall Field's because all of Chicago shopped there. Not just certain people, but people in all walks of life. Not just 40 years ago, but right up until the time Terry Lundgren came in and ruined it. For all these reasons Macy's will never be accepted at State Street. Never.
Date: Sat, May 19, 2007, 11:26 am CT Date: Sat, May 19, 2007, 11:17 am CT
Long time passing
Where have all the customers gone?
Since a year ago
Where have all the customers gone?
Penny's and Kohl's every one
When will Terry ever learn?
When will Terry ever learn?
Kohl's, Penney, Nordstrom profits grow
By EMILY FREDRIX, AP Business Writer
Fri May 18, 9:41 AM ET
MILWAUKEE - Higher gasoline prices and a slow housing market may be weighing on the economy, but retailers don't seem to be worried.
They say people aren't letting economic concerns get in the way of their shopping, and to prove it, J.C. Penney Co., Kohl's Corp. and Nordstrom Inc. posted strong first-quarter profits Thursday and raised their annual outlook. J.C. Penney posted a 13 percent increase in profits, while Nordstrom's grew 19 percent and Kohl's rose nearly 25 percent for the three months ended May 5. All three companies' profits beat analyst expectations...
The earnings came one day after Federated Department Stores Inc., the owner of Macy's, missed Wall Street's profit target.
http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20070518/ap_on_bi_ge/earns_retailers_6;_ylt=AqAUcC9gpP5KVsHFGdMMPOFv24cA
Date: Sat, May 19, 2007, 11:08 am CT
The story in the Tribune is very fair and is what we all suspected. Karen H.'s comments that Messy's will provide even more promotions continues to be over the top! As I've said before the place is already a sea of red discounting signs, probably the new exclusive Martha Stewart line will be marked down 50-60% on opening day, can't wait to see all the cheap trash thrown all over the floors like a big rummage sale. How 'bout State Street just renames itself "Macy's Bargain Bin at Maxwell Street".
I posted back on Ellen's blog in the Tribune today. I think alot of the pro-Macy posters are all retail and corporate workers at Neiman's, Nordstrom's, Carson's, Penny's and Kohl's. Those companies want to see the Macy's name continue here in Chicago since we all are helping drive their profits to records and lead their monthly double digit sales increases! Those companies are laughing all the way to the Bank, don't you think? Oh, we don't want to bring back Field's lovely green bags when we can have a Messy's Red Star cheap plastic bag. Messy's is so much better, we can recycle their bag's- it's so much easier to pick up after the dog with them!!
Date: Sat, May 19, 2007, 10:39 am CT
If anything, stories like this simply fuel our anger at how Macy's has commandeered Marshall Field's traditions and claimed them in Macy's name!
Frangos were special because they were MARSHALL FIELD'S Frangos, unique to Chicago's own Marshall Field's. Sure they tasted delicious, but their appeal went much further than taste. Regardless of where Frangos were made, with Marshall Field's name on the box, people knew they would be delicious. People knew that Frangos were a Chicago tradition, a Marshall Field's tradition... the perfect gift for friends and family when traveling and a special treat anytime.
Marshall Field's recognized the importance of this Chicago connection and had the good sense not to make Frangos available from other retailers around the county. Frango's cache was that they came from Marshall Field's and nowhere else.
Frangos sold by Macy's are an insult to every Chicagoan, former Marshall Field's customers and everyone with a passion for all that is special and unique about Chicago.
Date: Sat, May 19, 2007, 10:28 am CT
We have a Macy's (formerly Lazarus) in Lexington, KY. and I no longer darken their doors either. Seems to me the boycott is working. Wonder how long it will take the folks at Macy's to figure out why the store is doing badly.
Hasn't the city anything to say about this?
Date: Sat, May 19, 2007, 9:57 am CT
"This weekend Macy's is advertising 50 percent discounts on clearance merchandise at the State Street store only and total savings of 60 percent to 90 percent on thousands of spring fashions"
So positioning the store as a Clearance Center is going to help restore its status as a tourist attraction? I'd certainly love to visit Chicago and shop in an elegant building stocked with low-end merchandise reduced for clearance. Sounds like another winning proposition.
BTW, the cover for the macy*mart "Have a Great Weekend" sale booklet distributed in the Pittsburgh market offers "our special selection of high-quality summer fashion essentials..." When did any store (other than Big Lots and surplus liquidators) have to use the phrase "high quality" to describe their merchandise? Does this statement imply that anything other than "our special selection" is of low quality?
The booklet also informs us that "CLUB ROOM features quality fabrics and signature pieces that you'll find only at macy*s" and that "CHARTER CLUB" is an all-American collection featuring the right balance of classic style and comfort." Perhaps this is part of M*s "re-education" program to help "confused" consumers better appreciate their distinctive and exclusive merchandise.
Date: Sat, May 19, 2007, 8:18 am CT
This is my first visit to the Midwest in over a year. Marshall Field's would have been my store of choice. Now, Lord & Taylor, Nordstrom and Sisley at Old Orchard as well as the Boston Store in Milwaukee have received my business.
While I have enjoyed not shopping at the macy's stores in downtown Los Angeles, I am glad I finally participated in the survey in Chicago.
Date: Sat, May 19, 2007, 8:08 am CT
http://www.chicagotribune.com/business/chi-0705180861may19,1,3208670.story?coll=chi-news-hed&ctrack=1&cset=true
So basically, we find that all 400 former May stores (including the other 61 Field's) are performing about equally badly, and that State Street (which represented the equivalent of about 9 or 10 "regular" Field's stores) is performing particularly badly. Is the tide starting to turn? Federated's stock is off about $5 in the past two weeks. Icahn has bailed. What next?
Date: Sat, May 19, 2007, 7:54 am CT
* About New York Times Letters to the Editor: They should be especially succinct and sent within 48-72 hours to letters@nytimes.com
* NY Times also has suggestions for letters: http://www.nytimes.com/ref/membercenter/help/lettertoeditor.html
* The Letters to the Sun-Times should be sent to: letters@suntimes.com
* The Letters to the Tribune should be sent to: ctc-TribLetter@tribune.com
* The Letters to Crain's Chicago Business should be sent to: letters@chicagobusiness.com.
* Please remember to include a daytime phone number for verification purposes.
* Be certain to indicate in your letter that it is "for publication."
* Remember, items submitted to the "letters to the editor" section should not be cross-posted to other forums like the fieldsfanschicago.org blog. The publications reque
st exclusivity.
* Be succinct as possible. Longer items don't have as much of a chance of being published. While there are many facets to the loss of Field's, consider focusing on just one or two facets to
help the larger cause.
* Even if your letter does not get published in print or web media, remember that the media takes note. Every letter reminds editors and producers that this is still indeed a very important
issue.
Jim
Date: Sat, May 19, 2007, 7:41 am CT
Date: Sat, May 19, 2007, 7:28 am CT
Sounds like Terry is working on Another Raise !
Date: Sat, May 19, 2007, 7:15 am CT
Date: Sat, May 19, 2007, 5:16 am CT
Sorry Joe, not only is Macy's no Field's, Bloomingdale's is no Field's either. I'm sick of hearing people say Field's could be run by Bloomingdale's etc. Please, no.
Bloomingdale's is expensive and trendy. It does not have the full range a Field's has. Field's could be expensive (and for many years it was only expensive) but it also was largely able to sort out the difference between disposable trends and trends that would become classic. As someone with family roots in Chicago and NYC, let me also say, Bloomingdale's is a NY store with a NY way of doing business that is not necessarily NY at its best. Field's had a way of doing business that was Chicago at its best that appealed to people worldwide, even New Yorkers.
Between 1984 and 2005, I had been in Macy's maybe 15 times actually eager to buy something -- perhaps anything. I was in Bloomingdale's about the same number of times with the same attitude. I came in wanting to make a purchase and most of the time left empty handed and disappointed. I can think of only two purchases I have made at Macy's and two at Bloomingdale's. It irks me to no end when people say they would consider Field's being run by Bloomingdale's.
The switch from Federated to Macy's, Inc. will make the boycott easier. Until now, it's been tedious to explain to some how Bloomingdale's is related to Macy's. This will make it much more obvious and simpler to explain. Boycott Macy's including its Bloomingdale's division.
Charles Lazarus, the last member of his family to lead its namesake department store
chain passed away this week at age 93. His family also was a co-founder of Federated Department Stores circa 1929/1930. According to family quotes in newspapers, Charles Lazarus was crushed when Macy's replaced Lazarus department stores a couple of years ago. It's certainly something that he passed away the same week that it was decided to retire the Federated name.
Date: Fri, May 18, 2007, 10:59 pm CT
At any rate, I (like most of you, I presume) didn't *hate* Macy's before the changover...instead I kind of ignored it, especially since it wasn't in the Chicago area. After I heard the news that Federated had purchased Field's, I thought to myself, how perfect! Now Fed. can have three levels of stores- Bloomingdales (perhaps even move it a little more upscale to compete directly with NM and Saks), Field's (for the upper-middle class shopper, with most locations in the upper midwest) and Macy's, for "Target" style shopping.
For Bloomingdales, this would work well, as many high-end shoppers still relate more strongly to NM and Saks. Bloomingdales could really make a strong play for these customers, and Field's could tackle the upper-middle end customer.
Field's could have added a few locations to NY and Cali, perhaps other places around the country, and I would even be willing to cede a few lower end Field's stores (Brookdale in MN?) to Macy's.
Of course, we all know Macy's loves their red and loves marketing garbage- so why not go head to head with Target? Don't get me wrong, I love Target, but Macy's could try to win over people doing "Target style shopping" by keeping Field's. Heck, had Macy's kept Field's and built their own "flagship" in Block 37, I doubt anyone would be protesting (though many might be indifferent)- if Macy's were a greaat place to pick up some Target style stuff though, it could really work!
All three brands could have been marked nationally together, celebrating their histories and keeping their traditions.
Of course, TL has a typical "coast" mentality, assuming that Foley's and Field's were exactly the same thing, and who wouldn't want something from NYC right in their own city??? It's such a shame, now everyone in Chicago hates him and his precious Macy's, and I can't wait for Field's to make it's return to prove him absolutely wrong.
Bloomies, Fields, and Macy's- three stores for three different purposes. Does anyone else think this would have worked?
Date: Fri, May 18, 2007, 9:35 pm CT Date: Fri, May 18, 2007, 8:38 pm CT Date: Fri, May 18, 2007, 7:35 pm CT
Nordstrom's sales have risen 9% in one year which is fantastic. Their success comes from great customer service and adding more designer and name brands. I don't believe for one second that department stores are dying. I do believe that former once great high end departments stores who think they can dumb down their shopping experience with overpriced made up labels and still call themselves "upscale" and think the public will go along with it are finding out the buying public isn't that stupid.
Date: Fri, May 18, 2007, 6:38 pm CT
Jordache is known for its designer jeans that were popular in the late 1970s. In the 1980s, the company expanded its reach with expansive licensing to over 100 licensees, manufacturing products as varied as children's socks, women's outerwear, jewelry, dresses, luggage, and umbrellas. In the 1990s, this strategy backfired, and Jordache products slid in popularity. The company's jeans lost their cachet, appealing mainly to inner-city youths and blue-collar workers and typically selling at discount stores. When Jordache designer diapers were manufactured by a licensee in 1994, they symbolized Jordache's descent in the marketplace to mass-merchandise stores and discount outlets.
I wonder if Macy's is planning to sell Members Only jackets too. LOL. Remember those?
Date: Fri, May 18, 2007, 5:16 pm CT Date: Fri, May 18, 2007, 5:06 pm CT
Does the *M* think that increasing advertising will solve their problems? Do they seriously think that the customers who have been pleased with the quality, selection and service offered elsewhere are going to go back to macy*mart? PLEASE! Shoppers evidently are getting along just fine WITHOUT them! Despite all the rosy projections for future improvements, I think many of the customers are gone forever and that macy*mart has created more ill will than it can overcome.
Date: Fri, May 18, 2007, 3:20 pm CT
Link:
Highlights:
Another reporter starts connecting the dots.
Date: Fri, May 18, 2007, 1:10 pm CT
I'm sorry... am I in a time machine back to 1988? Wasn't the last time that was a real brand name for jeans? Doesn't Kmart sell Jordache? This is a race to the bottom, brought to you by celebrity signature lines (when Kathy Ireland and Jacqueline Smith join Martha Stewart, then Macy's transformation into Kmart will be complete!) as opposed to true designers. Give me ONE reason to shop at Macy's. Come on, Terry... ONE reason!
Date: Fri, May 18, 2007, 12:50 pm CT
I believe some of the comments by Macy's execs require more explanation. Regarding both the Sandra Guy and post by B., it seems to me the Crains report from 2/27/2007 should be brought to these Macy's exec's attention for commentary. In that report, Crain's said that government officials noticed a dramactic drop in tax revenues from when it was Field's. That's a very powerful and objective piece of info. How do these Macy's people respond to that?
I do agree with Robert that it is always important to write when you see an article or media item on Macy's and Field's. I also think it is correct that there has been no letter to the editor printed about our cause (for or against) since January. Correct me if I am wrong. Correct me also, but I think the only news about the possible return of increased Frango production in the S-T was an editorial. If so, that is kind of odd.
Date: Fri, May 18, 2007, 12:12 pm CT
"A Wall Street analyst asked Hoguet during Federated's earnings announcement this week why the Midwestern Macy's were performing worse than elsewhere. Hoguet said twice, loudly, "That is absolutely not the case."
"We're seeing weakness across the board," she said. "There's no regional weakness."
If Ms. Hoguet has misrepresented the sales decline at former Marshall Field's locations, then she is likely providing false and misleading information. This would be illegal. Now Ms. Hoguet's choice of words in defining the REGIONAL decline as no worse than elsewhere could be her way of side-stepping the issue of Marshall Field's same store sales decline by referring only to regions and not particular converted stores.
If we believe the statements of analysts, in-store vendors and Macy's sales staff, converted Marshall Field's sales - particularly at 111 North State Street, Old Orchard, Northbrook Court and Lake Forest - have certainly dropped more than at other converted May Company stores. Perhaps Ms. Hoguet should reconsider retracting or clarifying her statement before some savvy files a complaint against Macy's for misleading investors. At the very least, Ms. Hoguet's statement may provide cause for full disclosure of specific same-store sales!
Field's Fans are encouraged to discuss this with their investment advisors or friends at the SEC!
Date: Fri, May 18, 2007, 11:25 am CT
I just read the link you posted to the Sun Times, and I actually saw it in a slightly different light. I saw a subtle turn against Macy's. The reporter is understandably cautious in her wording, but she did bring up angry customers and downturned sales quite clearly. Maybe I'm reading between the lines, but I feel like I'm seeing a shift in the news coverage. Before, they simply parroted FDS press releases and sounded like paid cheerleaders. Now, they print FDS bull****, but usually after they've pointed out chinks in Macy's armor. I just feel like the tide is starting to turn.
Keep up the fight!
Date: Fri, May 18, 2007, 10:19 am CT
Since this was my first effort to look through the store, what I noticed was:
The first floor was very trendy, cutsey-poo and plastic. I saw lots of pastel items that didn't look much different from the summer stuff at CVS Pharmacy, but were much higher priced. There were more customers than I expected, who seemed mostly younger middle income. The music, fortunately, was only Frank Sinatra--I expected worse.
There were less people on the upper floors. Only a couple of tables in the Walnut room were occupied.
Conversations I overheard:
Young girls going up the escalator: "They actually have protestors outside!"
Older couple on another escalator: "Don't mess with our icon." The escalator moved on before I could hear more, but I think that statement was in Ellen Warren's most recent blog.
In the crystal department, an older saleslady in a lovely blue blouse almost covered by a stiff black suit said, "If you see anything you like, let us know." I thanked her. She was nice. Then another salesperson, apparently off duty, walked over and three of them started complaining about their jobs. "I understand in the State Street store it's the worst!" one of them said. They made no effort to lower their voices when I moved closer to hear more. I heard comments about being micromanaged and scrutinized and trying to get rid of mechandise. "At least we get more hours now," one of them added.
On the way down, I saw an elderly lady carrying a Marshall Field's shopping bag.
The store gave me a Messy's garbage bag with my Frango Mint prize for taking the survey. I made sure to put on of Gail's "Marshall Field's Forever" stickers in the center of the red star. We have to re-educate those bags.
THEY BOYCOTT IS WORKING!
Date: Fri, May 18, 2007, 9:02 am CT
The comment about Federated's refusal to release same-store sales was particularly interesting.
My grandfather had an expression "jack of all trades, master of none" that describes macy*mart perfectly. Do they want to be high-end, up-scale, middle market, discount or what? No wonder they are failing since they haven't even defined their niche.
Date: Fri, May 18, 2007, 9:01 am CT Date: Fri, May 18, 2007, 8:05 am CT Date: Fri, May 18, 2007, 7:34 am CT
Sounds like it's time to write letters@suntimes.com But of course they haven't published a letter on this since Januaary. Despite their new slogan, "Let's Get Into It," it's like the Sun continues to only skirt the issues on Macy's and Chicago.
Date: Fri, May 18, 2007, 1:53 am CT
Based on what I see in stores, the following is what it seems as if Managers are being told to do....my impressions!.
Maybe they print these on an old mimeographed copy that's been around for ages, all tattered.
Be Cheesy! - Ask the customer how I can provide them with "Outstanding Service"! Hum, I thought I should have known how to do that by now.
There's a sucker born every minute! - Slap the crap on the table and mark it down. Then tell your best customer's that they can have an additional 90% of the already reduced crap! Wow, wish I had thought of that!
Reduce staff, especially those old fogies who have worked at the stores for years! After all, what the hell do they know! There are lots of kids who needs jobs and you can pay them next to nothing!
Cleanliness is next to ... another word in the dictionary. As soon as we find it, we'll let you know.
Advertise stuff you don't have! - Once the customer can't find what they want, just direct them to the crap table. They'll find something and we need the room for the new statues of Terry Lumphead that are going in all the stores.
Question every customer about returns! - Make sure they aren't trying to scam some of our crap!
It sounds like... Armani but it's not. Don't worry, no one will notice! Just say it really fast! Tasso Elba is a new pasta salad we will be offering. (It's really just macaroni salad but don't tell!)
INC is something that leaks out of a pen. Don't get it on your shirt!
Charter Club, Fight Club, Billy Club, Club Sandwhich.. what was I saying? THISISIT - don't say this one too fast or it might sound like what it actually is. S**T.
Date: Fri, May 18, 2007, 12:08 am CT
To use the old phrase, Lundgren was penny wise and pound foolish. In his desire to extract every last synergy (down to the shopping bags), he basically created a brand that is too high-market in some of the new markets, and too down-market in Chicago, Minneapolis, and Detroit. While it's obvious that any new owner would have made changes, what's not obvious is that any other owner would have destroyed the most valuable brand in the stable. To the contrary, just about any other possible acquirer (private equity, foreign retailer, Dillard's, to name a few) likely would have kept the brand (and by brand I mean more than just the name). Field's could have had a strong place in Federated's stable (particularly in markets, like Chicago, Minneapolis, and Detroit, where Bloomingdale's wasn't particularly strong). The problem they face now is that, whatever they do, they have to recreate the strategy from scratch, and it seems they have management that is still in denial.
I think any objective consultant would tell them it's time to bring back Field's as a higher-end store in at least the premier locations in the Midwest (and perhaps even some Midwest markets where it wasn't physically present before), as well as one or two of the other brands (Burdines, Kaufmann's, or Strawbridge's come to mind as possibilities) to fill the "May" role elsewhere. May had too many brands, and Target made some mistakes, but it clearly isn't the "all or nothing" view that current Federated management tries to use to defend its strategy.
Date: Thu, May 17, 2007, 11:47 pm CT
It's something available to anyone who looks for it.
I keep thinking about all the opportunities that are out there for what I'm sick of hearing the "dinosaurs of retail".
1. Too much focus on conglomerating. While yes this works in some situations, shopping, as many of you have pointed out is emotional. Bring the uniqueness back to the stores. There are plenty of opportunities for leveraging a strong parent company. These days, vendors are more than happy to accomidate customers in any way they can. Look how many smaller stores have achieved great results which have taken business away from the department stores.
Think how differently the commercials could go if they focused on all of the great "Names" that were lost and the companies committment to you and your community.
2. Give it away. In the past year some 80 stores have been closed. Marketshare lost. What'S LEFT? The same shopping experience coast to coast. Here's a thought... Unique, Trusted and Local atmosphere with consistent service and quality. Yum Brands owns KFC, Taco Bell, A&W Pizza hut and Long Johns. Can you imagine what a flop it would be to serve everthing at a standardized joint called "Yum"?
3. Blah Blah... Wall Street Idiots! Do these people ever see the light of day? Believe everthing they are told? Do they ever investigate anything on their own? Wake up Wall Street! Take a trip to some of your local stores. Hey, head to Chicago and see what's left of State Street. Despite some of the changes, it still beats ANYTHING out there!
4. Service??? McDonalds doesn't have price scanners. Hum, maybe a new idea for them. Make it cheaper if the customer cooks it themselves and even rings it up! No, even they still talk to every customer!
5. Quality??? Maybe we'll start seeing Rollex in these stores. Yes with 2 L's, obviously another knock-off. There is plenty of opportunity to drive sales from all levels of shoppers from high to low end. Variety is the spice of life and so is the thrill of the hunt!
6. Dirty... Run Down... these are products in most cases of lost sales. People are almost always the first on the cut list. Maybe adding people would be a change. Wow, what a concept. Why do stores loose sales? Bad service, Poor Merchandise, Loss of Uniqueness.
7. $100MM committment to internet sales? Well duh! 1 Website + 11 Other Unique Websites = 1 all encompassing website = More sales under a previous website's name. A child could figure that out. It's not news.
8. Stop the madness! Start fixing things before it's too late! Do something unheard of and restore all the brands! It could be an absolute raging sucess! Stop blaming the shopper. Stop re-educating the shopper. Let the shopper discover you! What's exciting about going to a Godiva Chocolate Store? What's exciting about shopping at Tiffany's? What's exciting about owning a Craftsman tool? What's exciting about having a Sony TV? What's exciting about the Boston Pops? What's exciting about the Sears Tower? What's exciting about the Grand Canyon? What's exciting Vegas? Atmosphere & Brand recognition.
Sorry for the long rant. Just had to get that off my chest!
If you're missing Field's stop by my website Darrid.Com
Date: Thu, May 17, 2007, 11:27 pm CT
Thanks for posting all these article links. "Messy's"... ROFL!!! That's a great name :-)
This is the first time hearing about how they are cutting back on coupons. The Macy's executives really don't get it. How do they expect to attract people in the store?? The "One Day Sales" are the only time people really come out in force. Its already bad enough that they can't get business around the country; if they pull that stunt in the NY stores, it may be the end of Macy's as we know it. The only time I'd even think about going to Macy's is with coupons.
Also, Macys will never be an upper scale department store, even if it tries. Its target consumer just isn't "exclusive" enough. Discriminating shoppers are increasingly patronizing boutique shops. And the upper scale dept stores (Nordstrom, Saks) offer customer service options that Macys just can't beat. Also in Macy's New York base, big box retailers are opening locations in the city and selling similar products at lower prices. So "Messys" will face even stiffer competition.
Continue the good work and keep us non-Chicagoans informed.
Date: Thu, May 17, 2007, 10:44 pm CT Date: Thu, May 17, 2007, 9:53 pm CT
TRULY salt in an open wound
Field's name on those now ruined stores with all that red and all that junk with in them -- That would be Worse.
I am SO tired of hearing about all the "macy upgrading" and if they refer to thier stupid private brands ONE MORE TIME ---- UUGGGGHHHH
Of Course we ALL know here that all that junk can't compare in any way to the great Field's private brands -- However -- please let me say that I was a customer of Ayer's and Kaufmann's and the May Company "Brandini" label was FAR SUPERIOR to Alfani --the material was generally decent and usually from Italy and their sweaters etc. really fit well --I had alfani stuff prior to the fiasco and Brandini was MUCH better. alfani in my experience lost its' shape and the material generally wasn't as nice-- and Brandini was less expensive.
Keep up the good work
BOYCOTT macy's and bloomingdales
Thank God for all the alternatives
Date: Thu, May 17, 2007, 9:29 pm CT
Here is my email to Cotten Timberlake, who wrote the article in Bloomberg, which Clint references below, where Macy's says the reason we are not shopping there is because they stopped sending us so many coupons!! I could not let that pass by without a response----you know how I am...LOL.
Dear Cotten Timberlake:
I am writing in response to your recent article re: the decline of sales at MacyC-s and how the reduction in the use of coupons may have affected the numbers. I cannot speak for the whole country. However, I can speak very confidently for the Midwest and the downgrading of Marshall FieldC-s to MacyC-s.
In both of their major markets here, Minneapolis, where I live, and Chicago, coupons are not the major issue. People are not shopping at MacyC-s and we have driven their same-store sales down by double-digits because we do not like MacyC-s. We keep telling the executives over and again and they simply refuse to listen. Likewise, analysts seem to never consult the consumers either and keep listening to the press releases from MacyC-s and treating them as though they were news. Analysts speak in terms of C,when the customers returnC. but that is incorrect. We are not returning.
Most of us who used to shop at Marshall FieldC-s are who are now boycotting MacyC-s do so for these reasons:
C/ Shopping is an emotional experience and the management of MacyC-s removed the reasons for us to go there.
C/ Our favorite unique brands have disappeared. In the case of the menC-s department, the offerings are pathetic: a few national brands carried by every other store in town.
C/ The brands we want have been replaced with cheesy but overpriced house junk brands of inferior quality with ludicrous names like Alfani and Tasso Elba. I suppose unknowledgeable people believe they are designer labels.
C/ The arrogance of MacyC-s management is abrasive; e.g. their constant discussion of the need to C,re-educate the customerC.. I would say it is they who need re-education in how to run a customer-focused business.
C/ Service is abysmal. Many departments lack an operating sales desk and when I have been in the store, I am generally ignored by the sales people but am occasionally privy to discussions of when their next break occurs. Marshall FieldC-s exclusive service such as C,locatorC. where the item was shipped free to your house from another store if your store ran out of your size/color, has of course been abandoned.
I could write quite a bit more of the mistakes of this management team in destroying one of the all-time great American brands, but you get the picture. Nearly 60,000 of us told them upfront by way of petition, letters, and stories that it was our desire to not have our Marshall FieldC-s downgraded to MacyC-s. It was clear that a great many of us were their best customers. This is one of the great marketing debacles of the century and will probably appear as a case study in business schools in the next fw years. It is actually humorous now to see what new excuse for their poor performance Lundgren offers each month when sales are reported for the prior month.
Regards.
Date: Thu, May 17, 2007, 9:11 pm CT Date: Thu, May 17, 2007, 8:48 pm CT
I guess we need some reeducation here in Baltimore. Is Macy's "ritzier" at Security Square? Are you kidding? (It was surprisingly clean. That did surprise me.) But with nothing but off brands things are worse. (There was a small Polo section.) What surprised me was the new Spring clothing line for men by Alfani. Black?!! Grey?!! No wonder it's just sitting there.
Macy's flopped in this area years ago. Its dated stores were always empty with sections blocked off. Hecht's was where the sales and activity was. They had one chance here and they just blew it.
Do I expect Hecht's to return? No. Strawbridge's? No. Filene's? No. I just expect alot of closed stores. I expect malls to change their directions as to anchors which they've already been doing through lifestyle centers. I just cross my fingers that Field's truly returns and that Mr. Lungscum and his roll-on tan get as much crap and as little of a buyout as possible.
THANKS AMERICA FOR STANDING UP TO ARROGANCE!! IT DIDN'T TAKE MUCH! IT WAS ACTUALLY QUITE EASY!!
Date: Thu, May 17, 2007, 6:59 pm CT
I am a longtime retail watcher and have worked for a former high end vendor of Marshall Field's that left the store during the Macy's changeover. I have long been a huge fan of Marshall Field's and the special legacy that the store had in Chicago. I remember very well the Country Shop, Field's Afar, Walnut Room, 28 Shop, and all the unique attributes which made Field's a very special store long before it was acquired by Dayton Hudson.
My decision to sell to Marshall Field's during the Target area was largely based on nostalgia for the past, however, and not for the real business potential. By the late 90s, it is true that Field's lost the true high end customer to Nordstrom, Neiman Marcus and Saks Fifth Avenue. The store's primary appeal was in the upper-moderate, better, and bridge zones and here it excelled and truly owned the Chicago market.
Neverthless, Target (particulalry in the last few years prior to the May sale) was trying to 'dress the store up' for a sale. That is why they converted the Dayton's and Hudson's nameplates to the more prestigious and recognizable Marshall Field's. It is also why they actively courted some higher end brands in these last years (despite their limited sales potential) and started to spend more aggressively on marketing (ie the 150 year anniversary, Glamorama, relaunch of State Street, etc.) Target put their biggest guns on this project including Luis Padilla (head of merchandising) and John Pellegrene (head of marketing) who had been extraordinarily successful at the rebranding of Target. Once again, they were extraordinarily successful but here their success was measured not neccessarily in the incremental sales and margin that MF generated from these higher end initiatives but instead from the increased valuation of the business and the fight that May and Federated had over the MF business.
Due to the MF dominance, Chicago, Minneapolis and Detroit were the last markets which both May and Federated were essentially locked out of (despite a few Bloomingdale's and Lord and Taylor doors here and there). When May won MF, there was a collective sigh of relief since at Field's since MF would be the crown jewel of the May organization. May stores had gone so far downmarket and operated on a much tighter cost structure and more frequent markdown cadence (ie cupons) than Federated whose Macy's brand was pitched a bit higher, particualrly on the West Coast and in Florida. When May got Federated, there was some talk that eventually May would re-brand its whole chain Marshall Field's and use the MF private labels (Field Gear, Thomas O Brien etc) as a platform for a national private label program to go head to head with Macy's.
However, these plans never got implmented since the legacy May stores continued to deteriorate. May made a few relatively minor adjustments to Field's in the brief time it owned Field's prior to the Federated merger but essentially May had bigger problems on its hands in its own stores that were losing marked share to Kohls and JCPenney on the low end and Macys on the high end.
Therefore, this should put into context today's comments in the press that Federated has pushed May stores too far upscale. While this is clearly not true in the Chicago markets, it is true everywhere else since stores like Famous Barr, Robinsons May etc were very low end operators and on a constant promotional strategy. Hard as it may be for Chicagoans to believe, Macy's is more upscale than all the May stores it replaced with the exception of Fields. On the other hand, in Chicago, Minneapolis and Detroit, particularly in the flagship locations, the Macy merger made the stores more downmarket as they lost many of the prestige brands and historic touches that made Marshall Field's distinct in the market.
Macy's problem today is multifold: they need to run the Macy legacy doors at the same semi-upscale level in order to keep their momentum (which was genuine in the legacy stores prior to the merger), they need to find a way to run the 350+ May stores (with the exception of Field's) with their historic lower cost structure and more frequent markdown cadence, and they need to find a way to run the 62 former Field's stores in a more upscale manner. Clearly, this is proving to be nearly impossible when all stores are branded with the same moniker... If they had three different nameplates (for instance, May, Macy's and Field's), they could run three different types of businesses but it is not easy to do it all under one name as you cannot have sales in some stores and run a full price business in others and cannot have one level of cachet in some stores and another in others.... While Macy's does do a reasonably good job of merchandising by door and tailoring each store the local demo-and-psycographics, you cannot do this with marketing and promotions so what happens over time is that it will all be pushed to the lowest common denominator which is what we are seeing now.
I predict that within Spring 08, we will start to see the return of Green, the return of other MF icons and eventually the name in some form (possibly hyphenated, possibly: 'Marshall Field's, a Macy's company' or even 'Macy's at Marshall Field's State Street'
Date: Thu, May 17, 2007, 6:09 pm CT Date: Thu, May 17, 2007, 4:55 pm CT Date: Thu, May 17, 2007, 4:10 pm CT
Date: Thu, May 17, 2007, 3:14 pm CT
Oh yes, Sandi, that's the correct angle on this story. Chicagoans hate Macy's because the store hosts "fewer coupon sales!" Yes I know it was a quote, but is the company's self-serving spokesman's view the one that needs to be parroted here? Has the Macy's advertising pressure at the Times simply squeezed the last drops of journaliatic integrity out of its reporters' minds? Not to mention the fact that Macy's has flooded the community with coupons, and promotions and silly sales almost every day offering the "lowest price[s] of the season...." The Tribune took a whole different tact on the developments, and took the time to quote from marketing experts, not just Federated's talking heads.
Don't get me wrong, I really like the Times, but I have had some growing doubts about the accuracy of its reporting on Macy's, (the whole "Piepho" = "pee-foe" article was absolutely unbelievable). Especially when you compare the coverage from the Chicago Tribune and Crain's. What's going on over there at the ST?
Date: Thu, May 17, 2007, 2:48 pm CT
"They made a disastrous decision to throw the Marshall Field's name into Lake Michigan, one of the best brand names in the business," said Flickinger. "Normally, Federated is very smart strategically, and that was corporately uncharacteristic of them to make such a bad business blunder."
This month about three dozen Marshall Field's fans staged a protest outside Macy's State Street flagship in Chicago, the third such demonstration since Macy's took over Field's in September. The group, whose mission is to revive the Field's name, already is gearing up to demonstrate in September at the one-year anniversary of Field's conversion to Macy's.["]
Date: Thu, May 17, 2007, 2:45 pm CT
I would be curious to know what the financial analysts make of this. JCP managed an increase during a difficult selling environment, and FDS's sales decreased when it's business should be robust because of the benefits and synergies of being a national brand. FDS also opened 6 new stores, and the company's total sales still decreased.
Date: Thu, May 17, 2007, 2:14 pm CT
Hey Terry -
You screwed up. Big time. Be a man, put your BIG ego aside (that I am sure makes up for smaller shortcomings) and admit you messed up!!
As for Ralph - degenerate and useless....
We will get our store back...name and quality and service and all...watch and see..
Date: Thu, May 17, 2007, 2:08 pm CT
Here's the paragraph that infuriated me:
"Federated chief executive officer Terry Lundgren blamed some of this quarterC-s problems on a so-far unsuccessful attempt to convert its May Stores chain to the ritzier MacyC-s brand. Federated acquired May Stores in 2005."
Ritzier? Do they really think that Macy's as a brand name is Ritzier than Field's? No WONDER they are having problems! It appears that Forbes has stopped practicing journalism, and is merely reiterated press releases.
Date: Thu, May 17, 2007, 2:05 pm CT
I'm really confused...can someone please verify what planet we're on? I just read the link provided by Clint, and it's a little different from my reality:
"Since paying $11 billion for May Department Stores Co., Federated has toned down promotions, added more expensive merchandise like Coach handbags, and sold more exclusive goods from designers like Oscar de La Renta and private-label brands under names like Alfani.
Federated, which doubled the number of Macy's to more than 800 with the May stores, has also been sprucing up its locations by reducing clutter..."
HUH??!!! FDS has toned down promotions? We get a piece of crap from them nearly every day, with coupon after contradictory coupon. They even send mail to my dad, who has been dead 13 years! Of course, if you read the exclusions on the back, they're pretty much invalid for almost everything in the store, so maybe that's what they mean.
HUH??!!! Added more exclusive and expensive merchandise? Donald Trump, Martha Stewart, and Alfani? Perhaps the reporter was being facetious and I missed the intended humor? That's the only explanation that makes sense...
HUH???!! Sprucing up stores and clearing clutter? Has the reporter actually ever set foot in a Macy's? The only clutter they cleared out was the customers who used to clutter up the aisles, especially in front of the cash registers.
Also...I posted a long and carefully worded response to Ellen's blog at the Trib early yesterday, and it never got posted. I mentioned the boycott and this blog, so I assume that's why I got censored. I'll give it another shot today.
sigh.
gayle
Date: Thu, May 17, 2007, rev. 10:40 am CT
Chicago Tribune Business Article, May 17, 2007
Ellen Warren Blog Thread, May 16, 2007
Chicago Sun-Times Business Article, May 17, 2007
* The Letters to the Sun-Times should be sent to: letters@suntimes.com
* The Letters to the Tribune should be sent to: ctc-TribLetter@tribune.com
* The Letters to Crain's Chicago Business should be sent to: letters@chicagobusiness.com.
* Please remember to include a daytime phone number for verification purposes.
* Be certain to indicate in your letter that it is "for publication."
* Remember, items submitted to the "letters to the editor" section should not be cross-posted to other forums like the fieldsfanschicago.org blog. The publications reque
st exclusivity.
* Be succinct as possible. Longer items don't have as much of a chance of being published. While there are many facets to the loss of Field's, consider focusing on just one or two facets to help the larger cause.
* Even if your letter does not get published in print or web media, remember that the media takes note. Every letter reminds editors and producers that this is still indeed a very important issue.
Jim
Date: Thu, May 17, 2007, 9:39 am CT
Date: Thu, May 17, 2007, 9:37 am CT
Comments have been made about Lungreed's psychological make-up: control freak, Napoleon complex, arrogant, self-centered, stubborn to list a few. Evidently he is now in a severe state of denial as his plans for "America's Department Store" collapse. Not only are the former May Company stores "disappointing," the legacy stores are failing to produce as well.
As so many have mentioned, macy*mart caused many of their own problems which have been listed on this board. They have created an atmosphere and offered merchandise that repels rathers than attracts shoppers. No doubt, the increased advertising that creates a sense of "urgency" will help. If I have the "urgent" need for a garish atmosphere and cheezy merchandise, I can always go to Kmart or wal*mart. (Notice how macy*s and wal*mart both use the * in their logos.)
Date: Thu, May 17, 2007, 9:34 am CT
"Federated finds Macy's not magic." This one even mentions us.
"Macy's parent lowers summer prediction."
www.suntimes.com/business/389665,CST-FIN-macys17.article
Also posts are flooding in to Ellen Warren's shopping blog in the "Tribune" from yesterday.
Date: Thu, May 17, 2007, 9:33 am CT
"THEY MADE A DISASTROUS DECISION "
Read - Federated finds Macy's NOT Magic -
Date: Thu, May 17, 2007, 9:13 am CT
Kind of disturbed by this paragraph:
This must have been written by an exec at Macy's. Seriously? We like the shoddy private-label brands? What status brands are left? (Example... if someone finds some actual Irish-made Waterford in a Macy's, could they let me know?). The bedding I've seen at Macy's are either private label or the same Calvin Klein collections that were in stores 3 years ago. I don't see how a marketing campaign can do anything but remind us how much things have gone downhill under Macy's Management.
Date: Thu, May 17, 2007, 7:28 am CT Date: Thu, May 17, 2007, 2:03 am CT
Apparently Federated's CEO is a moron, and doesn't learn from history. Does everyone remember when Dayton Hudson tried to change the color of the Marshall Field shopping bags to a more "environmentally" safer green? How long did that last, a month? And that was just a shopping bag.
Marshall Field V realized that Americans shop at "Target" and places like that, and I can understand that, so do I, as most Americans. Its just a shame that Federated put the death of the American Department Store in the Express Lanes.
[Note from Jim McKay: Matt, the American Depaartment store is on its way back--just check out the February 18, 2007 segment on "CBS Sunday Morning." Look at Saks, Nordstrom and Nieman-Marcus. Beyond that, Field's CAN come back--in a 21st Century incarnation to be sure--but in stregths and qualities comparable to the mid 20th Century glory days. That's what we here are all about. ]
Date: Thu, May 17, 2007, 1:27 am CT
The Marshall Field's stores in Columbus closed in 2003 and were sold to Kaufmann's. I love seeing the store inside because it has many of the State Street elements.
After crusinig through, I noticed a lot of stuff on clearance in the home department. (Kitchen Gadgets)
I aksed the clerk why? (Last year I was looking for Cusinart gadgets to go with my new line of Cuisinart appliances. I only found them at Kaufmann's and not Macy's. Over the past year, Macy's had brought them into the stores here after the conversion.)
The clerk informed me that they were making way for the new "Martha Stewart" "stuff". I chuckled.
Would you buy Martha over Cuisinart?
Date: Wed, May 16, 2007, 11:21 pm CT
What a great idea for Federated to start a college. Here's an idea for a class, "Nationwide Dressing Room Enhancement 101." Sorry, more florescent lighting isn't going to make us try on more of their bland drab merchandise lines.
It's sad the former Strawbridges here are so quiet too since they were ruined last year by bland merchandise at higher prices and Kmart atmosphere. Were so many people getting lost in the Marshall Fields stores that the directional signage is such a success? Were people really having so much disorientation trying to find the shoe department? Do mesys execs spin these lines with a straight face? I think the real directional signage should be to help direct people across State Street to find the Nordstrom Rack, or across the mall parking lot to Marshalls, since the elegant shopping experience, unique merchandise, and time honored trusted quality and value that the Fields name stood for have been cast aside, why not just avoid the markups.
Keep up the good work, Fields Fans! TL spins that we'll come around as the first anniversary of his debacle approaches but stepping foot in his dumpy stores only makes us miss our Fields more than ever.
Date: Wed, May 16, 2007, 9:44 pm CT
Renaming the stores to Marshall Fields would have no impact unless the merchandise stratagy changed back to the pre Macy days.
Give the customer what they want, which is obviously not the Macy way to shop.
Posted by: Bob Warsham | May 16, 2007 6:21:32 PM
Date: Wed, May 16, 2007, 8:20 pm CT
First, they royally offended their primary target market (Field's existing customers) by taking them for granted, insulting their intelligence, and ignoring their wishes. Then Macy's made a number of public relations faux pas. The stores were NOT filled with new merchandise that was appealing and they drove away many designers and brands that WERE appealing. They closed some popular specialty departments. Federated almost immediately let the stores start to go downhill maintenance-wise and often allowed stock to be displayed like a discounter does. People writing to this blog from other cities report similar horror stories.
When the end finally comes for Terry's regime he will have no one but himself to blame for the abject failure of Macy's national department store chain rollout. For a man as prideful as he, it will be humiliating. But he will probably walk away with millions of dollars and a house full of items purchased with his mega-discount while shareholders, employees, suppliers and shuttered stores are left behind in the dust.
Date: Wed, May 16, 2007, 8:18 pm CT
>From the Tribune Article:
Isn't this what they've been doing all along? What was the big roll out in September with all the national advertising? Why have there been ads running in the Chicago Tribune running every two weeks touting the lowest prices of the season? (Which, seriously, do they not understand that there are only four seasons in a year? The State Street store has a Barbara's Bookstore - go look at an almanac!)
The best thing about this is that it's going to have a serious impact on the bottom line for Federated. All of this advertising isn't going to be cheap, and the promotions (read: discounts) are just going to put even more of a dent in the profits they're earning on already declining sales. (And didn't Lundgren make a big point of saying that Macy's would be getting away from relying on sales/promotions?) At some point, the stockholders will demand some change.
Date: Wed, May 16, 2007, 8:07 pm CT Date: Wed, May 16, 2007, 6:51 pm CT
It has begun to be obvious that our protests and boycotting has made a difference. Even the media is finally getting it, in spite of the fact that they were quieted by advertising dollars. It is only a matter of time and remaining steadfast in our cause. HOORAY FOR US!
Date: Wed, May 16, 2007, 4:54 pm CT
I don't understand why TL continues to put the blame on former May stores, including Marshall Field's as all being coupon shoppers. Even though we've destroyed our 3 Field cards we had received 10x's as many coupons from Messy's. There was a sale every other day it seemed coming in the mail. What is a new marketing campaign going to do to improve sales for merchandise everyone can get at Kohl's, Penny's or Carson's cheaper? Their private label goods are a joke and do you think you're going to spend a $1,500 on a dress in the 28 Shop which has the word Messy's scribbled across it and put into a cheap plastic bag--- forget it!!
I don't think enough of the investment banking analysts are visiting Messy's. There is a sea of red discount signs when you go and visit their stores. Field Day's were always special but State Street has been turned into one big ole "basement bargin bin" by Federated. Who are they kidding!
I'm doing my part not to shop at any Macy or Bloomingdale locations. They are starting to sweat big time being in month 8 of the conversion, let's all pour it on to bring back MARSHALL FIELD's. I think people across the country are tuning into this blog and figuring out what we here in the Midwest already knew, Messy's is a tramp compared to the elegance and style that Marshall Field's represented and the Federated Executives all know it too!!
Onward the movement.
Mrs.W
Date: Wed, May 16, 2007, 4:48 pm CT
They just don't get it!
Date: Wed, May 16, 2007, 3:06 pm CT
Date: Wed, May 16, 2007, 2:45 pm CT
Jeez, it took long enough for them to realize it.
Date: Wed, May 16, 2007, 1:53 pm CT
MUST READ!!!
Date: Wed, May 16, 2007, 1:32 pm CT
With any luck, TL will be asked to step-down, or perhaps Macy's will sell their "North Division" to another investor who will reestablish the Field's name, identity and products.
Concerning the standard Macy's response about boycotts "hurting individuals." Well, we've all worked for companies that made bad corporate decisions, lost money, and had to lay-off people. That's the reality of a capitalist economy. And there are plenty of retail jobs out there - especially at Macy's competitors, which are doing quite well.
Marshall Field's Forever!
Date: Wed, May 16, 2007, 1:09 pm CT
I get daily emails from Nightingale-Conant, the company that sells motivational and business cd's and such. Today's quotes should have been sent directly to FDS blockheads:
"Products are made in the factory, but brands are created in the mind." Walter Landor, legendary branding and design pioneer
"Products are steel, plastic, metal, and wood...Brands, on the other hand, are filled with emotions: They can inspire, motivate, ease pain, create excitement, and open doors...When you build a brand that brings about new senses and emotions, you've made your product a brand." George Silverman, author of "The Secrets of Word-of-Mouth Marketing."
Gee, to think Terry said we were *wrong* to be emotional! I guess when you have no clue what building a brand means, you must just focus on the steel, plastic, and metal....
Viva la boycott!
gayle
Date: Wed, May 16, 2007, 1:08 pm CT
Date: Wed, May 16, 2007, 11:46 am CT
Date: Wed, May 16, 2007, 11:20 am CT
Date: Wed, May 16, 2007, 3:47 am CT
Online college courses are becoming quite popular with people in America. Perhaps Macy's could reduce some of their revenue shortfall by starting an online course selection to train shoppers how to react to the new standard of quality offered by Macy's vast collection of imports from overseas.
Classes could include:
1) Cheap Material 101: a class that offers students the opportunity to learn acceptance with broken buttons, fading colors and cheap fibers all around.
2) Self service shopping 101: Customers will learn to shop without the help of associates since there aren't many anyway.
3) Re-education 100: Customers and employees are to be re-educated to accept any reduction in services to save money. Customers will learn how to accept the prospect of overpaying for merchandise and carrying purchases without shopping bags.
4) Macy Media Re-education Project: Writers and media representatives will learn how to discount customer sentiments (60,000 guests signed a petition to bring back Marshall Field's legendary service and products) and create stories based soley on Macy's press releases and education.
Any other educational ideas ?
Can you think of any others that would help with the Macy's shopper and associate re-education since we are all so confused after all the years of benefiting by Marshall Field's world class products and service.
What do you think ?
Date: Tue, May 15, 2007, 11:59 pm CT
Carl Icahn, the billionaire investor who tried to take control of Time Warner Inc., sold his 1.3 percent stake in Federated Department Stores Inc., the second-largest U.S. department store company. Icahn Management sold its 6.8 million shares as of March 31, Icahn said in a filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission. Icahn last year had talked of buying as much as 2.5 percent of Federated.
Funny that this appears on the Internet news sites the day before Macy's latest quarter earnings report.
Date: Tue, May 15, 2007, 10:24 pm CT
It's been awhile since I have posted but read almost daily for the latest happenings to the boycott. Attended a mother's day party over the weekend on the North Shore with about 30 in attendance and guess what; no one had received a gift from a dreaded Macy's store. Several of us were wearing outfits from our beloved Marshall Field's. Classic elegance versus dowdy and cheap described one lady when comparing Field's to Macy's. How true! One lady had mentioned they went to look at furniture on State Street. When in the past they had used Field's interior design studio; upon their visit no member of the design team was on the floor and the 8th floor furniture receptionist gave them an 800 number to call after they repeatedly asked for one of the designers' cards. It's like they just continue to throw customers out of State Street to other stores. What a disaster!
I too noticed Federated's stock plummeted 3% on downgrades by several brokerage houses today. Carl Icahn has dumped his Federated holdings, go figure what he thinks about Macy's execution and current strategy under Mr. TL. Should be an interesting shareholders meeting since BonTon was just upgraded to "buy" from Banc of America last week. The idea of having protesters outside the annual meeting is a good idea to keep the drum beating for the cause. For any protesters attending be sure to bring your rub on tan location that can be given out to shareholders so everyone can get a fake tan like Mr. Terry (I want to be George Hamilton) Lundgren. Gail, your earlier comments about Mr. TL made me laugh outloud several times. One of my lady friend's daughter works at Northbrook Court and continues to say how dead the whole place is. She states there are going to be changes but nothing is being disclosed yet. Let's keep up the fight to bring the best department store back to Chicago, Marshall Field's forever!!
Date: Tue, May 15, 2007, 8:36 pm CT
Terry Lundgren told the public "No LOSS of Jobs"
"Hi, my name is Mike. I used to be a truck driver for Macy's and Marshall Field's until they decided to close down our warehouse. I have been out of a job since February. I received hardly anything in severance and cannot collect unemployment because I had been laid off several months prior to the warehouse closing. Anyway, I am selling my Macy's and Marshall Field's uniforms in hopes to make some money to be able to pay my bills."
THIS IS SAD Truth !
SHAREHOLDER'S You are in control of the VOTE on anything Terry Lundgren wants to do with the Company. Executives who slash worker's pensions, are really "padding" their own pockets. By cutting pensions, they make the company more profitable, and when they do that, they boost their own future Bonuses.
Terry Lundgren recently received a HUGE Bonus, stock options, Merchandise Discounts, use of the Corporate Jet for business & personal use, a guanteed pension, and money for taxes, and a consultant fees, company car expenses, and gas, and a boat, and millons of payouts when he leaves. This CEO is getting a FREE RIDE at the expense of SHAREHOLDERS ! GET THE BIG PICTURE ?
What happens to the guy who worked 25 years in the warehouse?
What does he get? NOTHING !
This is what happens when the board of Directors are NOT doing their job. They are on the board for those PERKS too! This Board should all be FIRED ! Then they should be forced to collect unemployment for 6 months, with no other income ! See what its like ! Lets See how they would handle it !
SHAREHOLDERS - When you cast your VOTE, remember Mike ! Don't cast your Vote with Terry Lundgren ! He's making sure he's taking care of Terry ,and NOT the future of the Company ! Terry Lundgren cant't CONTROL YOU or YOUR VOTE!
Check out Terry's "employment agreement".Then you will find out where all the company PROFITS are going !
Date: Tue, May 15, 2007, 5:32 pm CT
[b]Please realize that your boycott affects not a corporation, but the individual people, Chicagoans, that have worked here for many years. I myself worked for Field's for 12 years, and am happy to still have a job and now a career with Macy's (as opposed to my counterparts and Carson's or Lord and Taylor).[/b]
Macy's will claim that they couldn't save a dying store and it was the boycott that was the last nail in Field's coffin. How's that for twisting the facts? ;-) This is central to Comrade Macy's "re-education" of the media and the consumer. ;-)
I asked a Macy's team member on State St and they told me the same line:
"You know, if it wasn't for Macy's this place [State St Field's] would be a parking lot."
I then asked her how the State St. Men's department was doing.
"They used to make big cash on the 2nd floor, and it was really busy before the name change."
And after the name change?
"REALLY SLOW."
So Macy's saved Field's? I quipped.
She laughed.
But this is Comrade Lundgren's big lie: We couldn't save Field's. Of course, in the real world, Macy's has killed the great legacy and business that was State St Field's.
I only hope that real sales figures for the last 10 years State St are released and we can see Macy's as the sham it is and point toward a profitable future with the reemergence of Marshall Field's. Some savvy retailers could make good money with the State St. Store. But you cannot make any money if you ignore and are completely disconnected from your market like comrade Lundgren is.
Cheers,
Wm
Date: Tue, May 15, 2007, 4:00 pm CT
Date: Tue, May 15, 2007, 10:20 am CT
The other mall tenants, managers, store managers, property managers, and MOST IMPORTANTLY, shoppers DO NOT want that there.
Macy's - go back to New York!
Bring back the crown jewel of American department stores and get rid of that imitation cubic zirconia!!!
Date: Tue, May 15, 2007, 9:29 am CT
My response:
I am glad to hear that you are still employed with Macy's. You must be one of the lucky ones. I know there is/going to be massive layoffs at both the warehouse and because of the lack of sales.
What I would recommend is trying to apply at Nordstrom. Since the change over in September, they have gotten every single dollar that I used to spend at Field's. Seriously for your career please take a look at Nordstrom. There sales are beating expectations every quarter. And they have the same "weather" that has been dragging down MacyC-s sales. Can you imagine once the "weather" clears up.
Or if you would like I can recommend you to the HR person at my company. If you have a resume send it to me and I will make sure it goes to the right place. But in terms of the boycott, I will Never and I repeat NEVER purchase anything from Macy's. I go out of my way, to make sure no one shops at your store. I went as far as to purchase one of those $10.00 gift cards from a co-worker of mine just to make sure she did not walk into one of your stores. When Christmas comes up I make it a point to email all of my family to remind them that I am boycotting Macy's and to please make sure they do not purchase any gifts for me at your store.
Again John, I am sorry about your employment situation. But Chicago is a very vibrant city, I am sure you will find something else. So good luck in your search for employment and if I can be of personally assistance please let me know.
Best Regards,
Bob Garrett
--- Macy's Customer Service
wrote:
Thank you for your e-mail regarding the Marshall Field's name change to Macy's.
To better serve our guests in this highly
competitive retail environment, we must concentrate
on becoming a national brand so we can deliver
outstanding value to our visitors.
As part of this name change process, everything
possible has been done to honor the Marshall Field's
heritage, particularly in its Chicago birthplace. If
you come to the State Street store, you will see
that all of the history and traditions of Marshall
Field's are still alive and well.
While the name has changed, most things inside the
store have stayed the same--most importantly the
people. Please realize that your boycott affects not
a corporation, but the individual people,
Chicagoans, that have worked here for many years. I
myself worked for Field's for 12 years, and am happy
to still have a job and now a career with Macy's (as
opposed to my counterparts and Carson's or Lord and
Taylor).
Again, thank you for sharing your thoughts and
feelings. We look forward to continue serving you
in the future.
Sincerely,
John Bourgeois
Customer Comments:
First Name: Mr. Robert
Associate Comments:
Date: Tue, May 15, 2007, 9:00 am CT
Let the boycott continue...
Date: Tue, May 15, 2007, 6:21 am CT
Is that really the letter you received in response? Does anybody at FDS pay any type of attention to what they are doing or sending. Based on the tenses used within it, that letter must have been written in 2005. They said "...benefit from the conversion to macy's next year..."
You would think that there is nothing this company could do that would surprise me/us, but I am just dumbfounded by that letter.
Date: Tue, May 15, 2007, 4:45 am CT
When Federated took full-service restaurants out of their stores, they said they didn't make enough money for the company. WHAT FEDERATED FAILED TO REALIZE IS THAT ALTHOUGH IT MAY HAVE COST THEM MONEY TO RUN THE RESTAURANTS, THEY NEVER QUALIFIED THE FACT THAT THESE RESTAURANTS WOULD KEEP PEOPLE IN THE STORES LONGER...INTERESTINGLY ENOUGH, THE DAYTON'S/MARSHALL FIELD'S/HUDSON'S STORES INCLUDED MANY RESTAURANTS...TO CAPITALIZE ON THE BENEFIT OF KEEPING CUSTOMERS IN THE STORES TO SPEND MORE MONEY IN THE STORE BECAUSE THEY DIDN'T HAVE TO LEAVE THE STORE TO EAT ELSEWHERE.
It is seems wise for in-store full-service restaurants (not the fast food like you find in Macy's Herald Square like McDonald's...yuck !)to provide great value to differentiate themselves from other stores.
---> Advertise the restaurants, don't place them in corners with no signs, make announcements over the PA system like they used to at some stores.
---> Accurately list the restaurants existence on the websites, and in-store signage. Make them a centerpiece of the stores. MANY OF THE RESTAURANTS IN MACY'S STORES AREN'T EVEN LISTED ON THE WEBSITE STORE LOCATOR
---> MAKE THE RESTAURANTS FULL-SERVICE (WITH WAITERS AND WAITRESSES) AND PROVIDE A TAKE-OUT AREA TOO.
Date: Mon, May 14, 2007, 11:57 pm CT
It's becoming very clear that Macy's has lost control of its rebranding strategy. Hmmm... let me rephrase that. It's pretty clear that Macy's never had control of its rebranding strategy from the very beginning. Perhaps we should all help out Terry by sending him postcards, bumpter stickers, buttons, etc. with the letters WWMFD.
What would Marshall Field do? We all know the answer. It's about time Terry finds religion too.
Date: Mon, May 14, 2007, 9:53 pm CT
These past eight months have been disastrous for sales, particularly in the Midwest. Should the corporation stay the course? Or change direction before it's too late? For many Federated shareholders, I'm sure it's hard to know.
One thing that's important, of course, is to have confidence in your CEO. But has Terry Lundgren earned that trust? So far, his predictions have proven woefully off the mark. Remember when his minions were telling you that shoppers SAY that they care about keeping their regional stores, but when it comes to actual purchases, they will be just as happy with Macy's? Whoops. That prediction has turned out to be ... uh ... "inoperative" (as they used to say at the Watergate hearings).
The thing that has impressed me so far about Terry Lundgren is that he appears to be a bit on the megalomaniacal side. The puff pieces that appeared last fall in major newspapers were about HIM, and not about Macy's stores. They gushed about how Terry Lundgren is tall and good looking. And the fact that he talks on his cell phone a lot. Fascinating. They also recounted an anecdote that Lundgren probably thought reflected well on him--that he designed his second wife's wedding dress himself and wouldn't let her see it until their wedding day. He even had her blindfolded during her dress fittings. But most readers probably saw this story as evidence of his controlling personality, not his charm. Moreover, the story suggested that he was the kind of person who might be oblivious to what his customers actually think and want. That's not the kind of person you want at the helm of a major retailer.
Newspaper articles like that don't just appear out of no where. Federated's media relations office probably went out and found a free lance writer willing to write on Lundgren. Then they managed to convince the newspapers (who happen to be beholden to Federated for their advertising bread and butter) to run the article. It's a lot of work. A corporation like Federated will only get one chance to make the front page of a major newspaper; it's important to give it your best shot.
What in the world would make Federated's media relations office believe that the best way to "sell" the consolidation to the public is to talk about how tall and good looking Terry Lundgren is? It's a very odd strategy. My guess, however, is that they were just following orders. It's Terry Lundgren who thinks that Terry Lundgren is fascinating, and at Federated, Terry Lundgren gets his way--even when he's making a fool of himself.
The problem is that shoppers aren't quite as interested in Terry Lundgren as he thinks they are. I think I can say with confidence that if Terry Lundgren were twice as tall and three times as good looking as he is, I would still not spend a nickel at Macy's.
Date: Mon, May 14, 2007, 7:06 pm CT Date: Mon, May 14, 2007, 4:22 pm CT
I'm a born & raised New Yorker and alum of Loyola Univ Chicago (Class of '01). I was dismayed like the rest of you to hear that Marshall Fields was being turned into Macys. MF was more than just a Chicago tradition, it represented class. There was a time that Macys had the prestige of a Fields or Carsons, but things changed for the worst when Macys and Federated merged.
Macys flagship store on 34th St in NYC feels like a flea market instead of a department store. Ironically, it has the best selection of all the Macys stores in NY, but that isn't saying much as it seems like they sell the same seasonal merchandise year after year. The Macys in downtown Brooklyn, NY is an absolute, certified dump - there's no customer service, the merchandise lacks quality and variety, there aren't enough registers open during peak shopping days and that store NEVER has shopping bags (In the 28 years of my life this is the ONLY store that I've had problems receiving shopping bags). Even the store design feels like it was just thrown together. I dont know how many stores are like this one, but Macys/Federated should be ashamed they operate such a locale.
F.Y.I. - The downtown Brooklyn store used to be a wonderful store called Abraham & Straus (A&S) and it was an absolute pleasure shopping there. I have many great memories of A&S (as you all do with MF). A&S was sold to Macys during the early 90s and things were ok at first, but the store surely declined over time.
I have to admit that here in NYC I've been shopping at Bloomingdale's lately, but even that store is becoming repetitive. Unfortunately Saks and Lord & Taylor aren't conveniently located, Bergdorf Goodman is way too expensive, we don't have a Nordstrom or Neiman Marcus, and I refuse to shop at the god awful H&M. There was a time when NYC had great department stores (Gimbels, A&S, B. Altman's, Sterns, Alexanders) but unfortunately these places went bankruptcy - especially right after the market crash of '88.
I'm happy to hear that you guys are protesting and keep the fight alive. I wish we fought for some of our great lost stores way back when.
Date: Mon, May 14, 2007, 2:47 pm CT Date: Mon, May 14, 2007, 11:00 am CT
I complained about the M store at NorthPark in Dallas--shoddy merchandise, discount store like appearance, and received a similar email response. No one however ever contacted me.
Hope you have better success and the opportunity to interact about the poor store. As much as the chance for YOU to say something, I would sure like to hear their personal response.
Best wishes.
John F
Date: Mon, May 14, 2007, 10:15 am CT
This is my response I received today:
Thank you for your interest in macys.com.
That is why we are so pleased to be retaining all of these important
regional differences even as we combine our hometown values and
traditions with the national reach of the Macy's brand. The stores, the
people, the service and the commitment to community that you expect from
us will continue. Our divisional and buying offices will remain as they
are now, and our local stores will be unaffected.
At the same time, our customers are going to benefit from the conversion
to Macy's next year in numerous important ways -- better and more
distinctive merchandise assortments that are focused on affordable
luxury for yourself, your family and your home; valuable new offers
associated with the Macy's credit card; advantages of a new national
Macy's customer loyalty program; access to an expanded Macy's national
gift and bridal registry; new improvements at Macys.com, where customers
can shop, check out the latest trends and pay their Macy's bills online;
and an accelerated schedule of improvements in our stores -- everything
from enhanced fitting rooms to new features such as price scanners,
helpful "find your way" signage and shopping buggies in home areas.
This is what we mean by bringing our customers "the best of both worlds"
-- working as we always have to reflect the hometown values of our
customers and employees, even as we strive to fulfill our vision of
Macy's as America's department store.
We are excited by what lies ahead, and we think that once you experience
the many positives connected with this change, you will be, too. We hope
you will give us a chance to convince you in the days and weeks ahead.
Again, thank you for taking the time to get in touch with us, and for
giving us the opportunity to share our views with you.
We apologize for any inconvenience you may have experienced. If you
have any further questions or concerns, please e-mail us at
customerservice@macys.com or call us at: 1-800-289-6229. Our office
hours are Monday through Saturday 9:00 AM to 6:00 PM and Sunday 11:00 AM
to 7:00 PM.
Sincerely,
More of the same old stuff. I am sure they are pleased with how much they are re-educating me on the benefits of Macy's.
Date: Mon, May 14, 2007, 9:53 am CT Date: Mon, May 14, 2007, 9:02 am CT
Oh my gosh!!!! an amazing thing has happened in the trib!!!!! today is monday, NOT SATURDAY!!!!! and something more on the 'pro-Field's' side made it in!!! amazing.
Date: Sun, May 13, 2007, 10:12 pm CT
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LvUKr9cL08E
Date: Sun, May 13, 2007, 9:20 pm CT Date: Sun, May 13, 2007, 4:14 pm CT
Date: Sun, May 13, 2007, 3:34 pm CT
Both sides are right, with one change needing to be made. Yes, macy's is definitely down-market when compared to Marshall Field's. However, I think the relationship in regards to Burdines, Filenes, etc., needs to be reworded. macy's is not an expensive New York store, macy's is an overpriced New York store. And we all know the difference.
Date: Sun, May 13, 2007, 1:36 pm CT
The Bloomie's Home Store was Saks before - when the mall first started expanding, adding N-M, Saks, and i.magnin.
Sears & Field's were the original developers of Oakbrook, Old Orchard, and Woodfield. I'm curious if Macy's owns those stores (and the land underneath) or if they (or Dayton Hudson) already did a sale-leaseback like they did for 111 N. State.
Date: Sun, May 13, 2007, 1:44 pm CT
Sears Canada was formed as a JV between Simpsons and Sears - it was a way for Sears to gain access to Canada, and for Simpson's to expand. Simpson's department stores were more "up-scale" stores in the city centers (competing with The Bay and Eatons). As a combined company, they opened Sears stores in the suburbs. When Hudson's Bay Co. bought Simpsons, the resulting split-up meant Sears had no stores in the downtown areas.
When Sears bought Eaton's out of bankruptcy, that gave them their first downtown stores, and they they kept the "higher end" lines. They tried keeping the downtown stores as "eatons" (small e), but it never really worked and they converted to Sears nameplates, with eatons merchandise. Chalk it up to there being some "Simpsons-minded" people left in the organization.
Date: Sun, May 13, 2007, 11:21 am CT
No doubt the "results" of the so-called survey were determined before the first consumer responded. Would be this be the same type of "survey" that Lunky used to say that customers would fall in love with macy*mart and would not miss their regional stores?
Imagine all the "smoke and mirrors" being prepared for the Federated shareholders' meeting!
Date: Sun, May 13, 2007, 5:01 am CT
I am SO pleased that Fields Fans are keeping up the fight!!
To my thinking; this is about the State Street store. I don't give a 'rat(cy)'s-ass' about Water Tower Place or Suburban Malls... That's where dime-stores like macys belong, (kind of out-of-sight) amongst the homogenous maze & fast food smells...
We can't defeat federated... But Chicago can take Marshall Field's State Street away from them! Grass roots indignation only goes so far. This effort needs a high-profile celebrity with Chicago ties to go public with our displeasure. (Visualize: Faye Dunnaway as Joan Crawford) Don't f**k with me fellas"!!! But who? Ebert, Studs??
And what about a buy-out? Have we forgotten the history of our beloved Marshall Field's? Early-on; Harry (aka:mile-a-minute) Selfridge was instrumental to the success of Marshall Field & Co. When MF refused to make him a partner, Harry left for England & founded Selfridges Department Store, which is alive & well to this day!! Would Selfridges be deaf to the appeal of millions of Chicago shoppers to buy & restore Marshall Field's to us! Talk about PR!! Placards are one thing... World News Tonight is another!!!!!
WE WILL WIN THIS FIGHT....
Date: Sun, May 13, 2007, 5:00 am CT
Some interesting notes:
Marshall Field's was trying to be a much much higher end brand in 3 major cities...operating a store between Bloomingdale's and Neiman Marcus, with 60 stores....when Neiman Marcus only has like 30 or 40 stores across the country...and that is where they went off track.
Although he will NOT break out the numbers, Macy's North is
Terry Lundgren admits that Marshall Field's
"The name change is passive....you don't hear about that." We brought in fully new and different merchandise..you walk into the store and it looks different !
"The most progress will be made when we identify who is shopping in the stores !"
I had to laugh, a comment was made stating that Alfani clothes are clothes that people can wear and they are not over the edge.
International Expansion: 5 years + down the road. Joint ventures, timing is definately down the road. Nothing definative.
Closing stores: No big alarming #s. They are still looking at stores to close.
Any further comments from listening on your end fellow Field's fans ?
Date: Sun, May 13, 2007, 12:53 am CT
Next to go Northbrook?
PS - Please do not fill out the survey... it is not being conducted by an independent company. I agree with Paul P. it is just a way for FD to build a case for themselves.
Vote with your dollars, vote with your voice, vote with your feet -- don't go to messy's
Date: Sun, May 13, 2007, 12:51 am CT
As I looked at some "exciting" shorts in the men's department, it was interesting to note they had only like ONE pair in each size of the limited styles. The quality was just plain appalling--cheap fabric, drab colors, poor construction. A clerk approached and asked how I was doing. I shook my head and said, "This sure isn't Kaufmann's. This place is a joke."
CLERK: Oh, you miss Kaufmann's? That's what everyone says.
DREW: I guess you have to play the company line and brag macy*mart.
CLERK: I'm not afraid to say it--Kaufmann's was so much better and we were always busy. Our sales keep getting worse and our hours have been cut. We're not making any money since the change-over.
DREW: There is NOTHING here that is worth a second glance. JC Penney has better merchandise and Kohl's a bigger selection.
CLERK: We are always out of everything. The advertised merchandise doesn't come in and customers get pissed when we don't have it. Then the employees get reprimanded because we aren't making our sales quota.
We chatted for a while when a manager approached us. She was very nice and asked me if I liked macy*mart. It was all I could do to keep from laughing in her face.
DREW: This store is a waste of time. It's pathetic what has happened to Kaufmann's.
MANAGER: What specifically don't you like?
DREW: Let's see. Poor selection, cheap quality, nothing distinctive or unique. Look around this department. There's more empty space than merchandise.
MANAGER: We have a lot more merchandise coming in. Stop back and I hope you will be pleased.
DREW: The time to please the customer WAS when the new name was put on the store. So many people just gave up on this place and you're going to have a difficult time getting them back. Penney's, Bon Ton, Boscov's are so much better and customers are getting comfortable with those stores. There is no reason to even bother coming back here.
MANAGER: That's what we're afraid would happen.
Kind of makes one wonder if the stockholders and executives of Federated ever bother to visit the stores? Surely they can't think that Lunkhead's strategy is working if they ever tried to shop at macy*mart.
Date: Sat, May 12, 2007, 11:09 pm CT
There's still so many who shout "YES!" when they hear "Read how Field's could be brought back..."
No way I can possibly bring myself to go to a Macy's and fill out a survey. I just don't trust their intentions. 60,000 signatures saying "We Want Field's" was the best possible and definitive survey.
They ignored it. We keep saying we want Field's. Look at the sales. They sure aren't going to listen now. Their survey seems slanted as some of you have pointed out.
Thanks for the words of support, especially Paul P.
Date: Sat, May 12, 2007, 5:09 pm CT
I thought I would post in recognition of what your efforts have accomplished. Your boycott is working.
I live near Field's on State. The store is terribly dead and this is abyssmal. A couple of weeks ago I picked up a flyer that you people were handing out. It talked about the poll that is taking place now which is the boycott. A boycott is the only thing Messy's share holders will understand.
Let's be clear, Messy's wouldn't be polling customers with bribes of Frango mints--1 lb boxes at that--unless they wanted to cope with your poll/boycott.
I say yes, it is your flyers, your protests, your persistence that has Messy's scrambling to make up their own poll results before next Friday's annual meeting. And I also say yes, they will tinker with these results until they give the appearance to share holders that things aren't as bad as the dark reality.
As far as media coverage goes, it's interesting that there has been no word in the Tribune or Sun-Times about the past week's protest. I expected something at least pro-messy's concerning the protest. No, messy's is so scared that word of a protest in the past week or two will come up next week. So I will bet a case of Frangos that messy's has asked that it be all hush-hush. They want no publicity. Even ABC7 News aka the channel with the messy's camera--what a silly name for a camera--is intimidated by messy's.
Keep it up! Your boycott is working to stop corporate arrogance and homogenization and loss of local community. Drive the carpet baggers from our store! Bring back Field's!
And no, I won't be filling out no stinkin' survey. And believe me, their messy survey smells like something is up.
Congratulations, you honorable people!
ONWARD!
Date: Sat, May 12, 2007, 4:42 pm CT
The survey was extensive based on your answers in the first few screens and they are obviously concerned that they are loosing to the competition.
After finishing, I spoke with the employee monitoring the survey area and the reason was the horrible sales and the number of complaints they are receiving about merchandise, sizes, availability etc. When I asked will they listen?, the answer was, We all hope so, because something has to happen for the better.
the Frango gift was a box of Marshall Field branded Frango 62% Cocoa dark chocolates.
There was also the opportunity to hand write remarks if you felt the survey didn't cover your concerns.
I urge EVERYONE to participate in this survey if it is running Sunday May 13th or at another date.
Best wishes
BOB
Date: Sat, May 12, 2007, 4:39 pm CT
I WANT MY MARSHALL FIELDS BACK!!!!
Date: Sat, May 12, 2007, 1:15 pm CT
I saw an article which listed Chicago as one of the top cities for "ruppies" (retired urban professionals). This makes me believe what Drew wrote is true. I betet FDS wants the store at 111 No. State St. to fail so the Marshall Field's Building can be turned into exclusive condos.
Date: Sat, May 12, 2007, 12:48 pm CT
First, Terry Lundgren is getting very clever with this monthly excuse thing. Since he blamed April's poor sales figures on having moved a promotion from May to April, he now has his excuse for May already set up. It will be something along the lines of "since we moved May's promotion to April we confused our shoppers who were expecting our May promotion and missed it in April"
Secondly, think about this survey thing; it is being conducted in the stores, NOT outside the stores. Thus, they are taking the opinions of those few that are still shopping in their stores, not the scores who no longer shop in former Field's stores. One can only assume that this remnant customer is probably OK with what's in these stores or they wouldn't be there. So my prediction is FDS will come out with the "results" of this survey stating that this Macy's junk is what the customer wants. They should think about changing "give the lady what she wants" to a new catchy slogan " Give the lady what we wants". I think everyone who can do so to get into their nearest former Field's store and give FDS some REAL input!
Date: Sat, May 12, 2007, 11:25 am CT
I have been keeping up with this website since September, but haven't really said too much on here. I wrote FDS recently and finally received a response back. I have been writing to them for almost 9 months now and this is the first thing I heard from them. I would LOVE to tell them everything of how I feel and why I hate their store so much, but then it would seem like I would be helping them in the long run. Does anyone think I should even take my time to tell them what I REALLY think? Here is a copy of the letter. Has anyone gotten this same one?
Thank you for taking the time to e-mail us. We have received your message, and it's been forwarded to Linda Piepho, Store Manager of our State Street location, for review and response. Please be assured we take your message very seriously. Linda Piepho or someone from the State Street executive office will contact you in the near future. Thank you for shopping in our stores.
Mary Mortensen
Date: Sat, May 12, 2007, 11:18 am CT
Date: Sat, May 12, 2007, 9:30 am CT
Tangentially, Dominick's has a number of its private label items supplied by SuperValu, owner of Jewel-Osco.
To respond to jp, as much as Sears Holding Company would love to own all of Sears Canada, it does not. A deal almost went through several months ago but it fell through. As a result, Sears Holding Company only owns about half of Sears Canada. That could account for the differences.
Sears Canada is a Toronto-based retailer.
Date: Sat, May 12, 2007, 6:20 am CT
You'll love the question about Macy's service. For those of you in marketing, you will notice how the survey is written to prompt a positive reponse. Just remember to print at the bottom of the page, "Bring back Field's"
There are also questions about more "upscale merchandise" as if there actually is any upscale products at Messy's.
And finally:
Several departments (jewlery, some cosmetics) is leased space. Macy's actually wants to raise the "rent". Vendors, suffering from lower sales due to lower store traffic, are pushing back. Why pay more money for less business? This should be fun to watch!
Date: Sat, May 12, 2007, 4:16 am CT
I see many similarities at the Bay to Macy's, but the Bay is still a lot more pleasant place to shop than Macy's. The nicest Bay I was in was Polo Park in Winnipeg. This store rivaled any Dayton Hudson store. The Bay does have Macy's clothing lines, but from my experience they were not pushed as strongly as Macy's does.
The real screw up in Canadian retailing was Sears buying Eaton's. Eatons was like Marshall Field's and Sears completely ruined the company and brought it downscale.
I must say I was surprised to see Armani, Chanel and Prada at the Sears in Vancouver.....can anyone explain that?
Date: Sat, May 12, 2007, 1:01 am CT
Congrats on the 5/6 protest -- I caught you guys on Ch 9 on Cable
News papers have to "think like macy's" and change thier way of doing things
We customers have to be re-rducated and re-trained.
it really IS the red star of communism for that place!
Thank God for choice!
The Boycott is WORKING
Stay Strong and continue to utilize all your options
In my travels through Ohio and Pa -- the macy stores do have some slight business depending on where I am --it is better or worse -- HOWEVER Dillard's, Penney's, and Boscov's are ALWAYS busier where ever I find myself these days!
Take Care
Date: Fri, May 11, 2007, 10:37 pm CT
"What is "The Bay"?"
their friend replies "oh, it is a mid-end department store"
the lady then says "Like Macy's?"
"Yes, Like Macy's"
The American Tourist replies "Oh, well, we don't have to see that then....."
She immediately turned around and they all walked in the opposite direction.
It would appear that Macy's great reputation that Mr. Lundgren likes to brag about has preceded it and is now hurting business at the Bay! They really should choose their role models more carefully.....
Date: Fri, May 11, 2007, 10:30 pm CT
They asked questions like: should Macy's stock more upscale merchanise, moderate, or basic merchandise? what type of service should I expect to receive as compared to Carson's or Target, etc.? when did I last buy men's jeans and where?(I'm female, this puzzled me)? when did I last buy a coat? where from? For each purchase I checked, they asked would I consider buying from Macy's next time? (You know the answer to that one), what was my household income? how much did I spend last year shopping? It took about 10 minutes to complete the entire survey.
I think they finally realize the error of they ways. Sales have to be stagnating or falling to them to this. Question is, are they truly ready or able to change course? And why in the hell didn't they ask these questions before they destroyed my all-time favorite store! Moreover, what twisted thing will they do with my survey answers? Like these people can be trusted after what they did to Marshall Field's?????
Date: Fri, May 11, 2007, 8:47 pm CT Date: Fri, May 11, 2007, 8:32 pm CT
Can't bring myself to go inside a Macy's and take a survey.
Date: Fri, May 11, 2007, 8:18 pm CT Date: Fri, May 11, 2007, 7:47 pm CT
Date: Fri, May 11, 2007, 2:14 pm CT Date: Fri, May 11, 2007, 1:48 pm CT Date: Fri, May 11, 2007, 1:07 pm CT
Yet still Macy's expects us to believe that Marshall Field's was a failed business model despite its extraordinary Chicago area presence, enormous investment in store renovations, enviable good will, upscale product mix, outstanding service and sales growth immediately prior to the takeover.
Macy's can't possibly expect everyone to continue to accept their ongoing excuses for poor sales, including hot weather, cold weather, holidays and even newspapers while Field's higher-end competitors in the same markets seem to fare quite well. Particularly offensive is Macy's excuse that former Field's customers are confused and need to be re-educated.
Are all those highly educated former Field's customers in Lake Forest - the ones who don't shop at Macy's - confused or do they simply miss Marshall Field's quality style, merchandise and service. Perhaps one should consider that Macy's simply doesn't hold a candle to Field's and that Marshall Field's customers, and other across the nation, don't like Macy's downgraded "Way to Shop" with discount merchandise, tacky store designs and displays, fake designer private label brands and poor service.
In Chicago, Macy's has every opportunity to profit from a huge development boom in the loop with many new condo buildings, increased tourism, and huge numbers of visitors to Millennium Park, theaters and museums. If Macy's were truly an exciting improvement over Marshall Field's, the same store sales growth at 111 North State Street should show dramatic, industry leading increase. However, analysts and in store vendors report that sales have taken a nose dive.
Perhaps Macy's has good reason for failing to disclose Field's same store sales figures and failing to accept responsibiltiy for the detrimental impact to Chicago caused by their decision to take over and eliminate Marshall Field's.
Any reporter would be the hero to many in Chicago and around the country if they were to challenge the veracity of Macy's outrageous claims that Chicago is better off with Macy's at 111 North State Street. We all suffer from Macy's arrogant decision to destroy an extraordinary and cherished Chicago resource rather than to enter markets by building their own Macy's stores.
Macy's really ought to stop blaming others for the consequences of their own poor judgement!
Date: Fri, May 11, 2007, 12:54 pm CT Date: Fri, May 11, 2007, 11:19 am CT Date: Thu, May 10, 2007, 11:15 pm CT
It's time to examine what is in the "Terry Lundgren Teabags you must put in your water ! I am an original Macy's shopper from way back...long before Federated was associated with Macys. Believe me, Macy's has gone downhill moreso in the last ten years and that is what this is all about.
Federated did a good thing by ensuring Macy's would be saved from bankruptcy. Yet,when Terry Lundgren was made CEO,Chairman,President and Grand Poobah,(3 or four different titles at once) it became his way or the highway.
If the downscale changes at Herald Square is any indication of what America can expect as a model for the future,then I am very concerned and saddened. I have seen the generic brands,the closing of formal dining rooms, the loss of so many exciting departments that the world's largest department store should have like electronics,a world class food hall, and how about a first class white-table cloth restaurant ?
Todays Macy's Herald Square is basically a sea of housebrands from China blended in with what's left of the few popular brands like Coach. All of the fine designers have made a b-line for the door. Regarding service, Macy's have taken away the once very well respected food hall. Dining options are nothing but routine as an amalgamation of chains from across America like McDonald's, Ben & Jerry's. Nothing to wow the people who come to the department store for the total shopping experience. Even the so-called pub and food take-out area called Cucina & Company is based on the same restaurants that exist at the Met-Life building and Rockefeller Center !
Herald Square's success continues to hinge on the fact that the Euro makes shopping in New York a real bargain. Time will tell though,because JCPenney is coming to the former Gimbel's building down the street and if Macy's doesn't shape up, a good part of their business (especially apparel) will be impacted.
All in all, Herald Square should be a show-place. Macy's should make the world's largest store, the most beautiful,refined,elegant and exciting store the world has ever seen.
If the last ten to fifteen years are any indication, then I am very worried and sad about the future of what was once my favorite department store in the world !
Date: Thu, May 10, 2007, 10:51 pm CT
Shopping carts are making appearences at Somerset, the very upscale mall in Troy, north of the city. Signs above the cart stands read:
"Why Carry when you can Cart"
SAD.
Now several clerks told me the reason is no more package pick up at any of the stores. Cart it to your own trunk.
Cookbooks are discounted 80% and more as the department is discontinued. Wine shop is being dropped from the Michigan/Wisconsin stores. Chicago and I presume Twin City stores will continue to sell wine.
It's getting worse!
Date: Thu, May 10, 2007, 7:07 pm CT
At least this time Lundgren didn't blame the sales dip on the weather. He said a promotion didn't go over. What an understatement!
THE MAIN THING IS: OUR BOYCOTT IS WORKING! What is more, even those people who are not consciously boycotting are staying away from Macy's because the stores are just so unappealing.
While some think that the changeover from Marshall Field's is a done deal and that the more time goes on, the sillier it is to fight it, I think that time is actually on our side. Time gives the boycott "legs," and only with time will it become obvious that Federated is hanging itself.
Date: Thu, May 10, 2007, 5:16 pm CT
Date: Thu, May 10, 2007, 11:13 am CT
TL is grasping at straws.
TL: "Re-educate the shopper."
Marshall Field's: "Give the lady what she wants."
TL: "Re-educate the shopper."
Marshall Field's: "Give the lady what she wants."
Oh gee, I don't know, let me think, hmmm--I think I'll go w/the one which respects me as a person and customer. TL: "NO DEAL!"
Remember fans, even if people don't post to this site or attend the rallies, when they DO see us they WILL think twice before shopping at Messy's; we are making a lasting impression.
Date: Thu, May 10, 2007, 11:11 am CT
Date: Thu, May 10, 2007, 11:00 am CT
Newspapers have the power to create and destroy in this country. How about the publishers and reporters getting back at these idiots by digging up all the dirt on their past and burying them in it??
Such as Lunkhead not letting his current wife plan her own wedding??
Date: Thu, May 10, 2007, 10:31 am CT
Thanks for thinking of me at the Rally--I hope you know if there was anyway I could have been there, I would have, that's how much I believe in what we are doing.
Now, down to business. Write the Mayor and local Alderman and let them know if Chicago receives the Olympic bid then it's absolutely essential that an internation city like Chicago has it's internationally known store, Marshall Field's--not New York's Macy's. We will let the world know how Chicagoans truly feel about these carpetbaggers destroying our third most popular destination. I challenge everyone across the country who are upset w/Federated about the takeover of their local store to join w/us and make a stand against Federated. (If Chicagoans like, open your homes to out-of-town supporters.)
Form serious committees. Example: view website to follow through on the best ideas. Put your money where your mouths are days--which store to target and when; post sales impact to web and send to Federated. Make sure letters are written to media, Federated and TL when necessary. (We're already pretty good at this one!) You get my idea--its all about organization on a large scale. Let's show the world Chicagoans are more than a lot of 'Bull'!
Again, a special thanks to Federated and TL. Because of the change we do not have to witness the destruction of Marshall Field's good name in all this.
Everywhere I go people ask about my button. After a briefing I always get the one if all of the following responses:
1) They did what? I love Marshall Field's.
2) Macy's is everyhere; they took over our regional store and I don't like the merchandise. (The name Macy's and crap are usually in the same sentence!)
3) Macy's belongs in New York.
4) Good luck Chicago.
Hang in there team!
Date: Thu, May 10, 2007, 9:09 am CT
Date: Thu, May 10, 2007, 7:01 am CT
Meanwhile, Nordstrom seems exempt from all this (sales up 3.1%):
Date: Thu, May 10, 2007, 6:42 am CT
You keep hinting the other stores to be closed are all North Sided stores, when in reality, Macy's would pay double and tripple rent to keep those stores open at Northbroom, Old Orchard, Woodfield & Oak Brook open. The reason is that those stores have their 4 classifications of core customers (http://fds.com/company/corecustomers.asp) Strangely they have no core customers they focus on at bloomingdales because the name speaks for itself (most of the time!) Macy's however has avoided fixing and doing repairs at Orland Square, Joliet, and Stratford Square also. I've seen the upgrades done at the north suburbs stores. But I know Northbrook Court was late to change the Marshall Field's signs to Macy's.
If you want to read the corporate spin crap that I'm spoon fed every day, You should read all of the company information I see every day of my life. All I hear is Macy's is better blah blah blah.
And of Course, Remember macys.com/tellus/ is the best way to get all the stores attention, those reports go against them when you say the experience was disappointing. 800-264-0069 is the phone number to office of the president at FDS, For complaints (and praises, but yea right!) about Macy's & Bloomingdales.
Date: Thu, May 10, 2007, 12:44 am CT
So while chastising the newspaper industry, Anne MacDonald points to department stores, which she says had to undergo significant changes over the past several years to adapt to competition from online stores, television shopping channels, big box retailers and discounting clubs. Macy's, she said, is seeking to establish itself as a more upscale, fashionable brand and drive foot traffic even when there aren't promotions, and is still trying to understand how customers are changing the ways they shop.
What? So, Annie, let me get this straight. In order to establish itself as more upscale, Macy's removed most high end brands like Jimmy Choo, Dolce & Gabbana, Prada, Herman Miller and more from the State Street and other stores. Uh-huh. And to drive foot traffic, Macy's removed the distinctive stores within a store like Designers Guild, Thomas O'Brien and Australian Homemade Ice Cream. Uh-huh.
Sounds like Anne's little Alfani shoes are a size too tight.
But get this. I can't believe she actually said this. She pointed to the example of her two favorite sections of her hometown newspaper, The New York Times. Every week she pulls out the science and dining sections and reads them first. If the Times were to somehow deliver those sections to her wrapped on the outside, she would be impressed that the publisher had learned something about her reading habits, she said.
Not to sound mean, but what kind of lazy cow is she? The WHOLE POINT of a Sunday newspaper is to pull it apart, glancing at each section along the way until you find the one(s) you always read first. It's called a morning R-I-T-U-A-L.
In my world C1 a world filled with many rituals from morning coffee with Bailey's to an evening footbath with salts that I used to get from the Merz boutique in Field's, but now get from the store in Lincoln Square C1 a department store isn-t like a big box retailer or discount club. It's a local store where you find unique things you wouldn't find easily in another city. It has interesting displays and in-store boutiques, restaurants and yes, bars. It's a place you can wander for an afternoon, discovering things that you didn't know you wanted. When I used to go to Field's, I never went for just one thing. I went for everything. I started at the top where Field's used to have marked-down sample furniture and artwork, and methodically worked my way down the floors, through furniture, bath, china, lamps, men's clothing, housewares and finally chocolate.
But in MacDonald's world, the department store is just like the way she wants her newspaper. All the Alfani is out front and don't bother looking for anything else, because it isn't there any more.
That is Macy's executives' blunder in Chicago. They don't understand our rituals. They don't understand that what we want from our department store is Field's, not Macy's. They don't understand that if we want to shop at Target, Kohl's or Penney's, we go to Target, Kohl's or Penney's. In order to C,saveC. the department store, Macy's bone-headed executives have destroyed the only true department store in the United States, State Street.
No wonder Penney's wants to open nine stores in Chicago.
Date: Wed, May 9, 2007, 10:33 pm CT Date: Wed, May 9, 2007, 9:51 pm CT
I just have to say one thing right now. The Macy's fiasco has just begun in Chicago under the new Macy's North. They have been trashing stores into the ground here for years.
Soon to come: A list of the worst of the worst in terms of appearance.
---------The truth is, you just can't throw up a flat screen TV, some bulky metal directional signs and a cheap machine for people to throw $100.00 bills into to get an IPOD and expect the department store to be turned around.-------------
TO: JIM S. AT FEDERATED...IF YOU WANT TO DO SOME ADVISING, WHY NOT TELL MR.T. TO LISTEN TO HIS GUESTS.
AGAIN, FIRST AND FOREMOST: IF YOU REALLY WANT TO GET PEOPLE BACK INTO THE STORES - LISTEN TO YOUR GUESTS. BRING BACK THE TOTAL PACKAGE OF A FIRST CLASS MARSHALL FIELD'S !
1) BRING BACK THE SERVICES - RESTAURANTS,BEAUTY SALONS,DEPARTMENTS THAT DIFFERENTIATE THE STORES FROM OTHERS IN THE MALL SUCH AS A GOURMET DEPARTMENT.
2) FOR GOD SAKE...CLEAN UP THOSE STORES....HIRE BACK THE ON-SITE COMPANY EMPLOYED CUSTODIAN/HOUSEKEEPING STAFF....U.S.I. CORP. IS NOT CUTTING IT !
3) SHIP BACK THE SHODDY HOUSEBRAND JUNK TO THE FAR-EAST AND GET SOME REAL DESIGNERS BACK INTO YOUR STORE TO ATTRACT AN AUDIENCE.
THANK YOU,
RG74
Date: Wed, May 9, 2007, 12:51 pm CT Date: Wed, May 9, 2007, 10:26 am CT
I have to say that M stores all of the country are awful. The merchandise is trashy, too trendy, and the stores are dirty and unkept. The nicest and most upscale mall in Dallas, NorthPark Center, has the largest M store in the area. Even that store among NM, Nordstrom, Barneys and many designer flagship stores is a nasty place to shop. There had been talk that Fed would make the store Bloomingdales for such an upscale mall. Better to just get rid of Fed all together.
The M store here is replacing Foleys. Foleys became much lower grade store when bought by May Company. Could not imagine it getting worse with Fed, but it sure is.
Keep up the boycott and know that M stores here are just as bad.
Date: Wed, May 9, 2007, 9:53 am CT
Date: Wed, May 9, 2007, 7:54 am CT
Date: Tue, May 8, 2007, 7:06 pm CT
Let's keep our spirits up and hang in there. There are so many other places to shop.
Date: Tue, May 8, 2007, 6:39 pm CT
1) Originally, the space that is currently Messy's at Northbrook Court was Sears. I made many a Ticketmaster run there in the early 80's as part of my college job. After Sears, it was Penny's, then it was heavily remodelled to become Field's. Now, it's just scary.
2) The Edens Plaza Carson's is always hopping when I go in, which is usually mid-afternoons on weekdays. It's a much nicer store than the Lincolnwood one, perhaps because it's older.
Date: Tue, May 8, 2007, 6:35 pm CT
How about the Messy's Mother's Day TV commercial? Very few of us (with spending clout) have mothers with model-like figures which care to hop through a field of flowers like jack rabbits. A more appropriate commercial would have been one which showcased the beauty of motherhood with three or four generations of "real" women.
Hang in there!
Date: Tue, May 8, 2007, 5:36 pm CT
Date: Tue, May 8, 2007, 5:22 pm CT
Date: Tue, May 8, 2007, 5:21 pm CT
Aren't those times normal working hours for most people? How many customers will be able to shop at macy*mart to purchase the "exciting" specials--unless the "re-educated" consumer is able to stop in before work or during their lunch. Don't most stores run specials on weekends when the majority of people have time to shop?
Who is macy*mart trying to target with these mid-week sales? The unemployed? People who work afternoon shift? Part-time mall sales personnel?
I am sooooooooooo "confusd." Guess that I'll have to shop elsewhere.
Date: Tue, May 8, 2007, 4:03 pm CT
He was particularly defensive about the conversion of Marshall Field's and said that the people in Chicago are very resiliant but that "they will soon give in".
This guy also said that "they had to convert to Macy's to compete with retailers like Target"
[Usual party line.]
So, I just visited the State Street store for the first time since conversion and I have to say it looks pretty bad. Here are my observations in a matter of 10 minutes:
- Overall, dirty
- Windows blocked out (Pardon our appearance) in several windows
- The North East corner is under construction
- The "Macy's Culinary Council" looks defunct
- Large Red sale signs everywhere
- Macy's pushing their in-house brands like INC.
- Stains on the walls (huge one down an escalator)
- Low traffic
- Not many shopping bags
- Unhappy sales people
Also, I noticed that they didn't do much to Macyize the store in terms of overall interior painting. The left many fields touches, such as the green walls in the atrium and wheat pattern on the floor. I wonder if they are truly testing the Macy's idea before they spend even more money on a losing proposition.
Andrew
Date: Tue, May 8, 2007, 3:31 pm CT
NewsMax.com Wires
Tuesday, May 8, 2007
NEW YORK -- The chief marketing officer of Macy's department stores delivered tough talk to the newspaper industry Tuesday, telling a publishing conference why her company is moving ad dollars to other media such as TV, magazines and the Internet.
Anne MacDonald, a self-proclaimed newspaper "junkie" who keeps stacks of them around her home and reads several each day, told publishers they need to do more to win back business from Macy's, which is part of Federated Department Stores Inc. .....
Read the whole article here...
Date: Tue, May 8, 2007, 12:53 pm CT
Date: Tue, May 8, 2007, 9:11 am CT
http://www.topix.net/forum/com/fd
WE MUST NEVER GIVE UP. SUCCESS WILL COME TO THE STEADFAST.
Kate
Date: Tue, May 8, 2007, 7:55 am CT
If you are talking a replacement for Northbrook, it may be Carson Pirie Scott. If any store has been capitalizing on the vacuum left by Field's, it is Carson's. Now, with Lakehurst gone, and the Hawthorn store busy and packed, expansion in/around Lake County makes sense. I'm not sure how the store in Edens Plaza is doing, but if it is half as busy as the one in Hawthorn, then I could see Bon-Ton try to negotiate a lease at Northbrook without fear of negatively impacting sales elsewhere.
Date: Mon, May 7, 2007, 10:06 pm CT
By making macy*mart a low-level, non-productive anchor, the mall operators will want them out. Bon Ton/ Carson's, Von Maur, or Saks would be greater attractions than macy*mart and would therefore drive more customer traffic to the mall. Seriously, how much of a draw is macy*mart? They haven't even defined their niche in the retail market.
I think that Lunkhead's long-range plans extend beyond running second-rate discount stores. Federated owns/leases some prime real estate, and he will liquidate these assets before long. Stay tuned for more interesting developments.
Date: Mon, May 7, 2007, 9:31 pm CT
(If someone else came in from another State , let us know.)
THANKS AGAIN LAURIE !
Date: Mon, May 7, 2007, 9:27 pm CT
Sunday's pickett! (hope the link works . . . )
Date: Mon, May 7, 2007, 8:12 pm CT
My second guess would be Oakbrook Center. It already has Sears, why on earth would Oakbrook want Macy's? With Neiman-Marcus, Lord & Taylor and Nordstrom in the mall, Macy's can't be doing well. At least Sears has Land's End.
No no no no, wait. My second guess would be Old Orchard. It has a Bloomingdale's and a Macy's, along with Lord & Taylor and Nordstrom. But no Neiman-Marcus. Maybe Old Orchard wants to boot Macy's to make room for N-M.
But then again, Oakbrook might want to boot Macy's to make room for Saks.
Or additional parking.
OR wouldn't it be a riot if Water Tower Place wanted to boot Macy's. They booted Lord & Taylor because the space was worth more subdivided. Macy's can't be pulling any traffic in for them so perhaps Water Tower wants to subdivide the space. Bring in Von Maur on the lower levels and add more shee-shee boutiques on the upper levels.
So many Macy's, so few shoppers, it's hard to guess the next one to close.
Date: Mon, May 7, 2007, 4:56 pm CT
We especially wish Doris could have been able to attend and she is in our prayers.
On ward...more in the days to come. Keep it up. The boycott is working!
Jim
Date: Mon, May 7, 2007, 2:18 pm CT
Newsradio 780 talked about the protest rally just minutes before it began, pointing out that protesters were just beginning to assemble at State and Washington under the clock.
Someone blasted it on the car radio when the signs were delivered to the protest.
But the biggest twist was this morning's Gary Meier show on WCKG! He and his sidekick started discussing the protest, Macy's and Field's. Someone taped the rally because they were playing tapes the speeches.
At one point they were juxtaposing Jim McKay's speech about Field's and Chicago, where he was shouting and ranting. And then they compared it to Mayor Daley shouting and ranting about Chicago.
Then they actually had Jim McKay talk with Garry for about 15 minutes. Gary sounds a bit indifferent to the switch to Macy's. But then Jim commented something like, "Yeah, we thought YOU were gone from Chicago talk radio for good, but then you came back after a couple of years!"
Very funny and strange all at once. I agreed when it was said that Field's WILL be back for Christmas 2008.
Mark
Date: Mon, May 7, 2007, 12:16 pm CT Date: Mon, May 7, 2007, 11:45 am CT
When having your driver's license renewed, wear your Marshall Field's button, t-shirt, bumper sticker, etc.
Doris
Date: Mon, May 7, 2007, 11:44 am CT
GO FOR IT.
Date: Mon, May 7, 2007, 10:54 am CT Date: Mon, May 7, 2007, 9:45 am CT
Channel 5 showed us at 5:00 p.m. There were a bunch of protest signs, and then they said Macy's has no plans to return to Field's. It didn't seem like they actually called Federated for a comment on Sunday's protest. It was more like they just used information from their files. (Of course we know Macy's doesn't PLAN to return to Field's--why do they think we're protesting!)
Channel 9 coverage at 9:00 p.m. at least didn't make us look like a lost cause. They showed much of Jim's speech, and a bunch of us yelling with signs. My employer saw this coverage, and congratulated us when I walked in on Monday morning.
I didn't see us on Channel 7, even though they had been at the protest. I also noticed a Messy's commercial for Mother's Day on their 10:00 p.m. news.
When we marched around the building after the protest, I looked in the windows and was sickened by the bizarre junk they expect people to buy. A very young girl (of the age who might actually like that stuff) told me very firmly that it turned her off and she doesn't want to wear that stuff.
THE BOYCOTT IS WORKING!
Date: Mon, May 7, 2007, 8:52 am CT Date: Sun, May 6, 2007, 9:18 pm CT Date: Sun, May 6, 2007, 9:08 pm CT Date: Sun, May 6, 2007, 7:12 pm CT Date: Sun, May 6, 2007, 4:18 pm CT
I shopped in Kaufmann's up until the summer of 2006. And following the Sept. 9, 2006, change from all of our beloved stores to the biggest corporate whore name there is (next to Wal-Mart).
Keep up the fight! I'm glad there are others in other parts of the country who feel so strongly towards history.
Date: Sun, May 6, 2007, 1:15 pm CT
Good luck with the protest today. Wish I was there but I am here in my own "Windy City" today...LOL----yikes---hope the weather there is more conducive to being outside. It was beautiful here all week until the weekend.
This morning's Star Tribune had a feature travel article by Ellen Creager of McClatchey News Service about all the cool, free, fun things to do when visiting Chicago. That included window shopping on Michigan Ave. When real shopping, she mentioned visiting the one-of-a kind Chicago stores like old Central Camera Store and Prairie Ave Bookshop, which specializes in architecture and design books. Certainly there was no mention of macy's. I am sure that had that article been written a couple of years ago, there would have been a paragraph about State Street Marshall Field's for both window shopping and real shopping.
Regards.
Date: Sun, May 6, 2007, 1:02 pm CT Date: Sun, May 6, 2007, 10:24 am CT
Here is advance notice: two, much larger former Field's locations in the Chicago area are on very shaky ground. Reasons: low revenue and mall developers that want Macy's out so they can bring in higher end retailers.
As soon as I can get confirmation, I will post it here. I only report news based on sources in the retail, financial and real estate industries.
Now for all of you will email me for a hint: Look to the Macy stores that never got the new directional signs or those tacky shopping carts, and it is becoming more and more obvious that money is not being spend to maintain the building (elevators/escalators that are never repaired, broken entry doors).
I am at a convention in California this week - my spirit is with you during the May 6 protest. Of course, I am wearing my button - lots of people make remarks about it and tell their own Macy horror stories.
Date: Sun, May 6, 2007, 8:41 am CT
This place is loaded with mostly furniture and furs. I sort of wish there was more than just 1 floor of merchandise. How cool would it be if you could visit all 5 floors and see everything! I'm sure you could find some good deals here...but I'm sure it's mostly Macy's stuff...and who wants that! I was really surprised when I looked at their fine jewlery section. It's not merchandise that Macy's sells and certainly isn't stuff that Field's would have sold. The best way to describe this section would be "cheap junky knockoffs of designer inspired items". Definitely an interesting stop to make. Oh! And I also couldn't resist taking some pictures of the Marshall Field and Company plaque that is still on the side of the building.
Date: Sun, May 6, 2007, 7:13 am CT
Apologies to those who visited the site before, and had to look at a blank page.
~David
Date: Sun, May 6, 2007, 2:58 am CT
I'll be with you in spirit Sunday.
March on!
Field's can return!
Field's forever!
Date: Sun, May 6, 2007, 12:35 am CT
The reason why to me it's very touching is as an employee of the company, I have the chance to talk to a lot of people who shopped at Dayton's & Husdson's stores, and as saddened as they were by becomming a Marshall Field's, they LOVED Marshall Field's because it was so Fashion Forward. The Dayton's stores were very high end and could be considered as stuffy and uptight, such as those other stores like Bloomingdales & Neiman Marcus. Field's in itself always had a very friendly personality of give the lady what she wants.
I feel I should also point out, I don't work in a position where I deal with the general public of people on a day to day basis, The people whom reach my office have worked their way up the chain of command to complain about the product offering (and in most cases, the lack of) since we have converted to Macy's.
Now because we are all former Field's stores, it's very easy to hold Macy's to a high standard here in the Macy's North division. We know what we expect to see as customers, and it's going to be very difficult to spoon feed the crap down our throat.
I love it when I see e-mails from customers that the store manager has to deal with from www.macys.com/tellus/ that say how nice the store was, and how nice the people were, but there was NOTHING worth buying because the private labels were junk, and the designers you were looking for are gone.
They want customers to shop there, but they still think the reason why people aren't shopping is because of the product mix. I don't think any suburban store will ever get the Marshall Field's name back, but the landmark store in Chicago will because that store has the lowest sales per square foot, and as far as actual numbers.
Date: Sat, May 5, 2007, 10:26 pm CT
Beth
Date: Sat, May 5, 2007, 9:18 pm CT
How much longer will Lunkhead be able to play games with semantics and numbers? Sales are down, stock prices are down, and yet Lunky says the macy-ization plan is working. Say WHAT? Consumers are NOT being "won back" to macy*mart, consumers are NOT being "re-educated" to believe that trash is treasure because it says Alfani or Charter Club on the label, and consumers have not "confused" an over-priced discount mart with a high-quality department store.
While there is no organized protest in the Pittsburgh area, former Kaufmann's shoppers have held a silent protest--by shopping elsewhere! This is largely a middle-class area, but people have learned that they aren't going to find quality or class at macy*s. The house brands at The Bon Ton, JC Penney and Kohl's are far superior to those at macy*mart and a high price is not indicative of quality. So many people have just given up on macy*mart and have developed new shopping patterns. I think that if macy*mart would pull out of Pittsburgh tomorrow, nobody would really miss it.
Date: Sat, May 5, 2007, 8:56 pm CT
They feature a world class dining room, a fabulous food hall and a fine offering of services across the board !
If Macy*Mart would work towards retaining its former greatness in its legacy doors and GIVE BACK MARSHALL FIELD'S TO THE MIDWEST...MAYBE THE U.S. WOULD HAVE A LITTLE MORE TO COMPETE WITH BESIDES NEIMAN MARCUS,NORDSTROM & VON MAUR !
Date: Sat, May 5, 2007, 8:33 pm CT Date: Sat, May 5, 2007, 6:57 pm CT
Here's to tomorrow's fight for Fields ! It is time for macy*mart quality to go and Field's fine goods and fine service to return !
Respectful Regards,
RG74
Date: Sat, May 5, 2007, 6:54 pm CT
But in the meantime, Macy's leaders can do the right thing by taking an example from the House of Frasier of the U.K. When they took over the long loved Jenner's of Scotland, they were sure to name it Jenner's, A House of Frasier Store. Take a look at the webpage ---> http://www.houseoffraser.co.uk/stores/store.asp?id=450
See how a more guest focused approach is realized ? Very interesting isn't it.
Ahhh...the U.K. certainly is a department store paradise isn't it ?
Respectful Regards,
RG74
Date: Sat, May 5, 2007, 11:31 am CT
That's right! We need as many of us as possible to be at the Protest Rally TOMORROW, SUNDAY, MAY 6th, from 1:00 PM until 2:30 PM. We will have media coverage and this is the time to show everyone that the citizens of Chicago will hit back hard when they are hit. We can bring Field's back but each one of you is needed.
We will have plenty of protest signs for you to hold. PLEASE CALL OR SEND AN EMAIL to a friend or two and bring them with you. Please call some of your siblings and have a day with them down at Marshall Field's like you did when you were kids. Whatever you do, PLEASE CALL people whom you think would attend the rally.
What a perfect way to spend a Spring Sunday afternoon. A Protest Rally followed by a stroll around downtown!!
Date: Sat, May 5, 2007, 10:52 am CT Date: Sat, May 5, 2007, 10:42 am CT
When traveling, Marshall Field's Frangos made the perfect gift, a delicious chocolate mint from Chicago's hometown store recognized and treasured by friends around the world. Even here in Chicago, our emotional attachment and pride in Marshall Field's made the candies taste that much better.
Sold by Macy's, Frangos have become just another mint, tasty, but with no unique appeal to make them gift-worthy. In fact, a gift from Macy's is considered by many people to be an insult.
As demonstrated by the dramatic drop in "same-store" Frango sales under Macy's name, a box of candy from a grocery store apparently has more appeal than Frango mints from Macy's. A gift from Macy's shows that someone cared so little they shopped at any one of 850 stores in a national discount chain. Furthermore, a gift from Macy's is an offense to every Field's customer and to anyone who appreciated Marshall Field's and the role Field's played in defining the Chicago's character and the image Chicago presented to the world.
Date: Sat, May 5, 2007, 10:40 am CT
An interesting note, one year the Christmas tree in the restaurant was much smaller than the previous years. The customers in Miwlaukee were so mad, that they called Chicago and complained, and complained they did. A week or so later, a new large deluxe Christmas tree was sent from Chicago to replace the skimpy one in the Milwaukee store.
Fields' is Chicago BUT, in Milwaukee we want MARSHALL FIELD'S back too!
Date: Fri, May 4, 2007, 11:08 pm CT
Despite Mr. Lundgren & Co's assertion that we customers need to be re-educated, we need to educate Macy's and the media about
the true nature of why Frangos are connected to Chicago and why Macy's again doesn't "get" Chicago and Field's.
Frangos are a confection from Seattle--not Chicago. What made them wildly popular was not that they originated in Chicago nor that they were made in Chicago. What made them wildly popular is that these Seattle treats started being made inside the world's greatest and most beautiful department store, in the candy kitchens inside the historic Marshall Field's flagship at 111 N State. I emphasize: They became popular because they were made INSIDE Marshall Field's grand store! And of course in the uncompromising spirit of Field's offering quality, it was Frangos that they made. The Frangos were a food souveneir from Marshall Field's which was the great iconic store of Chicago!
Remember ALL the Frangos were made there. No matter what Field's you purchased your Frangos at, they were from State Street! It was a full production candy line. It wasn't just a demonstration kitchen like Macy's has set up.
If Federated wants to claim they are correcting the mistake of Dayton-Hudson from ten years ago then they must return Frango mass production to the State Street store, not just to Chicago.
If Federated wants to claim they are supporting jobs in the Chicago community by bringing back Frango production to the city, then why are they going to take hundreds of jobs out of Chicago when the close the Diversey Avenue warehouse? The return of Frango production won't offset this. Furthermore, if Macy's supports Chicago jobs, then why are they building their new web orders center in Arizona? Under Field's, those orders were served out of the Midwest. My web orders shipped from the Diversey warehouse. I believe the announcement of the POSSIBILITY of Frango production returning to Chicago was made as a detraction from the fact that Chicago will lose even more jobs when the Field's warehouse is moved out of the city.
Please take a few minutes to help our cause and educate Macy's and the media by writing.
The Sun-Times editorial url is above; below is the URL from the Trib's story of yesterday.
The following is recommended when submitting letters to the editor:
* If submitting by the internet, send your "Letter to the Editor" in a standard email message. Do not use web page forms or blog sites for the newspapers, unless you absolutely have to. If y
ou submit via email, you have the opportunity to cc: or bcc: a copy to yourself--submitting via other methods on the internet mean you probably won't have a dated copy of your response, if you
get a copy at all. It is very important that you keep a copy for your records.
Thank you for making a difference!
Date: Fri, May 4, 2007, 9:22 pm CT
As far as bringing back Frango production to Chicago......that's nice first step....now just find a buyer and bring back the green awnings and bags, with the brands, quality, and service, with that beautiful script name on the building!
Date: Fri, May 4, 2007, 2:12 pm CT
Being a retail designer, I am very interested in visiting malls in foreign towns to feel the color and identity of the people shopping at the malls. I remember that Mayfair had one of the Field's similar to River Oaks, Oakbrook, and Old Orchard, so I was excited to stop by and see it for the first time.
I was very upset to see the macys logo on the beautiful 1950's mid century design retail building. What Macy's calls outdated, is actually a department store building that is extremely solid, well built, and visually stimulating with the multi colored cut limestone and white brick. I was very happy to see that the escalator banks still possessed the beautiful limestone that I remember as a child at the River Oaks store.
The store at Mayfair had a surprisingly 1980s era Field's store feel to it still. It was remodeled at roughly the same time as Oakbrook, River Oaks, and Old Orchard. As far as I am concerned BATUS did an excellent job remodeling these stores as they still look timeless 20 years later after their mid to late 1980's remodels. These stores look way better than any new FDS store I have visited. When they remodeled these stores, they used bright spotlighting, minimal fluorescent lighting, wood floors, marble flooring, intimate shops, ie. Ralph Lauren Polo....all I can really picture is a department store that sparkled with spotlighting and amazing displays.
Obviously we know that Macy's moved into these stores and could "remodel" these stores.....cover up the limestone, replace spotlighting with fluorescent lamps, replace the high ceilings with 1x1 1950's metal ceiling tiles with ugly cheap tiles, eliminate intimacy in the departments and in the end will provide a dull, bland experience.
It's so dissapointing to see them kill the department stores. Not one days goes by without me being upset about this whole thing. Things change, but this was something that did not need to change. Field's was fresh, innovative and just an overall happy place to be. Field's conveyed elegance, happiness, style, and tradition.....while Macy's is nothing more than a bland generic department store.
I am so happy you all feel the same way and that I am not the only one who feels this way.
Date: Fri, May 4, 2007, 2:12 pm CT
I am an employee and I can confidently speak for most, if not all, of my co-workers: We miss Marshall Field's.
We were proud to say we worked at Marshall Fields. We no longer feel proud to work at Macy's but we stay because we need our jobs. We share the embarrassment of bad experiences with the credit lines, the screwed up orders, and the seeming lack of real knowledge and customer service skills apparent when one makes a phone call about anything.
We care about the customers' concerns, but obviously it makes no difference as our voices are not heard. We are stretched to the limit and therefore cannot give outstanding service. We don't feel cared about either. It's all about money. There is nothing wrong at all with wanting to make a profit, but it IS wrong when greed overtakes sensibility. I hope and pray someone DOES buy Marshall Field's (notice I didn't say Macy's) -- all 60 or so stores in the "Macy's North" division. I loved Marshall Field's State Street Store. I work in a store outside of the Chicago area that was once under the Dayton-Hudson banner, but the change has been negatively received here as well. Don't think that the impact fell only on Chicago. We count too -- but it seems Federated doesn't think anyone counts but Federated.
A note of encouragement in the form of an analogy from a fellow employee:
I bought a house years back and the bankers who held the mortgage on it were selfish, inconsiderate and somewhat questionable. I remembered that sometimes other mortgage companies will "buy" an existing mortgage contract so I prayed that someone nice and just would come along and buy my mortgage contract from the bank who held it. It happened! I had such a wonderful experience with the new creditors. I remembered this last night and so prayed that someone nice and just and right would come along and redeem Macy's North stores -- which of course include all of the former Marshall Field's locations (our smaller but nice stores, as well as State St.). So that is my prayer and my hope! Let someone who CARES own and operate these stores! AMEN!
Date: Fri, May 4, 2007, 1:42 pm CT
Well, I got my answer. I re-posted today, and the response was amazing. I'm on my way to the post office now with a big bunch of envelopes responding to requests.
If you want a free bumper sticker and/or lapel stickers, just send me an e-mail at bgwinnett@hotmail.com. Don't forget to give me your mailing address.
Date: Fri, May 4, 2007, 2:21 pm CT
Marshall Field did not just plunk down a store on State Street. He had his assets and opinion into just about everything he considered important in Chicago. He probably had as much influence as some politicians. Lunkhead doesn't seem to understand this legacy. He thinks a store is just a store. To remove the Marshall Field's name from State Street is like yanking George Washington's portrait out of the public schools and replacing it with Macy's, or worse yet, Lundgren's--the great re-educator.
I got this book as a premium for my subscription to Channel 11. I don't know if it's available elsewhere. The WTTW website did not have it among their items for sale. Anyone interested might try calling WTTW at (773) 509-1111. It has great insight into the building of Chicago, and why we are protesting Sunday May 6, 2007.
Date: Fri, May 4, 2007, 12:36 pm CT
Arrogance yes, unfortunately it is legal if it is written into the corporate charter.
Cheer for me on the 6th; still recoup. in another state.
Doris
Date: Fri, May 4, 2007, 1:56 am CT Date: Fri, May 4, 2007, 12:09 am CT
Who would even want one of their ugly bags. They look like some runner up entry in a second grade contest to design a shopping bag. We lost the elegance and style of Fields to this? The grocery sacks from the Jewel have more class. I don't feel too sorry for the British guy whose bag broke after leaving the store ... the lines of menswear they carry tend to only come in all shades and colors of mud and dirt, so chances are there was not much damage done to whatever he bought in there.
A good psychiatrist ought to sit down with the FDS board and fill them in on the definition of a megalomaniac ... Stick to your disasterous empirical ideas when the world warns you what a disaster they will become, lie to everyone they are not really your own ideas but the result of listening to others, and then, after a year of proof of said disaster, simply say that your disasterous ideas are not the problem and people just need more time to get re-educated to them. Hmmm, it's been a few years since my Psych 101 class in college but I seem to remember, we had a diagnosis for that ... megalomaniac.
Thanks Doris for your post! I wish you could be president. The world needs more Doris.
Keep up the good work everyone! Keep America Beautiful, don't be seen carrying one of their awful red star bags.
Date: Thu, May 3, 2007, 9:49 pm CT
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Thank you for making a difference!
Jim
Date: Thu, May 3, 2007, 8:02 pm CT
Just read the article about Macy's Closing Warehouse. Well Good for you Alderman ! YouC-re the first Alderman who has "stood up and pushed back" at Federated Dept. Stores. They came into Chicago, with a "Steamroller", telling us Chicagoans How to Shop, and what to Buy. Please join us on Sunday May 6th at 1:00pm at a Protest Rally on State St. "Under the Clock".
Date: Thu, May 3, 2007, 6:49 pm CT
One very important question ! How is it that Terry L. can be CHAIRMAN,CEO AND PRESIDENT. Is it customary for a man to hold three important positions or not ?
Perhaps if the positions were split between three people, one of them would have the wisdom to convince the other to not be so stupid as to flush down over 150 years of tradition, internationally renowned quality, and excellence that comes with the Marshall Field's name.
Macy's has had an arrogance about it since the days that it was stripped down from the grace by the Campeau organization that destroyed it. While I initially credited the Federated people for bringing it back, the way they brought it back (by stripping away all of the services like restaurants and all the departments that made a department store different than other types of stores) is what makes me wish that they never brought it back at all.
The FDS Macy's is not the same Macy's that I grew up with. Federated is not the same under Lundgren either. It hurts big time ! Before all is said and done, I wager the Bloomingdale's name will be disposed of, Macy's will become a clone of Sear's (but without the class of Sear's) and the carriage trade will be entirely gone !
Federated had the chance to really broaden their comittment to the high end...where the money is...by keeping Marshall Field's and retaining Bloomingdale's on the East and West coast. There is no suprise that the overlap between Bloomingdale's and Macy's is tremendous and in Chicago, there is not much difference with the exception of a few lines they carry that make Bloomingdale's just a 1/2 step up from Macy's !
Marshall Field's stood above Bloomingdale's, Macy's and all of the stores in the midwest. They were the king of department stores ! They were known around the world for their quality, class and world class traditions. ALL TAKEN AWAY BY MACY'S, FEDERATED DEPARTMENT STORES, TERRY LUNDGREN AND HIS MANAGEMENT TEAM !
The Federated Stockholders are NOT BEING TOLD THE TRUTH ABOUT THE TRUE LOSSES GOING ON AT THE STORE LEVEL. Federated stockholders are not being let in on the true tragedy of mis-calculation and mis-steps taken by the Lundgren management team.
While consolidation may be the result of competition, and the need to survive among the competition in business, it still should not be an excuse to kill a brand, a lifestyle, a tradition, a standard of service just to put a few synergies into place.
Sometimes when we cut corners just to save a few steps, we wind up cutting off the best part of the trip ! Marshall Field's was on a journey to achieving excellence with the finest upscale traditions of any deparment store in the U.S.A. I credit Terry Lundgren with the destruction of it and the other May Company stores that were part of the fabric of each community around the country !
--------------------
Closing Lake Forest , the jewel-box of a store that could showcase the best of what the 28 Shop has to offer, is like cutting off a person's nose despite his face !
Closing the warehouse in Chicago, the same idea !
REST ASSURED THAT IF FRANGO CANDY PRODUCTION IS COMING BACK TO CHICAGO, THE OTHER 2 ANNOUNCEMENTS OF THE CLOSURE OF LAKE FOREST AND THE CLOSURE OF THE MAIN CHICAGO WAREHOUSE WILL BE MADE AT THE SAME TIME TO "SOFTEN THE BLOW OF CRITICISM FROM THE PUBLIC"......PUBLIC RELATIONS 101 !
YET,IT IS ALL PART OF THE CALCULATED PLAN TO TAKE MARSHALL FIELD'S STORES MORE DOWNMARKET THAN EVER !
JUST WAIT...THE RESTAURANTS, THE WINE SHOP...ANY COST DEPARTMENT...EVEN THOUGH THEY MAY BE THE REASON PEOPLE SHOP AND STAY IN A STORE LONGER TO SHOP, THEY SOMEHOW NEVER END UP GETTING THE CREDIT FOR THE ADDITIONAL PROFIT MADE IN OTHER AREAS OF THE STORE !
FRANGOS IN CHICAGO, FIELDGEAR LABELS ON ALFANI CLOTHING...2 DOG-BONES THROWN TO THE MASSES DOES NOT CUT IT TERRY L ! WE WANT OUR MARSHALL FIELD'S BACK....JUST KEEP WATCHING THE SALES #S AND YOU WILL SEE !
THANK YOU !
Date: Thu, May 3, 2007, 6:47 pm CT Date: Thu, May 3, 2007, 12:28 pm CT
Read what the alderman says!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Date: Thu, May 3, 2007, 11:32 am CT
I realized something and I hope there are others Which agree. I love Marshall Field's, a Chicago landmark, enough not to hate Messy's, just another store. The real bad guys are FDS & TL. Let's continue to EDUCATE FDS & TL to this fact with rallies and the sustained boycott. You do not push Chicagoans; we will push back like a pack of JUNK YARD DOGS! You can take that to the bank, or in this case--NOT!!
Messy's could have come to our fair city the right way, the respectful way but nooooo, FDS chose to be cheap and not build Messy's their own store. I would put that store up against our beloved Marshall Field's any day of the week, sale or seasonsssssssss. (How many have there been now?) FDS & TL keep your Messy's but not in our Marshall Field's. Give the lady what she wants and
I WANT MY MARSHALL FIELD'S
To FDS & TL with the boycott and rallies we are simply trying to educate you. To educate--Assist in the learning of something new. (FDS & TL that's called quality in all areas, even shopping bags, and loyalty.) To re-educate--I'll admit teaching an 'ole dawg' new tricks can be difficult. Once you've experienced exceptional quality and service in Chicago's third largest tourist attraction all else pales in comparison. If FDS can hold on for 150 years, maybe they'll find a target market. Speaking of target, that man from England whose shopping bag broke, he should have gone to Target instead. Target shopping bags are much steadier plus they're red and white, and their advertising compaign is much classier than Messy's.
As w/adding the Field Gear line. Although Chicagoans are JUNK YARD DOGS we want more than a bone--we want the entire enchilada, BABY! And what's to stop Messy's from sewing the Field Gear label into Alfani wear? How stupid do they think we are? Field Gear is an in-house brand, FDS owns the store, they can name their in-house brand anything and I believe it's legal. In other words if you buy the new Field Gear line from Messy's don't expect Ralph Lauren quality which is what I personally experienced when shopping at Marshall Field's.
Continue to put your money where your mouths are. Back door Federated. They won't disclose their sales figures, then make a positive impact on one store's sales figures. Jim what do think if we impact one store's sales monthly? Need help in setting up a schedule? Different dates, different stores.
As for the rally bring your cell phones. Call the local papers, radio and TV stations and tell them you're there! ABC is right up the street.
Good luck at the "Anti-Messy's" rally on the 6th. They've had one too many seasons inside Marshall Field's--and
I WANT MY MARSHALL FIELD'S
Date: Thu, May 3, 2007, 10:25 pm CT
The Tribune quotes 31st Ward Ald. Ray Suarez about possible closing of the warehouse, "It was a surprise to me, I just think that Macy's came to Chicago and are running things in a cold way. All they care about is Macy's, not about how the people of Chicago are so enthused about Marshall Field's." The article also says Suarez "is not happy about the prospect of losing jobs in his neighborhood, saying Macy's officials told him last fall they plan to keep the warehouse open."
Both articles say that the Lake Forest landlord, Broadacre Management Co. is talking to other retailers as well as Federated for when the lease is up in January, 2008. Bert Meers of the the property company says they might know by the end of this month.
Date: Thu, May 3, 2007, 8:29 pm CT
http://biz.yahoo.com/ap/070503/earns_martha_stewart.html?.v=4
Date: Wed, May 2, 2007, 10:54 pm CT
I'm not surprised that it's Lake Forest that is closing first. Federated has no idea how to use history to its advantage (they are all about the "steamroller" approach). The question is what's next.
As for the warehouse, it's good that the alderman is fuming about the loss of jobs. It would be better if Daley is upset, as well. We'll see. My guess is that the new warehouse will be in the suburbs somewhere (or perhaps the collar counties), and will have half the employees, at best.
On the other hand, the fact that they are attempting the baby steps might mean that the tide is turning in our favor. It may well be that if Chicago sticks it out another year or so, Field's may make its return.
Date: Wed, May 2, 2007, 7:55 pm CT
Macy's hasn't come to a decision on a new lease (I think they have, but just haven't announced it yet) and the owner is already shopping the space around.
The most curious part is the last:
I hope one of those calls was from Von Maur. I've been wanting to shop there and Market Square is accessible by train from Chicago.
Date: Wed, May 2, 2007, 1:45 pm CT Date: Wed, May 2, 2007, 11:54 am CT
Keep up the boycott! Hopefully some investor will buy and restore Marshall Field's.
Date: Wed, May 2, 2007, 8:54 am CT Date: Wed, May 2, 2007, 6:22 am CT
-- a NJ sympathizer
Date: Tues, May 1, 2007, 6:37 pm CT
Click on Saturday tours and turn to the 3rd page of tours.
They are referring to macy's as the "Flagship Store" in "this landmark building". No mention of Marshall Field's. Although perhaps they may mention it during the tour, I would find this a very misleading description. I did write to them and suggest that others may want to follow suit.
Beth
Date: Tues, May 1, 2007, 6:22 pm CT Date: Tues, May 1, 2007, 6:17 pm CT
Let's continue the momentum and show them Chicagoans are a tenacious bunch.
Date: Tues, May 1, 2007, 6:12 pm CT
You think the Chicago stores are a bad...the stores here are terrible: messy, dirty, no sales help. Very odd how clothes are pinned onto the manikins to make the clothes look like they fit.
Thank god there is a really great Lord and Taylor near the convention center.
Date: Tues, May 1, 2007, 2:08 pm CT
Regardless, this shows how important this next rally is. The meeting in Cinci is in a number of ways like a annual evaluation for Lundgren. We need to weigh in. That's why even though the date May 6 is a bit lower key, it's just as important to be out there.
Jim
Date: Tues, May 1, 2007, 1:44 pm CT
They are told at their morning meetings to not give out the paper shopping bags unless asked for them.
The Frango Cafe did not have VANILLA ice cream yesterday.
The Frango Cafe is told that they cannot give full size napkins to customers unless asked. They have to use the coaster-size instead.
A British shopper bought things at Macy's a few days ago on a rainy day and his shopping bag fell apart in the street and my friend held her umbrella over him while he picked up his purchases.
way to go Macy's!
Date: Tues, May 1, 2007, 1:11 pm CT
The Promenade is more of a lifestyle center not a mall like Fox valley or Oakbrook. It offers more of a town feel to it along with new and unique stores to the area Bass Pro, Gordon Biersch,
The Bolingbrook Macy's is yes more of a May Company store than a old Field's or even a FDS store. May Design and Construction designed and built the store with some changes made later by FDS, but they were not major since the store was designed and planned before FDS took over May Company. Northbrook was not a true Field's it was a Dayton's store. Marshall Field's did not design, build or remodel any of their stores once Dayton-Hudson/Target took over the operations.
I worked with a former Field's employee in the construction office and myself have worked with Field's in construction, but I never dealt with Chicago, the decesions and planning all came from Minneapolis and then later St. Louis
Date: Tues, May 1, 2007, 11:08 am CT
My Marshall Field's Tribute site has been added to several other sites such as Wikipedia and Lablescar.
Thanks to all of you for helping make it a sucess!
I would still like more feedback to keep our memories alive!
Thanks!
Darrid
Date: Tues, May 1, 2007, 10:00 am CT Date: Tues, May 1, 2007, 8:53 am CT
Actually, when I posted my Top Ten Reasons Why Macy's Sales Volume Is Down in Minneapolis, I really had an 11th reason as well. I just didn't post it because I didn't want people to think I had a bad attitude about Macy's. But after consulting with Tony in Milwaukee and Drew in PA, I decided to post:
Macys North Executives create bad impression, wandering Nicollet Mall, wearing yellow flip-flops with their black suits on Casual Fridays.
Regards.
Date: Tues, May 1, 2007, 12:27 am CT
Let me know when. I want to buy a linen jacket from Nordstrom soon.
Date: Mon, April 30, 2007, 11:03 pm CT Date: Mon, April 30, 2007, 8:29 pm CT
Great suggestions, Denise. By the way, I am the one who brought those three large City of Chicago flags that were "too blue," i.e., that were lacking the outermost white sections. I groaned when I bought them but they were the only ones I could find. Jim has since reminded me that we have a couple of the correct flags that were donated by the same generous person who donated the 154 personal size flags for 9/9/2006.
We will have plenty of signs also. That's why we all of you to call a few friends or relatives and offer them a ride to the protest. Tell them "What a great way to spend the day. A protest rally and then a stroll through the City!"
Date: Mon, April 30, 2007, 7:11 pm CT Date: Mon, April 30, 2007, 5:43 pm CT Date: Mon, April 30, 2007, 3:47 pm CT
Today MSN Money did a story called "Customer Service Hall of Shame" in which they listed the worst companies for customer service. They listed the top ten worst, and 10 "dishonorable mentions." The top 10 were basically all banks and communications companies, but 2 department stores got dishonorable mentions: Sears, and....Macy's!!!
Lundgren must be so proud!
Date: Mon, April 30, 2007, 2:50 pm CT
Shop Carson's, Nordstrom, Sears, JCPenney, Von Maur, Lord & Taylor, Crate & Barrel, Bed Bath & Beyond, Target, Costco, amazon.com, etc.
Date: Mon, April 30, 2007, 2:05 pm CT
"If it wasn't for us (Macy's), this place (State St. Field's) would be a parking lot."
I then asked her how the State St. Men's department was doing.
"They used to make big cash on the 2nd floor, and it was really busy before the name change."
And after the name change?
"REALLY SLOW."
So Macy's saved Field's? I quipped.
She laughed.
So the Macy's party line is that if Field's is going down the tubes, it was happening BEFORE they bought it. And because they will not disclose figures for State St. Fields and now Macy's, they think they can get away with killing a Great Chicago Institution.
There are many of us who will not let that happen without getting the truth out!
Keep up the pressure on Macy's!
Date: Mon, April 30, 2007, 1:26 pm CT
Marshall Field's is an institution that truly is Chicago. I wish that I could be present for the protest, however, I will be there in spirit. I will pass the word to my friends who still reside in Chicago.
Again good luck with the protest.
Date: Mon, April 30, 2007, 10:20 am CT Date: Mon, April 30, 2007, 8:34 am CT
Jim
Date: Sun, April 29, 2007, 7:40 pm CT Date: Sun, April 29, 2007, 11:41 am CT
This petty and reprehensible legal action cost the Eleven City Diner thousands of dollars to reprint menus and change display boards in order remove their long-standing tribute to an honored Chicago icon.
In light of this history, the second place winner announced today in the Chicago Tribune's contest to create a sandwich inspired after colorful Chicago characters is particulary amusing...
Second Place, submitted by Jan Schippits of Elmhurst: "The Macy's sanwich: Lettuce, pickle and plain bun -- no sesame seeds, no meat, no special sauce. It's not what the old sandwich used to be."
Date: Sun, April 29, 2007, 6:48 am CT Date: Sun, April 29, 2007, 1:11 am CT
Who are the top performing retailers in the market today- by same store sales increases and stock performance? Why gosh its Nordstrom and Neiman Marcus!
Why bother to compete in a growing market, thats a sound strategy in today's retail environment!
I'm glad I don't own FDS stock, but I have been enjoying my big run up in my Nordstrom stock.
Date: Sat, April 28, 2007, 10:45 pm CT
A lot of people thrilled to know we are all out there doing this.
Jim
Date: Sat, April 28, 2007, 8:46 pm CT
Date: Sat, April 28, 2007, 3:55 pm CT
HAPPY 100th ANNIVERSARY OF THE SOUTH END GREAT CLOCK AT MARSHALL FIELD & COMPANY!!!
Date: Sat, April 28, 2007, 11:39 am CT
Here's an idea. (First thanks to my sister for here patience in typing this blog for me!) I know after the rally on the 6th many will be spent but wouldn't it be wonderful to take an additional hour or two to put our money where our mouths are? For example hop over to Sears or Old Navy and pick up a few things for the kids or home. A summer tee, a vacuum cleaner bag, anything. Go to Sally's and buy some lotion or fingernail polish. Hit the shops on Wabash; buy a comfy pair of shoes for the next rally; get a blouse or shirt. For the more ambitious, head to North Michigan and go WILD! Better yet, lets designate one store and everyone go there.
Further, have one day a month as "Put our money where your mouth is day." Have the first Sat. or Sun. in every month as "Put our money where your mouth is day!" Make sure to tell shoppers and sales associates at those other stores you're only shopping there in direct protest to the FDS name change. Organize our buying strategies and buy at other stores on the SAME DAY. If FDS and TL won't come up off how poorly their sales are doing, lets back door them by having the other retailers prove how much better their sales are and WHY! How can the media ignore this?
In other words: SHOW SOMEBODY ELSE YOUR MONEY!!!!!
Luv ya,
D.
Date: Sat, April 28, 2007, 11:20 am CT
I used to also buy a lot of Lauren Ralph Lauren at Field's, and even though I work across the street from Macy's, I drive to Carson's at Eden's Plaza to buy Lauren now. I'm contributing to the upsurge in Bon Ton stock and the downturn for Federated. Well worth the trip!
I walk through Macy's daily on my way to work, and it's a true ghost town except when they are having their big sales. Even then, it's like Field's on a regular day, not a sale day. It's only a matter of time, people, if we just stay the course.
Date: Sat, April 28, 2007, 9:46 am CT Date: Sat, April 28, 2007, 7:40 am CT
New direct mail piece with great copy:
"Style. Names. Service. Right where you want them. We're all about making shopping an experience." (Right on L&T!)
"You'll love our unparalleled personal service. Our sales associates are knowledgeable and are always ready to assist you." (And that is true at L&T)
"We've got the best names in fashion and accessories...names synonymous with style and quality." There is a list of all the brand names and designers you've come to love. Please note that very few are at Macy's.
And one more thing inside: A $50 gift card! Guess where I am going today!
Oh, and I got yet another Macy's mailer. This time with a discount card for "an extra 20% or 10% off (HUH?). Of course, all the small type on the back limits what can be purchased to store brand junk.
One last think about Frango's: Look closely at what you are buying. Is what was once a 16 oz. box is now 14.7 oz.? And keep in mind, the candy maker will use any ingredients specified by the Macy's. Federated owns Frangos - they are made under contract with a manufacturer. So they can change the recipe if they wanted to.
Date: Sat, April 28, 2007, 12:10 am CT
"Lundgren repeated his original argument that continuing to operate 60 Field's stores as high-end stores somewhere between Nordstrom and Neiman Marcus would have been unworkable in today's retail environment."
UMM.... WHAT IS THE LOGIC AND REASONING OF RUNNING ABOUT 36 STORES NATIONWIDE UNDER THE NAME OF BLOOMINGDALE'S, WHICH IS SOMEWHERE BETWEEN NORDSTROM and NEIMAN MARCUS, WHEN TERRY CLEARLY STATES IT IS UNWORKABLE IN TODAY'S ENVIRONMENT.
That statement is so hypocritical it makes no sense. Is Bloomingdale's for sale? Is Terry giving us subtle hints? Don't forget the renaming of the company from Federated to Macy's Group. Hmmm... did he loosely let the cat out of the bag?
I went to the Bolingbrook store, it is so May Company... The decor, design and configuration of the store gives it a feel of a downscale Lord & Taylor. Cold, empty walls, no personality, I was not impressed. Northbrook Court (the very LAST Field's built) was done with a lot of class, aside from the mounds of imitation designers on overstuffed clearance fixtures that populate the store now.
If anyone goes to the Bolingbrook Promenade in the next few days, please comment, I want to know what other people think. The shopping center is nice, my only gripe is that it does not have a unique mix of stores. Oak Brook, Yorktown and Fox Valley are all within miles and offer a better retail mix than the Promenade. If the Promenade had a Nordstrom and Von Maur instead of Macy's, this would have been a true shopping destination.
By the way, not a single employee approached me and it was not busy at all.
Date: Fri, April 27, 2007, 10:49 pm CT
10. We really ARE confused just like Terry says: Southdale? Ridegdale? Brookdale? Rosedale? Which is which? Guess we'll stay home.
9. Nicollet Mall Store is not in a mall? How confusing. Guess we'll stay home.
8. When people go to Mall of America, they never make it to macys or Bloomingdales because they just ride the roller coaster for 3 hours and then leave.
7. Now that the sales are on Wednesdays, the Norwegians (50% of the population)can't go because they make Lutefisk that day.
6. Some people are still driving around looking for Dayton's
5. Everybody's mad that Santa Bear did not have a float in this year's Holidazzle Parade on Nicollet Mall.
4. The shoe sales guys never touch your feet anymore when you buy shoes. They just hand you the box of shoes.
3. Spring Sale conflicts with Polka Fest
2. Winter Sale conflicts with ice skating, ice fishing, ice sculpting, snow sculpting, cross country skiing, downhill skiing, hockey, sledding, St Paul Winter Carnival, the Ice Castle, the Outdoor Martini Bar, & dog sled races.
1. We're just a bunch of unsophisticated hicks who don't know what to do so we imitate you folks in the bigger city and boycott macys.
Date: Fri, April 27, 2007, 9:38 pm CT
* First, a commercial pitting "Philly Steak" pizza against "Brooklyn-style" pizza. ?!?!?!?! I'm sure folks there like their local favorites, but WHAT are these people thinking running this in Chicago? We all know where Chicagoans stand in regards to the pizza issue!!!
* Immediately following, an M*s commercial advertising their "Spring" sale. Once again, I think these ads might be slightly more appropriate elsewhere in the country where Federated has stomped out any remaining local retailing flavor, BUT NOT HERE IN CHICAGO!!!!
Where am I? According to this network, I may as well be in Topeka, Sacremento, Cleveland, or Jacksonville.
WE WANT MARSHALL FIELD'S BACK! NOT a generic stage prop that pretends to take over & destroys awesome & beloved traditions, styles, and service left by the wayside!
Date: Fri, April 27, 2007, 8:16 pm CT Date: Fri, April 27, 2007, 7:40 pm CT
I've noticed merchandise from Oprah's make-over shows include The Gap and Target. . .HMM!
As for the upcomming protest, I may not be able to be with you physically but will be there in SPIRIT! I want to read about the May 6 Rally in glowing terms. Thoughts:
1) Begin w/a giant unity huge of soladarity.
2) Marchers that wrap around the great Field's Bldg.; can't distinguish the head of the line from the back.
3) Don't be shy. Get bus drivers, cabbies and cars involved.
HONK IF YOU WANT MARSHALL FIELD'S.
Field's Gear is like tossing us a stale taco. As Marianne said, 'we want the entire enchilada!'
I'd love for everyone to write down what goods and services they no longer purchase from the 111 No. State St. store, place it in a box and ship it to TL in Ohio. Be realistic, thorough, not nasty. Example:
1) I've been w/the same hair stylist for 25 years but have not patronized the salon since the name change.
2) I'll be going on line to purchase my Lois Hill jewelry instead of having Thomasina cater to my every wish.
3) Toni at the Elizabeth Arden counter has lost my business to the Red Door Salon on North Michigan.
4) I've purchased so many shoes during the stock up sales over the years there is no need for me to even look at a new pair of shows for the next three years.
5) No other gift certificate makes a woman's heart skip a beat the way one accompanied by a box of Frango Mints. No matter the amount you knew you were going to get something GOOD!
Katie Couric of the CBS evening news just announced to the world that Chicago is the Capital of the Midwest (of course we knew this). This market has clout. What we have to do is 're-educate' FDS and TL to this simple fact. Chicagoans know what they want and:
WE WANT OUR MARSHALL FIELD'S!
I rest my case.
Doris
Date: Fri, April 27, 2007, 7:28 pm CT
[Reprinted from yesterday, due to popular demand.]
To all of you who feel strongly about this issue, please be aware that the boycott is crushing the Macy's on State. Sales are way down, according to information provided by insiders to me and to members of FieldsFansChicago.org. There are also marked decreases in sales at some suburban locations according to our sources.
Meanwhile, Federated won't come clean with the numbers. The reason is clear. They don't want to admit their mistake or give shareholders the truth.
To help with this effort, your attendance is needed at the next rally. Only through a sustained boycott will there be a chance for Marshall Field's to return to State Street. This is a multi-year effort and there are countless people who are making that effort simply by shopping elsewhere. This boycott is about the future. It is about making Chicago a better place for decades to come.
For now, we need you to show yourself in a crowd of fellow Field's supporters, so that the media can see the Chicagoans are who disagree with Federated's actions. Federated brought in Macy's while ignoring, disrespecting, and squandering the tremendous tradition as well as the future benefits of the Marshall Field legacy.
Please come to the May 6th rally and bring a friend or two. It will be a lot of fun. Your city needs you. Let's keep Chicago special. We are unlike any other city. Let's show that on May 6th!
Date: Fri, April 27, 2007, 6:59 pm CT
Date: Fri, April 27, 2007, 4:40 pm CT
I've already written a letter, focused on this paragaph:
As they will not publish material posted elsewhere, I cannot reprint my letter here.
Some other comments:
* Macy's brought back the I. Magnin name because someone in California tried to claim it was abandoned and open a store under that name. Nothing at all to do with history, heritage, or quality!
* I don't think Gertrude Hawk has changed the Frango recipe, but they did introduce a "Windy City Chocolate" variety that I was told was more like the version they produced on the 13th Floor. I wonder if anyone still makes the Seattle version, which is slightly saltier?
* I'd verify the exact wording of the advertising disclaimer, but I haven't checked the mail yet today. I get something at least three times a week from these people... I once talked to a M***'s salesman in the mattress department who told me that on his first day, many years ago, he accidentally sold someone a mattress at full price. Fine Jewelry is another department where no one pays what's on the tag. Seeing this perpetuated in other departments is just what I expect from M***'s.
Date: Fri, April 27, 2007, 4:34 pm CT
A la David Letterman, here is a "top ten" list of excuses for Terry to consider:
9. People were too busy figuring their income tax to shop.
8. Everybody was over their credit limit so had to avoid all shopping expenditures this month.
7. The "El" tracks are under construction.
6. It was the start of baseball season and the end of basketball season.
5. That coyote downtown really freaked people out.
4. There are more boycotters than shoppers.
3. Our "re-education" process has hit some glitches (they're all still just sooo confused.)
2. Our merchandise and service sucks, to be honest.
1. Chicago shops Marshall Fields, not Macy's.
I'm positive the creative people who post on this site can come up with some even better ones. C'mon, Let's help Terry out, here!!!!
Date: Fri, April 27, 2007, 10:35 am CT
It's not too much of a stretch to imagine this picture:
macy*mart employees being given adhesive-backed "Field Gear" labels to cover the Charter Club and Alfani labels. The "re-educated" consumer will no longer be "confused" by all the "exciting" improvements! Sounds like a winning strategy!
Date: Fri, April 27, 2007, 6:15 am CT Date: Fri, April 27, 2007, 12:21 am CT
Chris captured the situation surrounding Lundgren's comments perfectly---as usual...LOL. I swear I am laughing out loud at Chris' analysis just like I always do. Recall his comments like 8 months ago re: the plastic food on the dinnerware? OMG-----I believe I will have those in my mind for the rest of my life and will think of them every few weeks. I paraphrased them for this particular situation and just emailed Chris:
"Oh, yes...pants. Now I see. But, are they on sale? No, I'm uncertain. I must leave immediately..."
Regards.
Date: Fri, April 27, 2007, 12:18 am CT
STUPID me. I am so STUPID I filled out an application for an account with Nordstrom. The card came in the mail yesterday. I'm so STUPID I'll probably use it this weekend to buy a linen coat for summer. Jeez, am I STUPID! I'm worried I might not find the linen coats because the labels might be different from what I am used to. I'm so STUPID I might not find my way home. Glad I have my address written on my hand. STUPID, STUPID me.
Gee I wish I were smart like Terry.
Date: Thu, April 26, 2007, 11:18 pm CT Date: Thu, April 26, 2007, 10:20 pm CT
I am a retail designer, so I wanted to go check the new mall out in Bolingbrook and actually see how the new Macy's looked on the inside.
To my dismay, the store was closed tonight for a private party. Talk about alienating customers.....everyone that tried to get in, was rudely yelled at by security guards who said "only invited guests are allowed in this new Macy's!" There was nothing about it on the website either.....I basically wrote Frank G. and Terry L. and told them what a crock of s*** it is to actually turn away potential customers for a private party for "exclusive people!"
I wrote him and told him that I would never step foot in that store, not even to see it's bland tacky design!
Another stike out for Macy's in my book!
Date: Thu, April 26, 2007, 9:42 pm CT
Mike, You can count on Me to help "BRING BACK THE GREEN" !
WE NEED EVERYONE TO SUPPORT Marshall Field's May 6th!
Bring your Signs,
Bring your Shirts,
Bring your Pins,
Bring A Friend,
Bring the Dog !
Date: Thu, April 26, 2007, 9:25 pm CT
The very sad reality that Macy's needs to understand is that a resurected Field's, with great merchandise and service but without it's familiar house brands (Field Gear, Country Shop, 111 State, Field's Afar and even Frango), would still out perform and be preferred to by many than a Macy's with all of Field's familiar house brands.
Date: Thu, April 26, 2007, 8:41 pm CT
I have to disagree with you. Terry was telling the truth for once in his statement...
"Lundgren said Macy's confused shoppers by introducing new merchandise, a new discount strategy and a new promotional calendar."
I consider myself a very informed consumer and I was confused by introduction of new merchandise. I mean who wouldn't be confused by a retailer trying to peddle substandard overpriced merchandise by exclusive designers such as Alfani and Tasso Elba.
Discount strategy? Putting garbage on a dump table marked with .97 is not a strategy, it's pure laziness.
As for the promotional calendar...puhleese. When you use the word Sale in a Sale, it's pretty clear there's a sale.
Good god when will the idiots return to the village. Terry stop coming up with illogical, ill-prepared statements in an attempt to mask the obvious fact that you're an idiot and you made a mistake.
Date: Thu, April 26, 2007, 5:27 pm CT
Meanwhile, Federated won't come clean with the numbers. The reason is clear. They don't want to admit their mistake or give shareholders the truth.
To help with this effort, your attendance is needed at the next rally. Only through a sustained boycott will there be a chance for Marshall Field's to return to State Street. This is a multi-year effort and there are countless people who are making that effort simply by shopping elsewhere. This boycott is about the future. It is about making Chicago a better place for decades to come.
For now, we need you to show yourself in a crowd of fellow Field's supporters, so that the media can see the Chicagoans are who disagree with Federated's actions. Federated brought in Macy's while ignoring, disrespecting, and squandering the tremendous tradition as well as the future benefits of the Marshall Field legacy.
Please come to the May 6th rally and bring a friend or two. It will be a lot of fun. Your city needs you. Let's keep Chicago special. We are unlike any other city. Let's show that on May 6th!
Date: Thu, April 26, 2007, 5:01 pm CT
This isn't so much addressed at Lundgren as it is the writer of the article: That's not an argument, it's a statement. And Lundgren has yet to come up with a really compelling argument for why that particular statement is true. Especially given how well Nordstrom and Neiman Marcus have been doing as of late which runs counter to Lundgren's statement. Or maybe what's workable in today's retail environment is declining sales? I don't know. Maybe the new merchandise is just confusing me.
Date: Thu, April 26, 2007, 4:51 pm CT
So? The answer is to go for the mediocre? The mushy middle? The low to mid level, but with premium prices? Cluttered, dark, dated, dirty stores is where the money is? It ain't workin and everyone knows it. I have said from the very begining Bloomingdales and Field's could have coexisted and complimented each other. Better yet why not close down the one or is it two Bloomingdales in Chicagoland and left them just for the northeast and California.
Date: Thu, April 26, 2007, 4:19 pm CT
Because of the mixup about my participation in the topic (or my actual lack of participation), I will weigh in. Despite the discussion, questioning, theories, etc., I am very skeptical of any change in recipe for Frangos sold in the Midwest and manufactured by Gertrude Hawk. It is correct the recipe has gone through some changes through the years, etc. but I doubt they would have recently. Furthermore, who's to say one box that someone tasted wasn't somehow treated in an accidental way, etc.? I'm boycotting Macy's Frangos so it's all moot--I'm not going to be buying them to taste test or send some to a food lab for analysis.
And that's my "not-even-two cents"--but it used to be "my $17.99 a box."
Date: Thu, April 26, 2007, 1:23 pm CT
I see this as one sign that Macy's is crumbing under your pressure.
Now to return the Field's name to the 60 stores. Lundgren is wrong.
There is value in the Field's name. Marshall Field and Company, forever.
Date: Thu, April 26, 2007, 9:17 am CT Date: Thu, April 26, 2007, 7:00 am CT
"LaSalle is a name that is well-known and well-respected. It's a great franchise here," said Robert Graves, co-chairman of the global banking and finance practice at Chicago law firm Jones Day.
"It has got to be a significant strategic issue," Graves said, even if it may not be as emotionally wrenching as Federated Department Stores' transformation of Marshall Field's into Macy's.
The full article can be found at:
In a bit of trivia, it should be noted that LaSalle Bank also has some Field family connections, although it was after the family got out of the day-to-day operations of our beloved department store. Marshall Field III was one of the partners who purchased a bank and moved it into the Field Building at 135 S LaSalle back about 70 years ago. It was named LaSalle, obviously after the street it was on.
Tangentially, unlike the S-T article, the Trib's version of RBS's takeover suggests that the name LaSalle will go away regardless if B of A or RBS acquires it.
Date: Thu, April 26, 2007, 12:42 am CT Date: Wed, April 25, 2007, 11:25 pm CT
Beth
Date: Wed, April 25, 2007, 11:01 pm CT
"Allegedly the original price was $400, and I think it was marked down to $89. (M likes putting the disclaimer in their ads, "original prices may not have resulted in actual sales.")"
In Wisconsin, that is illegal. An item must be sold for a certain amount of time and generate a certain amount of sales at the original price before it can be sold at a sale price. I'm sure other states, including Illinois, have similar laws.
When is the City of Chicago and the State of Illinois going to do something about Macy's and their deceptive and false advertizing and phoney sales tactics? When is the City of Chicago and the State of Illinois going to do something about Macy's and their monopoly in certain areas and violation of anti-trust laws?
Date: Wed, April 25, 2007, 10:50 pm CT
If it's true that most of the food at Field's stores has been scaled back, how on earth do they think they can successfully launch new restaurants??
Date: Wed, April 25, 2007, 8:05 pm CT
I am not boycotting Macy's because they killed Marshall Fields. Macy's lost my business before that decision was ever announced. Poor quality over priced merchandise, poorly maintained stores, and poor service drove me away from Macy's long ago.
Date: Wed, April 25, 2007, 6:48 pm CT
Did you notice in Sandra Guy's article how she mentioned the "Marshall Field's Culinary Council?" I love it! I guess Lundgren has some work to do to re-educate the media too!
Date: Wed, April 25, 2007, 6:03 pm CT
"macy's---way to flop. It's Not Working!"
You will find references to disatisfaction from posters around the U.S., including the Southeast (the former Hecht's department stores), Pittsburgh (the former Kaufmann's stores) and other converted macy's stores, including the former...(but yet to be reborn)...Marshall Field stores.
More and more, shoppers are finding that the service, the merchandising and the emphasis on cheaply made, but costly, house brands are not selling them on macy's, in fact, turning them off!
http://stevenswain.blogspot.com/search/label/Macy's
Date: Wed, April 25, 2007, 4:19 pm CT
As a former $10 K per year Field's shopper and committed boycotter, I'm in a position to relate the hard core stance we have taken and will continue to take regarding the change of Marshall Field's to Macy's. The return of Field Gear is a drop in the bucket, a token. We want the whole enchilada, Linda, and will settle for no less. You could do 20 things that are a step in the right direction, but until the name and whole ambience of the once and future Field's returns, it's no go. WE WANT OUR MARSHALL FIELD'S BACK AND WE WILL CATERWAUL TILL THE COWS COME HOME.
Date: Wed, April 25, 2007, 4:15 pm CT
Macy's sucks.
Date: Wed, April 25, 2007, 3:01 pm CT
So now, I -- the customer -- am supposed to be confused by new merchandise, a new discount strategy and a new promotional calendar. Please.
The only thing that confuses this former Field's Regards cardholder is why Terry Lundgren thinks I would be interested in the overpriced, inferior quality merchandise that Macy's offers with poor service. And why journalists don't press him further for answers on what is one of the most colossal failures in retail.
Thank you,
Steven Roelofs
Date: Wed, April 25, 2007, 1:24 pm CT
I was speaking with a friend who remembered how Field's would have introduced Frangos. Safe to say I won't offer Macy's the benefit of a Field's Fan's experiece for them to cherry pick from a forum like this.
My friend remarked that it is almost as if Terry Lundgren, Macy's CEO, hopes Frangos are not a success so Macy's can drop them.
Marshall Field & Company was the absolute best in marketing, promoting and merchandising in a truly captivating, unique, dignified and appealing manner.
Date: Wed, April 25, 2007, 10:16 pm CT
Date: Wed, April 25, 2007, 7:30 pm CT
Date: Wed, April 25, 2007, 12:11 am CT
Sincerely,
Candice Greener
Date: Tue, April 24, 2007, 10:41 pm CT
Apparently Field Gear will return on a limited basis to compete as a private label with North Face. From what I can tell--and I need to confirm more--this was part of a Federated conference call, probably the same one Steven notes below.
The news story also mentioned how Federated execs noted that sales aren't up to the levels they hoped, but they say the reintroduction of the Field Gear brand is not in response to that.
Of special note was that as the news anchor read the story, the Marshall Field's logo appeared over her shoulder. Clearly Chicago still misses Field's sorely.
My hunch is that Macy's North execs probably want Field's back but Lundgren probably figures a limited return to Field Gear
might be enough. (Of course it's NOT!).
Date: Tue, April 24, 2007, 10:40 pm CT
((((((NOT going to get US back into the store.....till its Marshall FIELDS again)))))))
Happy Spring to all. Viva la Boycott
Date: Tue, April 24, 2007, 9:32 pm CT
Thanks for the possible explanations. Given all of macy*mart's "exciting" changes, I have to wonder what quality control is like compared to when it was Field's. I also wouldn't be surprised if Frango mints will soon disappear altogether. Perhaps the Frango cookbook is a last pitch.
Date: Tue, April 24, 2007, 6:19 pm CT
Some of the quotes and my commentary:
"Federated Department Stores plans to bring bistros, Starbucks coffee shops and upscale restaurants by nationally known chef Wolfgang Puck and others to many of its big-city department stores."
--Wolfgang Puck is upscale? Isn't there a WP in the movie theater in Evanston? How upscale is that?
"The department store giant plans to test the concepts in high-traffic stores in California and Florida."
--Well we all know that no store in Chicago qualifies as high traffic.
"The reinvention of Federated has not found traction at many of the 400 department stores formerly owned by the May Department Store Co. and purchased by Federated in 2005, executives said during a conference call Tuesday. Experts said it will take longer than expected to transition those former May stores to the Macy's brand."
--LOL. Uh, how long is NEVER. Those Macy's execs are more optimistic than Cubs fans, but I expect the Cubs will win not one, but three consecutive world series before those Macy's stores see anywhere near the level of business they had when they were Field's.
You can always count on a press release from Macy's to make you laugh.
Date: Tue, April 24, 2007, 11:22 am CT Date: Tue, April 24, 2007, 11:21 am CT
One clerk, in a one-on-one conversation, said sales were down tremendously at the store because of the insulting changeover. In fact, the clerk said sales were down at most former Fields stores as well. We talked for about an hour and a half and she said the Lake Forest store was never this empty on this particular day of the week, esepcially with beautiful weather. Not even 75 percent off sales of Ralph Lauren and other designer brands could not luure shoppers to the store. The same clerk says customers still ask when will Macy's come to its senses and bring back Marshall Fields. Lake Forest dislike Macy's and the signs are all too obvious.
From the looks of it, I would not be surprised if the Lake Forest Store in gorgeous Market Square would close. It would be a shame , but also a statement. That store has been around for 76 years and was once a bank.
Viva La Boycott!
Date: Tue, April 24, 2007, 10:28 am CT
"Ken Lewis doesn't expect picketers outside of Bank of America branches bemoaning the loss of the LaSalle Bank name. ...doesn't expect anything in the way of backlash that Federated Department Stores faced when it mothballed the Marshall Field's name in favor of Macy's, even as the 67-year-old LaSalle name goes away."
As someone who often did temp work at LaSalle (and enjoyed a great work environment with great people), I am interested to see how employees there actually do react. Who's to say they WON'T follow our example?
Date: Tue, April 24, 2007, 9:49 am CT
Also, I ran upon an article out of Nashville about a support group lamenting the loss of their local department store, Castner Knott. They've been meeting for almost 10 years now. Castner Knott was Nashville's Marshall Field's.
I'd say this is more proof that no one at federated did any research on consumer preferences at all.
http://www.nashvillescene.com/Stories/Columns/The_Fabricator/2006/09/14/Castner_Knott_Support_Group_Unmo/index.shtml
Date: Mon, April 23, 2007, 10:40 pm CT Date: Mon, April 23, 2007, 6:38 pm CT
In December we visited M***s on State Street and saw a comforter set. It was a spring design, for the guest room. When we took a closer look, we were appalled at the quality of the sheets. The comforter was fine, but the sheets were tissue-thin and didn't fit the mattress properly. I think the manufacturer took pity on the poor sap that would buy it - there were two complete sets of sheets in the package! Allegedly the original price was $400, and I think it was marked down to $89. (M likes putting the disclaimer in their ads, "original prices may not have resulted in actual sales.")
Neiman-Marcus got a $250 sale because I can't trust Macy's to provide me something that I would be comfortable giving as a gift.
Date: Sun, April 22, 2007, 10:25 pm CT
Waxy chocolate can be an indicator that a cheaper vegetable fat has been substituted for the cocoa butter.
Chocolate goods like Frango mints should be stored at 63 to 65 degrees and at controlled humidity. Stop by a Godiva store or any fine chocoalte shop to see how carefully the candy is handled. If the candy gets too warm or too cold, the oils in the candy will separate and give the candy a strange white film.
I'm skeptical that Macy's cares about the quality of its chocolates as much as Field's did.
Frangos most likely have a shelf life of about 6 months but only if made when top notch ingredients and stored properly.
Date: Sun, April 22, 2007, 9:49 pm CT
Marshall Field's lovers...the world's largest department store is the world's most downgraded department store...interms of class. DID YOU KNOW THAT MACY'S 34TH STREET /HERALD SQUARE FLAGSHIP actually has McDONALD'S,STARBUCK'S,BEN & JERRY'S,AU BON PAIN AND JIMMY'S PIZZA !
OH AND YES...ONE SMALL FULL-SERVICE RESTAURANT RUN BY RESTAURANT ASSOCIATES....
WHERE IS THE FULL-SERVICE,WORLD CLASS DINING ROOM WITH BEAUTIFUL CHANDELIERS & SUCH ?
SAKS FIFTH AVENUE opened two additional full-service restaurants and a full-service chocolate bar. This is even in addition to the beautiful full-service restaurant that they had called Cafe SFA !
ALL THE UNIQUE SERVICE AND EXCITING THINGS ABOUT THE STORE LIKE A WORLD CLASS IN-STORE DINING ROOM (LIKE THE WALNUT ROOM AT MARSHALL FIELD'S),THE FULL-SERVICE BAKERY... IT JUST ISN'T THERE !!!! HOW TERRIBLE !
YES...MAYBE IT WOULD COST FEDERATED SOME MONEY TO RUN FOOD-SERVICE IN-HOUSE LIKE THEY USED TO...MAYBE THEY COULD SHOWCASE THE LATEST & GREATEST MERCHANDISE LIKE THE NEWEST COMPUTERS, TELEVISIONS, FUN DEPARTMENTS THAT GIVE A UNIQUE EDGE AS THE WORLD'S LARGEST DEPARTMENT STORE SHOULD HAVE. IT WOULD GIVE PEOPLE A REASON TO ---STAY AND SHOP---
I THOUGHT MR.LUNDGREN SAID IT IS WHAT INSIDE THE STORE THAT MATTERS...IF THAT IS THE CASE...THEN WHY WOULD I STAY IN MACY'S WHEN I CAN GO TO STARBUCK'S,McDONALD'S....ETC. EVERYWHERE ELSE IN THE CITY ?
IMHO, HERALD SQUARE HAS REALLY GONE DOWN HILL... IMHO, IT'S DIRTY AND NOT WELL CARED FOR. SERVICE AT HERALD SQUARE IS VERY POOR AND THE PLACE IS FILTHY COMPARED TO WHAT MARSHALL FIELD'S LOOKED LIKE PRIOR TO THE MACYFICATION.
TERRY LUNDGREN SAYS HE IS INTERESTED IN REINVENTING THE DEPARTMENT STORE. I THINK HE SHOULD SPEND MORE TIME RESTORING THE DEPARTMENT STORE (RESTORING MARSHALL FIELD'S WORLD CLASS SERVICE AND OFFERINGS, RESTORING MACY'S TO ITS FORMER GLORY ON HERALD SQUARE...ETC.)
IF NOW IS THE TIME TO MAKE OR BREAK THE DEPARTMENT STORE AS WE KNOW IT, THEN SURELY FEDERATED SHOULD BE INTERESTED IN ALL OF THE ABOVE.
GIVE THE LADY WHAT SHE WANTS ! GIVE THE GENTLEMAN WHAT HE WANTS !
RESPECTFUL REGARDS ALWAYS,
RG74
Date: Sun, April 22, 2007, 6:35 pm CT
Pulling up to the Fox Valley Mall and seeing that Macys sign almost stopped my heart to be honest with you.
I went to Fox Valley, Old Orchard, and Woodfield on business. Very Sad. You can still see the Marshall Fields outline in Old Orchard where the signs used to be and are now covered by the other sign.
Even the Field's memorabilia is marked down. At Woodfield they have a whole wall of the Fields Green Clock, that actually works as a clock on the lower level ---marked down to 14.99, I bought one last June at Water Tower for $50.
I spoke to many sales people, who I honestly have to say were as great as always, especially in Fox Valley.
I had to experience the "marshall fields" of chicago as best I could one last time, because I have no doubt that by the time I take my next business trip, all signs of my favorite American Department store will surely have disappeared.
My heart goes out to all of you who have to drive up to Woodfield and see those great Marshall Field and Company signs gone. It's truly dispicable.
I have to tell you, my sister, and my friends have joined the boycott, it's not just Chicago that's not comping, trust me. I have converted everyone back here in NY to Lord and Taylor, just wish they had a home store.
So many sales people seemed so defeated when I spoke to them, they absolutely shared the sadness, if only with expressions, and gestures. I really don't understand why this happened, especially reading that article from the Bon Ton senior management.
Of note, I also went to Atlanta this week, and another jewel of store, PARISIAN, is in its final months. They are fully stocked with some great PARISIAN products. This name will fall in September, as Fields did last year. If you get to the south this spring or summer, get to PARISIAN, very nice stores, nice people, and about to be absorbed by the moderate Belk.
Keep up the fight, to me
Marshall Fields .....as Chicago as it gets......
Best
Dave
Date: Sun, April 22, 2007, 4:05 pm CT
As I listen to Robbie Gould's delightly tone-deaf rendition of Take Me Out to the Ballgame on WGN during the Cubs game, I'm leafing through my copy of the Chicago Tribune, and noticed an interesting ad on Page 6 of the Q section.
(Wait... according to the Federated Department store philosophy, this should be watching the Cincinnati Reds on Fox Sports Indiana while subscribing to the Indy Star or the Louisville Courier-Journal or whatnot, because brand loyalties developed over 25 years can be easily discarded by merely changing locations. Silly Midwesterners!)
I noticed that there is an ad for the Promenade in Bolingbrook with the great stores you can shop and eat at including H&M, Aeropostale, Salad Creations, Gordon Biersch Brewery, Ann Taylor Loft, and Hallmark.
Notice someone missing? What does that mean when a developer takes out an ad for the grand opening of a major project and fails to highlight an anchor? I'm assuming that Macy's did not want to contribute to the marketing campaign here. Is the consensus that the Macy's there will be either a JC Penney or Carson's as they attempt to expand in the Chicago area... or a Von Maur or Nordstrom? Or, will Federated, excuse me, Macy's Group try to rebrand the store as a Bloomingdale's? Can't wait to see what happens next! I'm sure that Forest City Enterprise Properties and the Village of Bolingbrook can't wait either.
Date: Sun, April 22, 2007, 1:08 pm CT
What I found even more remarkable in the article about Bon Ton was this:
"Bon-Ton Stores jumped almost halfway up Fortune magazine's well-known list of America's 1,000 largest corporations thanks to last year's performance: Revenue was up 164 percent and earnings per share increased 77.1 percent."
Bon Ton's stores are located mostly in the old May Co. areas and in the former Fields markets. It looks like customers are fleeing Macy's in droves in every market that had their stores rebranded and not just in Chicago.
What is Terry Lundgren's email address again? I think we all should email him a copy of the article showing Bon-Ton's remarkable success this past year!
Date: Sun, April 22, 2007, 9:43 am CT
The (M) stores are NOW SELLING OUR FANNIE MAY CANDY'S !!!
Sheesh! Maybe we to write Fannie May Candy and Let them know about Our Boycott!
http://www.fanniemay.com/customerservice/csrequest.asp
Date: Sat, April 21, 2007, 11:39 pm CT That sounds so dead on.
Date: Sat, April 21, 2007, 11:38 pm CT
Although I flatly refuse to spend a nickel at Macy's, a close acquaintance succumbed and purchased a top in the women's department. The sales associate who rang it up made an error, but instead of voiding the transaction she processed a credit and then redid the transaction.
Not satisfied with the price, she decided to return the top.
On Saturday afternoon Nordstrom's was hopping with former Field's customers, but over at Macy's, there were more sales associates than customers. My acquaintance handed over the item and her receipt. Never mind the amount that the receipt showed; the associate scanned it and declared, "Well, according to the computer, you already returned this item and received a credit. The only thing I can do is refund today's current sale price" (which was $4.00 less).
My acquaintance explained what happened, but the associate summoned the department manager, who asked to see other receipts and/or her monthly statement. She didn't have the statement, much less keep them handy in her purse.
So the manager phoned Macy's credit department and asked them to furnish copies of her last two statements, which would show the errant transaction. However, Macy's was going to charge $3.00 per statement!
In other words, Macy's was going to bill my wife $6.00 to credit back the $4.00 difference--as a result of the clerk's mistake a couple of weeks earlier!
She went through the ceiling! Finally the department manager relented, crediting the full amount. My wife asked, "Why didn't you do that in the first place? Do you think I came here and spent 45 minutes arguing with you just to steal $4.00."
She learned her lesson and will not shop at Macy's anymore.
I will toast the demise of Macy's North division, which I sense is coming soon, with a shot from my old bottle of Marshall Field's Frango Mint Liqueur.
Date: Sat, April 21, 2007, 8:58 pm CT
Announced tenants for 108 N. State Street:
Andrew's Ties
Banana Republic
Boggi Milano
David Barton Gym
Gibson's Steakhouse
Lucky Strike Lanes
Rosa Mexicano
Sisley
Date: Sat, April 21, 2007, 7:25 pm CT
Perhaps the Frango Mints are not the same as you are used to.
The Frederick & Nelson Dept Store was sold to Marshall Field's in 1929. The Frederick & Nelson candy makers in Seattle, were summoned to Chicago to introduce Frango's to Marshall Field's to help build slumping sales during the great depression. Soon the candy kitchen at Marshall Field's was producing their own Midwestern interpretation of the Frango Chocolate recipe.
In 1999, the production of the candy was sent to Gertrude Hawk,in Pa. Although the Northwest version, still uses the original Frederick & Nelson recipe, the Marshall Field's recipe has been modified a number of times. The use of different ingredients and equipment would account for any difference in taste between the two versions.
Federated's (Mr.Big Bucks) Terry J. Lundgren, announced in September 2005, that Macy's would look into moving production back to Chicago. Lundgren noted that Macy's would look into "our contractural oblgations" to determine if the chocolate production could be moved back to the Windy City, but stressed he was not making any promises in regards to moving production to Chicago !
So Drew, the Difference in the Taste, may not be The Candy Recipe. Maybe they are using different quality ingredents.
Date: Sat, April 21, 2007, 12:48 pm CT
The article continues, "His efforts appear to be paying off. For seven of the last eight months sales at Saks stores open a year have risen more than those at arch rival Neiman Marcus which has 38 stores."
I could not help but compare Sadove's enlightened customer driven approach to the clueless and arrogant Terry "We're Macy-izing the nation, so get used to it. So what if it all looks the same. It's cheaper for us this way. We'll get you re-educated sooner or later" Lundgren.
Date: Sat, April 21, 2007, 9:58 am CT
Doris
Date: Fri, April 20, 2007, 10:53 pm CT
Here's the link:
Here's the most interesting part:
In contrast, when Macy's purchased the May Corp. -- which locally included Hecht's -- it changed all the nameplates to Macy's.
"It's not had a benefit yet (for Macy's)," Bergren said about switching nameplates. "We believe there's value in having separate names in each of the different communities."
Of course, patronize Bon-Ton whenever possible. But you all already knew that, didn't you?
Date: Fri, April 20, 2007, 11:04 am CT Date: Fri, April 20, 2007, 9:04 am CT Date: Thu, April 19, 2007, 9:36 pm CT
Earlier today I posted my comments that I wrote to David Peltier at The Street.com which was mentioned by Zelda in an even earlier posting. Here is his almost immediate response back to me:
This is all great feedback, thanks for passing along the local flavor.
David Peltier
,
-----Original Message-----
Sent: Thursday, April 19, 2007 10:50 AM
To: David Peltier
Subject: Federated Dept Stores Column
Date: Thu, April 19, 2007, 8:51 pm CT
Does anyone know if they have changed the recipe? Somehow it seems Frango mints have been macy*ized. The chocolate coating looks and tastes like wax. The hardened "mint" filling only hinted at mint flavor and lacked the usual creamy quality. No doubt macy*mart made some "exciting" changes to the recipe--way to flop!
Date: Thu, April 19, 2007, 7:51 pm CT
Obviously someone at the M store FLUNKED 2nd grad math!
Let me give them a quick refresher course.
THERE ARE ONLY 4 SEASONS IN A YEAR!
THERE ARE 12 MONTHS IN A YEAR!
Date: Thu, April 19, 2007, 11:31 am CT
In the dish department they did have the Marshall Field clock bowl with the Wilton Armatale department. I did not see any of the Marshall Field clock merchandise in the small Waterford area. They did have boxes of Marshall Field Frango mint cookies and Marshall field Frango mints. There were also the regular Frango boxes.
My conclusion? The new WalMarts have more warmth, appeal and "personality" than the new store at Bolingbrook.
Oh, there were also a few leftover bags of Marshall Field coffees and they had many left over copies of the Marshall Field cookbook.
Date: Thu, April 19, 2007, 10:49 am CT
Well, the dreaded red plastic newspaper shroud arrived this morning with my Chicago Tribune, touting the macy's grand opening in Bolingbrook, IL. As expected, they managed to insult us who live in an adjacent village; the ad reads "Hellooooo Bolingbrook...". I know I'm not the only one in my neighborhood who takes offense, nor the only one there who boycotts macy's.
I have to include a partial quote from their flyer, for laughs:
"Our customer service promises to astonish......"
SJK
Date: Thu, April 19, 2007, 9:53 am CT
here is my letter to David Peltier at The Street in the article referenced by Zelda:
I caught you recent column cautioning investors about Federated stock and I absolutely agree with you from a consumer viewpoint. I live in Minneapolis and watched Macy's downgrade the venerable Marshall Field's through their purchase of May Co.
Having shopped at Dayton's and then Field's, after it was purchased by Dayton's for many years, I had come to expect good quality merchandise, reasonable prices and excellent service. Macy's destroyed that. The unique brands that Field's carried to set itself apart from other retailers are now gone and replaced with Macy's inferior quality house brands with high prices; major designers have abandoned Macy's; and service is non-existent.
And we in the Midwest who have driven same-store sales down by double digits in the former Marshall Field's locations look with some anticipation each month as Terry Lundgren explains the poor performance. I believe in March it was the weather that led to a 2.3% increase. This is the same weather that drove us into JC Penney, Nordstrom, Saks and Target Stores who all posted double digit increases.
I am most puzzled why analysts and investors are not pushing Mr Lundgren on his failed business strategy of converting all these stores to Macy's. And no one is talking to the customer! Analysts comtinue to speak in terms of when "the customers return to Macy's". That is incorrect. We are not returning to Macy's. There is no reason to go there. Nearly 60,000 of us signed a petition, wrote letters, and told our stories in advance on keepitfields.org, but Macy's thought it knew better what we needed. They are also incorrect. We are now showing them that we know best what we want and need.
Date: Thu, April 19, 2007, 8:34 am CT Date: Thu, April 19, 2007, 7:45 am CT
Ah, wait a minute.
Didn't Macy's just have a "Great Weekend Sale" with the lowest prices of the season?
And before that, an One Day Sale that claimed to have the lowest prices of the season?
Oh, and a "Spring Sale" (you know, the one that used to be "Field's Days") that also had the lowest prices of the season? And weren't those same Alfarni suits at "the lowest price of season?"
Macy's defines the current season as 2/1 to 4/30. Still, how many lowest prices of the season can you have? And how many seasons can one have in a fiscal year?
Wasn't it Macy's plan to be less promotional? Think I will start tracking some of their promotions and report back. (FYI: Federated recently was sued out east for "fake sales and promotions.")
Proud to be part of your Field's family. Long live the boycott!
Date: Thu, April 19, 2007, 2:13 am CT
This was the very first Lazarus and at one time was around 900,000 s.f., but certainly not as grand and decorated as Field's State Street store. Maybe in the 1980s or early 90s was downsized to a still impressive 300,000+ s.f. It was closed around a time when the mall was on a downward slide. The Marshall Field's store changed to Kaufmann's and the buyout put that store in Federated/macy's hands.
So, macy/federated-mart could end up killing two stores and the entire mall, because if the last downtown columbus department store closes, probably no one will come to the mall. This is a sad thing considering at one time this used to be the best columbus mall. It had Marshall Field's, Lazarus, and Jacobson's as anchors plus stores like Abercrombie and Fitch, Gap, Express, Banana Republic, and more....all are already closed or set to close.
It would be my guess that dozens (maybe like 50+) of former MayCo/Field's stores will close nationwide within the next two years. These stores probably wouldn't have closed under thier former names.
Date: Wed, April 18, 2007, 11:16 pm CT
It's been so much fun reading everyone's comments! Perhaps we are all longing for Field's spring shopping season. Does everyone remeber the the great comercials Field's would run each season to announce "spring has arrived!" They still ran new spring campaings under May Co. All other May divisions except for L&T had to run the exact same commericals with different labels, but even May knew Field's was different.
I guess us fools are just really dumb since we are not being "re-educated" by the Messy Mart marketing blitz. Oh wait, I have been re-educated to spend more time at Nordstroms, JCrew, H&M, Aerpostale, and even Sears! I went into Sears on a mission to see if I could find anything worth purchasing. Turns out, they had some great silk ties! I got some pillows too!
So, thank you Terry L. Your changes helped re-educate me to the fact that Sears has some nice things (and much nicer bathrooms). If only Montegomery Ward was still around! That would have been a real trip to have all of us re-educated to shopping at Wards!
Date: Wed, April 18, 2007, 6:19 pm CT
It was in the news today that JC Penney's plans to open 250 new stores...most will be brand new locations, some are relocations.
They said they're rapidly accelerating their expansion plans because their sales are "so far ahead of projections." I assume that the reason their business plan was so far off the mark was because they forgot to factor in all the customers that Macy's so nicely handed them on a silver platter.
I think that the CEO of Penney's (and those from Nordstroms, et al) should pass the hat and buy Lundgren a really nice "Thank You" gift. Perhaps something from Alfani or Trump? Oh wait, Penney's doesn't carry that junk.... Maybe they should just stick with a Macy's gift card. With his 40% discount and pre-paid sales taxes, Lungren could buy himself something really nice. Oh wait, Macy's doesn't carry anything really nice....
sigh.
Date: Wed, April 18, 2007, 6:06 pm CT
Read the whole article!
The stock traders are finally beginning to see through those silly excuses and actually interpret the numbers correctly!
Your friend in Field's,
Zelda
Date: Wed, April 18, 2007, 4:33 pm CT
Also of special note: JCPenney will open a new Chicago store. The location is not given. One can only hope it's 108 N State or 1 S State. (Remember that American Girl is moving into the lower floors of the former Lord and Taylor space.)
Jim
Date: Wed, April 18, 2007, 4:19 pm CT
This is the reply I got:
Thank you for taking the time to e-mail us. We have received your message, and it's been forwarded to Candice Greener, Store Manager of our Lake Forest location, for review and response. Please be assured we take your message very seriously. Candice Greener or someone from the Lake Forest executive office will contact you in the near future. Thank you for shopping in our stores.
Mary Mortensen
I am so pleased to know that Macy's takes me "very seriously." You should all write them too! It's a shame Macy's has downgraded Field's and it's come to this!
Date: Wed, April 18, 2007, 2:27 pm CT
IF YOU HAVE A BUTTON, WEAR IT!
Date: Wed, April 18, 2007, 10:54 am CT
Date: Wed, April 18, 2007, 10:29 am CT
Jim
Date: Wed, April 18, 2007, 10:23 am CT
The ATT Wireless comment is a bit misleading because ATT sold had its cell business to Cingular. Cingular's parent (SBC) then purchased the remaining parts of ATT and assumed ATT's identity.
Nations Bank purchased Bank of America and took the BofA name.
This is the same thing that has happened here. Federated Department Stores purchased Macy's, then took Macy's name.
Date: Wed, April 18, 2007, 10:08 am CT
Considering all the posts on how business was down, I decided that I would count the number of people carrying Macy's bags around the mall. From 2:15 until 4:00, I counted 10. 3 of these people were actually within the Macy's store. I know, I know... I needed to pick up a Waterford vase for a wedding, but they did not seem to have one that was made in Ireland (and no one was around to help me - 3 people just talking amongst themselves), so I ended up at Bed Bath & Beyond instead.
10 customers in almost 2 hours on a Saturday afternoon with nice weather - how much longer can they afford to be in business at this rate? Tons of Carson's and JC Penney bags in the mall (including my own). Even the Gap in a makeshift location was more crowded than Macy's (and, I spent money there, too). Oh, and why would Macy's display TARNISHED silver? Are they serious about trying to sell items or not?
Date: Wed, April 18, 2007, 8:27 am CT Date: Wed, April 18, 2007, 8:26 am CT
Evidently the Downtown Columbus store is also on a slippery slope:
Lunkhead's plot to re-indoctrinate shoppers isn't working. In addition to alienating the more vocal Chicago consumers, shoppers in other markets are making a similar protest by taking their dollars elsewhere.
It is laughable when retail "experts" state that macy*mart has to develop new ways to win back customers. Guess what--once customers find what they want/need elsewhere, there is no way they will go back to macy*mart. Think of the problems confronting the domestic automakers. They produced shoddy, unreliable cars in the 1970s and 1980s. The Japanese automakers produced a superior product, Americans switched to Honda and Toyota, and they aren't willing to give the domestics another chance. As macy*mart's reputation continues to plummet, their chances of regaining lost customers are like nil and none.
Date: Wed, April 18, 2007, 12:34 am CT
The 7th floor food area was slow...I could only see 6 or 7 tables in the Walnut Room...the North State court on 7 had some business, but seemed slow considering it was 1pm and Tuesday.
Men's Suits and associated areas slow (read dead)...some better quality mdse than I have seen in the Detroit stores...Joseph Abboud and some others, but still not Fields quality and selection...still no variance on sizes...no long, tall, etc.
Main floor traffic busy, but not a lot of folks with Macy bags.
Better business in the "Cellar" and the food court, although not packed @ 1:25p, better than 7.
Salesperson in the Wine Dept. told me that "later this year, no more wine at the Michigan stores." hmmn...that's home turf for me. But the selection has always been limited here particularly after May Co. changes. Told her of my dislike for the mdse changes and she advised communication through the web site. Told her been there, done that!
I did not see the red strip lighting around the floors in the North light court... is it gone? Or did someone forget to flick the switch?
Lots of repetitive merchandise scattered far and wide...cheap Waterford made in eastern Europe by/for Waterford...lots of it spread over many racks...sort of like we got to fill in this floor space ...haul out another 10 cases of xxxx.
Cookbooks not marked down at SS, so the clearance must be local to the Detroit stores.
Overall the store was, again, disappointing. As I've said before, over and above the name change, its the merchandise!
Date: Tue, April 17, 2007, 11:34 pm CT
Must be a slow Biz news day in Minneapolis as the Star Tribune just printed a re-hash of the March Retail numbers, stating the overall month was a good month for retailers. A couple of the reasons given were the early Easter and the warmer weather which whetted appetites for Spring fashions, conflicting with Terry Lugnut's claim that the cold weather kept people away from macys exciting Spring exciting Collections, exciting.
The article pointed out though not to expect April to be so rosy as two retail "powerhouses", Wal*mart & Federated Dept Stores have already issued warnings. It always makes me laugh when I hear those 2 companies referred to as retail powerhouses or giants as they seem to be the only 2 that lag month after month for the last year in their respective categories. Target has outperformed Wal*mart in same-store sales every month for 2 years and every dept store I can think of outperforms macys....LOL.
Regards.
Date: Tue, April 17, 2007, 11:11 pm CT
Very few shoppers, Although it's not grand opening at all until Thursday, none of the employee's know their products, a number of workers are pulled from other stores, they are totally understaffed.
The building is crawling with people from Macy's North Offices, and Federarted Corporate. They are even adding to confusion for what few customers they have.
Date: Tue, April 17, 2007, 11:03 pm CT
In the downscale Macy-mart tradition, we are all supposed to be brain-washed to wear the official Trump uniform !
Just great ! Ha Ha.
I WANT MY MARSHALL FIELD'S !!!! FIELDGEAR COME BACK TO US...ALFANI GO HOME !
Date: Tue, April 17, 2007, 10:00 pm CT
Macy's PR machine would have the public believe that Field's supporters are whining over fond memories of a store whose time had passed. Nothing could be further from the truth. We will be sure that reporters and analysts know better than to believe Macy's spin despite that we are up against an army of PR experts who barrage the newsmedia and analysts with Macy's propaganda. And of course we will focus our efforts on letters to the editor to local newspapers as well as analysts, reporters, magazines, business editors and editors-in-chief of national newspapers.
The impact of Macy's decision to eliminate Marshall Field's isn't about nostalgia as some would have us believe. It's about the loss of a valuable community resource, a time-proven asset that represented Chicago to the world as a world-class destination, attracted tourists, provided tax revenues, founded most of our city's most prestigious museums, donated hundreds of millions of dollars to good causes, sold quality merchandise, provided outstanding service and set the standard for a lifestyle enjoyed by generations of customers.
If the Lake Forest store closes it will serve to highlight the detrimental impact of Macy's expansion strategy based on the acquisition and destruction of valuable community assets. Clearly this would further support our position that Marshall Field's revival is the only business plan that is in the best interest of both Chicago and Macy's/Federated investors.
Date: Tue, April 17, 2007, 7:19 pm CT Date: Tue, April 17, 2007, 6:29 pm CT
Remember, this was the location where the town of Lake Forest would not let Macy's put the red star all over the front of the store.
Business has really tanked at the Lake Forest location even more than at State Street, Vernon Hills and Northbrook. Which is hard to believe since those stores are largely deserted.
Fun fact: the large Macy shopping bags with the over-the-shoulder handles were just too expensive. Everything goes in a plastic bag now!
Date: Tue, April 17, 2007, 3:01 pm CT
And I read Denise Rule's comments in Voice of the People today. Way to go, Denise! You really told them.
Date: Tue, April 17, 2007, 8:21 am CT
While there were some people in food areas, there were not as many people shopping on a Thursday around noon.
They didn't even have the shopping bags with handles...they only had the cheap plastic bags. The salespeople even said sarcastically said that this is Macy's and they only have cheap plastic. I could tell they are not happy with the current situation and would love Field's back too. My bag was tearing and when I got to Nordtrom they actually gave me a "real" bag to use even though I didn't find anything there this time. At least Nordstrom knows service.
Well, with Field's, Carson's, and now Lord & Taylor gome, downtown Chicago has lost some of its uniqueness. All the downtown Chicago department stores except for Macy's Bloomingdale's stores can be found in Houston. So really, why fly from Houston to visit the same stores that we have here.
----------------------------------------
Speaking of Foley's/Macy-mart here in Houston...they contunue to dissapoint me. Macy-mart has recently discontinued some of the brands of shoes they used to carry. The home department looks like Target, only more expensive and even less exciting. I don't want to pay THAT much for INC, Alfanti, Charter Room, American Rags, or any of their cheaply made off brands. However, at a respected store like Nordstrom or Saks, I WOULD buy the house brands.
I was at the Sharpstown Foley's/Macy-mart and wow has that store gone downhill. The former clearance area was completely empty, the top floor is pretty empty as a whole. The bathrooms were closed with a handwritten 'out of order' sign on it. The carpets were dirty. Some of the self scanners were broken or compltely missing. Employees were few, and so were the customers. The sales floor was noticibly lacking in merchandise/had a lot of empty spaces. Foley's would never had let the store get this bad. I really would be surprised if this store is still open in a year from now...and this used to be a pretty nice store.
Even the Houston Galleria stores have gotten worse. The X-Foley's store has especially declined even more then the "legacy" macy-mart on the other end of the mall. It used to be a 'must visit' store...now I don't go there that often...glad to still have Dillard's and Nordstrom at least.
Date: Mon, April 16, 2007, 8:21 pm CT Date: Mon, April 16, 2007, 7:01 pm CT
Posted by: denise rule | Apr 16, 2007 12:18:11 PM that's what i had to say to the 'voice of....' today.
Date: Mon, April 16, 2007, 5:53 pm CT Date: Mon, April 16, 2007, 5:36 pm CT
When 111 N State was Field's it was number one. And if they really cared about Chicago, they'd at least ditch the image of Herald Square on their front page now and then and cycle through once in a while with a similar image of State Street or the clock.
As Field's we were number 1. As Macy's we're number 3. No Way To Shop!
Date: Mon, April 16, 2007, 3:18 pm CT
It is hard for me to return to Philadelphia and not have a trip to Strawbridge's as a part of my routine. I feel lost in the Baltimore/Washington area as outside of Nordstrom and Lord & Taylor there is no other department store choice. (Sorry Boscov's but I'm trying!)
Perhaps those who feel that Macy's is an improvement should make us just suck up the loss of Hecht's and Strawbridge's and now visit the wonderful new mini-mini flower shows and cooking demonstrations. I'll join you in Philadelphia-oh wait, that doesn't exist anymore even as a "flagship".
(Walkied by the Macy's, former HECHT'S (the legacy Macy's had closed because it was in such disrepair) at White Marsh on Saturday. You could have rolled a bowling ball down those aisles! We didn't shop there when we had a choice. Now with no choice people seem to be going elsewhere. I think they've stopped trying here. I guess there were no cooking demos to draw in the crowds and justify the loss of identity and history.)
Date: Mon, April 16, 2007, 3:10 pm CT
----
As gle, Denise and others noted, today's Tribune "Voice of the People" has two letters about the loss of Field's to Macy's. One is yet another letter that says they are sick of hearing about the issue and another is just plain strange. The point is that these letters say little that hasn't been said before. What isn't explained enough in Voice of the People is that this is not simply a name and logo switch. Macy's has lesser quality, service and overall ambience than Field's as Ellen Warren's blog responses overwhelmingly demonstrated a couple of weeks ago. Again, it's not only about a name--although that is part of it--it ia about quality, service, hostory, culture and a way of doing business that is Marshall Field's--and not Macy's. And people just aren't buying it. The diversion of hundreds of thousands in tax revenue is certainly news worthy.
As always, such items are an opportunity to express to the editors of these publications your opinion of the switch from Field's to Macy's in merchandise, quality, service and name. It is very much hoped you will do so.
The following are suggestionss in submitted items.
Date: Mon, April 16, 2007, 12:29 pm CT Date: Mon, April 16, 2007, 9:49 am CT
www.fds.com/ir/maymerger/pressreleases/local/060427.asp
Also, the "Tribune" Letters to the Editor section has two comments about Field's and Macy's today.
Date: Sun, April 15, 2007, 10:25 pm CT
Oh how wrong we were.
Not ONE thing was changed. The stores (many of which haven't been touched since the changeover to May Company in the late 80's) carry old merchandise, dirty and unkempt stores, and a cringe-worthy selection of clothing...LESS than Kauffmann's ever did. It's like K-Mart merchandise in Zayre's stores.
The buzz is gone. No one talks about Macy's anymore. I find my clothing cash going toward Penney's, Kohl's, and Steve and Barry's- Notice how I'll avoid Macy's at all costs.
God, I miss Kaufmann's/May Company/O'Neils. Hopefully I can make to State Street this spring before everything is gone. I just hope I'm not too late...
Date: Sun, April 15, 2007, 9:57 pm CT Date: Sun, April 15, 2007, 9:29 pm CT
Date: Sun, April 15, 2007, 4:39 pm CT
We got 9 years to get rid of Macy's and send them packing and bring back something uniquely Chicago!
I hope all the movers and shakers in Chicago are taking noice of this. Do you really want to present to the world Macy's? You can still do something about this!
Date: Sun, April 15, 2007, 3:43 pm CT
How sad it is for some that a few nice plants and a cooking demonstration are sufficient to pay mesys their Nordstrom prices and be seen wearing Macy's sub-Sears style.
Date: Sun, April 15, 2007, 2:28 pm CT Date: Sun, April 15, 2007, 12:52 pm CT
I'm not able to conduct "business as usual" but here are some thoughts/suggestions:
One good thing with the name change, the good name of Marshall Field's has not been ruined by the acquisition.
Concentrate on finding a new owner making sure that owner knows the store is failing due to the boycott!
Go national with the boycott. Oprah, David Letterman, Jay Leno, The View, CNN, MSNBC, Lary King, all the network morning shows, Tara Banks, etc., etc.!
Keep the faith!
Doris
Date: Sun, April 15, 2007, 12:08 pm CT Date: Sun, April 15, 2007, 10:07 am CT
DEEP DISCOUNTS LUCRATIVE FOR DIRECTORS AND MANAGERS
By Sandra Jones 4/14/07 Tribune
Terry Lundgren, Federated's immaculately attired chairman and chief executive, received $48,382 worth of merchandise discounts last year plus $21,219 to cover the taxes on the perk. That made him the second-highest-spending shopper among the top seven executives, after Ronald Tysoe, Federated's longtime vice chairman who retired in October. Tysoe received $124,635 in merchandise discounts, plus another $46,363 to cover the taxes.
In total, Federated gave its top seven executives almost $300,000 toward store merchandise and gave its directors about $81,000.
Hey Federated..How about sharing the Wealth with the "Workers" ? ?
We have Mouths to Feed,and Bills to Pay Why Do You Guys Get All the PERKS ? THIS AIN'T RIGHT !!!!!
Date: Sat, April 14, 2007, 8:09 pm CT
Here in Detroit area stores, all cookbooks are being reduced as they will no longer be carrying such mdse. Not a lot of business at Somerset and Oakland Mall...not a lot of sales persons on the floor either...what few customers there are now forced to walk about in search of a cash wrap that is open. I did however, see a PAPER shopping bag, glossy finish white and the huge red star.
ALso the Lamp department is no longer...lamps are intermingled with the furniture. So, the Macy's way to shop makes you walk through the furniture department in search of a lamp...sad. No more custom framing or artwork either.
More and more like JC Penney and or Kohl's every day.
Date: Sat, April 14, 2007, 3:08 pm CT
Also, the Nordstrom in the same mall was brimming with business, as it usually does on the weekend, while Macy's had only a moderate amount of foot traffic. Bit by bit I'm finding more alternatives to Macy's, and I'm quite happy with them. No matter what, there's STILL no place like Field's.
Date: Sat, April 14, 2007, 11:55 am CT
* stores see plenty of opportunity downtown to serve male customers and are taking action
*Hubert H. White, right across Nicollet Mall from the Marshall Field's bldg continues to thrive and add new merchandise
*Atmosfere openend last year in Gavidae Commons on 6th & Nicollet Mall and is building a clientele of hipsters with quality, edgy designer clothing aimed at a young crowd---sort of what INC wishes it could do. Due to their success, the owners have just opened a new shop called Suit Up, which I did not know about, in the same building, selling business drag and more formal clothing
*Brooks Brothers, which pulled out of downtown about 10 years ago and moved to the heinous Mall of America, will return to Downtown this Fall. Their store will be in City Center, across 7th St from the Marshall Fields Bldg
*Len Druskin, local clothier for both men & women now located out in the 'burbs, will open a men's store downtown this summer.
*In addition to these clothiers, Best Buy (electronics)is scouting a Downtown location because of all the people moving into Downtown. Lunds, the local High-end Food market has opened on the edge of Downtown and will be opening a 2nd store this Fall on the opposite end. These 2 companies are well-respected locally and will be catalysts for perhaps some more smaller Boutique shops to come down as well. Shopping downtown might be fun again!!
Filling a void, Anyone?
Regards.
Date: Sat, April 14, 2007, 11:47 am CT
I would love to see the actual sales figures for the former May stores released by Federated. As I have said in a prior post, it is my prediction that over half of the former Foley's stores will be closed within 2 years (if that long) as well as other former May outlets (Kauffman's, Robinson's, Marshall Field's etc) unless Lughead sells off portions to other retailers (like Field's to Selfridge's or investors etc).
Date: Sat, April 14, 2007, 11:05 am CT
Macy's ...WE ARE NOT IMPRESSED With You Or Your CHEAP MECHANDISE !
Date: Sat, April 14, 2007, 9:18 am CT
I wonder how bad the May/Fields stores are really doing with Federated. With all the increased national advertising for m* store, in print, TV, cable, internet, etc., I bet the "legacy macy" store's sales are way up. Established m* stores would benefit greatly from the new national advertising campaign and I would guess their sales have increased and increased at a good margin.
This would only mean, in the grand picture of things, that the May/Fields store's sales are WAY WAY DOWN. I mean in the sub sub basement. You know the basement that flooded when the Chicago River leaked into the old mail subway? That's where "Macy's on State's" sales are.
Date: Sat, April 14, 2007, 9:13 am CT
One of the things about the numbers is that Lungren will claim that Fields on State was a sinking ship before they bought it. Does anyone have any solid numbers on the store's performance for the last 10 years?
The place is a ghost town.
It really is too bad.
Wm
Date: Fri, April 13, 2007, 4:00 pm CT
I'm a little confused about FDS's sales reports. Report #1: March sales were down because weather was bad and home sales were slow. Report #2: April sales will be bad because all the Easter shopping took place in March. Huh? Does that mean that March sales are bad (due to the weather, of course) even though they had the benefit of early Easter shopping? In other words, I guess March sales REALLY sucked, and April isn't going to be any better. Oh, I get it now! Perhaps they think our attention span is less than 30 days, so it really doesn't matter what excuse they use.
Below are sales results from national chains. Macy's is at the bottom of all the department store chains. Gee, those poor folks are having some weather issues! I agree with a previous poster, must be a black cloud!
Strong retail sales
Year-over-year percentage change in March sales at stores open at least a year
Sources: Times research, company reports, International Council of Shopping Centers
Date: Fri, April 13, 2007, 1:30 pm CT
That's just a set up for Lundgren to bring on Marth "ex-con" Stewart. He thinks she will be the savior of Macy's.
NEWS FLASH TO LUNDGREN!
Martha Stewart didn't save K-Mart, they went bankrupt and merged with Sears, and SHE WON'T SAVE YOU EITHER!
Now when Martha doesn't save Macy's and they go bankrupt too, who will they merge with?
Most likely WAL-MART. They have so much in common, only have to add a few letters to the signs. WAL*MACY'S
Date: Fri, April 13, 2007, 1:06 pm CT
Saks: 10.1 percent gain
J.C. Penny: 10.6 percent increase
Kohl's: 16.8 percent
Target: 12 percent
Event the Gap is puling out of a slump!Carson is going like gang busters - enough to pull up Bon Ton.
Wow. Guess some stores have the merchandise and service people want.
Macy's? Hmm..."Poor home store sales" that is code for cheap, unispired merchandise. "Cold weather" is code for no one wants what we have in our stores.
It is so obvious: people are going anywhere but Macy's despite cold weather, snow, warm weather, sun spots and an occasional tornado OR whatever other excuse Lughead can come up with.
Date: Fri, April 13, 2007, 11:01 am CT
"Does Macy's tell JCPenney?"
Looks like JCPenney will be giving Macy's an even bigger run for their money--and on Macy's home turf at Herald Square at that!
Women's Wear Daily's web site says that JCPenney is close to signing a deal to take over what was once Gimbels flagship at 33rd and 6th. Since Gimbels went out of business in 1986, the store operated as Macy's subsidiaries Abraham and Straus and then Stern's. These chains were Macyized and with Macy's 34th St flagship nearby, the Gimbels flagship was radically renovated into what is today's Manhattan Mall. My hunch is that it would be late 2008 or early 2009 before JCP could open there and that's if they can fast track it.
The article can be found at :
How does this help us hear in the Land of Field's Fans?
It puts right there for all of NYC and Wall Street to see how JCP is taking Macy's business.
Thanks to all who posted the March sales stats. Pretty much all of them seemed to be compilations of retailers' press releases with little additional insight -- and the opportunity to provide analysis and insight was certainly missed. That's something worth writing in about.
Date: Fri, April 13, 2007, 10:34 pm CT
http://www.suntimes.com/business/339795,CST-FIN-retail13.article
Date: Fri, April 13, 2007, 10:26 am CT
I can't stand the Macy's cheap merchandise, the bland music, the bad business decisions, the constant fumbles and arrogance of FDS....it all makes me sick, even in my daily life.
Life would be so more complete if I had my Marshall Field's back.
Yes, Terry Lundgren and Frank Guzzetta, shopping is about emotion and that's what Macy's took away.
Date: Fri, April 13, 2007, 1:23 am CT
A couple of months ago I mentioned that I had spent a weekend in Atlanta, and decided to check out a couple of Macy's there including the "flagship" for Macy's South, Lenox Square. Sadly, not much difference from Macy's here in California. Interestingly enough, that same weekend I was at a party and met someone who was originally from NYC. We started talking about retail, and he said he loves having Bloomingdale's and Macy's in Atlanta because they remind him of home. I mentioned that being from southern California, I had to see some of my favorite stores disappear in favor of Macy's. He did say though that most native New Yorkers stay away from the 34th Street store, and shop at Macy's in the suburbs. He did agree though, that it was sad that Field's went away. Sad is putting it mildly.
To Bob in DC, I've read some of your comments regarding Hecht's and May's management of it. I agree with you on many of those comments, because Robinsons-May out here was the same way. So many Robinsons-May stores were cluttered, poorly maintained, and most merchandise was less than spectacular. Gee, sounds like the road Macy's has been heading down for the past few years. To be honest, I think Federated followed a lot of bad examples set by May. When May acquired Field's, I was worried that it would go the same way the rest of their chains. Of course, it was even worse than that. Now Field's is gone completely.
Keep up the good fight everyone. Keep voting with your hard-earned dollars. Remember, there are alternatives to Macy's. Nordstrom has been a great one for me. :) So has shopping online on Lord & Taylor's website. Viva la boycott! There's no place like Field's! Macy's, way to flop!
Date: Fri, April 13, 2007, 12:03 am CT
Terry is also blaming weak sales in the home store--hasn't that excuse been used before? Wouldn't the talented merchants at Federated have tried to offer more "exciting" wares to improve traffic--or will we have to wait for the arrival of "exciting" Martha Stewart goods from Kmart?
Date: Thu, April 12, 2007, 11:13 pm CT
Unseasonably cold weather didn't prevent me buying 3 pairs of chinos, 5 T-shirts and 3 polo shirts from Target, as well as a resin/wood Adirondack chaise lounge with matching table. A couple of pillows, some silk flowers and pebbles from Pier 1. A glass carafe from Crate & Barrel. A rug from CB2. A few dog toys from Petco. Coffee and biscotti from the little Italian market in the bottom of the Hancock building.
All things I would have picked up at State Street Field's. But instead of one single trip to 111 North State, I went here, there, everywhere (with CTA no less) but Macy's. Unseasonable cold weather be damned.
Date: Thu, April 12, 2007, 10:28 pm CT
Yea--I was thinking the same about this Linda Piepho--she was going to show Chicago what a store was supposed to look like and we never heard from her again. Meanwhile, here in Minneapolis, Frank Guzzetta, Chairman of macy's North has not been heard from either for months. He used to be in the press frequently: quotes, photos, opinions, & news about the exciting changes that macys is inflicting upon Minneapolis in order to make shopping more exciting as we browse their exciting merchandise in their exciting new environment.
I so love the apathy and even hostility that Minneapolitans show toward macys now. Just mention the name and hear people go "Uggh" or "yuk"
Regards.
Date: Thu, April 12, 2007, 10:19 pm CT
I just found the excuse Federated will use to explain why their April sales fell FLAT.
Dillard's March same store sales increased 6%. Same store sales for a 9 week period ending April 7th declined 1%. They explained this with the following quote.
"The Company notes that Easter holiday shopping activity occurred entirely in the fiscal month of March in 2007 and largely in April of 2006 as the holiday occurred two weeks earlier this year."
Dillard's is heavily concentrated in the South. We recently experienced record breaking cold. It's interesting they didn't use weather as an excuse.
Imagine what Macy's figures would have been if Easter shopping hadn't been concentrated entirely in the month of March.
Keep up the fight.
Date: Thu, April 12, 2007, 8:29 pm CT Date: Thu, April 12, 2007, 6:37 pm CT Date: Thu, April 12, 2007, 5:10 pm CT Date: Thu, April 12, 2007, 5:08 pm CT Date: Thu, April 12, 2007, 4:21 pm CT
This is off Businessweek.com
Federated March sales fall short
CINCINNATI, Ohio
Retail store operator Federated Department Stores Inc. said Thursday its March same-store sales, or sales at stores open at least a year, rose 2.3 percent.
Same-store sales, or sales at stores open at least a year, are a key measure of retailer performance, because they measure growth at existing stores rather than from newly opened ones. The sales figures compare the five-week periods ended April 7 in 2007 and 2006.
Analysts polled by Thomson Financial expected a same-store-sales increase of 3.3 percent. The company forecast an increase of 2.5 percent to 4 percent.
Total sales grew 1.5 percent to $2.29 billion from $2.26 billion.
Same-store-sales for the year-to-date period rose 1.8 percent, while total sales for that period rose just under a percentage point to $4.09 billion from $4.06 billion.
Federated reaffirmed an April same-store-sales increase of 2.5 percent to 4 percent, with first-quarter sales expected to hit the low-end of previous guidance for $6 billion to $6.1 billion.
Date: Thu, April 12, 2007, 3:32 pm CT Date: Thu, April 12, 2007, 11:26 am CT
Just saw the wire with March Sales. Federated is up 2.3% - not bad, but when compared to JC Penney (up 10.6%), Kohl's (up 16.8%), and Nordstrom (up 15%) it looks quite pitiful.
JC Penney, Kohl's, and Nordstrom... wait, don't they have something in common? Oh yeah, that's where former Field's shoppers have flocked to.
If this doesn't shake up Federated, I'm not sure what will. According to AP, this is falling short of analysts' expectations (which are less than other stores in the retail segment). Not good for Macy... Good for Fields Fans!
Date: Thu, April 12, 2007, 11:08 am CT
1. A separate accounting of Macy's and Bloomingdales sales - These two chains operate in two distinctly different retail markets - Macy's operates in the discount market, in competition with Target, Kohls, Wal-Mart and others. Bloomingdales operates in a higher end or luxury market that once included Marshall Field's and continues to compete with Nordstrom, Neimans, Saks and others.
Without this information, it is impossible to assess and predict the performance of these two distinct and separate operating units. Clearly this is important information in light of the extraordinary same store sales growth experienced by Bloomingdales competitors. If Bloomingdales is also experiencing this higher rate of growth, Macy's struggles would be hidden in Federated's overall same-store sales figures.
2. A separate accounting of Macy's legacy store sales (open more than one year) and converted May Company store sales that account for roughly half of Macy's total number of stores.
Compelling arguments can be made that the 62 formerly profitable and growing Marshall Field's store sales should also be disclosed, in particular for the landmark 111 North State Street location as it retains value as stand alone brand as is the case for stores like Bergdorf Goodman and Harrod's. Furthermore, Marshall Field's is in a unique position to capitalize on higher end, luxury market growth not possible for Macy's.
Without this information, it is impossible to assess the success or failure of management's takeover and rebranding strategy.
Here's the link and an excerpt from Federated's March Same-Store Sales press release:
April 12, 2007--Federated Department Stores, Inc. (NYSE:FD)(NYSE Arca:FD) today reported total sales of $2.288 billion for the five weeks ended April 7, 2007, an increase of 1.5 percent compared to total sales of $2.255 billion in the same period last year. On a same-store basis, Federated's sales for March were up 2.3 percent. This compares with the company's guidance for a same-store sales increase of 2.5 percent to 4 percent in March.
For the year to date, Federated's sales totaled $4.089 billion, up 0.8 percent from total sales of $4.055 billion in the first nine weeks of 2006. On a same-store basis, Federated's year-to-date sales were up 1.8 percent.
"March sales fell just short of our expectations in most regions across the country, largely attributable to weakness in home-related merchandise categories," said Terry J. Lundgren, Federated's chairman, president and chief executive officer. "Unseasonably cold weather as new spring merchandise flowed into the stores in the pre-Easter period also contributed to disappointing sales in the month.
Federated continues to expect same-store sales in April to increase by 2.5 percent to 4 percent. Sales in the first quarter are expected to be at the low end of previous guidance of $6 billion to $6.1 billion.
The company will host a presentation to analysts and investment professionals from 9:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. ET on April 24 in New York City. A webcast of the presentation will be accessible to the media and general public in real time via the company's Web site at www.fds.com. The webcast will be archived for replay within 24 hours of the conclusion of the presentation.
--------snip -- see
http://phx.corporate-ir.net/phoenix.zhtml?c=84477&p=irol-newsArticle&
ID=984062&highlight=
for the rest ----------
Date: Thu, April 12, 2007, 9:49 am CT
They mention many Chicago landmarks.
"Then there's the look of the city. From the massive Merchandise Mart (it has its own ZIP code) to the Wrigley Building to Union Station (think the baby carriage scene in "The Untouchables"), Chicago loves its architecture and public art.
And with its neoclassical Field Museum, and the Bears' Soldier Field collonades, Chicago looks not only like it should hold the games but held the original version."
Hmm, no metion of "Macy's on State." Formally Chicago's third most popular destination.
Date: Thu, April 12, 2007, 9:39 am CT
I couldn't find it on-line but it is on page 58 of today's print edition.
Next to this article is another on the efforts of Preservation Chicago to save the Chicago Athletic Club on Lake Shore Drive from the wrecking ball. Preservation Chicago was one of the organizations that also protested Macy's plans at the September 15, 2006 city hearing on installing 6' X 30' signs atop 111 N. State.
Date: Thu, April 12, 2007, 7:09 am CT
Key, though, is that there was no separate discussion at all about the former May stores. My guess is that it means those were even worse. If there were a silver lining, now would have been the time to talk about it.
Date: Wed, April 11, 2007, 11:55 pm CT
On another note, I listen to Tracy Butler everyday on WLS-TV and am waiting to hear her comment about the State Street Store. Hope that she has been re-educated to refer to it as The Marshall Field's Building.
As to the future employment of associates at the State Street Store, I do not believe that it is our responsibility to purchase merchandise there to keep them employed. If the store was called Marshall Field's, I'd be delighted to buy Frangos at full price rather than at 50% to 60% off. At this point in time, I guess that we can only hope that the store will limp along until such point in time that it is restored to its former greatness. One can only wonder how long the shareholders in Federated will endure the great losses from Messy's North before they just say to pull the plug? As we all know, the effects of the boycott are now set in stone, and the concrete will not be broken up until the Red Star of economic imperialism and arrogance is replaced with the Green of Marshall Field's.
Long live the boycott! Marshall Field's is Chicago!
Date: Wed, April 11, 2007, 10:37 pm CT
My wife and I were meeting friends for dinner at OakBrook Center. We arrived about an hour early and visited Nordstrom's, Neiman's and the store formerly known as Field's. Both Neiman's and Nordstrom's were robust and lively. We picked up a few nice items for ourselves. Since we are city people we hadn't visited OakBrook and the rundown store n/k/a Messy's.
The store on the first floor was deserted, no more than 5 people in it, we couldn't believe it. OakBrook outside of Old Orchard was always a top grossing store. We visited the jewelry counter were a sales associate was trying so hard to sell us anything. Their whole diamond department was on sale for 50% off plus an additional 20% off if we used a Macy's card. After we told him we had destroyed our Field's cards back in Sept. he was offering an additional 15% off if we opened the charge again for a total of 85% savings.
Can anyone image Field's doing this!? I thought May Dept. Stores was the only firm doing such deep discounts according to Mr. Lugnut!! It was all cheap jewelry, nothing of quality. It was so sad how hard they are trying to sell anything in their stores. We went to CD Peacock and found what we were wanting to buy. The boycott continues, everyone keep up the good work. They are desperate for anyone's business.
Viva la boycott!!
gregw
Date: Wed, April 11, 2007, 9:20 pm CT
The acquisition of the May Company - which included 62 Marshall Field's stores - approximately doubled the size of Macy's existing 424 store chain. It's astonishing that the press overlooks this critical omission when it reprints Macy's exciting and optimistic press releases about the takeover's success which up until last month was based on only legacy Macy's same store sales.
For the first time last month, the May Company stores were included in the overall same-store sales figures for the entire Macy's chain, but not even the May Company stores are broken out for analysis. Macy's still has not disclosed the former May Company same-store sales, nor has Macy's broken out former Marshall Field's same-store sales.
Several investment firm analysts participate on Federated Department Store's quarterly conference calls. Perhaps one of these analysts can be persuaded to ask Mr. Lundren to provide same store sales figures that break out sales at former Marshall Field's locations from the overall Macy's and May Company same-store sales figures.
Furthermore, the same-store sales comparison of 4th quarter 2006 and 1st quarter 2007 to the previous year for 111 North State Street would be of great value to City planners and developers. This comparison would allow experts to determine the impact of Macy's changes on tourism, State Street and the overall character of Chicago's luxury downtown residential, theater, arts and shopping district.
This disclosure of this information by a publically held company seems like a reasonable request. This information would provide investors and specific communities impacted by Macy's expansion with relevant and critical information.
[ Note from Jim McKay: I have seen more than a few instances where articles will say, "Federated does not break out stores by locale or specific store." I'm not saying I agree with them doing that, etc. and it's obvious why Federated doesn't break it out. ]
Date: Wed, April 11, 2007, 8:20 pm CT
B) Economic uncertainty in the real estate and stock markets
C) Cursed by the Field's Fans zealots
D) All of the above
Date: Wed, April 11, 2007, 7:06 pm CT
It makes me wonder how sales of Calvin Klein and other brands are doing in Chicago, especially if they don't have alternative distribution like Carson's or Von Maur. I used to buy exclusively CK underwear, T-shirts and socks, but with both Field's and Carson's gone from State Street, I'm likely to buy something different this Father's Day (always the best day to stock up on mens' clothing). Perhaps I'll take my new Nordstrom card and go to the Rack and see what they have.
Date: Wed, April 11, 2007, 6:04 pm CT
Federated will released the March sales report tomorrow. Wonder what Lundgren's excuses will be this time.
Date: Wed, April 11, 2007, 5:02 pm CT
I've never seen the State Street store more empty than today. It was almost eerie. Not one Macy's bag and hardly any people except the clerks in black. As I was about to exit the store, someone smiled and waved at me, but they didn't look familiar until I got close. It was a sales clerk who used to help me in the jewelry department when I used to shop at Field's. She asked me if I was coming to the event tomorrow and I said, "No, I don't shop here anymore. I'm so mad they changed the store to Macy's from Field's, I wouldn't dream of shopping here." She nodded as if in agreement but then said if no one shopped there, she'd be out of a job. I told her she was such a great saleswoman, she'd find a job somewhere else. I told her I used to spend quite a bit at Field's and she said, "Yes, I remember," but that I'd never ever ever shop there again.
I also saw something that absolutely galled me. A display for Macy's gift cards (near the escalator on the Randolph/Wabash corner), that said something like "Give Her What She Wants." The NERVE OF THESE PEOPLE, lifting the words right out of Marshall Field's "Give the lady what she wants!"
They are drowning, people.
Zelda
Date: Wed, April 11, 2007, 11:56 am CT
Mesys in no way is a reflection of the east coast or the history of the dozens of great east coast merchants like John Wanamaker and the incredible people who used to staff them that rose the bar and elevated the American middle class to royalty, just as it is no fit inheritor of the great history of Marshall Field. It's just one more opportunity for wall street pillaging and sickening multi-million dollar CEO salaries through slashing jobs and monopolization. Wall Street may be to the east of you, but the way it works is no spin off of all the great stores here now gone. How inspiring and awesome it is to the whole country that the midwest is unique and great to see through it and stop giving money to the red menace way-to-slop.
Date: Wed, April 11, 2007, 9:56 pm CT
There was a major remodel of Marshall Field's from about 1985 to 1990. Yes, it was major and took 5 years!! The fire code required them to put in additional stairwells. The glass walls all around the building are hiding the "new" stairwells that they had to put in. Perhaps the most noticeable inside the store is up on 7 in the Walnut Room where you don't see windows until you walk back in it aways.
Also, it was during that time period that they did away with the "alley" between the State Street side and the Wabash side. The "lost" Burnham fountain sits right where the semi trucks used to rumble through.
Date: Tues, April 10, 2007, 11:07 pm CT
The great efforts of our Field's Fans leaders--Gail with her lapel stickers; Pat with her shirts; Doris with her buttons; Jim, Doris, Mike, Alfred, Sharon, Denise and others with their leafleting; all the letter writing; and so much more representing every single one of us--have been recogized in a national trade journal article. We are being personified as the ultimate loyal customers for which all retailers should strive to gain and be glad to keep. A guest opinion article by a Human Resources professional is contained in the National Petroleum and Convenience Store trade journal in the following link:
Once again, through all our different means and efforts of promoting this cause we express with eloquence what Field's meant to Chicagoans and to customers. The author recognizes our dedication, steadfastness and loyalty in the face of the strong, adverse winter winds while actively defending the Marshall Field & Company department store as the epitomy of zeal toward a business name. We all should be extremely proud to be recognized for our customer loyalty to the name Marshall Field's and what it represents in quality retailing and service, culture and community, being the world-class symbol of Chicago that is truly is.
Date: Tues, April 10, 2007, 10:33 pm CT Date: Tues, April 10, 2007, 9:13 pm CT
See what James Gregory has to say...why Federated is right and John Wanamaker was wrong. It is very upsetting to see that James Gregory knows nothing about why department stores are different. James Gregory does not understand that department stores were built based on regional support and pride.
Very very sad.
Date: Tues, April 10, 2007, 8:13 pm CT
State Street and Downtown Chicago in general, has really faltered since the announcement of the name change and the loss of Marshall Field, Carson's (from their Louis Sullivan, designed building), Lord & Taylor, etc. (even I. Magnin on Michigan Avenue years back). Much of this can be attributed to this "new" coast-to-coast-store which is just another generic store and brand. Its just "lost its sparkle", its uniqueness, its interest and personal style, and that's a big part of the retail business. We really have other options in Chicago and that's a reality.
I've only set foot into the store once since its conversion and do not plan on doing that again, until the name, the quality and the traditions are restored (not to mention the poor morale of many of the long-time employees!). I would suppose a name-change to be a long-shot, but in my personal opinion, the story is far from being over yet!
Here's to hoping that management will come to some realizations soon and admit to their past missteps!...and correct them!
Best to you all!
Date: Tues, April 10, 2007, 2:06 pm CT
Terry Lundgren acknowledged that it's been more difficult than expected to win over former Marshall Field's customers, but he blamed winter weather for the lackluster sales.
I thought it was amusing to read this earlier MSNBC report from Jan. 4, 2007 in which Mr. Lundgren boasts that although he would not release former May Company same-store sales figures, their sales improved in Dec. over their Oct. Nov. sales trend, as though increased activity during the heaviest shopping month of the year is an indication that Macy's strategy was successful.
But wait, it gets better... Mr. Lundgren claimed that Macy's same-store sales were below expectations because of "unseasonably WARM weather!" This was the same unseasonably warm weather that saw Macy's competitors, especially former Marshall Field's competitors, experience robust sales above expectations.
I can't imagine why the newsmedia didn't jump on Mr. Lungren in March when he blamed the cold winter weather for the continued lackluster sales of former May Company stores. Especially when the former Marshall Field's competitors in the same markets performed so well.
Perhaps an investigative reporter will look into why Macy's customers are so very fragile and much more susceptible to warm fall weather and cold winter weather than other stores. Maybe the immune system is damaged by exposure to cheaply made fake designer clothing and bad flourescent lighting.
Here's the link and a quote from the Jan. 4, 2007 article:
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/16473813/
"The company (FDS) has not been releasing sales figures on the former May locations, but said on Thursday that those stores improved in December from the October-November trend. Federated reported same-store sales rose 4.4 percent in December, below company expectations of 5 to 8 percent, hurt by unseasonably warm weather.
C. Britt Beemer, chairman and founder of America's Research Group, said his research indicates that former May locations may have lost 10 percent to 20 percent of the shopper base from a year ago.
"Clearly, Macy's stores have not won over the May customers to the degree that I thought they would," Beemer said. "They need to rethink how they can attract customers."
A Dec. 19 report to investors from Dana Cohen, a retail analyst with Bank of America, estimated that sales at newly converted Macy's stores dropped 11.3 percent in November."
[ Comment from Jim McKay: Even more amazing is Bon-Ton Stores (including Carson's). Their sales far-outpaced Macy's for February, even though ALL of their stores are in the northern states snow belt from Montana to New England. Contrast with Macy's which has roughly half of its stores in the Sun-Belt. Yet it was Macy's that was supposedly impacted by the cold. ]
Date: Tues, April 10, 2007, 1:55 pm CT
Your email has been forwarded to Ms. Butler for consideration.
We appreciate your choice of ABC7 news.
-----Original Message-----
From: drule117@sbcglobal.net [ denise rule ]]
[ Personal info withheld from this blog for privacy. ]
Comments: Sincerely, Denise
Rule
Date: Tues, April 10, 2007, 9:30 am CT
This is what propels their retail terrorism in a wholesale manner.
Mitch
Date: Mon, April 9, 2007, 8:38 pm CT
For the Saturday before Easter, the store was pretty much deserted. Some clerks were pacing around, while others leaned against their counters and yawned. Some areas gave the impression that the place was closed--no signs of human life anywhere.
I stopped at the men's fragrance counter where salespeople usually pounce whenever a customer pauses to look at something. Anyway, I looked at a frangrance and tried to get a clerk's attention. When I asked about the fragrance, the clerk replied "Sorry, I'm done for the day." This was at 3 PM and the store was open unti 6 PM. I asked if there were any other clerks available, the clerk said that she didn't know. I stated sarcastically, "This sure isn't Kaufmann's!" As the clerk picked up her things and walked away, she said "That's what WE say."
Date: Mon, April 9, 2007, 7:26 pm CT
The CompUSA store is huge. In addition to the store, it had a great deal of classrooms and offices for computer training. Does anyone think Von Maur or Carson's or anyone else has considered taking the combined space of American Girl and CompUSA?
I also noticed a green truck with the tarp stuck to it making a delivery one morning. On the front door of the truck, there was a sign that said something along the lines of "This Truck is Operated by J and J Trucking." So, I suspect that FDS sold the Field's trucks when it outsourced Field's delivery system. The new independent operator probably has no financial incentive to repaint the trucks. That's my two cents...
Date: Mon, April 9, 2007, 6:59 pm CT Date: Mon, April 9, 2007, 6:49 pm CT Date: Mon, April 9, 2007, 1:51 pm CT Date: Mon, April 9, 2007, 1:21 pm CT
At that time, Marshall Field's revenues were growing steadily since 2004, average Field's store sales were higher than Macy's and Bloomingdales, the State Street Field's was Chicago's third most popular destination - attracting more than $250 Million in revenue from 9 million visitors in 2005 - Chicago public opinion was overwhelmingly against the change to Macy's. Furthermore, retail anaysts were calling the name change "the biggest consumer marketing mistake since the geniuses in Atlanta came up with New Coke in the 1980s."
I wonder how Lundgren feels now about Macy's changes and about the much larger number of former Field's customers who will not shop at Macy's. Now he believes that you can change customer opinion... re-education is the answer!
Date: Mon, April 9, 2007, 9:32 am CT
I walked down to "our building" Saturday. I did take a walk around the building and noticed a few things.
First: What is with the opaque glass windows seen on the State St. side?
Second: I may be gay, and I may have my moments (a little drag every few years never hurt anyone), but I have to ask what kind of men Terry and the pirates think are living in Chicago? I was walking the Wabash side and there were two windows with the slogan (I believe it went) "The Mood is Mod." There were manequins dressed up ala twiggy and the 60s (which is fine) but they were right next to one of the brass plaques that say "The Men's Store." What it Terry(ble) trying to tell us?
I did walk through the store but only because I needed to get on the Red Line to the DePaul area. What a tragedy. There were people but not what you could describe as a teeming crowd, especially for the day before Easter which should be much busier. I wasn't impressed by "Gadina Africana" and the staff, in fact the whole place, just reeked of indifference. I do have to say though, it still hasn't fallen into the same condition as Herald Square. I don't think it ever could but that would be due to the genius of the past developers as opposed to the current owners. However "Value City" the place may look, it still is an impressive building. It's just a shame I can never go in again (well maybe if we're lucky).
Oh, good luck with the "L" enhancements on the North side. Fortunately, they are scheduled to be done by the time I get back in early 2010.
Date: Mon, April 9, 2007, 12:01 am CT Date: Sun, April 8, 2007, 6:43 pm CT
I spoke with my friend yesterday. She said she had read every single comment on the thread and really was fascinated and touched by the passion, the sincerity and the loyalty to Field's and Chicago demonstated by the folks who posted comments. Her insight back to me was that many in Atlanta admire us greatly for standing up to Lundgren and wish they had not given in so meekly when THEIR store was obliterated.
Marshall Field's---------we are still fighting-----we have not forgotten you!!!
Date: Sun, April 8, 2007, 1:11 pm CT
[ Response from Jim McKay: The green awnings on Market Square were Lake Forest's requirement. They really put the brakes on Macy's being on the building. They even required that the Macy's logo use an apostrophe and not a little star in place of the apostrophe. ]
Date: Sun, April 8, 2007, 12:51 pm CT
Yet Chicago politicians and newsmedia scramble over themselves to praise Macy's pathetic "grand opening" and the "exciting" changes Macy's claims to offer to Chicago.
Check out the longer article from the Sun-Times on line dated September 19, 2003.
Date: Sun, April 8, 2007, 12:18 pm CT
Go to www.yelp.com
Type in "macy's"
Type in "chicago,il"
Write a review
It only takes a minute. In today's world the Internet is just as influential (if not more so) than advertising!
Date: Sun, April 8, 2007, 12:11 pm CT
Memphis is now considered one of the "legacy" markets for Macy's. They are still using Goldsmith's (or Goldsmith's/Macy's by Rich's to be exact) trucks and covering them with the tacky canvas panels mentioned in the quote below. Bottom line..they are too cheap to repaint the trucks.
"Things must be tougher than Lundgren is letting on. Instead of b uying new red-and-white delivery trucks, which would indicate a robust bottom line, Federated appeards to be reusing Field's old green trucks, which are chugging around town covered onver on the sides with tacky-looking, jury-rigged canvas panels that say "Macy's."
Keep up the fight!
Date: Sun, April 8, 2007, 11:42 am CT
Thanks to Mike and Pat for the heads up for the item on page 6 of today's Tribune magazine! A great sign indeed! One question if someone could answer to help me put a couple of behind-the-scenes things together: how far in advance is the Trib's magazine section written and printed? When I was a boy, I delivered the Trib and the Today/American and they advanced shipped us some Sunday sections, including the magazine, the Monday before. I'm sure that's not the case anymore--or is it?
Anyways, I have a theory and am wondering when it was written and printed as part of that.
As for the story of the canvas Macy's banners covering the trucks, there's more! For a period before the banners were placed on them, the Field's logo was covered in a quick and awful paint job--a rectangular box of darker and different finish green that didn't match. But the saddest part is we have discussed the likely reason the trucks have been given the Macy's treatment instead of a treatment worthy of Marshall Field's quality: Didn't we read that Macy's is transitioning to an outsource of their deliveries?
Another example of highly touted mergers that didn't work and are now being reversed: Chrysler will likely be spun off from Daimler. If a huge multinational auto company deal can be undone, so too can the Macy's - Field's combination. And look at even the Tribune and the L.A. Times. The sale of the Tribune company is basically the breakup of the Chandlers and the McCormick Tribune Foundation. The past few days have even brought fresh talk that the L.A Times will be spun off to David Geffen and local L.A. ownership. According to many accounts, Los Angelians view Trib ownership of the L.A. Times like we view Macy's taking over Field's. That's another example that these deals can effectively be undone and Field's can come back. This is important to note, because I also notice another kind of Macy's shopper in Chicagoland when leafleting: those customers who are very unhappy Field's is gone but feel resigned to shop Macy's, although they shop there much less than when it was Field's. Many news stories neglect to point out that there are also those who do shop Macy's but they don't buy nearly as much because the merchandise is inferior and also they don't have the emotional attachment of Field's to help make a sale. It's kind of like a partial or passive boycott if you think about it. Giving these people hope that Field's can come back is what makes leafleting very rewarding.
Finally, I believe someone said that Steve Dahl once discussed the switch from Field's to Macy's. If you know more specifics about that, please email me privately at jjmckay@fieldsfanschicago.org. Thank you.
Jim
Date: Sun, April 8, 2007, 9:48 am CT
4/8/07 Sunday's Tribune Magazine Rick Kogan writes :
THE BUZZ IN THE CHICAGO BUSINESS community is that Federated Department Stores Inc. has had trouble winning former Marshall Field's shoppers over to the stores now that they are under the Macy's banner. Federated CEO Terry Lundgren admitted as much in late February when he told a CNBC interviewer that, "It has taken a little longer than I expected" for the former May Co. stores, of which Field's was one, to start performing the way they used to.
Things must be tougher than Lundgren is letting on. Instead of buying new red-and-white delivery trucks, which would indicate a robust bottom line, Federated appears to be reusing Field's old green trucks, which are chugging around town covered over on the sides with tacky-looking, jury-rigged canvas panels that say "Macy's."
Hey, Terry. Isn't it about time to give it up?
Way To FLOP Terry! Finally !! The Trib prints a GOOD ONE !
Date: Sun, April 8, 2007, 9:05 am CT
The item appears in the "In the Loop" section, which is authored by veteran writer Rick Kogan. The item has a graphic at the time that shows a Macy's logo being peeled away to reveal the beautiful Marshall Field's script logo behind it. This item includes the only pro-Field's comments that I recall seeing since the changeover from ANY columnist at the Tribune or Sun-Times.
Here is the item:
[ Graphic of a Macy's logo peeling off to reveal the Marshall Field's Logo. ]
"Go, Big Green"
"The buzz in the Chicao business community is that Federated Department Stores Inc has had trouble winning former Marshall Field's shoppers over to the stores now that they are under the Macy's banner. Federated CEO Terry Lundgren admitted as much in late February when he told a CNBC interviewer that, "It has taken a little longer than I expected" for the former May Co. stores, of which Field's was one, to start performing the way they used to."
"Things must be tougher than Lundgren is letting on. Instead of b uying new red-and-white delivery trucks, which would indicate a robust bottom line, Federated appeards to be reusing Field's old green trucks, which are chugging around town covered onver on the sides with tacky-looking, jury-rigged canvas panels that say "Macy's."
"Hey, Terry, isn't it time to give it up?"
(c)2007 Chicago Tribune
Date: Sun, April 8, 2007, 4:19 am CT
The boycott is now in its second wave. The first wave was people like us who refused to shop the M store just because of the name change alone. The second wave is people like your sister who tried the M store and found out that they sell cheap junk, at high prices. This second wave will be even bigger than the first.
Maybe out on the east coast, people are used to pay a lot of money for cheap junk, but this is the mid-west, where people have looked to quality, value and service going back to the 19th Century when our cities, states, towns AND department stores were founded.
East coast ideas of commerce just don't make it here with our mid-west expectations. Maybe that's why 20 years ago, Macy's flopped in the mid-west, so much to the point that it lead them into bankruptcy.
People who are ignorant of their own history are doomed to repeat it.
Date: Sat, April 7, 2007, 11:02 pm CT
Thanks to all of those who helped make leafleting possible today, especially J., A., M., and L.
The weather was more like January out there. Relatively sparse on State Street today as a result but still it was a receptive bunch and almost ran out of leaflets.
Jim
Date: Sat, April 7, 2007, 7:27 pm CT
Its Me -- "B" -- Rich
My mother has a friend who works for macy's
She and my mother recently talked and she was remarking to my mom that --at macy's they (the workers) are worried because there is NO Business! She told my mom that "they are practically giving stuff away through markdowns and there is still NO business!"
Just thought I would pass that on to you all!
I told my mom that I felt bad for her but that there was NO WAY I would set foot in the store that Killed Marshall Field's. My mother is also boycotting because she sees how strongly I feel about it and she also liked Field's. My sister was a worry to me however I do NOT have to worry because her recent words to me were-- "If, and when, I want something of that quality level, I would never buy at macy's because they have the exact same merchandise at Penney's or Kohl's and it is Much less expensive at those stores, before Penney's or Kohl's even has it on sale."
Happy Easter to You!
"B" Rich
italbearr@yahoo.com
Date: Sat, April 7, 2007, 8:46 am CT Date: Fri, April 6, 2007, 8:51 pm CT Date: Fri, April 6, 2007, 6:57 pm CT Date: Fri, April 6, 2007, 6:06 pm CT Date: Fri, April 6, 2007, 5:15 pm CT
I briefly walked through Nordstroms, it was PACKED. Anyways, I had to use the restroom after a while. So, I decided to check out Sears becuase I needed some socks. Not only were the bathrooms at Sears amazingly clean, they looked like they had just been redone. The bathrooms at Macy's on State Street (at least the mens) were nothing special. So, even Sears has lovely new restrooms!
Today I also spent a small fortune at Fannie May on their amazing butter cream easter eggs. The new store on Michigan and Wacker is a HUGE improvement from its predecessor.
Good seeing everyone making some posts! Doris feel better!
Date: Fri, April 6, 2007, 5:10 pm CT
Speaking of reports, Federated's March 2007 sales figures are due to be announced next Thursday, April 12.
Date: Fri, April 6, 2007, 3:58 pm CT Date: Fri, April 6, 2007, 3:17 pm CT
I am not making this up: The bathroom stall door was way too small to fit the stall. As a result, it was impossible to close or latch the door. A fellow customer had to hold the door closed for me. I was told by a sales clerk that the door had been that way as far back as she could remember. Way to Shop, Mr. Lundgren!
Date: Fri, April 6, 2007, 2:30 pm CT
It appears that Macy's has intentionally placed market pressure on the newsmedia through the selective allocation of significant advertising revenues. In my opinion this has undermined the quality of jounalism and caused the Chicago newsmedia to neglect its responsibility to maintain an unbiased and factual portrayal of Macy's, their products, service, expansion strategies and public opinion.
The newsmedia's neglect is a dangerous violation of the public trust. The newsmedia has allowed itself to be used as a source of constant free advertising for Macy's, disguised as editorial and news content. The newsmedia must be held to a higher standard and made to find a wiser balance between business goals and public service responsibilities.
Below are the email addresses for several local newpaper editors. You may also want to contact the television new department editors, as well.
In addition, please contact any high school and university journalism and media faculty you know to suggest they use Macy's relationship and influence with local news media for classroom case studies.
CHICAGO TRIBUNE
CHICAGO SUN-TIMES
PIONEER PRESS
Date: Fri, April 6, 2007, 1:59 pm CT
Date: Fri, April 6, 2007, 1:35 pm CT Date: Fri, April 6, 2007, 9:32 am CT
Today's editions of both the Tribune and the Sun-Times have articles about the new Promenade at Bolingbrook which includes a Macy's store as
an anchor. The store was originally planned by May Department Stores as a Marshall Field's store.
The Tribune article has several points about how it was to be a Field's store; the print edition of the Tribune also has three photos that read like adverstisements for Macy's. , the Sun-Times article is more about the Promenade in general.
Of special note is that the store will open in advance of the rest of the mall. It was thought that Macy's was opening on April 26 but the Tribune report says it will open on Tuesday, April 17 while the Sun-Times reports Thursday, April 19. Neither is on a weekend.
The Tribune article is at:
The Sun-Times article is at:
------
As always, such items are an opportunity to express to the editors of these publications your opinion of the switch from Field's to Macy's in merchandise, quality, service and name.
The following are suggestionss in submitted items.
Date: Fri, April 6, 2007, 6:42 am CT Date: Thu, April 5, 2007, 9:30 pm CT
"Macy's Conversions Create Risks for Federated, Opportunities for Competitors, says Standard & Poors Equity Research"
Date: Thu, April 5, 2007, 7:43 pm CT
Today's Sun-Times item about macys.com internet sales being up supposedly being great in the Loop is a prime example of where you can write in.
Please respond to this story! It makes a huge difference. People need to remember that these stores have slipped so much because they are no longer Marshall Field's and they can only be brought back up by being restored as Marshall Field's stores. Remember, the boycott is working!
These suggestions are made when responding:
Date: Thu, April 5, 2007, 6:16 pm CT
Every three weeks I get my haircut. So I park next to Macy's because you can always park close to the door, and then spend a few moments exploring the exciting shopping experience that is Macy's.
My latest adventure:
- Two outsdide doors are missing handles...and the doors squeek.
- Floor mats held in place with duct tape. Classy.
- Signs still read Calvin Kle n and R lph L uren.
- That awful "Smell Me" display window is gone. Replaced by manikins in swim suits. Either they put the wrong sizes on the manikins OR Macy swim suit don't fit well. New windows feature photos of flowers and some ribbons that are stapled to the wall. Classy.
-No music playing in the store. Not even at the MAC cosmetics counter.
-Elevator still broken. Floor walker said they cannot find parts. Hmmm.
-Broken display cases with handlettered signs on cardboard " Don't touch or lean on this case" Classy.
- What is that in the middle of the aisle? Why it's a pile of pots and pans on the floor. New merchandising concepts.
-Totally ignored by all sales people..especially in the men's department.
-Some signs promote that spring looks are natural (black and beige), another sign promtoes addinga spot of color. You guessed it - the items on the rack are all black or beige.
- Time is around 6:00 on the evening of "Macy's Biggest One Day Sale!" Where are the customers? You guessed it: Carson's and Pennys!
- One lady walking around with a box of cookware on the first floor. She could not find anyone on the lower level to ring up the sale.
-Price scanner not functional, another was unplugged
-As far as I can tell, there is one Macy associate for the entire housewares area, 1 for the entire kid;s department, 1 person in china/gifts, 1 in linens, 2 people for entire men's area. Macy's has got to be a shop lifters paradise.
-Interesting display in china expalins why wine glasses are different sizes and shapes. Nine different glasses are illustrated. Unfortunately, Macy's only carrys 3 styles.
Sound Bytes:
- "I am not here to ring you up, not help you."
- " A coffee maker is a coffee maker. Why would I know the difference between them. Just buy the cheap one. It's on sale anyway."
- "We don't carry dress shirts with a 35" sleeve. We only carry sizes for normal people."
AND MY NEW FAVORITE:
"If you want a larger bag, go to Carson's"
Date: Thu, April 5, 2007, 6:11 pm CT
His raise included $142,000 for Aircraft use, Private & Business Trips. Then $48,000 in Merchandise Discounts. Then $15,000 for Financial Counseling?? What ? Then $10,000 for a Company Car,and other perks. What Perks do the Employee's get ? Sorry, No Chistmas Bonus this year..the Money's Not THERE. Real Truth is TERRY GOT THE RAISE !
Read the story :
Date: Thu, April 5, 2007, 3:45 pm CT
Date: Thu, April 5, 2007, 1:17 pm CT
Field's was honored for its continued success (annual sales of $2.8 Billion that year) and service to Chicago and thanked for the many museums it established (Field, Science and Industry, Shedd, Art Institute) and for having donated hundreds of millions of dollars over the years to everything from the Goodman and Steppenwolf theaters to the Chicago Symphony Orchestra and Ravinia. Field's and parent company Target had a policy of donating 5% of its federally taxable income to cultural, education and service programs, more than $2 Million each week, in the communities served.
At this time, Ralph Hughes worked for Marshall Field's and was Chicago's State Street Regional Director, he said this about Marshall Field's:
Mr. Hughes disgraced himself and Chicago when he sold out and accepted a job with Macy's.
Macy's is no Marshall Field's. Altough Macy's boasts of nationwide growth (which includes both Macy's and Bloomingdales sales of $27 Billion), the same store sales comparison for former Field's locations is hidden within Macy's financial statements. Through analysis of tax records, mall and in-store vendor sales it's clear that sales have dropped dramatically at former Field's locations - even after Macy's spent and unprecedented $775 Million to advertise their exciting new Way to Shop last year! Remember also that Bloomingdales sales increased when Macy's took over Bloomingdale's primary competition Marshall Field's - thus adding to serious anti-trust questions regarding the take-over.
I hope that analysts and journalists will look beyond Macy's exciting and rosy press releases and make comparisons to draw their own conclusion about about issues that matter most to us here in Chicago.
Date: Thu, April 5, 2007, 12:55 pm CT
When they made Dayton's into MF, I flagged.
When they turn MF into Macy's, I stopped.
I agree.
This is not the same store.
There is nothing there for me.
Don't they realize that shopping is regional?
When Target bought Mervin's, I found nothing there for me.
And they lost their California base, by trying to nationalize.
I want my Marshall Field back.
I know I can't have my Dayton's back.
(although my Spell check recognizes Dayton's and not Macy's)
Date: Thu, April 5, 2007, 10:47 am CT
However, I note in our April 3 link from Jon C. that Messy's online service isn't exactly order perfect.
Date: Thu, April 5, 2007, 12:23 pm CT
Running through mid-October, guests will also experience a series of
events and special offers including the unveiling of one-of-a-kind interactive
window displays, offering of Marshall Field's keepsakes and guest tours of the
world-renowned Daniel Burnham designed flagship State Street store. The
celebration will be supported by other special guest offers and events
including the famous Field Days, 13-hour sale and deferred billing.
Marshall Field's will also run TV and print ads through the end of October
entitled, "As Chicago as It Gets," featuring the work of photographer Victor
Skrebneski. The campaign reflects Chicago's heritage and the commitment of
excellent guest service, great merchandise and community giving that Marshall
Field's has provided in the past and pledges to continue.
"Through boom and bust, celebration and the Depression, Marshall Field's
has been a mainstay in Chicago for 150 years," said State Street Regional
Director Ralph Hughes. "We have dedicated our service to the people of
Chicago, and we want to take this opportunity to thank the generations of our
guests who have made this possible."
First opened in Chicago in 1852, Marshall Field's stores throughout the
region are also highlighting a long history of community giving and traditions
as well as being a leader in the retail industry.
Every week Marshall Field's and its parent company, Target Corporation,
donate $2 million back to the communities they serve in the arts, social
services and education through programs such as Project Imagine, in which the
company contributes 5 percent of its federally taxable income back to the
community. Marshall Field's has donated hundreds of millions of dollars to
the Chicagoland community over the last 150 years including the establishment
of Chicago's treasures such as the University of Chicago, John G. Shedd
Aquarium and the School of the Art Institute. Marshall Field's has also made
considerable contributions to significant cultural institutions such as the
Goodman Theatre, Steppenwolf Theatre, Chicago Symphony Orchestra and the
Ravinia Festival. In addition, Marshall Field's executives have also served
on the boards of the Greater State Street Council, Greater North Michigan
Avenue Association and the Chicagoland Chamber of Commerce.
Over the past 150 years, Marshall Field's has served over 2 billion guests
at its State Street store alone. Marshall Field's is perhaps most noted for
its holiday traditions such as the world-famous window displays and the 45-foot Great Tree in the Walnut Room at the State Street store.
While Marshall Field's traditions remain strong, it also continues to be a
cutting-edge leader in today's retail industry. Events like the annual
Glamorama fashion show, the recent introduction of Field's Express shopping
service for guests who are in a hurry, and the current multi-million dollar
renovation of the cosmetic and fragrance departments at the State Street store
are just a few examples of how Marshall Field's is building on 150 years of
excellence.
This year is remarkable for Marshall Field's due to the significant
nationwide expansion of its brand via the launch of Marshall Field's Direct
catalogs as well as the relaunch of fields.com.
Date: Wed, April 4, 2007, 3:46 pm CT Date: Wed, April 4, 2007, 2:21 pm CT Date: Wed, April 4, 2007, 2:09 pm CT
That's it; the reason those Macy's (Field's and Foley's) stores are empty is that all those former Field's and Foleys customers prefer to shop online instead of in the exciting stores! Will this be the new excuse for slow sales instead of the weather? Thus, when analysts start to ask about the sales in these states, Federated will merely explain away that we're all online; and who's to know? Actually, I think this is a vague, weird confession of poor sales in these states.
Date: Wed, April 4, 2007, 1:28 am CT
Also, I found the customer reviews on Shopping.com about macys.com online store to be most revealing. The reviews were overwhelmingly negative, however the few postive reviews read like well scripted press releases, complete with catchy pro-Macy's titles and off topic reasons to shop at macy's that sound like they were written by an advertising agency copywriter.
It appears as if the Macy's PR machine is working overtime!
Date: Tue, April 3, 2007, 9:45 pm CT
I think back to my fields.com and Field's phone orders, and I always received prompt, accurate, efficient service for the quality merchandise that was "as pictured".
Date: Tue, April 3, 2007, 5:55 pm CT
Date: Tue, April 3, 2007, 2:20 pm CT
Within 24 hours, the Tribune posted 95 responses from readers all over the country. The overwhelming majority were highly critical of Macy's merchandise and service, but also of Macy's takeover and elimination of Marshall Field's. Those few in support of Macy's weren't terribly compelling.
Additional responses were posted yesterday, bringing the total number of published responses up to 120. Here's the link:
Date: Tue, April 3, 2007, 8:58 am CT
Mrs J
Date: Tue, April 3, 2007, 8:47 am CT
Who knows what Federated executives mean. Perhaps since their house brands are dirt cheap to produce, they can sell 50% as much and still make money. However, it doesn't sound like a good way to build a loyal customer base. Anyway, that they've cranked up the PR machine again leads me to believe things still aren't going as well as they had hoped. Too bad Sam Zell wasn't in a buying mood in 2005.
Date: Tue, April 3, 2007, 12:53 am CT
How grand to hear from you!!!
I thought you had gone into the Witness Protection Program. Have a happy spring.
Regards.
Date: Mon, April 2, 2007, 6:14 pm CT
Quick note: I Federated Exec. wrote me and said they understand Chicago's loyalty but financially reports indicate Macy's is what Chicagoans want. Also I don't know if I mentioned this earlier but months ago I received communication from Federated after sending them a "cc" to a Dillard's Dept. Store letter. I suggested to Dillard's that they look into buying Marshall Field's and maintain it as their high-end store. The communication from Federated Dept. Stores made comments about Dillard's that I can't reprint here. So whatever Federated says should be taken with a grain of salt.
Keep up the fight!
Doris
Date: Mon, April 2, 2007, 2:45 pm CT
Date: Mon, April 2, 2007, 11:01 am CT
Sounds like Lundgren is in denial big time.
Date: Mon, April 2, 2007, 8:53 am CT Date: Mon, April 2, 2007, 12:25 am CT
Now Macy's in Minneapolis has only a couple of rabbits by Godiva. Field's used to have huge displays of Marshall Field's rabbits of all sizes and they were all sold before Easter at Nicollet Mall. Two years ago I was taking care of my uncle in his last year of life while he had lung cancer and he was still feeling pretty good at Easter. He loved chocolate. He and my aunt agreed to come to my sister's Easter brunch if I could pick them up. Out of tradition, I brought everyone who attended brunch a Field's chocolate rabbit and he got such a kick out of receiving a chocolate rabbit at age 75. When he tasted it he loved it.
About 5 years ago, the theme of the Spring Flower Show in the 8th Floor Auditorium was a French Garden. That year the Marshall Field's brand chocolate rabbits were unbelievably cool. They were not just the usual rabbit standing up. These were hip, cool French rabbits with attitude. My favorite was a rabbit driving a race car that looked somewhat like a soapbox derby-type vehicle. The entire thing was out of chocolate. We have moved from that to no rabbits at all this year.
I was sad that another tradition is gone because of all the exciting changes macy's has brought to Minneapolis. While I miss the fun of going to the Nicollet Mall Store to select my rabbits, I at least got some satisfaction of getting some good quality rabbits while I supported the locallly-owned/premium service Lunds Foods.
Regards.
Date: Sun, April 1, 2007, 3:07 pm CT Date: Sun, April 1, 2007, 2:16 pm CT
I think it might be time to do a quick recap regarding what has been done to Marshall Field's. I think it is beneficial that the other casualties caused by Federated be revisited (Strawbridge & Clothier, Filene's,Robinson-May...etc.)
I am very thankful for your site and glad to be apart of it. Please know that the Macy's I grew up with (even as a kid in the 80's is not the same Macy's we have today...Federated was much different too !)
Hope all is well Jim !
Best Always,
RG74
Date: Sun, April 1, 2007, 12:13 pm CT
I thought that perhaps the feature blog format may have caused the omission from the Tribune's internal search database, however the search does return other Ellen Warren feature blogs. It appears that only this one piece, highly critical of Macy's, is excluded and hidden from reader searches for any Tribune.com content about Macy's.
I wrote to the Tribune to ask about this, but have received no response. Perhaps there is a reasonable explanation or search policy not readily apparent, or maybe it is simply an oversight or technical glitch. However, this does cause one to question the Tribune's integrity on matters involving Macy's, a revenue generating Tribune advertiser.
I should also note that Google and Yahoo searches have no problem finding and disclosing the weblink to the Ellen Warren "How's Macy's Doing?" featureblog:
Date: Sun, April 1, 2007, 12:02 am CT
My Mom remarked how there just didn't seem to be very many people this year looking at the flowers compared to when it was held in the 8th Floor Auditorium. I have to agree with her assessment. The crowds were always huge on 8th Floor. Today should have been a busy day for the Flower Show, particularly given the rainy weather we had in Minneapolis which would encourage people to come out to an event rather than do outdoor activities, but the crowds were light. Many of the display areas had no one looking at them. Most had small groups of 3-5 people.
I can only say that both times I visited this year's Show, there were not very many people there and I never observed many people buying much of anything nor did I observe many people carrying those strange white plastic bags that break after a few minutes. I did observe a lot of Blackcoats standing around doing nothing.
Regards.
Date: Sat, March 31, 2007, 11:21 pm CT Date: Sat, March 31, 2007, 11:21 pm CT
While it wasn't the crowd we had for St Patrick's Day, we still managed to get out almost as many leaflets as two weeks ago (Just a couple of hundred or so less than 3/17).
While rain interrupted leafleting a couple of times, there were no torrential downpours.
I have a few more notes I will bring up later this week including a NYC couple who misses Field's and spent some time talking about Field's and Macy's.
Re: The Flower Show
Thanks again!
Date: Sat, March 31, 2007, 7:23 pm CT
This afternoon I was cleaning out my closet and found a green shopping bag from my beloved Marshall Field's. This prompted me to start searching online to see if I could still find any Field's memorabelia, etc. Much to my delight I found this site, where I see that the fight continues!
I moved from Chicago to Santa Monica 6 years ago, but come back to visit at least 3-4 times a year. (and yes, I even have my Chicago pizza shipped to me out here!) One of my destinations has always been Marshall Field's on State Street, I used to work within 3 blocks and live within 12 blocks of that store. When the news came that Macy's was buying it, and had no respect for the history behind the name, I was devastated. This was big news even in LA, where it made the front page of the Business section many, many times, with articles definitely in favor of keeping the Field's legacy going. A few weeks ago there was an article about department stores, and the opening sentence was "Give the lady what she wants", and began by talking about Marshall Field's.
Remember when Dayton Hudson took over, and they tried to take away the green shopping bag? And how they drastically changed the merchandise, dropped many brands, and really dumbed-down the stores? We were successful in recovering then, perhaps we can again!
Since I no longer live in Chicago, I'm trying to do my part by refusing to shop at Macy's (ick!) and I cut up my card and sent it in with a letter expressing my unhappiness at the Macy's decision. When in Chicago I wear or carry something that says Marshall Field's on it. I also travel quite a lot, and it never fails that I run into someone who is also from Chicago, and this is always a big topic! My friends still in Chicago report that the merchandise is awful, they refuse to shop there but stop in to see how bad things have become.
I'll continue to do my part however I can. Marshall Field's is so historically significant in Chicago, I just don't understand how Macy's could be so arrogant as to think we'd ever want their kind of store in Chicago, they clearly don't understand the market, the destination it was for locals and visitors alike. Mind-boggling....
Heidi
Date: Sat, March 31, 2007, 4:37 pm CT
I would say they need to get their act cleaned up here first!
I miss Famous Barr too!
Viva the boycott!
Date: Sat, March 31, 2007, 8:08 pm CT
I wish I had the text of a press release about all the exciting new Macy's exclusive brands - every one was a second line, a sub-collection designed by a well-known designer.
Date: Fri, March 30, 2007, 9:17 pm CT
I too feel that the boycott is achieving critical mass. I mean GEEZ, Macy's makes it so easy to HATE them. Ralph Hughes' letter to the Trib was such absurd nonsense that I think Macy's is becoming a national joke. It's only a matter of time before Second City catches on and comes out with a show based on Messy's.
Date: Fri, March 30, 2007, 8:39 pm CT
1) " Field's wasn't the store it was 20 years ago"
Well obviously they have never been to a Macy's in California! Macy's IS NOT the store
it was 20 years ago which is a tragedy. Field's at it's worst ( whatever that is, they
never elaborate EVER) was still a thousand times better than Macy's 2007. Chicago
now knows how bad it can get, we in CA have been warning you guys! You never knew
how good you had it all these years, now you do and it will get worse!
2) " Field's hasn't been owned by the family in years"
So? I don't care who owns it! If FDS kept the name and everything that made it special
I would still support it.
3) "Who cares it's just a store"
Well if that's how you feel why are you sitting here typing a 200 word paragraph about
not caring?
4) " I never shopped there"
See number 3. Also i can't help you that you don't have taste go back to Walmart/
Kohl's then! I don't like to lump Target with Walmart. I happen to like Target alot!
5) " There are bigger and more important things to think about than a store"
Yes there is, see the neat thing about being a human is we can care about alot of
things all at the same time. Is it shallow about wanting to keep America unique?
Instead of everything being the same no matter where you go? I am shallow I admit it!
6) " The store was dying, it's been dying for years"
Retail goes up and down like everything else but Field's has been around for 150
years, that counts for something. I read that State Street alone made 250 million
in 2005
and that it was the number 3 tourist attraction in Chicago. Doesn't sound like a death
more of a rebirth until Lunkhead decided to kill it off.
7) " The luxury department store died years ago"
Tell that to Neiman Marcus, Nordstrom, Saks Fith Avenue and Von Maur. Quality
Style, Innovation, Selection, and Service in a beautiful environment never goes out
of style. It can be quite profitable.
Date: Fri, March 30, 2007, 6:42 pm CT
Chicagoist has a story published today that gives a list of prom dress store alternatives for those boycotting Macy's.
Thanks Pat! I noticed the same thing that Pat noticed about the last holder of ticker symbol, "M" . So what? How does this benefit customers? The stores still are lousy and not a match for Marshall Field's.
Date: Fri, March 30, 2007, 8:57 am CT
Macy's will be known as "M" on Stock Market .
The M has not been used since October 1993. It last belonged to MCorp., a Dallas-based bank holding company whose losses on real-estate and energy loans led to its bankruptcy and acquisition by Bank One Corp
Terry Lundgren picked another Lucky one !
Date: Fri, March 30, 2007, 8:18 am CT
Hartmarx used to make suits that were sold by Marshall Field's. When Macy's came in, they downgraded and Hartmarx was left out of a lot of business.
So not only are Field's / Macy's employees getting laid off in Chicago, other Chicago jobs are being impacted by Lundgren's bad decision to downgade Marshall Field's into Macy's.
Date: Fri, March 30, 2007, 7:44 am CT
It's been a while since I've posted but I tune in here every day to read what's going on.
I'm a member of the web group known as "Ask Andy's Fashion Forum." It's a site devoted to men's fashions and entries related to men's clothing are discussed. I started a thread entitled "Macy's State Street Chicago." I asked if anyone in the group still purchased clothing or furnishings at the store. One hundred percent of the entries replied with an resounding "No" in no uncertain terms. The entries now read the same as ours do here.
If I was a share holder in Federated/Macy's Group I would call y own shareholder meeting and ask what the future is supposed to be for a company that has such ill will pointed at it and lis loosing customers by the carload every hour. Would Marshall Field himself allow an operation to continue that only upsets customers and potential customers to carry on in the same manner? Of course not.
The trouble is we live in an age where a lot of people expect to have their sensibilities gouged by a vendor.
With best regards,
Mitch
Date: Thu, March 29, 2007, 9:18 pm CT
The Dallas Morning News
Friday, March 23, 2007
Steve Brown
There's more to a store than its looks
Appearances matter, but merchandise inside makes a big difference
---[ Excerpt ]---
A few days earlier I had been in Chicago and went to the grand old Marshall Field & Co. store on State Street. The problem is it's no longer MF&C but a Macy's outlet. And what I saw on the racks there was pretty much the same stuff I could get at a dozen Macy's stores back home.
So I didn't even bother to go into the big Macy's store on San Francisco's Union Square. I knew they'd have pretty much the same. Yawn. Yawn.
Does this matter? I think so.
---[ End of Excerpt ]---
Date: Thu, March 29, 2007, 3:43 pm CT
PEOPLE NEED TO STOP CALLING IT A NAME CHANGE! THE SWITCH FROM FIELD'S TO MACY'S IS A DOWNGRADE!
Date: Thu, March 29, 2007, 10:03 am CT
Listening and responding appropriately have become such rare occurrences these days that a study conducted by TARP, a Virginia-based research firm, found that 96 percent of unhappy customers don't even bother trying to complain to the offending organization. Instead, they tell 10 to 14 other people about their bad experience. And the story of that experience can continue to circulate for as long as 23.5 years!
Tell everyone about Macy's "Way to Flop"
Date: Thu, March 29, 2007, 9:16 am CT
Time has proven to anyone with eyes and a brain that a "few" vocal cranks could not possibly have wreaked the havoc that has been done to Macy's sales since the obliteration of Marshall Field's. There are, in truth, thousands and thousands of mindful and intelligent people who are continuing to quietly boycott Macy's. This has manifested itself most obviously in the often nearly shopperless selling spaces of the 111 State Street store that was until recently the pride and joy of Chicago. It is as if that beautiful old building is sticking up for herself and shouting, "See! Just look at me! I am not SUPPOSED to be Macy's. I want the hustle and bustle of Field's shoppers back. I want Field's karma back. I am Marshall Field's!!"
Date: Wed, March 28, 2007, 9:48 pm CT
LOL. Guess she was offended.
Anyway, I really didn't mean it, Ellen. Welcome aboard.
Does she have a lapel sticker yet?
Date: Wed, March 28, 2007, 9:09 pm CT
Remember that Ellen's two previous blog threads were from September 5 ("Where's Your Ceativity Chicago?") which pretty much poked fun at the idea of us protesting and boycotting and September 9 ("QUIT YOUR BELLYACHING?").
What is significant is that this shows the tide is turning and the boycott is working. Even those who were skeptical of our cause or wondered why this matters are starting to come around and acknowledge what's really happening. The boycott is indeed working! What is especially of note with today's latest in Ellen Warren's blog is that all the points supporting Field's are about more than just bringing back a name or nostalgia or sentimentality. It also points out what we have been saying all along: Macy's doesn't have the quality and service we expect from Field's. This is about more than a name although that is an important part too. The tide's turning and we can begin to see our goal of returning Field's to Chicago off in the distance. Heck, next thing you know, Ellen Warren and Voice of the People will finally start printing my comments!
THE BOYCOTT IS WORKING!
Date: Wed, March 28, 2007, 7:33 pm CT
Well, to see the name, Marshall Field's, in THAT store really hit home. The store is aweful; and there was "our" Marshall Field Frango candy sitting in a setting like that!
Also, of note, they were touting Colt's memorabilia! (surprised?) Also they had their Spring Sale -- no mention of Field Days though (surprised again?)
Yesterday was at the Fox Valley Store; yes, the "up" escalator is broken from the 1st floor to the 2nd floor.
Date: Wed, March 28, 2007, 12:26 pm CT
Must Read!
Date: Wed, March 28, 2007, 1:38 pm CT
Macy's apologized for their failure to educate their customers... sounds like a common refrain, doesn't it? They haven't changed much in the past 13 years... once again, Macy's blames their failure on the need to educate - and reeducate - customers!
-----
THE WASHINGTON POST
Macy's withdraws controversial Black History Month Exhibit
Michaela Cooper was browsing at the R.H. Macy & Co. department store at Pentagon City in a Virginia suburb last Friday when she stumbled across something that she said left her in "shocked disbelief."...
..She was furious, as were other customers and Macy's employees who saw the exhibit of black historical memorabilia and collectibles. Macy's had organized the display as part of a Black History month display intended to honor black Americans -- but many saw it instead as a painful reminder of the country's Jim Crow past.
Shocked at the strongly negative response, Macy's hurriedly removed the exhibit, banishing all traces of it to a back room by Friday evening, less than 24 hours after it went up.
Macy's officials apologized for their failure to include explanatory materials. "Those pieces were displayed without proper signage, and people didn't understand what the artifacts and memorabilia were doing in the cases," said Macy's spokeswoman Gloria Kreisman.
Date: Wed, March 28, 2007, 10:14 am CT
-----------------------
Saks Symbol
The legendary department store gets its own brand makeover
by Colin Berry
In the fickle world of high fashion, as any good knockoff artist knows, brand identity is everything: Think of Louis Vuitton's LV, Chanel's interlocking Cs, Burberry's tartan, HermC s's orange.
They go on to say....(and I love this line)
Those who retail such goods also have their own logotypes, such as macy*s, a lackluster experiment in lowercase."
For the complete article...visit
http://www.businessweek.com/innovate/content/mar2007/id20070328_122243.htm
------------------------
Interesting...Script = elegant, lowercase = lackluster
While this is true, I'm sure everyone would agree that Messy's vision and goals are lackluster to begin with regardless of the lowercase letters they've chosen.
Date: Wed, March 28, 2007, 9:08 am CT
In one, someone made an interesting point that never before have we seen a store offend and anger so many customers. Seriously, hundreds of thousands have taken their business elsewhere, signed petitions, responded to polls, protested against Macy's destruction of Marshall Field's. This should be particularly embarassing for Macy's when you consider the extraordinary and valuable goodwill enjoyed by Marshall Field's around the world prior to Macy's takeover.
Macy's tries to spin exciting changes and growth, but analyst and some... just some reporters are beginning to question the press releases. While Macy's reports somewhat stable, slower than expected sales of discount merchandise and cosmetics at legacy stores, former Marshall Field's and other same store location sales around country are dismal.
Just think about this... an unprecedented number of people across the country have such disdain for Macy's that they actually hope to see it fail. Certainly. no retailer, analyst or investor can find this to be an acceptable result of sound business decisions.
Date: Wed, March 28, 2007, 5:24 am CT Date: Wed, March 28, 2007, 1:35 am CT
Help us out Hallmark!
http://www.halls.com/flash/index.asp
Hall's is an amazing store!
When you care enough to SHOP the very best!
Date: Tue, March 27, 2007, 11:34 pm CT
Those who expect moments of change to be comfortable and free of conflict have not learned their history. -Joan Wallach Scott
You can stand tall without standing on someone. You can be a victor without having victims. -Harriet Woods
People who worship only themselves get a slick, polished look -- like monuments. Too bad they had to go so soon. -Vanna Bonta
An individual has not started living until he can rise above the narrow confines of his individualistic concerns to the broader concerns of all humanity -Martin Luther King, Jr.
There is a certain degree of satisfaction in having the courage to admit one's errors. It not only clears up the air of guilt and defensiveness, but often helps solve the problem created by the error. - Dale Carnegie
In life and business, there are two cardinal sins.. The first is to act precipitously without thought and the second is to not act at all. -Carl Icahn
If you want to make enemies, try to change something. -Woodrow Wilson
The truest characters of ignorance are vanity, and pride and arrogance. - Samuel Butler
The only man I know who behaves sensibly is my tailor; he takes my measurements anew each time he sees me. The rest go on with their old measurements and expect me to fit them. -George Bernard Shaw
Date: Tue, March 27, 2007, 10:48 pm CT
Date: Tue, March 27, 2007, 8:48 pm CT
One wonders if any of the stockholders ever visited his or her local macy*mart and noticed the dearth of customers and the absence of interesting merchandise. Surely these people can't believe that there will be an improvement any time soon. If a stockholder thinks macy*mart will work some retailing miracle and customers will hurry back to shop, I have some lovely ocean front property in Arizona available.
To Ralph Hughes: We came, we saw, we didn't like what we saw, we left. Bye, bye! Perhaps you should re-read your own comments and actually implement these concepts at your "exciting" stores. You may KNOW what the customers want, but you aren't offering it. Until you HAVE WHAT WE WANT, you can spin all the "exciting" tales that you like. As time passes, customers WILL find what they want elsewhere--and as customers experience more pleasing shopping venues, they won't give your "exciting" emporiums another thought!
Date: Tue, March 27, 2007, 8:22 pm CT
Neil Steinberg of the Sun-Times was interviewed on Chicagoist.com and in the course of the interview said something that just showed that at least he agrees that the Marshall Field's loss was a bad thing.
When commenting about the uncertainty about the future of the newspaper business, Steinberg made the following comment:
" Look, ever since the Berghoff went out of business and Marshall Field's disappeared, anything is possible in the worst sense of the word."
Let's hope that some of these columnists weigh in about the boycott and give an update on the blunder by Federated. FIELDS IS CHICAGO
Date: Tue, March 27, 2007, 8:17 pm CT Date: Tue, March 27, 2007, 8:04 pm CT
US Agriculture Commissioner Tommy Irvin warns consumers that some candies sold exclusively at Macy's may contain egg and/or milk ingredients not listed on the label. Irvin says the four- and 8- ounce packages of candy, sold at Macy's stores nationwide, are being voluntarily recalled by Harry London Candies, the producer in Ohio, and Macy's, the national retailer. The candies may contain an egg and or milk ingredient not listed on the label. The Food and Drug Administration requires such labeling to protect those with food allergies.
Frango Cheggs branded Mint Chegg, Double Chocolate Chegg, Marshmallow Chegg, Peanut Butter Chegg, Caramel Chegg and Toffee Chegg Egg confectionary products are all subject to recall at all Macy's locations.
Date: Tue, March 27, 2007, 8:02 pm CT
The following passage appeared today on Chicagoist.com:
"We know that sometimes the volume of posts at Chicagoist can be a bit much to keep up with. For that reason, we developed our Favorites page, which shows you the top ranked stories over the last day, week, month, or year. We've recently added an "all time" option C3 did you know that the most commented story in the history of Chicagoist.com is "Fields to Become Macy's in Fall 2006" which was posted on September 20, 2005, and got 178 comments."
(Chicagoist, March 27, 2007)
Date: Tue, March 27, 2007, 8:01 pm CT Date: Tue, March 27, 2007, 7:12 pm CT
Date: Tue, March 27, 2007, 4:55 pm CT Date: Tue, March 27, 2007, 11:26 am CT Date: Tue, March 27, 2007, 10:06 am CT
I've been out of town quite a bit lately, but just had to share a funny story. We have a condo in Door County, Wisconsin, and were up there this weekend for the annual owner's association meeting. There was a cocktail reception Saturday night, and many of us were taking turns touring each other's units for decorating ideas, etc.
One of the last purchases my husband and I made from Field's was a gorgeous leather sleeper sofa. It's buttery soft leather, and is beautiful and well made. A half-dozen or so women were in our condo looking at the sofa, and "oohing and aahing" over it. They asked where we got it, and I replied "Marshall Fields." Immediately, there was a chorus of "Macy's! Yuck! I won't shop there! I hate them!" and on and on. I laughed and stressed that it had been purchased at Field's BEFORE the evil empire took over. It started a long conversation, and the bottom line was that these women, who represented 4 different states, ALL HATED MACY'S!! Each one resented what Macy's had done in their home towns, especially the trashing of Fields.
I passed out the address of our blog, and went to sleep that night just a little happier knowing that the boycott flourishes, and we are not alone!
Date: Mon, March 26, 2007, 10:31 pm CT
Please be sure to write a Letter to the Editor to the Tribune via Email at ctc-TribLetter@tribune.com. Point out how ludicrous Hughes' claims are about Macy's brands and about Macy's civic giving. Yep, they really know how to support Chicago culture. By klling Field's!
Hit them hard with your letter. They are down. Do not let them get back up. Oh, and congratulations everyone for our great results thus far!
Date: Mon, March 26, 2007, 10:02 pm CT Date: Mon, March 26, 2007, 9:06 pm CT
Some designers once sold by Field's are still sold by Macy's, but only a token assortment or the less expensive mid and low end lines and not a large representation of the high-end primary collections. We need a list of these as well so we can counter claims that macy's still carries the same named designer, when in fact they don't carry the same line by that designer.
So, if you have any updates to add to last November's lists, please email them privately to chicagopride@fieldsfanschicago.org
Just a few mentioned on that list from Macy's on State Street are Trovata, Yves St. Laurent, Prada, Jimmy Choo, Etro, Paul Smith, Giorgio Armani, Herman Miller (furniture)
Macy's now carries a very, very small selection of Dolce & Gabana and Martin Margiela, perhaps ordered prior to the transition. In fact, macy's dismantled the Dolce boutique that was in Field's and which was the largest selling Dolce seller in the US. Dolce did not fit the Macy's customer base and the area now sells one of the terrible macy's private label brands.
Also, it's helpful to be able to respond to Macy's absurd boasts about such things as that they carry Vera Wang, we can point out that Field's had a full Vera Wang couture bridal salon, whereas now Macy's has Vera Wang's inexpensive ready to wear line - also found at Kohls. Furthermore, we have to aggressively counter macy's attempts to impress the uneducated customers and media by boasting of down-market brands like Donald Trump, Martha Stewart and others, sold at some discount stores nationwide and even cancelled by some discount stores for poor quality (like Martha Stewart at Kmart.)
We need to get the message out to make even high school teenagers ashamed to be seen wearing macy's private labels like Alfani, Tasso Elba, Charter Club and INC... actually, I think most kids have already come to this conclusion on their own.
If you have time to do a little research, please email via chicagopride@fieldsfanschicago.org if you know if Field's carried the following fine apparel collection / or if Macy's carries the fine apparel or the contemporay low-end lines of any of the following designers: Ferragamo, Alexander McQueen, Gucci, Chloe, Dior, Louis Vuitton, Narcisso Rodriguez, Roberto Cavalli, Zegna, Helmut Lang, Bottega Veneta, Jill Sander, Marc Jacobs, Akris, Donna Karan Collection, (not low end line carried by macy's), Gaultier, Mugler, Zac Posen, St. John, Chanel, Loro Piana, Missoni, Oscar de la Renta, Proenza Schouler, Valentino...
Date: Mon, March 26, 2007, 6:31 pm CT Date: Mon, March 26, 2007, 6:01 pm CT
Terry Lundgren Can't Re-educate us on our shopping behavior. I know Quality, I know My Prices, I know Respect, I know Loyality, and I know "WHERE" I WANT to spend my MONEY . I DO Know,it's NOT MACY'S!!! They took away all my Favorite Brands.They took away my Favorite Sales Lady in the SHOE DEPT. So Mr Lunkhead, Why would I shop there? You have NOTHING that appeals to my Shopping Needs.
So... Macy's take some hints, Go Back to Manhattan, and Kiss My Frango Mints. What a Way to Flop !!!! Go Back To where you came from, "CAUSE MARSHALL FIELD'S YOU NOT" !!!!!!!!
Date: Mon, March 26, 2007, 4:22 pm CT
Regarding GLE's comments, yes, that's the impression Lundgren, Hughes, and the other Federated flunkies want you to have. This is so sobering, this letter from Hughes, because it shows, that in fact, they really are listening and know what we want, but would rather, as someone put it, bait and switch Alfani for Armani at the last turn. It's not that they don't understand what we former Field's customers want. They know! And they want to manipulate us so that we settle for less so as to give their bottom line more.
Don't stand for it.
These people know EXACTLY what they are doing and they pretty much have us customers NOT in their best interest!
This letter in today's Trib shows us they are con artists, not people who don't get it.
We know better! VIVA LA BOYCOTT! The boycott is working!
Date: Mon, March 26, 2007, 3:03 pm CT
My reaction? It's a sign that THE BOYCOTT MUST BE WORKING! Why in the world would Hughes, Lungren, and Macy's care to defend themselves against what is fact--that long time, well-regarded--not flash-in-the-pan designers have moved elsewhere after Macy's destroyed Field's? Why? The boycott is working and they've lost sales as Macy's.
I plan to email a proper letter to the Tribune but a few notes to consider: Does anyone consider these new chintzy Macy's house brands to be the equal of those classic brands that pulled out when Macy's deep-sixed Field's?
Macy's competitors also give to local causes if not more. Carson's, Nordstrom's, Target, Kohl's, Sear's, etc
-- they all give. Hughes makes it seem like only Macy's gives.
I'd rather shop at the stores that donate to my community while not also hurting it's history and culture as Macy's has done. The more I take my business to Carson's, Sears, etc, the more those good businesses can give and thrive.
Macy's just gives to look good so they can help their bottom line. They could care less about Chicago.
And what about the funds our city has lost due to Macy's bad decision to get rid of Field's? Because Macy's is everywhere, we've lost tourism and the business it brings to small businesses. As so many put it, why go to Chicago for Macy's when I can go to my local store in Peoria, Springfield, etc.?? Donating is a small start in the least Macy's can do after hurting our city in terms of jobs, culture, tourism, tax revenues, tradition, history, etc. And how is Chicago's fashion rep to develop out from underneath New York's rep when the store promotes itself under a New York--and not Chicago--name?
These are just a few random thoughts for starters...
So please, it is important that you send your response to Ralph Hughes' letter in the Tribune. Here's some suggestions on replying:
Date: Mon, March 26, 2007, 3:03 pm CT
For all the wonderful pictures over the past week! I have received almost 1000! I am working on getting them organized and can always use more!
Darrid.Com
Date: Mon, March 26, 2007, 12:35 pm CT Date: Mon, March 26, 2007, 11:40 am CT
1 - There is a ridiculous editorial in the Chicago Tribune today by Ralph Hughes of Macy's, who hits the nail on the head by saying (amongst other things) that "Our customers ultimately want a good selection of well-known brands, quality merchandise and a unique, local shopping experience." YES! This man gets it... However, he goes on to claim that Macy's is currently providing all these things when we all can easily tell they are NOT. Macy's is everything buy what Hughe's says it is.
He also includes a paragraph about how, in seven months, Macy's has given $1 million back to local charities. While it is noble for these people to give back something, am I the only one who is not impressed with this figure? One million in seven months? That is only a fraction of what TL and his cronies have made in that timespan. In contrast, Target gives millions a week back to the communities that its stores serves through donations and a credit card program that gives to schools.
2 - This past Friday, I was home in the suburbs for a job interview. The day of my interview, I ran out to Spring Hill Mall looking for a black Coach wristlet. Although I do not want and will not give M-store my business I did pass through the store to see if they even carried them - just to compare with other stores. I know that the Spring Hill Field's store was not the biggest or best, but in the past, I had always been able to find things that I needed or liked there. There was one employee working at the Coach counter! She was on the phone with another customer, who was upset about something from the tone of the conversation. This employee did not even acknowledge me even though I was looking at her and browsing the merchandise. When she finally got off the phone, I decided to ask her for help to see how she would respond. She did not offer to help me. Of course, they did not have the item that I wanted. I am a college student with $500 to my name, and I was winning to spend $40-50 on a quality item. Even though I am on a budget, when I shop, I am willing to invest in something that was well made and would last me a long time. I am not looking for some crappily made M store "bargain" that will fall apart. This sure proves that I cannot rely on the M store to carry items that I need.
Date: Mon, March 26, 2007, 11:34 am CT
Viva La Boycott!
Date: Mon, March 26, 2007, 9:41 am CT
Date: Mon, March 26, 2007, 9:19 am CT Date: Sun, March 25, 2007, 7:03 pm CT
Date: Sun, March 25, 2007, 11:33 am CT
I just bought a set of sheets for my mother for Mother's Day - from Neiman Marcus. I realized as I completed the order that this was the first time I had bought any sort of linens from anyone other than my regular person at Marshall Field's in about eight years. I would call her and have her send things based solely on her recommendations, and I've asked her to add other things to my order like a coffee maker and a pair of bedroom slippers. Never a problem with service or quality. I feel bad that my regular lady at Field's is losing the business, but if she doesn't have decent quality merchandise to sell, then I can't buy it.
Date: Sun, March 25, 2007, 6:20 am CT
Way to go, Pat!
Date: Sun, March 25, 2007, 5:12 am CT
I don't know how Terry L. can go to work their each day and not see that the store has gone down hill.
1) There is no world class linen service restaurant at Macy's in Herald Square. Fine dining like the Walnut Room should definately be in place at the mother store in NY ! If Macy's is only interested in McDonald's, a pizza place, and a small grill in "the cellar," it's understandable that the majority of the traffic through the store is based on tourists taking advantage of the dollar/Euro lower price.
2) Where is the excitement that once used to be featured at Herald Square ? What happened to the neat specialty departments like book-stores, mini boutiques, antiques, art, electronics, computers...etc. The world's largest stores should focus on the best of the best from around the world !
3) Management should make an effort to showcase the right kind of service and all processes should be modeled in a positve way...instead of the attitude that the guest coming last...and believe me that's what is happening !
4) Macy's should seriously consider taking away the tacky red star that is plastered everywhere and anywhere !
Date: Sun, March 25, 2007, 4:55 am CT
http://www.news-record.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20070109/NEWSREC0103/70109002/-1/NEWSRECRSSGNRL
"C. Britt Beemer, chairman and founder of America's Research Group, said his research indicates that former May locations may have lost 10 percent to 20 percent of the shopper base from a year ago.
"Clearly, Macy's stores have not won over the May customers to the degree that I thought they would," Beemer said. "They need to rethink how they can attract customers."
Some analysts say J.C. Penney and Kohl's have benefited from the May conversion problems, though Beemer doesn't think any one store has managed to "gobble up" May customers.
"They're scattering like the wind," he said.
Wendy Liebmann, president of WSL Strategic Retail, said Macy's still faces emotional challenges.
"They are asking shoppers around the country to give up a brand that a lot of them have had for a long time and have been emotionally attached to, whether it's a store or product brand," she said."
James Walton, 51, of Pittsburgh, shopping in a bookstore housed in the former Kaufmann's flagship store in Pittsburgh Wednesday, thinks Macy's has lost Kaufmann's appeal.
"It just doesn't have the Kaufmann's feel or touch to it," said Walton, who says he's more likely now to shop at Penney.
A national marketing campaign that heralded the name changes and launched Macy's as a national brand seemed "a little mundane" and not as bold as she would have expected, Liebmann said.
-------------------------------
Marshall Field's patrons were once called "guests," but at Macy's they are justed called customers." It's more important to save on shopping bags and supplies rather than supply the emotional attachment to the stores. Terry Lundgren indicates that shopping is not an emotional experience...and that is the biggest mistake he could make.
-------------------------------
I want my Strawbridge & Clothier back ! I want my Burdine's back , I want my Famous-Barr back...and by golly I WANT MY MARSHALL FIELD'S BACK !
-------------------------------
Date: Sat, March 24, 2007, 9:37 pm CT
I can appreciate that you don't miss May, I really miss Woodies, but I cannot imagine why you feel that one monopoly closing down its competition and leaving nothing in its place but its own already ubiquitous junk is a good thing for Washington DC. Here in Philadelphia May is painfully missed; the Strawbridge stores particularly in Willow Grove and Cherry Hill were regarded as two of the best department stores on the east coast and the mens departments in those two stores had brands that Lord and Taylor and Saks actually carried in other markets. Those two stores were the crown jewels of the May chain outside of the midwest, measured in profitability per square foot, and Federated in its infinite arrogance thought by shuttering them that customers would be re-educated to walk to the other end of the mall into their legacy dumps and pick up some shirts off the floor to buy. I won't even go into how sorely the downtown Philadelphia store is missed. Now they are making excuses for their arrogance as if bad weather keeps us away from their sub-Penneys quality at Nordstrom prices.
Come back to the boycott Bob, it's never too late! Take a serious look at the clothing you are about to buy and don't shop while tired. When a re-education ad stares you in the face from the Washington Post, featuring a scary woman hypnotising you with some hideous red flower (what's that about ... red as a spring color??), look away, avert your eyes, hold a mirror to it, do whatever you have to do to avoid the church of the re-education! All those around you noticing your wardrobe will thank us for keeping you from falling into the mesys re-education camp.
We are going to get Fields back. Things have a way of falling into place in time when the bottom line is involved.
Date: Sat, March 24, 2007, 5:50 pm CT
In a round about way this is Field's related though it actually pertains to Carsons. I just got through paying my Carson's bill online and am really disappointed. The process has been revamped in the last 2 months. My bill was due today, but if I pay online today I will still receive a late payment fee. HUH??? If I want to make a rush pmt it will cost me $14.95!!!
While I won't shop Macy's because of what they have done to Field's, I think Carson's needs to tweak their new on-line credit card system. I wrote to them and said that Carson's has been my go-to store since macy's destroyed Field's and hoped that Bon Ton does not make the same mistakes as FDS has.
We'll see what response I get. Also, I paid my Nordstrom's -- although they will not receive the actual payment for 2 days, but todays date is reflected as the date paid. Yea Nordstroms!!
On another note, I am finally getting comments about my bumper sticker on my car. At work, I always try to park strategically so that it's visible. Slowly but surely even the 'give macy's a try' people will be joining us if the comments I hear from them are any indication anyway.
Keep up the fight!!
Beth
Date: Sat, March 24, 2007, 2:19 pm CT
I will remain loyal to Hecht's and the May Company stores as I am to department store retailing. Yes they homogenized retailing over the years but to call putting 600 loyal Hecht workers out of a job and call it a "Mercy Kill" in support of Macy's is unthinkable. Both Woodward & Lothrop and Garfinckels (yes, that is the correct spelling) died a horrible, painful death. I can say that in the end Woodies killed Wanamakers but I do not hold a grudge. Check your local arts museums, performing arts companies and local colleges and you will see the many Hecht family contributions. Contributions both through the family and through the May Company Foundations that were made until this past year. Before you moan about the loss of Woodies (yes I totally miss them and have many momentos) maybe you should try to recall their merchandise before they passed. Potomac Collection? This website is about history, identity and integrity. Support the cause. Do you work for FDS? I wonder.....Mercy kill. I can't believe it.
Ignore this person and SUPPORT THE CAUSE TO RETURN FIELD'S AND THANK THE OTHER STORES OF THE PAST FOR THEIR SERVICE AND GENEROSITY TO THEIR LOCALITIES!!!!!
MERCY KILL.....You've gone too far. Go buy your Donald Trump and Martha Stewart crap. (except in the Philadelphia flagship where there is no home store.)
Date: Sat, March 24, 2007, 2:10 pm CT
[ Note from Jim McKay: To whomever wrote the following superb item, would you email me at jjmckay@fieldsfanschicago.org. Your identity will remain confidential. Thank you. ]
Thank you for bringing out attention to the outstanding article in the Dallas News about Neiman Marcus and Bergdorf Goodman. Bergdorf Goodman's strengths highlight the opportunity wasted by Federated Department Stores when it eliminated Chicago's famed Marshall Field's and replaced it with Macy's Way To Shop.
Existing in harmony with Neiman Marcus, Bergdorf Goodman serves New York as Marshall Field's served Chicago and represented the city to the world. Berdorf Goodman is a recognized New York icon with profitable single store sales per foot that outpace Neiman's.
It should be no surprise that Marshall Field's sales per foot far outpaced that of Macy's and Bloomingdales prior to Federated's takeover, as well. Marshall Field's state street home alone was Chicago's third most visited tourist destination, a prestigious Chicago icon featured in movies, TV shows, travel programs and advertisements around the world and attracting more than 9 Million visitors with sales of more than $250 Million at this single location in the year prior to announcement of Federated's takeover.
There is one major difference, however, between these stores. Bergdorf Goodman's role in the cultural and economic growth of New York City pales in comparison to the leadership and contributions made by Marshall Field's in Chicago.
Marshall Field's role in the cultural and economic growth of Chicago is without equal in American history. The goodwill earned by Marshall Field's through generations of civic leadership and generosity and by providing quality merchandise, outstanding service, tasteful advertising, glorious architecture and innovation is the store's most valuable assets, yet this goodwill was squandered - no, commandeered - by Federated. It's no wonder that former Field's customers in Chicago and throughout the region are so resentful and terribly disappointed with what Macy's has done to our once great store.
Federated's CEO Terry Lundgren clearly didn't demonstrate the same respect for extraordinary goodwill and worldwide reputation built by Marshall Field's as does Neiman's CEO Burt Tansky for New York's Bergdorf Goodman. With a vague reference to internal research, Mr. Lundgren completely disregarded the 60,000 people who signed a petition to boycott Macy's if they eliminated Marshall Field's and he ignored the Chicago Tribune poll in which 96% of more than 14,000 respondents said they were less likely to shop at Macy's than Marshall Field's.
Imagine how much more successful Federated could be in the Chicago region if Terry Lundgren said, "Macy's serves the country, and Marshall Field's serves Chicago." Imagine how much better it would be for Chicago to to have the world-famous Marshall Field's back home where it belongs.
Federated reports that same store sales continue to flounder due to winter weather, the same weather that has improved sales at many of Macy's competitors and for the luxury retailers - of which Marshall Field's was a leader - throughout the same regions.
The opportunity remains for the prestigious and profitable Marshall Field's to return to 111 North State Street where it could be positioned to lead growth in luxury department store sales - growth that far outpaces Macy's and growth that is currently enjoyed by Neiman's, Saks, Bergdorf and Nordstroms. Much of this growth in Chicago has been attributed by these stores in part to having gained former Marshall Field's customers.
Unfortunately, even with the return of Marshall Field's, Macy's would still be free to litter the midwest landscape with mediocrity and many generic private label brands and continue to struggle to compete with Target, Wal-Mart and Kohls.
Here again is the link to the article and a quote:
Article:
-------
"Given the activity at the flagship chain (Neiman Marcus), some retail analysts have wondered if a second Bergdorf Goodman is destined for the West Coast or overseas, following Saks Fifth Avenue's moves into Dubai, Saudi Arabia, and Mexico City.
The short answer is no.
"Neiman Marcus serves the country, and Bergdorf Goodman serves New York," said Burt Tansky, chief executive of Dallas-based Neiman Marcus Group, which owns and operates both luxury brands. "Bergdorf Goodman is a single store dedicated to a single location.""
Date: Sat, March 24, 2007, 10:35 am CT
In a new TJ Maxx TV commercial, a well dressed woman stands up at a party to announce to those gathered how happy she is with her new dress. She says, "It's a real designer, not a made up one."
Since Macy's is the only national chain to heavily empasis their ridiculous, poorly made, cheesy private label pseudo-desginer brands - including Tasso Elba and Alfani - this appears to be a reference to Macy's. At leaset everyone I know thought of Macy's when they saw the ad. Very funny.
I wonder if Macy's realizes what a national joke they've become. I want my Marshall Field's back!
Date: Sat, March 24, 2007, 9:16 am CT
Things are not well in metro Detroit Macy-land...Somerset Mall in the tony north suburb of Troy was virtually empty of customers last night. As I walked through the main floor of the former "local flagship of Fields" in Detroit the salesman at Thomas Pink was reading a magazine and the Ipod vending maching was making strange grinding noises next to the rotunda/elevator bay.
Saw a salesman I had shopped with before...he stated everyone is complaining about the downgrading of the merchandise and the quality salespersons from this and other Macy stores are all applying to Nordstrom as it ready a new store for this fall at the 12 Oaks Mall in Novi, MI.
I said that according to Chicago Tribune reports, management feels it will take a year to educate the shoppers in Macy's way to shop. He grimly stated that at that rate there won't be any customers to educate.
This is supposed to be the "Macy's premier" store in this market...but the same mdse as at all the other store except for the boutique counters like Pink, etc. Dayton Hudson/May Co didn't stock low end goods, for example there was virtually no Field Gear available at this location, now, under Macy's, in the realigned Men's store with the washout of the designer goods, there is a huge Charter Club department...I looked closely at Charter Club and other house brands...expensive and inferior to Field Gear and Woodward.
So, the "flagship" status doesn't mean a lot here in Detroit. Just curious, is Herald Square in NYC and Union Square in SF merchandised any differently from the crap I'm seeing at State St and Somerset?
Thanks
Bob
Date: Sat, March 24, 2007, 8:08 am CT
Federated first took our Jordan Marsh stores (founded here) and now we have lost our beloved Filenes (founded here)to Macys. We have no choices here its Macys Macys Macys. Go Chicago boycott Macys, wish we had started one here in Mass!
Date: Sat, March 24, 2007, 8:05 am CT
Federated is missing out on a potential gold mine. It's their loss.
Date: Fri, March 23, 2007, 11:30 pm CT
I was at Orland Square tonight and I stopped at one of my other former favorite Field's stores. I recently bought a car....first one for me in the city....and I have been exploring the malls in the suburbs. Guess what! What a rude awakening since the last time I visited the store 2 years ago as Marshall Field's. It looks so CHEAP now! The escalator is still broken and a clerk told me it won't be fixed until August because they completely have to rebuild the escalator due to the unique size. It's so sad to walk through that store and see all the wonderful renovation features Dayton Hudson did now with Macy's crap plastered all over it. It was really disturbing to walk towards the store from the mall and a huge INC display is in the window. What the Hell is Inc? It's like alien forces have taken over!
I also went over to Carson's. Carson's was doing much more business than Macy's and felt a lot more spirited. I can't say I agreed with the white lensed parabolic fluorescent lighting fixtures at Carson's....they look too much like Macy's legacy stores and JC Penny.....but everything else looked nice for a mid tier department store.
I must tell you all that I saw an awful lighting application (dont know if I already added this to the blog) at a former Field's in Grand Rapids, MI at the Woodland Mall. They switched out all the PAR 38 Halogen spotlights, the adjustable ones that hang down from the ceiling and can be pointed on different items, with ugly frosted fluorescent lamps! The Waterford crystal doesn't even sparkle....they cheapened the lighting....I don't see how that is an improvement? I haven't seen that yet here in Chicago, but I bet its only a matter of time. Yes, it saves hundreds of dollars.....but it also looks like crap....it's supposed to be an elegant department store, not Dollar General! What else was funny at the Woodland Mall store was that I asked the clerk where all the great Marshall Field's merchandise went. He went on to tell me, "The closest thing we have to that merchandise is Alfani and Charter Club." I said "Don't give me that line of bull, that will never replace Field's brands." He said that I must be from Chicago!
Date: Fri, March 23, 2007, 8:34 pm CT
I tend to agree with the point that some peole here made:
Macy's is a bunch of hipocrytes to promote the worthy cause of sensivity to native African culture all the while stamping out a significant part of Chicago culture by getting rid of Field's.
Date: Fri, March 23, 2007, 7:13 pm CT
Fields had a reward program-spend a certain amount and they gave you a certificate for 15% off-including cosmetics. Macys has no such program.
The changes are so drastic, I notice a lack of customers in every Macys store.
BRING BACK FIELDS. It is really sad.
They had a TV news poll recently about how customers were reacting to the change to Macy's. It was not good from Macy's perspective.
Date: Fri, March 23, 2007, 10:12 am CT
For a moment I had forgotten that I aways wear a "I WANT MY Marshall Field's" button.
Then she added, "Macy's is soooo tacky! And chintzy. I want my Marshall Field's back too."
Date: Fri, March 23, 2007, 12:31 am CT
They have taken out all of the really great departments too ! I wish someone at FDS would get things straight before Macy's becomes the another Kohl's !
Best Regards,
RG74
Date: Thu, March 22, 2007, 6:14 pm CT
I cannot fathom Chicago without Field's.
Date: Thu, March 22, 2007, 3:47 pm CT
Let's use this opportunity to expose Federated lies about Marshall Field's performance(especially State Street) prior to the takeover. Let's let this writer and analyst know about the 60,000 people who signed a petition and the 96% of 14,000 people who responded to the Tribune's online poll that demonstrated the Chicagoans attitudes about Macy's and about the loss of Marshall Field's - all ignored by Federated. Let's explain the extraordinary goodwill Field's has earned in Chicago over the last 150 years, a relationship with a city unlike any other in the United States. Let's explain the difference in quality, style, selection, advertising and service.
We can also expose that although Macy's may show some success in other markets, the failing performance of the former Field's locations is hidden by FDS in their financial disclosures. We can call attention to the tax authority figures that show a dramatic decline in sales at 111 N. State Street.
We can also draw attention to the boycott and to the wealth of information and opinions available at www.fieldsfanschicago.org. One person writing to them may be disregarded as a fluke, so please take the time to add your voice to mine.
Contact:
Note: The email address is provided by CNNMoney.com and may be for an assistant. Also, I don't know if Parija B. Kavilanz is Mr. or Ms. Kavilanz.
Here's the article:
In a section of the article titled "The Successes", branding consultant Kelly O'Keefe shares his thoughts about Federated Department Stores:
"Federated Department Stores The operator of Macy's and Bloomingdales announced last month that it would rename itself to Macy's Group to reflect a more uniform brand identity among consumers nationwide.
Federated changed the name of 400 May stores to Macy's last year after acquiring May in August 2005. It also decided to remove the iconic Marshall Field's name in favor of Macy's last year.
"I'm neutral about this one for now. It is a big gamble to rebrand so extensively and it could go either way," O'Keefe said."
Date: Thu, March 22, 2007, 11:30 am CT Date: Wed, March 21, 2007, 10:13 pm CT
Lipmans was a chain of retail stores in Oregon that F&N acquired in 1979 and renamed Frederick && Nelson. The Lipmans name still has high recognition in the Pacific Northwest, according to G. Arthur Henkens, president of the F&N Acquisition Group.
What happened back in 1987 in the northwest could and should happen in Chicago in 2008. Hear these quotes from the article. Do they sound familiar?:
Business Journal-Portland, March 30, 1987
"Familiar retail name adorns Frederick & Nelson."
-Two Portland-area Frederick & Nelson stores will become upscale fashion stores bearing the century-old Lipmans name under a plan that could also reopen the doors of the downtown Frederick & Nelson store.........
-"We're analyzing the feasibility of having a Lipmans on the first three floors," Vyzis said, adding that the other four floors of the downtown structure would consist of office space.......
-The Lipmans name, which F&N bought in its September acquisition from BATUS Inc., had been a leading one in Oregon retailing since the first store opened in 1880 until it was bought by Frederick & Nelson in 1979. .......
-The new specialty chain offers what F&N executives think will be a profitable alternative to the Frederick & Nelson full-line department stores.........
-Vyzis said F&N chose Lipmans for its revamped stores because surveys found that the public "still has an affinity for the name." .......
-Lipmans can survive where Frederick & Nelson could not because of its more concentrated scope, Vyzis said........
-Lesa Sroufe, an analyst with Foster & Marshall Inc. in Seattle, said converting to Lipmans gives Frederick & Nelson a new start......
-----------------------------
-Another factor is managerial viewpoint. Henkens thinks the company is much better off under local management. "i think part of the problem of F&N's lack of focus was the fact that people here didn't have the authority to run the store, or, if they did, they didn't utilize it properly," he said.
"You can't sit in New York and make decisions based on just looking at the numbers. When I was here before under Field's, I was frustrated. But I've proved my point. I'm here and they're not."
Date: Wed, March 21, 2007, 4:34 pm CT
I have added Field's Holiday Windows and made a few other tweaks to my site.
I am still working on the Field's restaurant page. It's been tough to find pics!
I think I finally got rid of the adds and popups!
Thanks to all of you who have sent me pictures! I am working on getting them organized and have used a few already!
Check it out!
Darrid.Com
Date: Wed, March 21, 2007, 3:25 pm CT
My grandmother's birthday was March 24, 1898. Marshall Field's always seemed to be her favorite store. She even went to Field's during a blizzard once because it was the only place that carried the right ribbon for something she was making. If my Grandma was still here and Field's was still here, she would probably still be trying to find a way to get there.
Date: Wed, March 21, 2007, 2:25 pm CT Date: Wed, March 21, 2007, 2:17 pm CT
[ Response from Jim McKay: Last word was that Macy's must install a green roof (not the color green but a roof similar to what is on City Hall that has plantings, etc for the environment) as a condition of putting up the signs. Clearly the weather hasn't been suitable until recently to undertake the green roof. After that is complete, then the signs can go up. ]
Date: Wed, March 21, 2007, 10:47 pm CT
Ok, so I go to Target Downtown after work today and decide to take the skyways into the Nicollet Mall Store to scope out the Spring Flower Show. Tomorrow is the Grand Opening of the Show, which in Minneapolis was a BIG deal. The night before the Grand Opening, when it was held in the 8th Floor Auditorium, was a sneak preview for employees and press. However, retail pervs like me would be hanging around in the long hallway from the elevators to the Auditorium entrance getting a look and possibly sneaking in among a large group of employees where our lack of a badge might not be noticed...LOL.
Well....there is like nobody there now that it is on 1st Floor. I can hardly even see any Blackcoats working either. I believe I saw maybe a total of 15 people scoping out the Show and this was like 6:30p. Maybe right after work there were a lot more and people already left.
Now, I will say Dale Bachmann did a heck of a good job with what he had to work with; i.e. trying to do a show among purses and shoes and Style & Co swimwear. The plants were beautiful and the effects in some areas were really fun: giant beaded African animals standing among the plants peering at me, which I loved. One particularly long aisle had spears and shields attached to each white pillar and was very symmetrical and impressive with lots of jungle greenery.
My overall impression was it was very pleasant; a really good strong effort by Bachmann's with lots of creativity. However, it was way too much work to go look at the various displays and that's when the store was EMPTY. If any crowds at all materialize as has been the custom in Minneapolis, this will be chaos trying to navigate the spaces between jewelry counters, purse displays, racks of swimwear with hordes of people wandering all directions.
And overall, while obviously it took much work to put this together, it was not nearly as impressive as having the arrangements all together in the 8th Floor Auditorium. Winding my way through garden paths in there where all I saw was flowers and plants was still much more impactful. Now, I may not be representative of the attendees at these events, but I do not expect stores to just put these on for free for my enjoyment and then leave. Well....I guess with macy's I do....LOL. But with Dayton's and Field's after I spent a half hour being entertained and enjoying the beautiful artistry, I always had things I needed to buy so I bought them there. They need not put the show on 1st Floor to entice me to buy Women's Shoes or Style & Co drabwear. Really, had they already not alienated me so badly, if they kept the show in the 8th Floor Auditorium, there would have been something I needed today that I would have bought there: socks, a new umbrella, kitchen utensils, napkins & placemats, a cool stainless garbage pail for the kitchen, pants, shoes----I can think of a dozen more things I could use.
But alas----I left after looking at some Frangos and sniffing the box. I did see a Blackcoat eyeing me suspiciously and if she said anything to me about sniffing the Frangos I was prepared to tell her she could touch my Visa card for a few seconds....LOL.
Regards.
Date: Wed, March 21, 2007, 5:01 am CT
There was a time when Macy's was a wonderful store...and I was proud to give gifts to people with the Macy's logo. THESE DAYS, NOT ANYMORE ! Macy's has gone down-market and their store environment is very un-inviting.
Federated needs to bring back the restaurants, bring back the full service shopping...etc. How can Macy's make headway witn the former May Stores in the present situation they are in ?
By the way, Macy's once had an exciting presence in suburbia long ago in California of all places. At Valley Fair, they actually had a roof-top carnival,a sky view cafe....etc... all in honor of serving the customer. What a novel idea ?
Respectful Regards As Always,
Ryan James
[ Comment from Jim McKay: Check out the 1996 book, "The Rain on Macy's Parade" for details about Bamberger's, once a unit of Macy's. Many New Jerseyians miss that store. In the mid-1980's, Macy's was just leveraged away from the respected Straus family and was headed for eventual bankruptcy. Part of the downfall was that Bamberger's actually was very successful and a step up from Macy's. The head of Macy's at the time decided it would be better to have Bamberger's become Macy's, even though Bamberger's was more profitable and actually helped prop up the struggling Macy's on the East Coast. The switch went poorly and alienated customers. The switch further halped to put Macy's into bankruptcy and eventual acquisition by competitor Federated Department Stores. And now history looks like it may repeat itself in some important ways. ]
Date: Tues, March 20, 2007, 1:56 pm CT
After purchasing one half of the ensemble I needed at another store, I figured to go into Lord and Taylor and buy the rest. Couldn't find my size so for a moment thought about going to Messy's. I came to my senses and decided I would just launder something that I had already worn.
Let the boycott continue -- and thank you to the Marshall Field's collective conscious for saving me from a fate worse than death -- shopping at Messy's yuk!
Date: Tues, March 20, 2007, 12:07 pm CT
They listed Federated Department stores as a success??? Everyone needs to write to this person and tell her the abismal failure that Macy's really is!!!!
Date: Tues, March 20, 2007, 10:12 am CT
Date: Tues, March 20, 2007, 8:31 am CT
After shopping there in December, I was sent a personal business and thank you card from one of the associates. She included a personal note on Berdoff's stationary thanking me and hoping my stay in New York was pleasant.
This place is the real "way to shop"! Macy's can learn a lot about exclusivity and quality by Bergdoff's policy of having only one Bergdoff in the world. This creates so much mystery and mystique to the Bergdoff brand for Chicago shoppers and others not living in New York.
Marshall Fields, please come back. Thanks Steven for the great article!
Viva la Boycott!
Date: Tues, March 20, 2007, 7:51 am CT
I'm glad Neiman Marcus got their head screwed on Straight. if BG was a single store serving a single location, Why wouldn't that have been possible to leave Marshall Fields within Macy's as a Single store, serving a single location? I think it would have worked really well and could have given Federated some really good sales figures, because no one would shop at the Macy's in the burbs, they would all go downtown to State Street to get Marshall Fields, the tourists would still come, and visitfields.com would still be wonderful.
PS Darrid. EXCELLENT Site!
Date: Tues, March 20, 2007, 6:10 am CT
Bon-Ton, Inc. spokesperson:
"We are interested in growing Carson Pirie Scott. The name is our biggest contributor to sales and Chicago is the biggest market we operate in." (You listening Macy's?)
"...Bon-Ton reported last week that sales at its non-Carson's stores open at least a year fell 2.7% in the fical year ended Feb. 3, while Caron's same-store sales rose 4.3%."
Now that State Street is closed, Bon-Ton Stores, Inc. is eyeing a replacment site on Roosevelt Road in the South loop, along with other locations in the Chicago area (including a store at Gurnee Mills).
Date: Tues, March 20, 2007, 12:25 am CT
I went to the gym after work this eve and tooled thru the Nicollet Mall Store Downtown right before closing. The rough layout of the Spring Flower Show is starting to take shape---Gadina Africain. Well....a great deal of it just looks like plants that belong there to complete the remodel of the stark white store. So far there is nothing impressive about it all so it looks like the Men's Garden Club of Minneapolis had the right idea by boycotting. There was a large cart full of potted plants in the Women's Shoe Dept awaiting distribution, which looked really hokey as all this used to be hidden when it was in the 8th Floor Auditorium. Customers would see none of the prep work until opening day.
Considering the show opens the day after tomorrow on Wednesday, there seems to be quite a lot to do if it is going to be an impressive show.
I also strolled along the 8th Street windows outside. Right where LaSalle connects with 8th Street, there is a lot of African Art in the windows which I could see by peeking through the closed blinds. Apparently they will keep the blinds closed until the 21st as well. The windows did look nice. And the corner windows at 8th & Nicollet Mall looked really good from what I could see by peeking through the blinds...LOL.....I am certain I will show up on the security cams as some lunatic casing the joint. Dale Bachmann worked his magic on those corner windows with lots of exotic plants and then a lot of African Artifacts as backdrop. Dale's family has been involved as the florist & horticulture firm behind the show for more than 40 years.
As I walked back to my car along 8th Street, I noticed thru the doors by Women's Shoes that some huge African plants had been moved into place near the doors so that they will quickly get killed off by the cold drafts whenever the doors open.
More later.
Regards.
Date: Mon, March 19, 2007, 8:46 pm CT
I've been reading all the comments about store windows with some fascination. Federated stopped all window decorations here during the Goldsmith's-Macy's by Rich's era. The former display windows at every s
tore are either painted over or covered in white butcher paper. In true Mesy's style the paint is chipped and the white paper has yellowed and is torn. You can see the litter and junk stored in the windows.
Very classy.
I hope that trend doesn't infect other cities.
Has anyone noticed a strange smell in their local Macy's? I've noticed a smell in two stores that reminds me of stale mothballs and cheap cologne. I can't decide if this is a misguided attempt at aromather
apy, the store needs a good cleaning, or it's the result of customers who smell like stale moth balls and cheap cologne.
Date: Mon, March 19, 2007, 6:26 pm CT
Given the activity at the flagship chain, some retail analysts have wondered if a second Bergdorf Goodman is destined for the West Coast or overseas, following Saks Fifth Avenue's moves into Dubai, Saudi Arabia, and Mexico City.
The short answer is no.
"Neiman Marcus serves the country, and Bergdorf Goodman serves New York," said Burt Tansky, chief executive of Dallas-based Neiman Marcus Group, which owns and operates both luxury brands. "Bergdorf Goodman is a single store dedicated to a single location."
The full article is here: http://www.dallasnews.com/sharedcontent/dws/bus/stories/031807dnbusbergdorf.3794ab0.html
Date: Mon, March 19, 2007, 6:19 pm CT
Sorry, guys. It just does not work for us.
Did you see the four page insert in last Sunday's paper: "The things that count." Photo editorial of the new looks for Spring...according to Macy's. Only one phone number for Macy's by appointment. No store locations. No store hours. No web address. No prices or descriptions for the clothes. Hmmmm. Macy's brand of customer service. A friend tried to find one of the dresses in the store. No luck. No one knew what it was or where it was or when it would be in the store.
Last page has a list of "our favorite brands at Macy's." Now look closer. There are actually only 16 names - including house brands. Yeah, great brands at Macy's!
Date: Mon, March 19, 2007, 2:07 pm CT
I just wanted to let you know that just in case you missed those fabulous Christmas windows at the former downtown Hecht's in DC don't worry!! They were the same exact windows at the mini-mesy's in Philadelphia!!! Just think next year maybe, fingers crossed, Macy's will have the same windows everywhere! We won't have to think!
Good news about the new Macy's home department (oh sorry, there's no home department at the Philadelphia flagship(?). This summer we'll have the new Trump Home line followed soon by Martha Stewart's line. But not to hold you back. You can now by bedding at Macy's which states "as seen on Deperate Housewives"! How classy and special! Everything is better now. And those nasty Hecht's clerks (which I'm sorry I never met) you can try mesys.com.
Bravo homogenization!!!
BRING BACK FIELDS!
I WANT MY STRAWBRIDGE'S!
I WANT MY HECHT'S
BOYCOTT NATIONWIDE!!!!!!!!!!!! THIS CAN HAPPEN IN CHICAGO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Date: Mon, March 19, 2007, 10:40 am CT
Some things mentioned: "But the overarching theme of the redesign taps into Sears' legacy as America's store."
"An elegant script Sears logo, used from the 1940s throught the 1970s, hangs above the door and is stamped on shopping bags."
"...is tapping its heritage as merchant to America's heartland, testing the nostalgic power of its brand name and attempting to draw on simpler times,...."
"It's a throwback to when Sears was a great name, ... It's a way to say, 'We have a deep heritage,' and play on that emotional appeal."
Date: Mon, March 19, 2007, 9:54 am CT Date: Mon, March 19, 2007, 9:16 am CT
Kaitlyn, please keep us posted on your college paper. The way you described ChicagoC "New York City's midwestern outpost" really got to me. Chicago always had a unique identity and we don't need to be like NY! I currently live in NY and trust me it is no Chicago!!!
Bring back Field's.
Date: Sun, March 18, 2007, 10:55 pm CT
Wost of all, Macy's has decided to remove the store's customer service desk. Instead, they expect the already thinned-out staff to be able to help with whatever complications may come about. If the problem can't be resolved, we may then radio a manager over to help. Macy's claims that this is better customer service, that we bring customer service to you, instead of sending you away. Instead, it only makes a scene and aggravates customers even more.
Date: Sun, March 18, 2007, 10:55 pm CT
Regarding the letter to the editor in yesterday's Tribune, there's something very fishy (very Macy's?) about that letter. In fact, the same author was featured with pretty much the same letter in the Tribune on December 18, 2006 in the same letters section. The Tribune should know better than to do that. We are also clarifying some other things so stay tuned here for some more facts before writing the Trib in the next day or two.
Date: Sun, March 18, 2007, 2:46 pm CT
From some of the comments on the card and verbally, I was very inspired and surprised to see how strong the public sentiment still is after the Macyization of Marshall Fields. Even tourists from St. Louis and New York City expressed their displeasure and anger over the loss of Fields.
Everyone responded to us favorably. In fact many locals asked for more of those protest bumper stickers and bookmarks we were passing out. We passed out thousands of those protest bookmarks. I had such a great time. I wished I could have stayed until 5 pm, but after three hours it was time do return home to tend to some other things.
Overall, it was another victorious day for Fields Fans. Please email me if you would like to arrange to sign the giant postcard.
Viva La Boycott!
Erick
Date: Sun, March 18, 2007, 12:59 pm CT
I'm writing my college research paper focusing on the commercialization of Chicago, turning it into something that looks like New York City's midwestern outpost. So far I've seen many articles supporting Terry Lundgren's decisions while the ones supporting Marshall Field's are overlooked ot placed last on the list (in attempts to discourage people from reading up on them perhaps?) I'm asking for any newspaper arcticles or journal articles showing the anti-support of Macy's. Also, anything on "important figures" (other than Terry Lundgren) will be greatly appreciated. Like one person said, if we make this an national issue (Macy's taking over countless stores) then we may have a better chance of reclaiming MF's glory days.... but that's just a wisp of hope ; )
Date: Sun, March 18, 2007, 11:58 am CT Date: Sat, March 17, 2007, 6:16 pm CT
(sung to the tune of "The Trolley Song," from Meet Me in St. Louis.)
Clang, Clang, Clang goes the money.
Ding, Ding, Ding goes the bells
No one is shopping at MacyC-s,
and at CarsonC-s everything sells!
Down, Down Down, in the C,cellar.C.
Everything there is now dead.
Where is all thatC-s C,exciting?C.
It is only in Terry LundgrenC-s head!
Beep, Beep, Beep, goes the scanners
Where or Where is the staff?
Now itC-s your job to find them
Wearing black, it is almost a laugh!
Off, off, off are their sales.
On now goes the boycott
Where can I find some parking?
Find it always at macyC-s empty lot.
Bump, Bump, Bump go the C,buggies,C.
Clop, Clop, Clop the wheels clop
Stop, Stop, Stop went my purse strings
I'm not shopping here at macyC-s way to flop.
Anthony Perkins
Date: Sat, March 17, 2007, 3:29 pm CT
Your point 16) is interesting. Was that a quote from one of the floor managers (or perhaps Linda Piepho)? "Anytime soon" is not "never," so I'm wondering if there is some rumbling within some levels of management at least.
Karen Hoquet blamed poor execution and timing, which strike me as statements that should be challenged (at least with respect to the former Field's stores), since if there is one thing that Federated is usually good at, it's execution of a strategy. It seems to me that, contrary to her claim, its mostly strategy that isn't working here. Maybe it's execution and timing in St. Louis or Pittsburgh, but the strategy of taking Field's further down market and ceding the higher end to Nordstrom seems to be backfiring.
As for Trader Joe's, it seems to be a reaction to the indications that a high-end grocery store will move into the old Carson's building. While TJ's is nice enough, Two-buck Chuck will never be a replacement for the wines that the old wine shop used to serve.
Two interesting things in today's Tribune. One is that the last independent store on Michigan Avenue (a shoe store) is closing. The second is a "get over it" letter to the editor. At least it wasn't a pro-Macy's letter (I doubt they get many).
Date: Sat, March 17, 2007, 2:10 pm CT
How can I let a complement or two to mesys coming my way slip by? I did see the McMesys McWindow displays in Washington DC a few weeks back and they are the same fashion train wreck as their McWindows here and in Boston. For example new only at mesys dresses for Juniors that look like a cheap fabric tablecloth cinched by an ugly silver Christmas ornament at the belly to make the dress look even tighter and shorter than it is. If I had a daughter and she came back from the mall wearing that I'd re-educate her by sending her to her room without supper. If you think the windows are nicer since the Red Menace took over just because they're well lit, you're not looking at the junk on the mannequins. And I've never seen one thing in a mesys home store that wasn't a step up in Target or Penneys, except for the pretentious price tags. Let's be honest and not pretend that mesys has been good for Washington DC or any place in its path of destruction other than Wall Street which we are working to wake up with our boycott.
Let's bring back Fields!!
Date: Sat, March 17, 2007, 11:34 am CT
THAT THE GROOM SEES THE WEDDING DRESS BEFORE THE WEDDING AND NOT THE BRIDE!
but, he will NEVER re-educate me.
I haven't spent one cent at the m store since Federated announced the name change and I will NEVER shop there. PERIOD
Date: Sat, March 17, 2007, 10:53 pm CT
As a child my MOM took me to Fields for special events and though my growning up years, all my clothing was made from material from Fields. When I was old enough to have my own sewing machine - you bet it came from Fields.
We have Macy's in Florida - like I said it is common and no way will it ever be Marshall Field & Co.
I use to come to Chicago just to shop at Fields - but not now. It is just a building now with another name which does not make it worth my while to come north to shop. Or even call for things to purchase as had been my practice when I could not get to Fields and needed just the right gift.
BRING BACK MARSHALL FIELD & COMPANY
Date: Fri, March 16, 2007, 5:58 pm CT
LET'S GIVE THEM A NICE ST. PATRICK'S DAY GIFT SINCE THEY WONT GET ANY GREEN FROM US!
Date: Fri, March 16, 2007, 1:03 pm CT
Here is a copy of my letter to the Editors at Reuters re: the story where K Hoguet talks about "trained, re-trained & re-trained...blah blah blah". It made me just angry enough that I had to respond; like somehow training managers will make me drive down to Nicollet Mall and start buying stuff; JEEZ---get a clue, lady. How can she hold such a high level position at FDS and really be so out of touch?
Dear Editor,
I am writing re: the story by Nicole Maestri about the lagging sales at Federated Dept Stores. What many analysts seem to miss is that it is not the fault of the weather, the need for more training, the poor execution of the former May managers, the need for re-education of the customer, nor the blah blah blah.
No one is talking to the customer and we are quite puzzled and bemused by it all. We blog about it frequently. The answer is quite simple. We do not like Macy's and we are not going to shop there. We need no further re-education. Analysts talk in terms of "when the customers return." This is incorrect. We are not returning. There is no reason to return.
Here in the Midwest we made our wishes clear from the start when 60,000 of us told Terry Lundgren, CEO, we did not want our Marshall Field's downgraded to a Macy's. He then conducted a "survey" and found that it would be fine with us to do so and he proceeded. In my hometown of Minneapolis and also in Chicago, Field's two largest markets, we have responded by driving same store sales down by double digits. Here in the Twin Cities, St Thomas University conducted a poll that found 38% of responders planned to not shop at Macy's at all; 21% planned to spend less or substantially less money there than they had last year at Field's.
All the re-education in the world will not convince us to buy Macy's inferior, cheesy store brands at inflated prices, which by the way, replaced many favorite brands of thousands of shoppers. The lack of service is appalling, but in the year before the switch, Field's was named second only to Nordstrom in department store service in the country---even though Field's was only a regional store. Macy's was not even in the Top Ten.
I hope the business press and the analysts continue to probe and ask questions. We consumers have grown very tired of the dishonesty we have seen from the management of that company. The excuses are certainly creative. I believe the February same store sales were dragged down by snow in the Midwest. There was a lot of snow here that month; so much snow I could only get out to Nordstrom, Target, Neimans, JC Penney and some small shops. I could not get to Macy's. And Bon Ton Stores, which lie mainly in the snow belt had a 7% same store sales increase, so I guess a few people did manage to find their way to those stores in the snow as well.
Thank you for your coverage of this situation.
Regards.
Date: Fri, March 16, 2007, 10:09 am CT
Let me ask you all something. I am 30 years old, I work in corporate and have never had a problem admitting when I make mistakes. Why is it so hard for them to admit they are human and screwed up????? Is this normal for the generations ahead of me? You cannot and will not admit failure??? I noticed that with white collar workers in the 40's and 50's. They CANNOT admit they make mistakes or have failed at something....it amazes me...
They screwed up big time. Plain fact, get over it. They did this to themselves.
Terry Dumbhead should tread lightly. He only needs to look at CEOs like Roger Deromedi or Carly Fiorina....
I have a feeling we will win. If we stick together...from all parts of the country, not just Chicago, we will win.
Date: Fri, March 16, 2007, 9:29 am CT Date: Fri, March 16, 2007, 9:10 am CT
If Macy's were to restore the Chicago stores' merchandise to the levels under Dayton-Hudson but kept the Macy's name on the store would you support the name change? If they restored the levels of service to 'acceptable' levels would you then support the change of the name of Field's to Macy's? That seems to be your complaint about the former Hecht's in DC.
For me to lose a name is a loss of history and local identity. You have complained a number of times about Hecht's and have said that now under Macy's at least the merchandise is better. I, and MANY other local Baltimore/DC shoppers, beg to differ. It is not just about the level of merchandise in the store (which in many people's opinion has dropped) or the fact that a salesperson, or associate, was rude one day. I know that May took away many local identities from Thalhimers in Richmond to G. Fox in Hartford to Hanhne's in Newark and so on..But I think they knew when to stop. The loss of Hecht's is the loss of a choice. Our society is based on choice. If ou didn't like Hecht's don't shop there. But exchanging 600 Hecht jobs for (better?) merchandise doesn't make sense to me.
Yes Mark in Phila, Philadelphia is not the same without 8th and Market. Yes Strawbridge's changed in 1996 when May came in but the Food Hall was there, the Corithian Room was there, the Seal of Confidence was still displayed and name brands were sold. That is all missing now in Center City Phila. It's a disgrace. Just like what's happening in Chicago and Minneapolis. It's exciting to see a city revolt and stand up for its identity and history. It's not just about the merchandise
Date: Fri, March 16, 2007, 8:27 am CT
I have not posted a message in months! I moved from Chicago to Milwaukee in November when my husband got a once in a lifetime opportunity here and I have been so busy since then.
I stopped by Kmart... sorry... Macy's on State and here is some of the information I collected from my trip.
1. Australian Ice Cream is closing down. This is a partner business that flourished under Marshall Field's when they had their grand re-opening back in 2002, but floundered in the past year like most other leased areas within the store. Under Field's they would have lines of people waiting for a taste of their fabulous ice cream, that was not the case since this past summer. Starbuck's will be expanding and adding wi-fi as well.
2. The northeast corner on the first floor is empty. They had the tasteless, boring, bland Christmas shop, a rug sale and Valentines day display in the past few months, but nothing permanent since it used to be Guess, Lacoste and FCUK. Wasn't this supposed to be the permanent home of the Chicago designers shop? I guess that was an empty promise that Macy's made with "chicago designers."
3. The Cookbook Cafe has not reopened to full operations since December. Most days, they are not open. Once in awhile, there is an employee selling bottled water or pop, but no food at all, even though a menu is behind them. It was always busy when it was called the Coca Cola cafe.
4. The "Marketplace" moniker will be retired in 2008. They have changed the coloring on some of the products from green to red. Anything marketplace, such as coffee, soup mixes, teas, etc. will no longer be produced anymore after 2008. A once bustling gourmet foods area is now dead. Their gourmet foods section has different stuff, but nothing unique and of the caliber of Field's.
5. Frango sales have dropped dramatically. The "Pie Tradition" Frango chocolates were 80 or 90 percent off.
6. Wine shop is still up in the air. No one knows what is going to happen. They will be shrinking their bulk candy section though.
7. They just laid off numerous employees in all areas of foods throughout the store, namely people who have been there 10-30 years, this shocked people on every floor.
8. There will be drastic changes made in the lower level marketplace foods in the upcoming months, just no one knows what will happen. As some of you that wander in the store know, it has not been touched since the Macy's takeover. Yes, it's still called Field's Grill, but for how much longer? People are hinting the "supermarket" that has been talked about (like a Fox and Obel/Trader Joe's type) may be housed there. InField's Sports Bar & Grill will get a makeover in 2008 too! 7 on state is suffering!
9. Lower management is stressed out! Employees are upset that there are no customers and that they are in fear that their jobs are going to be eliminated. It's no longer a unique shopping experience. Just open credits and make your goals!
10. 28 Shop concierge/doorman service is a FLOP! I was there when a black limousine and a cab pulled up and no one was there, even though the signs say valet parking is still available.
11. House of Dereon (Beyonce's mom line) and JLo have been doing poorly and will be pulled out of the store soon. JLo performed better in Macy's NYC.
12. Field's/Macy's souvenir shop is all on clearance on the lower level, even the clock and lamps that were in high demand under Marshall Field's.
13. I got and ad in the mail yesterday stating "Field Days is back and better than ever" Kiss my ... u know what!
14. State Street and all larger, more classic former MF stores (Old Orchard, Woodfield, Oak Brook, Woodfield) are especially not performing well compared to smaller, less distinctive and far-flung former MF stores like Joliet or Spring Hill.
15. Carson's is still looking for a near north location for a full service store.
16. After all that, Federated says they won't change the name back any time soon.
Date: Fri, March 16, 2007, 12:22 am CT
The former Kaufmann's stores in the Pittsburgh area are still neat, clean and organized. Perhaps that is what needs to change. How dare those former Kaufmann's employees try to make the stores LOOK nice--even trying to make the low-quality, bland, over-priced macy*mart junk look SOMEWHAT presentable.
Terry Klunkhead and his flunkies will soon force these errant employees to spend hours at Federated's business model--wal*mart! Why waste money on such foolishness as "visual merchandising" and marketing? Who cares about fashion trends? We know what exciting clothing and exciting home goods that shoppers want. We have re-educated and re-trained everyone to trust the Red Star Store. Just pile the crap on tables or cram it on racks. Whatever. The re-educated masses will gladly toss the exciting merchandise in their shopping cart, use the price scanner (because making signs and pricing items costs too much), wheel the shopping cart to check out lane, wait in long lines (because fewer employees keep expenses down) and happily leave with their exciting purchases. You will love everything about the Red Star Store. You will report anyone who complains about the Red Star Store. You will praise the Red Star Store for making your life exciting!
Once Federated totally re-educates the customers and re-re-retrains the management, everything will be just peachy!
Date: Fri, March 16, 2007, 12:03 am CT Date: Thu, March 15, 2007, 10:04 pm CT
Probably someone has posted this by now, but I just have to comment myself. Being someone who just follows retail as a "hobby", even I am amazed of the amount of BS this company puts out. When stores are "new" is when you have to capture new customers. That is why there are grand openings, huge promotions, etc. Once that is past, how can any store expect to draw new customers again? Especially in Macy's category (whatever one they are aiming for at the moment), where there are so many options. If you don't get customers when everything is shiny and new, you are never going to get them. I think that people have sampled them and have NOT liked what they have seen and have not come back. Isn't that much more logical? I know they can put THAT info in a press release, but why the totally inane excuses.
I just can't imagine that they truly believe that people are just looking at their stores and thinking..."Hmmm, they haven't won me over yet, I will go some other time". Completely ridiculous, and I can't believe that people who are involved in retail as a career are believing these statements. I just don't get it....
Date: Thu, March 15, 2007, 10:02 pm CT
Fun from Minneapolis:
In this morning's Star Tribune, there was a short article about the macy's Spring Flower Show with quotes from several executives about the excitement of having it on the first floor among handbags and shoes....LOL. Recall that for over 40 years it has been in the 8th Floor Auditorium.
However, later in the article, it mentioned that the Men's Garden Club of Minneapolis has decided that they will skip their annual group outing to the Spring Flower Show since it will not be in the 8th Floor Auditorium-----implying there won't be much to see. Their annual group outing was made instead to the Como Conservatory. The President of the Club was quoted as saying how much he was going to miss the trip downtown as a group. It was presented in a way that made me, at least read between the lines that there's good reason not to go, no matter how much we are going to miss our traditional field (Field's?) trip.
I was very pleased that the Club made their decision, that the President made the statement and that the reporter included it all. More than half my friends, young and old, go to the Flower Show, and no one is happy with the change to First Floor. It opens late next week, so stay tuned right here for eyewitness reports of this sure-to-be yet another macys disaster in the making.
Regards.
Date: Wed, March 14, 2007, 9:49 pm CT
We are the Borg. You will be assimilated. Resistance is futile!
We are Macy's. You will be re-educated. Shopping is futile!
Or maybe...
I am Lungreed of Macy's. Resistance is futile. Your shopping as it has been is over. From this time forward, you will shop with us!
Date: Wed, March 14, 2007, 8:59 pm CT
Re: the Oprah/Field's Affinity
Several years back, Field's ran a very cool, hip Christmas ad featuring some singers who were on a sparse set singing some jazz and having a good time and were laughing with each other. They were from a Minneapolis-based group, the Steele Family. The Steeles all started singing gospel at a young age and branched out into jazz.
Oprah saw the ads and hired the Steeles to entertain at one of her parties.
If you do not recall the ad, it would be the kind of ad you just know Field's would run: tasteful, fun, lively, hip, cool and of course sophisticated. It left an impact on me every time I saw it. I was proud of the Steeles for pulling it off and felt proud of Field's for the image they were wanting for themselves and I admired the local agency as well for the creative work. Once again, the Midwest really shows how to market and create a positive image vs. the annoying crap that macy's runs that is such a major turnoff and that everyone I know despises.
Date: Wed, March 14, 2007, 8:53 pm CT
Mesys better at visual merchandising than Hecht's? I've never been in a mesys in the Washington area that I didn't see a mannequin covered with a cheap dress shirt and the most clashing tie imaginable. The displays in the windows in downtown Philadelphia are like a train wreck that you try to look away from ... like someone dumped a laundry basket on top of a poor mannequin.
A few weeks ago I was in Des Plaines and couldn't bring myself to go into Woodfield ... just being from the east coast, and knowing all these years how mesys searches tirelessly for the one tie that contains absolutely not the least hint of the tone or pallate of the shirt on display, and throws a few extra clashing patterns around the neck for good measure ... the thought of seeing all this in Woodfield which eighteen months ago was the height of good taste for me, is just too much.
Date: Wed, March 14, 2007, 8:11 pm CT
Last Fall, Macy's proclaimed "GRAY MATTERS" for clothing. All their clothes were black and gray. How very fashion forward. NOT!
This Spring, Macy's says "GO NATURAL". All the clothes are black and tan. Wow. How exciting. Perhaps they should pick up a fashion magazine and take a quick peek. Yet another reason why Macy's is no place to shop.
Ponder this: Macy's spent millions replacing store signage. So, how come the signs are never turned on at night? Guess they are cutting costs again.
Date: Wed, March 14, 2007, 3:38 pm CT Date: Wed, March 14, 2007, 12:24 pm CT
Macy's are nothing more than Giant sized Kohls. There are central check out "stations" and the selling floors just roll from one department to another. There is nothing visually appealing about these stores, and it seems vusual merchandising has died along with the great department stores. I always find it funny that among the sea of substandard merchandise at Macy's there is a Ralph Lauren shop...what is that about??
Anyway, I just wanted to say good for you and i hope that one day I will see the return of the beautiful Marshall Field's flagship.
Oprah, buy the downtown store and merchandise it up...then give it back to Chicago.
PS I didn't mention Macy's customer service...because there is no customer service. The may as well be grocery clerks.
Date: Wed, March 14, 2007, 11:42 am CT
Perhaps they need to re-train their CEO and board of directors. The "upper midwest" weather excuse must be biting them in the ass; as why else would they be releasing a new statement about why the May doors are down? Also Finley (leased jewelry dept., not sure if they were in Field's) again partially blamed their 44% plunge in 4Q sales to lack of business at the 200 some former May doors that they are located within. (as well as parting ways with Belk)
They must be scrambling like "Field" mice for new excuses at the FDS HQ!
Date: Wed, March 14, 2007, 5:13 am CT
Wall Street isn't stupid. They know what is going on with Federated and believe me there is pressure on them to unload Field's. It's all about performance. If Target, who honored, respected and cherished Field's, eventually let go of Field's, how much sooner will Federated let go of Fields themselves?
Who will be the new stewards of Field's? I believe the "and Company" of Marshall Field's will be a groups of Chicagoans who have the money, and there are many, but also have pride in Chicago and want to restore to Chicago one of the city's most important, in some eyes THE most important, landmark.
Date: Wed, March 14, 2007, 12:25 am CT
Marshall Field's lovers...the world's largest department store is the world's most downgraded department store...interms of class. DID YOU KNOW THAT MACY'S 34TH STREET /HERALD SQUARE FLAGSHIP actually has McDONALD'S,STARBUCK'S,BEN & JERRY'S,AU BON PAIN AND ALL JIMMY'S PIZZA !
OH AND YES...ONE SMALL FULL-SERVICE RESTAURANT RUN BY RESTAURANT ASSOCIATES....
ALL THE UNIQUE SERVICE AND EXCITING THINGS ABOUT THE STORE LIKE A WORLD CLASS IN-STORE DINING ROOM (LIKE THE WALNUT ROOM AT MARSHALL FIELD'S),THE FULL-SERVICE BAKERY... IT JUST ISN'T THERE !!!! HOW TERRIBLE !
YES...MAYBE IT WOULD COST FEDERATED SOME MONEY TO RUN FOOD-SERVICE IN-HOUSE LIKE THEY USED TO...MAYBE THEY COULD SHOWCASE THE LATEST & GREATEST MERCHANDISE LIKE THE NEWEST COMPUTERS, TELEVISIONS, FUN DEPARTMENTS THAT GIVE A UNIQUE EDGE AS THE WORLD'S LARGEST DEPARTMENT STORE SHOULD HAVE. IT WOULD GIVE PEOPLE A REASON TO ---STAY AND SHOP---
I THOUGHT MR.LUNDGREN SAID IT IS WHAT INSIDE THE STORE THAT MATTERS...IF THAT IS THE CASE...THEN WHY WOULD I STAY IN MACY'S WHEN I CAN GO TO STARBUCK'S,McDONALD'S....ETC. EVERYWHERE ELSE IN THE CITY ?
HERALD SQUARE HAS REALLY GONE DOWN HILL... IT'S DIRTY AND NOT WELL CARED FOR...THEY EVEN HAD A FIRE IN AN ELEVATOR SHAFT IN AN OLD ELEVATOR THAT THEY DON'T USE ANYMORE....
SERVICE AT HERALD SQUARE IS VERY POOR AND THE PLACE IS FILTHY COMPARED TO WHAT MARSHALL FIELD'S LOOKED LIKE PRIOR TO THE MACYFICATION.
TERRY LUNDGREN SAYS HE IS INTERESTED IN REINVENTING THE DEPARTMENT STORE. I THINK HE SHOULD SPEND MORE TIME RESTORING THE DEPARTMENT STORE (RESTORING MARSHALL FIELD'S WORLD CLASS SERVICE AND OFFERINGS, RESTORING MACY'S TO ITS FORMER GLORY ON HERALD SQUARE...ETC.)
IF NOW IS THE TIME TO MAKE OR BREAK THE DEPARTMENT STORE AS WE KNOW IT, THEN SURELY FEDERATED SHOULD BE INTERESTED IN ALL OF THE ABOVE.
GIVE THE LADY WHAT SHE WANTS ! GIVE THE GENTLEMAN WHAT HE WANTS !
RESPECTFUL REGARDS ALWAYS,
RG74
Date: Tue, March 13, 2007, 9:40 pm CT
I am still looking for pictures and information to add to my Marshall Field's Tribute site, Darrid.Com.
I am trying to do a history of the Christmas windows over the years and need info and pics!
If anyone can help, let me know!
Also, what else should I add? I know there is lot's more about our beloved store!
Thanks! Darrid
darrid@columbus.rr.com
Date: Tue, March 13, 2007, 8:59 pm CT
I read the fine print on the Oprah website. The original air date for yesterdays show was February 17, 2005.
I continue to read the comments frequently even though I haven't posted much lately.
A couple weeks ago I ran through my local Mesy's because I couldn't find a parking place at Dillard's. I spotted a manager as I was running through and decided to have a little fun. I asked her why that store had stopped carrying Frangos. I mentioned Marshall Fields a couple times. She looked me in the eye and said "If you liked Marshall Fields then I guess you can't stand Macy's." How true!
Keep up the fight.
Date: Wed, March 14, 2007, 3:38 pm CT Date: Wed, March 14, 2007, 12:24 pm CT
Macy's are nothing more than Giant sized Kohls. There are central check out "stations" and the selling floors just roll from one department to another. There is nothing visually appealing about these stores, and it seems vusual merchandising has died along with the great department stores. I always find it funny that among the sea of substandard merchandise at Macy's there is a Ralph Lauren shop...what is that about??
Anyway, I just wanted to say good for you and i hope that one day I will see the return of the beautiful Marshall Field's flagship.
Oprah, buy the downtown store and merchandise it up...then give it back to Chicago.
PS I didn't mention Macy's customer service...because there is no customer service. The may as well be grocery clerks.
Date: Wed, March 14, 2007, 11:42 am CT
Perhaps they need to re-train their CEO and board of directors. The "upper midwest" weather excuse must be biting them in the ass; as why else would they be releasing a new statement about why the May doors are down? Also Finley (leased jewelry dept., not sure if they were in Field's) again partially blamed their 44% plunge in 4Q sales to lack of business at the 200 some former May doors that they are located within. (as well as parting ways with Belk)
They must be scrambling like "Field" mice for new excuses at the FDS HQ!
Date: Wed, March 14, 2007, 5:13 am CT
Wall Street isn't stupid. They know what is going on with Federated and believe me there is pressure on them to unload Field's. It's all about performance. If Target, who honored, respected and cherished Field's, eventually let go of Field's, how much sooner will Federated let go of Fields themselves?
Who will be the new stewards of Field's? I believe the "and Company" of Marshall Field's will be a groups of Chicagoans who have the money, and there are many, but also have pride in Chicago and want to restore to Chicago one of the city's most important, in some eyes THE most important, landmark.
Date: Wed, March 14, 2007, 12:25 am CT
Marshall Field's lovers...the world's largest department store is the world's most downgraded department store...interms of class. DID YOU KNOW THAT MACY'S 34TH STREET /HERALD SQUARE FLAGSHIP actually has McDONALD'S,STARBUCK'S,BEN & JERRY'S,AU BON PAIN AND ALL JIMMY'S PIZZA !
OH AND YES...ONE SMALL FULL-SERVICE RESTAURANT RUN BY RESTAURANT ASSOCIATES....
ALL THE UNIQUE SERVICE AND EXCITING THINGS ABOUT THE STORE LIKE A WORLD CLASS IN-STORE DINING ROOM (LIKE THE WALNUT ROOM AT MARSHALL FIELD'S),THE FULL-SERVICE BAKERY... IT JUST ISN'T THERE !!!! HOW TERRIBLE !
YES...MAYBE IT WOULD COST FEDERATED SOME MONEY TO RUN FOOD-SERVICE IN-HOUSE LIKE THEY USED TO...MAYBE THEY COULD SHOWCASE THE LATEST & GREATEST MERCHANDISE LIKE THE NEWEST COMPUTERS, TELEVISIONS, FUN DEPARTMENTS THAT GIVE A UNIQUE EDGE AS THE WORLD'S LARGEST DEPARTMENT STORE SHOULD HAVE. IT WOULD GIVE PEOPLE A REASON TO ---STAY AND SHOP---
I THOUGHT MR.LUNDGREN SAID IT IS WHAT INSIDE THE STORE THAT MATTERS...IF THAT IS THE CASE...THEN WHY WOULD I STAY IN MACY'S WHEN I CAN GO TO STARBUCK'S,McDONALD'S....ETC. EVERYWHERE ELSE IN THE CITY ?
HERALD SQUARE HAS REALLY GONE DOWN HILL... IT'S DIRTY AND NOT WELL CARED FOR...THEY EVEN HAD A FIRE IN AN ELEVATOR SHAFT IN AN OLD ELEVATOR THAT THEY DON'T USE ANYMORE....
SERVICE AT HERALD SQUARE IS VERY POOR AND THE PLACE IS FILTHY COMPARED TO WHAT MARSHALL FIELD'S LOOKED LIKE PRIOR TO THE MACYFICATION.
TERRY LUNDGREN SAYS HE IS INTERESTED IN REINVENTING THE DEPARTMENT STORE. I THINK HE SHOULD SPEND MORE TIME RESTORING THE DEPARTMENT STORE (RESTORING MARSHALL FIELD'S WORLD CLASS SERVICE AND OFFERINGS, RESTORING MACY'S TO ITS FORMER GLORY ON HERALD SQUARE...ETC.)
IF NOW IS THE TIME TO MAKE OR BREAK THE DEPARTMENT STORE AS WE KNOW IT, THEN SURELY FEDERATED SHOULD BE INTERESTED IN ALL OF THE ABOVE.
GIVE THE LADY WHAT SHE WANTS ! GIVE THE GENTLEMAN WHAT HE WANTS !
RESPECTFUL REGARDS ALWAYS,
RG74
Date: Tue, March 13, 2007, 8:28 pm CT
http://articles.moneycentral.msn.com/Investing/Extra/HomeDepotCEOWeLetYouDown.aspx?GT1=9145
Date: Tue, March 13, 2007, 6:48 pm CT
The Monday Oprah show originally aired on 2/17/05.
Date: Tue, March 13, 2007, 6:27 pm CT Date: Tue, March 13, 2007, 4:18 pm CT
Here in the nation's capitol I think it only fair to say that Mesy's has been an improvement over The Hecht Company as far as their Home Store and their visual merchandising, but the staff remains DC-nasty.
A shame, I go in wanting to buy but am so turned off by the hateful clerks that I just leave.
Date: Tue, March 13, 2007, 2:36 pm CT
Certainly, it's the extraordinary good-will earned by Marshall Field's over more than 150 years in Chicago that has forged such strong personal bonds to the store, however we must demonstrate the value of this good-will to our city governement and to Federated shareholders if we hope to see Marshall Field's return to its home on State Street.
The prestigious and iconic Marshall Field's PR value draws recognition, tourists and shopping dollars to Chicago. The potential to restore Marshall FIeld's and to once again capture Marshall Field's luxury retail sales, lost to Macy's discount national brand strategy, would bring increased value to shareholders and increased tax revenues to a Chicago brand.
Although our local newsmedia generally fail report more than Federated Press Releases that same store sales are lower than expected, but encouraging, some retail analysts have joined our choir and have now begun to ask some hard questions of Federated that remain unanswered.
It's no surprise to Field's Fans that Federated refuses to release same-store sales figures for former Marshall Field's stores. WIth their latest release of same store sales that include former Marshall Field's, Federated now lumps Marshall Field's into the overall disappointing sales for all May Company and other converted store brands.
Some experts (including an anonymous source at shopping center developer and operator the Mills Corporation) suggest that Macy's sales at certain former Marshall Field's locations may have plummeted by as much as 40%. Any former Field's shopper knows how dramatic Macy's downgrades have been to Marshall Field's stores and understands why Macy's has failed to reeducate and lure Field's customers back into their stores.
Don't be discouraged... more people are beginning to recognize that the changes made at Marshall Field's have caused Macy's sales to suffer. As Macy's continues to alienate and offend Chicagoans and Field's customers everywhere, more people are beginning to see for themselves what Field's Fans have known all along. Marshall Field's was good for Chicago.
Date: Tue, March 13, 2007, 8:36 am CT Date: Tue, March 13, 2007, 12:07 am CT
Today I had an appointment in Downtown St Paul. While i was down there, I passed through the St Paul Store. I have not been in that store since it was downgraded to a macys. While it was never as upscale or glamorous as the Downtown Minneapolis store on Nicollet Mall, it was still a decent store. It is also a much smaller store: 3 floors vs. 12 floors.
Wow, it was really a sad experience. Because it is a smaller store, it wasn't as busy as Nicollet Mall or Rosedale, but now that it's been downgraded to macys, there was NO ONE in there. I went up to Men's on 2nd floor and I did not see a single shopper. Main Floor had a couple of people wandering around and I saw only 2 people on the streets carrying those silly white plastic bags that break after a few minutes.
While the store was not messy or particularly dirty, it had a real down market feel to it like all macys. Very different than the Dayton's/Field's days. There was the shoddy merchandise of course, but also the layout of departments now resembles the down market stores like Kohls, where luggage and housewares just start right next to boy's socks. There were no displays, nothing eye-catching; just a sea of chrome fixtures. And because architecturally that store is so wide open, the eye just sees forever all the racks and fixtures a la Marshalls & TJ Maxx.
What a hideous environment it has become. While it was never as high-end and glossy as some of the stores here, it was always well-kept and pleasant, and easy to shop. Now it's just down market, empty and depressing, in order to better serve us in the Twin Cities.
Regards.
Date: Mon, March 12, 2007, 7:48 pm CT Date: Mon, March 12, 2007, 4:12 pm CT
Keep fighting the good fight!
Date: Mon, March 12, 2007, 2:31 pm CT
Marshall Field's, a Harpo Company?
Date: Mon, March 12, 2007, 12:35 pm CT Date: Mon, March 12, 2007, 10:27 am CT
Although Chicago residents are well aware of the many contributions of Marshall Field to that great city, please remember that other department store operators also had an impact on their respective communities.
The residents of Southwestern Pennsylvania are fortunate indeed to have a unique architectural treasure designed by Frank Lloyd Wright. Tour guides at Fallingwater note that this world famous masterpiece and surrounding grounds were donated to the Western Pennsylvania Conservancy to be enjoyed by the public. Fallingwater was originally designed as the summer home of Pittsburgh's Kaufmann family, owners of the beloved department store (which is now a macy*mart). Although the founding family members are deceased, their name and legacy live on in this beautiful edifice and grounds. Visitors to Fallingwater could understand the connection to a local icon; as time goes on, this connection will disappear. Check out the website for this amazing place: http://www.paconserve.org/index-fw1.asp
Date: Mon, March 12, 2007, 8:41 am CT
On the matter of T-shirts for Chicago olympics, I think we should get them (or other souvenirs) at a source not connected with Messy's and wear our Field's buttons on them to remind people what Chicago is also about.
And I love Darrid's new website!
[From Jim: The 2016 Olympics shirts were limited edition and exclusive to Macy's on State and on Mag Mile. Only 2016 were made to be sold--no other retailer could sell them.]
Date: Sun, March 11, 2007, 9:20 pm CT
Terry Lundgren: "Re-educate the customer."
Didn't you know that Mr. Field had it all wrong FOR OVER 150 YEARS!!
Date: Sun, March 11, 2007, 8:49 pm CT
We have been having a lot of full-page macys ads lately in the Star Tribune here for the last 2 months about this special sale, that special sale, last 2 days to save sale, etc.
I have been noticing that in order to better serve us, the store hours are no longer published in the ads and for our convenience, we can take our own time and call a special hotline number or go turn on our computers and go to a website and then go to a specific page and then call up our own state and then look up a specific store to see what the hours of operation are.
I find this an exciting change from the Dayton's/Marshall Field's Days when the newspaper ad read: Extended Hours for Field Days-- All Stores Open Until 10 pm Except Nicollet Mall and Downtown St Paul 9 pm.
On second thought, maybe that is not all that exciting. Maybe I feel like Tony Perkins from Milwaukee. Almost everything Federated does offends me. And I always try to point it out to all my friends to make sure it offends them, too.
Regards.
Date: Sun, March 11, 2007, CT
FIELD'S FANS CHICAGO
Newsletter Number 5
Sunday, March 11, 2006
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* This list has NO affiliation with Federated Department Stores, May Department Stores, Macy's, Bloomingdale's, Marshall Field's, the Field Family, Field Foundation, keepitfields.org, etc., and the views, opinions and info expressed here represent only the writer.
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For more information, please see
http://www.fieldsfanschicago.org
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In This Newsletter...
* FIELD'S CAN COME BACK!
THE BOYCOTT IS WORKING!
* THANKS TO ALL WHO HAVE HELPED SO FAR
* YOUR HELP NEEDED with LEAFLETING: ST. PATRICK'S DAY & BEYOND
* WEAR GREEN FOR ST. PATRICK'S DAY, WEAR GREEN FOR FIELD'S
* THE BOYCOTT IS MAKING NEWS
* IF YOU SEE SOMETHING, WRITE SOMETHING!
* OTHER WAYS YOU CAN HELP
* PLEASE CONSIDER DONATING
* TO UNSUBSCRIBE:
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PLEASE HELP BY FORWARDING THIS NEWSLETTER ON
TO POTENTIALLY INTERESTED FRIENDS & FAMILY.
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FIELD'S CAN COME BACK!
THE BOYCOTT IS WORKING!
As we continue our grassroots efforts to bring back Marshall Field's in all its glory, it is good to keep in mind that in corporate America, anything can happen. Imperial CEOs, as at HomeDepot, can be dethroned. Great brands, like the Ford Taurus, can be resurrected. And CEOs can admit they've lost touch with giving their customers the experience they really want, as the CEO of Starbuck's recently did.
This past Thursday, Federated Department Stores (FD) released their February 2007 sales figures with the announcement that sales had not met projections due to adverse weather in the upper Midwest. Although increases of 2 to 3 percent were expected, sales increased only 1.2%. Yet, Carson's parent, Bon-Ton, as well as JCPenney, and Nordstrom, all experienced healthy increases in sales. Federated had a hard time mustering sales because of bad weather, even though hundreds of their stores are in the sun-belt. Contrast this with Bon-Ton, whose stores are only in the snow belt states stretching from Montana to New England; yet Bon-Ton experienced increases of over 7%! It is clear to Field's Fans that it was really outrage over the loss of Marshall Field's that contributed significantly to Macy's failure to meet sales expectations.
With the widespread perception that Marshall Field's loss is a huge corporate blunder, we look unflinchingly to the future and keep emphasizing that although Field's is gone for now, it can indeed come back--just as Coke did when consumers rejected New Coke. All we need to do is keep on with our efforts--the media have started to acknowledge Federated's blunder and what the loss of Field's means. It is only a matter of time until those with the needed clout come forward to do what needs to be done.
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THANKS TO ALL WHO HAVE HELPED SO FAR
FieldFansChicago.org has blossomed into a uniquely determined grassroots movement thanks to all of you--a remarkably diverse, enthusiastic, dedicated, and growing group of volunteers. From our first big protest on that sad day, last September 9, to the Black Friday protest complete with 1890s costumes the day after Thanksgiving, to our many successful days leafleting (especially during the pre-Christmas shopping season), you all have shown amazing enthusiasm and imagination. Special thanks goes to those who have helped fund our stickers, leaflets, buttons, protest items and more.
A huge Marshall Field's "Regards" to you all!
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YOUR HELP NEEDED with LEAFLETING:
ST. PATRICK'S DAY & BEYOND
SATURDAY, MARCH 17, 2006
10:30 am to 5:00 pm
Meet under the Great Clock at State & Washington
If you are planning to help leaflet, please email
ChicagoPride@fieldsfanschicago.org so you can
receive any last minute coodination and details.
------------------------
It is said that everyone is a little bit Irish for the St. Patrick's Day Parade in Chicago. Like all of the parades and celebrations of the diverse ethnicities that make Chicago a world-class city, St. Patrick's Day is also about Chicago Pride. Marshall Field's is Chicago, just like the Chicago St. Patrick's Day Parade, the Dyeing of the Chicago River and so many other ethnic events that are all Chicago. So it makes sense to celebrate Chicago Pride by standing up for the return of Chicago's greatest store, Marshall Field's.
With well over 100,000 drawn to Columbus Drive for the parade, it will be busy throughout the Loop. It will be important for us to be out on State Street under the Great Clock at State & Washington. As circumstances permit, we will also leaflet at key points relative to the parade route, but please come to State & Washington first.
Our leaflets from the holidays have been updated to reflect the progress our boycott is making and how Chicagoans can make a huge difference in helping Field's to return to its rightful place in Chicago shopping, history and culture.
Please help remind Chicago that Field's can still come back, that the boycott is working. By leafleting we will be reminding Chicagoans to vote for their Field's with their pocketbooks. Let's remind people that Field's means Chicago while Macy's means nothing but corporate imperialism and disrespect for Chicago's unique culture.
Please help us as we personally ask people to join together in unity by not spending a single red cent at Macy's in support of the return of Field's.
If you can help us leaflet, please email ChicagoPride@fieldsfanschicago.org or simply reply to this email newsletter. We are also planning to continue leafleting after St. Patrick's Day. Please email ChicagoPride@fieldsfanschicago.org if you would like to assist.
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WEAR GREEN FOR ST. PATRICK'S DAY,
WEAR GREEN FOR FIELD'S
With people celebrating St. Patrick's Day by wearing green, remember that Field's Fans can also help by wearing green this week, and every week, in support of bringing back our Marshall Field's.
Be it Gail's lapel stickers, bumper stickers, Pat's "Chicago Shops Marshall Field's" shirts or Doris and friend's "I Want My Marshall Field's" buttons, these green fashion statements can do double duty this week. And be sure to carry a Marshall Field's shopping bag to make a simple but important statement.
* FREE "Marshall Field's Forever" Lapel Stickers & "Field's is Chicago/Boycott Macy's" Bumper Stickers
Distribution of the FREE lapel stickers far surpassed the 45,000 mark weeks ago and interest is still going strong. There are also some quantities of bumper stickers available while we wait for the next batch. For more information, email Gail at bgwinnett@hotmail.com. Thanks Gail!
* T-shirts & Sweat Shirts
Pat C. has both awesome forest green t-shirts and sweatshirts to express your pride and loyalty to Field's (and not Macy's). For more details, please email her at fields_fans_protest@yahoo.com for further details. Thanks Pat!
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THE BOYCOTT IS MAKING NEWS
Thanks to your participation in leafleting, protests, letter writing and word-of-mouth, the boycott is working and the media has to recognize this reality.
The September 9th Field's Fans protest on State Street was covered worldwide in the media--and that was only the beginning! The following are just a few of many instances since the last newsletter where Field's Fans have appeared in the media heightening awareness of the need to bring back Marshall Field's.
* All major television newscasts in the Chicago area featured footage of the "Black Friday" Day After Thanksgiving protest with the 1890's ladies.
* Field's Fan Linda Simons was featured in "The Wall Street Journal" this past December 30 with her letter, "Federated's Name Changes, Arrogance Enrage Chicago."
* The Associated Press's article, "Shoppers Cool to Macy's Name Change" featured comments by a FieldsFansChicago.org representative in over 180 print and web media outlets world wide.
* Field's Fans were interviewed about the boycott of Macy's by Chicago Field's Fans for an article in the in the January 17, 2007 issue of "The New York Times." A close-up of one of the "I Want my Marshall Field's" buttons created by Field's Fan Doris Ray was featured.
* The March 3 "Chicago Tribune" featured a story on the family-owned and operated Von Maur department store chain. Jim von Maur notes that they "are certainly feeling the effect" of increased sales due to the Boycott of Macy's.
* "American Way", is the in-flight magazine of American Airlines discussing travel destinations. Felicty Huffman of "Deparate Housewives" is interviewed on Chicago in the Januaary 2007 issue and, in the process, acknowledges Chicagoan's boycott of Macy's in support of Field's. Huffman says, "[Macy's] didn't understand the psychology of the people of Chicago. They won't put up with someone taking their individuality away. They pride themselves in it."
* On February 18, the national television newsmagazine "CBS Sunday Morning" featured a segment on the return of the department store. Footage of many FieldsFansChicago.org members protesting on September 9 and November 24 was featured prominently, as well as comments from a FieldsFansChicago.org spokesperson as to why Chicago must have Marshall Field's restored.
And on and on.
The press is beginning to acknowledge the meaning of Field's loss and the fact of the boycott. This is real progress in the world of the media.
Though our grassroots commitment goes far beyond any media coverage, which given corporate realities will always tend to be non-committal, we are deeply encouraged by the growing recognition that this press coverage symbolizes. Remember that informing those you meet on the street when they see your sticker, shirt, or button is the crucial effort--the media coverage is just the tip of this groundswell among people around the world who love Field's and want to see its return.
The next item tells how you can help make this media coverage happen so that Marshall Field's stays in the public consciousness.
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IF YOU SEE SOMETHING, WRITE SOMETHING!
As a Field's Fan, you can help bring back Marshall Field's. We Field's Fans make a difference by keeping Field's in the public eye. When Macy's inevitably fails in the Chicago area, we don't want it to be glossed over as if it was simply about sales figures.
When you see any story on television or in the newspaper about Field's, it is important to respond so the story stays in the public consciousness . People need to remember that these stores have slipped so much because they are no longer Marshall Field's and they can only be brought back up by being restored as Marshall Field's stores.
These suggestions are made for responding to media articles or TV news segments:
* If submitting by US Mail, make a photocopy of your letter.
* If submitting by the internet, send your "Letter to the Editor" in a standard email message. Do not use web page forms or blog sites for the newspapers, unless you absolutely have to. If you submit via email, you have the opportunity to cc: or bcc: a copy to yourself--submitting via other methods on the internet mean you probably won't have a dated copy of your response, if you get a copy at all. It is very important that you keep a copy for your records.
* The Letters to the Sun-Times should be sent to: letters@suntimes.com
* The Letters to the Tribune should be sent to: ctc-TribLetter@tribune.com
* The Letters to Crain's Chicago Business should be sent to: letters@chicagobusiness.com.
* Please remember to include a daytime phone number for verification purposes.
* Be certain to indicate in your letter that it is "for publication."
* Remember, items submitted to the "letters to the editor" section should not be cross-posted to other forums like the fieldsfanschicago.org blog. The publications request exclusivity.
* Be succinct as possible. Longer items don't have as much of a chance of being published. While there are many facets to the loss of Field's, consider focusing on just one or two facets to help the larger cause.
* Even if your letter does not get published in print or web media, remember that the media takes note. Every letter reminds editors and producers that this is still indeed a very important issue.
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OTHER WAYS YOU CAN HELP
There are numerous other ways you can help bring back Field's. These are just a few more.
* Don't shop at Macy's or Bloomingdale's.
* Remind your family and friends that you do not under any circumstances want a gift from Macy's or Bloomingdale's.
* Forward this e-newsletter along to other family and friends.
* Respond to to the Letters of the Editor section of publications and programming that present stories on the loss of Marshall Field's.
* Participate in upcoming leafleting sessions, protests, and other activities in the coming months.
* Donate to fieldsfanschicago.org in support of our program of leaflets, lapel stickers, bumper stickers, buttons, and more.
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PLEASE CONSIDER DONATING
We are totally committed to continuing our efforts. People have come forward in amazing ways to help us, from the great stickers and shirts and buttons to sending checks. This is a completely grassroots labor of love. If you would like to lend financial support to these activities, please contact ChicagoPride@fieldsfanschicago.org. All contributions are solely channeled to support our program of leaflets, lapel stickers, bumper stickers, buttons, and more.
-------------------------------------------------------
TO UNSUBSCRIBE:
Send email to unsubscribe@fieldsfanschicago.org
Please include the email address you want unsubscribed
if it is not the one you are sending the request from.
-------------------------------------------------------
Thanks to all who contributed to
this newsletter, especially A.
END OF NEWSLETTER #5
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Date: Sun, March 11, 2007, 11:00 am CT
Things are unfolding.
Field's will be back.
But how?
And how will the reborn Field's be?
Let's have some fun envisioning
I'll kick things off. Field's will come back because some very prescient, courageous, and resoureful Chicago lovers and Field's lovers bring Field's back--as a thriving, unique business. The lady will again get what she wants.
And when Marshall Field & Company returns, it will be in perfect form. The same, and yet new. Traditional, and yet most advanced. Very high quality, yet friendly. The world's first and greatest department store--back from the ashes once again. How's that for ad copy?
So what do you guys think??
Date: Sun, March 11, 2007, 10:21 am CT
HEY HEY,
HO HO,
TER-RY LUND-GREN'S
GOT TO GO!
(repeat with increasing volume)
Date: Sun, March 11, 2007, 8:41 am CT
In July Federated's sales won't be as good as expected because the "weather was too hot" and people didn't go shopping.
And all other retailers, except for Walmart, will have sale increases up to 10 times that Federated had.
Does Federated have to "re-educate" us now to on the weather?
Federated has re-educated me NOT TO EVER SHOP AT MACY'S!
ALMOST EVERYTHING FEDERATED HAS DONE HAS OFFENDED ME AND I WILL NEVER SPEND A DIME IN THAT DUMP!
They need to send Terry Lundgren packing. He would be good at managing the state run department store chain in CUBA! There he can "re-educate" the people into believing that crappy merchandise is good and no customer service is the best service of all!!
Date: Sat, March 10, 2007, 9:08 pm CT
Oh, and while we're on the subject of edv: Seriously? Because that sounds like a sexually transmitted disease. Like something my grandmother would whisper with a disapproving frown on her face.
Go away Macy's!
Date: Sat, March 10, 2007, 8:04 pm CT Date: Sat, March 10, 2007, 5:00 pm CT
Alan, forgive me if i jump on this, but mesys is not getting its act together in markets outside the Midwest. It sucks the big one coast to coast. What was lost in Chicago is greatest, but the same hallmarks of mesys diminished selection, tacky aesthetic, higher markups, inferior quality house brands, lost jobs, staff with arrogance that trickles down from the top levels of management, downmarket feel, disregard of local history, are noticed in every city including the people I talk to in New England who miss Filenes. Mesys killed a lot of really good stores including Filenes when it killed the greatest of them all Fields.
I read that the weather has kept us from our local mini mesys in February. Drat that wintery weather, all month I was stuck with having to go to Nordstrom and the Bon Ton!! I hope Federated will reeducate people how to go outside in the winter weather. Today it's so sunny downtown, the sunshine is keeping me from getting to mesys again. Darn the weather, it just hasn't been right for getting to mesys and getting some nice Alfani stuff.
Thanks for keeping Fields alive everyone!
Date: Sat, March 10, 2007, 11:15 am CT Date: Sat, March 10, 2007, 6:44 am CT
Everyone who has sent Letters to the Editor via Email deserves a huge round of applause. Even if your letter has not been published, it has an effect on the choices that the Tribune makes about what subjects get attention in the Letters section. Thank you for sending those letters!
Date: Fri, March 9, 2007, 9:25 pm CT Date: Fri, March 9, 2007, 7:56 pm CT Date: Fri, March 9, 2007, 5:45 pm CT
http://web.archive.org/web/20001203230300/http://www.macys.com/index.html
Date: Fri, March 9, 2007, 5:45 pm CT
http://web.archive.org/web/20000229123257/http://www.macys.com/
Date: Fri, March 9, 2007, 8:12 am CT
Does anyone have it?
Thanks a bunch!!!!!
kathycotugno@hotmail.com
Date: Fri, March 9, 2007, 7:23 am CT
Thanks for helping me make sense of of the financials. (o:
Clint
Date: Fri, March 9, 2007, CT
Date: Fri, March 9, 2007, 12:35 am CT
However, it's only 2016 visitors, at most.
Date: Thu, March 8, 2007, 9:35 pm CT
A number of things are at work here. First, Bon-Ton was up 15% today, as their sales figures came in much better than expected. Carson's was a slight drag, as it was "only" up 7%, but in total Bon-Ton was up about 10%, and the "legacy" Bon-Tons up 14%. Nordstrom and Saks were up a lot, as well. Therefore, there was a general sense in the market today that brands that attracted some value were doing better. This led Target (which compares favorably to Wal-Mart), Nordstrom, Bon-Ton and Saks higher, and Federated probably got dragged along with it. Plus, there is the sense that at least in some markets, they may be getting their act together. Remember, in many markets, they bought the equivalent of Carson's. I suspect that had they purchased Carson's instead of Field's, and had changed the name to Macy's while dumping millions into the store at 1 S. State, the reaction would have been more positive, or at least less negative. The one store they seem to have miscalculated badly on was Field's. Since it is about 8% of their stores, the company as a whole can do reasonably well even if Field's flounders.
However, as Jim points out, in the end, we are more concerned about Field's. If Bostonians don't might losing Filene's, it's their choice. We want Federated to give us Field's back.
Date: Thu, March 8, 2007, 8:17 pm CT
http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=7718592
It's an oral story, not a written one.
What Patt Morrison says is "And LA has shopping - boutiques and all. Chicago, Marshall Field's is now Macy's."
Hope this helps,
Linda Simons
Date: Thu, March 8, 2007, 7:03 pm CT
""Re Get Ready for the Fall"--" This stock reminds me of MSFT. It has a stock buyback plan, analyst price targets made to bring this higher, and a lot of spin made about it becoming more profitable. A bunch of hogwash. It works for awhile. But, then dies.
MSFT is dying right now as the reality can't be spun away anymore. The same will happen here. However, it will take time when the spinsters will be broken down. 50-60 dollar price target? That's a joke. Mine is 34 by September. "
Date: Thu, March 8, 2007, 5:01 pm CT
Today's sales report underscores the above: Now that they have to count the former Macy Co. stores in their reports, Federated's figures fell short of expectations. I ask you, Terry Lundgren, was it really worth all that effort for a 1.5% increase in sales? And for heaven's sake, don't blame it on the cold weather! That certainly didn't affect Target's sales. And I can tell you, from a personal standpoint, I spent close to $1500 in February at Nordstrom, my new favorite filler store until we get Field's back.
It can't compare to Field's in terms of tradition, but I must say, the service is splendid, and it's leaps and bounds nicer than Macy's. And my Nordstrom stock has gone up 5 points since I bought it a couple months ago.
So, to my friends at the convention today, and to whoever is reading this, I say: JOIN US! IT IS REALLY NOT TOO LATE TO BRING BACK FIELD'S!
And for a hoot, check out
http://www.topix.net/forum/com/fd
Viva la boycott!
Date: Thu, March 8, 2007, 4:00 pm CT
It needs to stay in the media and the public's attention that these former Field's stores are doing dramatically less business since they were converted to Macy's in quality, merchandise, service and name.
Please respond to these stories--good or bad! It makes a huge difference. People need to remember that these stores have slipped so much because they are no longer Marshall Field's and they can only be brought back up by being restored as Marshall Field's stores. Remember, the boycott is working!
These suggestions are made when responding to media articles or TV news segments:
Date: Thu, March 8, 2007, 3:12 pm CT Date: Thu, March 8, 2007, 2:38 pm CT
However, during the same periods of adverse weather Nordstrom's February same store sales increased an impressive 9.1%.
Note that in January, when Federated didn't include the former Marshall Field's and other May Company stores in their statistics, Macy's legacy store sales gained 8.6%, still trailing Nordstroms increase of 11.1%. Neimans, Saks, VonMaur and other former Field's competitors all posted better performance than Macy's and all credit the loss of Marshall Field's as a reason for their increased sales around Chicago.
Instead of repeating the Federated press release as fact, why don't reporters draw their own conclusions? If you want to help, join me in asking this question of the journalists by sending them emails and letters in response to their misleading and unresearched articles.
Chicago doesn't benefit from another bland national discount retailer - Chicago needs Marshall Field's back where it belongs.
Date: Thu, March 8, 2007, 2:01 pm CT
For every claim made by Federated that sales are encouraging and bad weather is to blame for sluggish same store sales, reporters and analysts should be encouraged by FieldsFans to cite the well-documented distaste for Macy's as demonstrated by tens of thousands of former Marshall Field's customers. When customers told Macy's that they would not shop at their stores if they replaced Marshall Field's, then perhaps Macy's and reporters should consider that this is exactly what has happened.
Marshall Field's competitors gratefully acknowledge that Marshall Field's customers have taken their business to greatly enhance sales figures at Saks, Neimans, Nordstroms as do Macy's competitors Target, Kohls and Kmart. Perhaps this should be local reporters' lead story, rather than to simply publish articles that repeat Federated's misleading and evasive press releases.
For every claim made by Federated that Macy's customers are pleased with the changes made to Marshall Field's, reporters and analysts should be encouraged to question why Federated only solicits the opinions of Macy's current brand of discount shoppers and ignores the opinions of tens of thousands of former Marshall Field's customers who refuse to shop at Macy's. The question should be why so many former Marshall Field's customers have brought their business elsewhere. Anyone can see for themselves the disgraceful impact of Macy's many downgrades to merchandise, service, displays and maintenance at 111 North State Street. Any meaningful same-store comparison should include a look at Marshall Field's landmark store following their $115 Million renovation in the 1990's and again in 2003, patterned after the innovations of luxury retailer Selfridges in London. Interesting that Mr. Selfridge himself once worked at Marshall Field's and credited Field's as the inspiration for his world-famous store in London.
It is shocking that Federated execs, reporters and analysts still underestimate and dismiss the hundreds of thousands of loyal Marshall Field's fans as some small group of emotional kooks. To discredit the many strong ties built by Marshall Field's to generations of Chicagoans denies the most valuable form of goodwill a company can hope to build within a community.
To help out any reporter or analyst who may read fieldsfanschicago.org, below are a couple of published articles to document the overwhelmingly negative impact Federated's ill-conceived Macy's rebranding strategy had on former loyal Marshall Field's customers. Despite these published poll and petition results, Federated's excuses, evasions and spin still remain largely unchallenged by the facts on the ground.
Chicago Tribune
September 21, 2005
"Federated Chief Executive Terry Lundgren defended the decision. Citing internal market research, he said "two-thirds of those surveyed in the Chicago market felt neutral to positive--largely neutral--about the name change from Marshall Field's to Macy's."
The reaction was anything but neutral after the name change was announced. An unscientific online Chicago Tribune poll was indicative of the emotional response: More than 96 percent said they would be less like to shop at Field's if the name is changed to Macy's. More than 14,000 people had voted as of 7 p.m. Tuesday."
http://www.chicagotribune.com/business/chi-0509210195sep21,0,7008629.story?coll=chi-business-utl
New York Times
January 17, 2007
But the most fervent, and the most vocal, of the believers are determined to send MacyC-s and its little red stars packing. The arrival of MacyC-s, they say, wiped out a landmark store founded by a retail giant who was also a benefactor to many of the cityC-s cultural and educational institutions.
Fueled by a mix of nostalgia and civic pride, 60,000 or so people signed an online petition last year urging executives at Federated C3 which in 2005 bought out Marshall FieldC-s parent, the May Company C3 to keep the name Marshall FieldC-s for all the stores.
Some FieldC-s loyalists have printed T-shirts, sweatshirts, lapel stickers and bumper stickers reading C,Boycott MacyC-sC. and C,Forever Marshall FieldC-s.C.
http://www.nytimes.com/2007/01/17/us/17chicago.html?ex=1326690000&en=cae3eb19cbb9b190&ei=5088&partner=rssnyt&emc=rss
Date: Thu, March 8, 2007, 12:57 pm CT
Terry Lundgren blames bad weather for lower-than-projected sales figures for the Upper Midwest region, according to the Cincinnati Business Courier. However, I've never known hardy Chicagoans to let weather stop them from doing anything.
www.buzjournals.com/cinncinnati/stories/2007/03/05/daily35.html?from_rss=1
This makes me think of when my grandmother took the "L" to Marshall Field's during a blizzard some 40 years ago, because she HAD to have ribbon for something she was making and Field's was the only store that carried the right thing. I remember my mother arguing with her to stay home. It was a family story we enjoyed laughing about for years.
Date: Thu, March 8, 2007, 12:03 pm CT
Just wondering how much of the Chicago economy Terry Lundgren has flushed away. I'm a transplanted Illinoisan, now in MA, and because of the elimination of Marshall Field's, United Airlines has lost my business, I'm no longer a rental car customer, etc. etc.--so much more than "just" shopping at Marshall Field's! And I'm not exactly a frequent traveler--once a year to see Mom, at most.
I recently had to dress for a formal dinner party/fundraiser and realized once again what a hole in the universe was left by Fields' elimination. The choices are so few now: downscale, run-of-the-mall Chinese-made polyester from Penney's, or hold-your-breath-and-go-on-a-payment-plan Nordstrom's or boutique. If Field's were around, I'd likely fly home, take my mom shopping, find something well-priced, appropriate, and exquisite at Marshall Field's, and come back to MA with the kind of satisfaction that no other retail experience has EVER provided. Even figuring in the price of the plane tix, rental car, meals, etc. I'd still feel like I shopped well and got a bargain.
What to do? I ended up shopping on eBay. Bought a dress from a label that I used to buy in quantity at Marshall Field's (Eileen Fisher)and just felt let down all over again.
New Englanders certainly let Filene's go without a whisper of protest, probably because the two stores were indistinguishable in goods and philosophy. I haven't stopped telling locals why shopping at Macy's is a terrilbe idea, how Lundgren trashed Boston history, etc. --even though the response is usually disinterest (to put it mildly!).
Last week I got a statement from MacyMart about privacy rights surrounding my M's credit card. This would be the credit card that I received last year, cut up and sent back in pieces with a scathing note ordering them to close the account immediately, and why. Who's in charge of M's credit department anyway? What lunkhead thinks I care about my rights to a closed account and kept my name on the mailing list? Idiots!
Finally, while perusing eBay for my dress, I searched "Filene's" and "Marshall Field's." Since last fall, I've done this search occasionally just out of curiosity. There are always hundreds of Marshall Field's items up for auction--everything from private label clothing to souvenirs--but less than a half-dozen from Filene's. That appetite for all things Marshall Field's should tell Lundgren and his lackeys something...not that they're paying attention.
On with the boycott!
Date: Thu, March 8, 2007, 11:50 am CT
http://stlouis.bizjournals.com/pittsburgh/stories/2007/03/05/daily25.html
When the weather improves, Lunkhead can say that customers didn't visit macy*mart because they preferred outdoor activities to shopping. During the summer, the excuse for poor performance will be high temperature and humidity kept shoppers from going out.
Notice that wal*mart's sales were rather stagnant, while Target's sales improved. Perhaps consumers are beginning to realize that cheaply made, low quality merchandise is no bargain in the long run.
Date: Thu, March 8, 2007, 9:08 am CT
http://biz.yahoo.com/ap/070308/bon_ton_retail_sales.html?.v=1
Date: Thu, March 8, 2007, 7:40 am CT
http://phx.corporate-ir.net/phoenix.zhtml?c=93295&p=irol-newsArticle&t=Regular&id=971745&
Date: Thu, March 8, 2007, 7:38 am CT
http://phx.corporate-ir.net/phoenix.zhtml?c=84477&p=irol-newsArticle_Print&ID=971765&highlight=
Date: Wed, March 7, 2007, 10:17 pm CT Date: Wed, March 7, 2007, 10:10 pm CT
Macy's people have already made statements to suggest that poor same-store sales may reflect on the poor state of affairs at Marshall Field's prior to Macy's enhancements. Let's hope that journalists will look past Macy's spin and remember how wonderful the Marshall Field's experience was for Chicago. Macy's spin can't be allowed to erase Chicago's memory of Marshall Field's quality designer merchandise (replaced by Macy's house brands), the outstanding sales staff (retired, fired and disillusioned by Macy's management), the elegant and sophisticated promotions, displays and window decorations (replaced by Macy's offensive and insulting national discount brand image), and the glory of 111 North State reduced by Macy's into a poorly maintained budget bargain basement experience.
Jounalists might compare some other relevant statistics for 111 North State Street - As Field's more than 9 million shoppers were drawn to the landmark building each year (and spent more than $250 Million in the year prior to Macy's takeover) making Field's the third most visited destination in the entire city of Chicago. Field's Great Tree attracted more than one million each year, Field's Walnut Room hosted more than 250,000 diners, Field's Christmas window displays and Santa's Cozy Cloud Cottage attracted more than 4.5 Million visitors.
Marshall Field's powerful cultural, industrial, fashion, home decoration, lifestyle and tourism impact on Chicago spans many generations. We were proud to have a company like Marhsall Field's represent Chicago to the world. Field's earned our loyalty, our admiration and 150 years of our enduring business. There can be little doubt that Macy's offers nothing of value to Chicago and that Macy's should bear the full responsibility and blame for disrespecting, dismantling and so damaging one of Chicago greatest treasures and valued resources.
Date: Wed, March 7, 2007, 9:58 pm CT
Just more of the EXCITING changes at macy's!
CHRISTMAS IN MARCH!!!
Just one of the ways the M store is "re-educating" the customer. They've even changed the calendar.
Now I bet Terry Lundgren is going to re-educate the Pope, the whole Christian church and Jesus Christ, himself, that Christmas and Christ's birthday is now in March.
Macy's, way to schlop!
Date: Wed, March 7, 2007, 9:38 pm CT
http://articles.moneycentral.msn.com/Investing/Extra/HomeDepotShaftingShoppers.aspx?GT1=9215
It never ceases to amaze how many mistakes macy*mart continues to make in an attempt to add a few cents to the bottom line. As the article states, Home Depot "screwed" and lost customers by not having enough help--and macy*mart is doing the same thing.
Sometimes it seems as though Lungreed is DELIBERATELY trying to run the stores into the ground with some of the stupid management practices. Surely a few of his sycophants keep up with business news and try to learn from other companies.
Date: Wed, March 7, 2007, 9:27 pm CT
DARRID
THANK YOU SO VERY MUCH for that incredible and wonderful tribute page to Field's
THANK YOU
I Love it!
I MISS Field's
B
italbearr@yahoo.com
Date: Wed, March 7, 2007, 9:25 pm CT
www.darrid.com
Viva La Boycott!
Date: Wed, March 7, 2007, 8:37 pm CT Date: Wed, March 7, 2007, 5:50 pm CT
According to those who contacted me, the person making the case for L.A. to host the 2016 Olympics dismissed Chicago, saying "...and they don't even have Marshall Field's anymore. It's Macy's like everywhere else."
If anyone knows what show this was and has access to the clip, I'd love to know so I could hear it first hand. Thank you.
Date: Wed, March 7, 2007, 5:13 pm CT
http://www.macysnorthmedia.com/index.php
Wow, glad I cleared that up since it's almost EASTER!
There must have been layoffs in the Web Department too!
For something a little lighter, check out Darrid.Com!
I have added Christmas, Field's Culinary Council, Commercials and an E-Card service that you can send email greetings with Marshall Field's pictures!
Check it out once a week as it keeps getting better!
Date: Wed, March 7, 2007, 3:07 pm CT Date: Wed, March 7, 2007, 11:49 am CT Date: Wed, March 7, 2007, 10:55 am CT
Regarding your insider trading question. There most likely is no impropriety going on here. If you found these sales listed on the insider trading page then there is probably no issue here.
Since the sellers were execs, they are required to give notice of their intention to sell. Can't remember how long the notice period is, maybe 30-60 days. The fact that the sale happened the day before is probably just timing.
Date: Wed, March 7, 2007, 9:13 am CT
Viva La Boycott!
Date: Wed, March 7, 2007, 9:12 am CT
I don't know much about stocks but it looks like to me that the rats are jumping a sinking ship.
Karen Hoguet sells 3.7 million dollars of Federated stock.
This is the same Karen Hoguet who does the conference calls with Wall Street analysts telling them how wonderful Macy's is doing.
Am I reading this right?
Four Federated officers sold over 13 million of their own Federated stocks JUST THREE BUSINESS DAYS AGO, March 2!
Maybe I'm dumb to the world of stocks but something looks fishy to me.
Date: Wed, March 7, 2007, 8:49 am CT
At the M store, it is now the job of the customer to find the sales associate. We must look for and try to find the person wearing black.
This is just another way Federated is trying to "reeducate" the customer!
Didn't you know for over 150 years Fields was doing it wrong!
Date: Wed, March 7, 2007, 8:07 am CT
The basic facts are that four big executives at Federated chose to exercise their stock options and sell them immediately - the option price was about $25, and the current market price was about $43, so they made $18 a share for the tens of thousands of shares they sold.
There was a similar transaction a year ago by at least one of these executives - it might be the time of year that they make the option distribution and then they sell as soon as they're allowed. This really shouldn't be interpreted as a sign that FDS tock is going to drop like a rock on Thursday, but these folks sure were eager to get their cash...
Date: Tue, March 6, 2007, 11:50 pm CT
I was at my childhood best friend's baby shower the last weekend in February (we were both raised in Wheaton) and was disheartened at the Macy's box I saw. I have no idea if it was the original box for her gift or not, but nonetheless. The hostesses for the shower had Frango mints out for refreshments...very depressing because I doubt they were Field's Frangos...
I was also cleaning out some very old receipts the other day and found one from Field's.
I'm sure I posted a few months ago that I was going through my dresser and found a green Field's box that probably contained some earrings at some point...
To quote someone who has posted below, "I miss Field's."
Date: Tue, March 6, 2007, 11:15 pm CT
I imagine the bean counters at Federated (or whatever they call themselves) see that the olympics could potentially provide lots of tourist revenue with the world coming to visit. But 2016 is a looooong time away. Macy's surely cannot cripple along til then and they certainly must be aware of that as they see their devastating sales results month after month.
C'mon Terry, be a man. Field's needs to be given another chance. Starting now, and for the next 150 years. Marshall Field's is Chicago's store!!
Date: Tue, March 6, 2007, 7:34 pm CT
Date: Tue, March 6, 2007, 7:19 pm CT
Thanks, Darrid
Date: Tue, March 6, 2007, 5:41 pm CT
here is the email response of my friend Shelly, when she read my note about the Star Tribune article re: macy's closing the Minneapolis Warehouse and announcing they will NOT be re-opening at a different location, as they had previously announced they hoped to do:
This is absolute SHxx (the edits are mine). What the hell are they thinking? Just because Saks moved out of town and turned their location into a discount store doesn't mean that will work in every single case. This is disappointing and disrespectful. I love going to the Warehouse Sales. We bought our bed there. This absolutely bites.
ShellyP
And keep in mind this is a professional woman who works in management, not a truckdriver...LOL.
Regards.
Date: Tue, March 6, 2007, 5:25 pm CT
Mr. Lunkhead: Show a little compassion. Give a damn about something else than money for once, cause Field's would bring you a lot more.
Date: Tue, March 6, 2007, 4:35 pm CT
I met a friend for lunch and told her about the experience. She said the Water Tower is just as bad cheap stuff, dirty environment, and unsophisticated and bored sales people.
I am really worried about Marshall Field's. I simply can't believe they would be able to destroy something so quickly. I would rather it didn't exist then to have it in the state that it is in. I have opened a SaksFirst card and have begun a new relationship with a new store but my heart will always miss Field's.
Best Regards.
Date: Tue, March 6, 2007, 4:33 pm CT
http://articles.moneycentral.msn.com/Investing/StreetPatrol/AvoidMarthaStewartTheCompany.aspx?GT1=9215&wa=wsignin1.0
Date: Tue, March 6, 2007, 1:31 pm CT
1. Stand near a cash register
2. Look at the customer
3. Smile at the customer
4. Say, "May I help you?"
Macy's West stores in "colorful" Hawaii and California will be exempt from the dress code.
www.dallasnews.com/sharedcontent/dws/bus/stories/DN-macys_05bus.ART.State.Edition1.37967ca.html
Date: Tue, March 6, 2007, 12:01 pm CT Date: Tue, March 6, 2007, 11:36 am CT
Ms. Brown visits MARSHALL FIELD'S and spends about 2 minutes exploring the beauty, elegance, fashion collections and architecture of "Chicago's landmark department store" and tourist destination.
http://travel.discovery.com/tvlistings/episode.jsp?episode=9&cpi=83331&gid=0&channel=TRV
Date: Tue, March 6, 2007, 9:41 am CT
Look closely at the pictures of the employees. The one sitting down at the computer is on Fields.com and if you look at the service rep she is not dressed in "black' and she is wearing a Fields name tag.
Well what really makes me laugh is the fact that on the services page you still see Fields employees. Maybe there were no Macy's employee's available? Maybe they were all laid off?
Date: Tue, March 6, 2007, 8:12 am CT
Many of you say you are receiving things from Macy's in the mail, which I find very strange...
I CANCELLED my Macy's card (did not just cut it up) and I haven't received a single mailing from them in months (and have never received the commonly mentioned $10 gift cards). I was a Regard's customer and was given the highest tier of Macy's cards when I cancelled.. and they have made no effort to win me back (shocking, I know). How many of you just cut up your cards without cancelling? If you merely cut up your card, this will make no statement at all to Federated.
Note from Jim: The reason for this is that many are aware that closing the new Macy's account they have been assigned also closes one's old Field's charge account. Many want to hold open their Field's as a statement and for the day Field's is back.
Both are effective statements and a matter of personal choice.
Date: Tue, March 6, 2007, 7:38 am CT
Michael Smith
Haddon Heights, NJ
Date: Tue, March 6, 2007, 1:18 am CT
Although, the sale closed in August 2005, Federated chose to run the former May stores almost exactly as they had been before the merger for at least 6 months. It was in February, 2006 that the major changes began to unfold. For example, the Marshall Fields division became part of the newly formed Macy's North division on February 1, 2006. It was at this time that significant management and merchandising changes began. This is likely the reason why Federated chose this as it's "start date" for the customary 12 months of not reporting same store sales for the former May stores. I found this information via multiple sources, but primarily used Wikipedia Online to research, Federated, Macy's, and Marshall Fields.
Mike M brings up a good point that some analysts have questioned the delay. However, I have not seen this concern among most analysts when I research Federated among many financial news websites. If they don't report these results this month as planned, then I would wonder why the delay.
Date: Mon, March 5, 2007, 10:30 pm CT
You may recall that macy's is closing the Minneapolis Warehouse where Dayton's and then Field's held fabulous sales of furniture and household goods and that about 70-80 people are losing their jobs. That was news on this site about 3 months back. Guzzetta and other lackies told some lies to the press at that time how they were hoping to re-open another warehouse soon in Minneapolis and thast it was "elimination of duplication of services due to the merger". This, of course caused great peels of laughter in Minneapolis as there is no other warehouse in the Twin Cities and everyone knows it.
Those statements were helpful to our cause as it started some people on the road to despising the lies that keep coming forth from FDS.
This was a great place to buy wonderful brand name, high-end merchandise that might have a scratch or perhaps one of a kind items. A friend of mine got a Barbara Barry small end table for like $200, that was regular $800 because there was only 1 left of a pair. He had only space for 1 table in his room so it was perfect for him. That's the kind of bargains one could get there.
>From this morning's Star Tribune: macy's will not be re-opening a new warehouse in Minneapolis anytime, at any place. Those types of items that were sold periodically at the Warehouse Sales will now be sold right on the floor as markdowns at the formerly elegant Home Stores in Roseville and Edina and also inside the Nicollet Mall store. This will add yet more excitement, I think, to the already campy, mark-down, flea market atmosphere that macy's is aiming to create here, so that we can be just as cool as Herald Square.
Regards.
Date: Mon, March 5, 2007, 10:02 pm CT
The poster was right, the former Marshall Fields at MayFair Mall in Wisconsin is a mess. Compared to other Messy's stores, this location has gone down market the most. It USED TO BE a beautiful store with top notch service. You think State Street looks bad, this place will make you cry. High income shoppers have left this Mall for Brookfield Square. Very few shoppers. The whole mall is suffering. Thanks for nothing Messy's.
Date: Mon, March 5, 2007, 9:41 pm CT Date: Mon, March 5, 2007, 9:32 pm CT
Why, Mr. Fuentes, have four reputable analysts made statements to the effect that Federated is being evasive about its sales results in the converted stores. Analysts have made these comments in multiple publications, including the Chicago Tribune, MarketWatch, and on the Noon Business Hour for CBS's NewsRadio 780.
I find it hard to believe that all of these analysts are wrong.
Date: Mon, March 5, 2007, 8:58 pm CT
Do you all remember a few years ago when Richie Daley made a "Big Stink" over movimg the Frango Mints out of Chicago ?
Then,last year, Terry Lunk-Head made a visit to Daley's City Hall Office, to inform him that Federated Stores was changing the Names on all the Field's stores, and Daley said nothing but "Things Change all the time" Well, I felt that this was very STRANGE. There must be something in it for Richie. Well, there was something discussed behind closed doors, which the public never heard.
The Olympic Committee is visiting Chicago to check out our City , for the possible, "Future Sight" of the Olympic Games. So guess who's is helping Daley with his BID for the GOLD? Macy's !
Macy's is Advertising behind all Press Releases on TV, and they selling Olympic Shirts,etc. It's not right.
Date: Mon, March 5, 2007, 8:36 pm CT
Check it out! I will constantly be updating it!
Darrid
Date: Mon, March 5, 2007, 5:26 pm CT
Hope you are all well
I have a wonderful day off today and when I got my mail -- low and behold -- a "star rewards" envelope -- all red and white--
I opened it and inside is a letter ----with 2 coupon cards -- 20% off for "my own sale" with disclaimers -- and $10.00 off with purchase of $50.00.
This letter -----I am still surprised--
This letter Opened with Thanking me for Shopping with macy's!!
I was truly perplexed
I HAVEN"T SPENT A DIME WITH FEDERATED SINCE AUGUST of 06 at the end of the federated time as steward of Field's.
So -- I was extremely surprised by the letter ??-- I was a Regards customer with Field's, in the past -- maybe that is where that came from??
needless to say the coupons are in the trash where they belong.
I look forward to the day when macymart is gone. If State street really is in the sad mess that posters have described then maybe it would be better off not being a retail store any longer -- macymart doesn't do a good job of taking care of 34th street/ Herald Square -- it isn't falling down but it is dingy booring and plain. ( and I don't believe that they care about state street so I do not have good feelings about the future of 111)
I wont be spending ANY dimes there or at bloomingdales --I am glad they are changing their name to macy group because they certainley are no longer federated department stores --That is one of the ONLY good decisions they have made. The old Federated was a leader at the top of the game and exciting --Lincoln Filene and Fred Lazarus are rolling in their graves at the pathetic excuse for shopping they now represent.
Go Von Maur Go Nordstrom --Neimans--Saks --
Go Dillards
Go Carsons
YAY for JC PENNEY and Kohl's-- Boscov's
Go Target
Thank God we HAVE alternatives so that we do NOT have to be "educated to understand and like" macymart.
And Now what I was planning to post-------------
I have a friend who takes trips to Chicago two or three times a year. She ALWAYS reserved one entire day for State Street and it was always early on, so that if she decided to return to State street, she would have time in the 3 to 4 days that she was in Chicago. She was with her husband in England before Christmas so there was no late year trip to Chicago in '06. She went last week and I could NOT WAIT to speak with her on her thoughts. She had a GREAT time at Nordstrom at both NorthBridge and Oak Brook and she visited Von Maur at Yorktown -- the first time she was there and the first time at VonMaur--She REALLY enjoyed that as well and said in the future she would work Von Maur into her trip Each time. She ships everything she buys on these trips.
She was very very saddened at what she found at Oakbrook in the former Field's location. She mirrored everything that has already been said here. She really thought the Oakbrook store was one of the finest and most beautiful stores that ever was. She said she wouldn't ever go back and wanted to remember it the way it was when it was Field's. But she said that she just wasn't prepared for, or could even believe, what she found at State Street. Her words were "I was horrified". What she described to me was very similar to the gentleman's post from Milwaukee and Mrs. W. Her disappointment and upset made me feel badly --becuase I haven't returned to see it myself-- and It made me embarrassed that this is being presented to visitors-- She said "They killed Marshall Field's -- it is dead and gone and I will never return to that horrible place that is there now".
Then I felt better after thinking about it, because this is actually great. They can be the arbiters of their own downfall and Thank God the name on the door -is ---macy's!
Take Care all
Keep up the Boycott
B
italbearr@yahoo.com
Date: Mon, March 5, 2007, 3:30 pm CT
Through the power of the internet, we realize we are not alone in our struggle to bring Field's back! Everyday I read this blog and connect with each and every one of you.
I wanted to let you know that my son, who was with us at the State Street rally on September 9th, will be running in several races this year. I will be sponsoring him and he told me he would wear a shirt reflecting any of the causes I support. I have decided he should run for Marshall Field's! He's going to wear one of our great tee shirts. Wouldn't it be great if we had a whole block of people in Field's Fan's tee shirts rooting for him at a certain section? It would surely make the papers or the news and give us more visibility. Email me if you think this is a good idea.
The Macy Boycott is OUR marathon, and we shall prevail!
Zelda
Date: Mon, March 5, 2007, 3:05 pm CT
Federated also promised that it would preserve Marshall Field's legacy for Chicago, which they clearly have not. In fact, Macy's has gone out of its way to destroy (or remove to off-site collections) any mention of Marshall Field wherever possible. Sadly, Marshall Field is only mentioned a couple of times on the several pages of the Macy's on State Street website - it doesn't even appear in the HISTORY & ARCHITECTURE section about 111 North State Street.
Contrary to the impression provided by Federated press releases, Marshall Field's enjoyed healthy and increasing sales figures and an enviable world-wide reputation for quality, service and value. In the year prior to the Macy's takeover, Marshall Field's State Street store attracted 9 Million visitors - one of the most popular tourist destinations in Chicago, sold $250 Million worth of merchandise and proudly represented Chicago to the world. Now, Macy's redesign, rebranding, product mix, poor service and shoddy maintenance of Marshall Field's former home on State Street have made our most famous landmark an embarrassment to Chicago.
As a consequence of Federated's misguided and reckless national Macy's expansion, sales are down at hundreds of acquired stores and thousands of jobs have been lost nationwide, hundereds of these jobs lost are in Chicago. In addition, Chicago tax revenue from Macy's must certainly be down, however the dramatic sales upswing from Macy's competitors may compensate the city for these losses.
Perhaps instead of further cheapening the appearance of the loop and 111 North State Street, the zoning variance the city has approved to allow Macy's oversized lighted signge on top of the building will help Macy's image and increase sales.
Nearly 60,000 people signed an online petition to save Marshall Field's and more than 14,000 more responded to a Chicago Tribune poll about the impact of losing Marshall Field's by saying that they would not shop at Macy's - but still the city did nothing when it still had a chance to exert some influence. Instead they acted as cheerleaders for Macy's.
Some Fields Fans may feel vindicated that we fought to preserve Marshall Field's and that we urged our city officials to take action to preserve Marshall Field's as other city's leaders have done to encourage and direct more desirable downtown development.
Now Federated's lies and Chicago's loss are undeniable and apparent to all. Though perhaps somewhat more critical of Macy's current position, journalist have failed to hold Federated to task for past misrepresentations and broken promises.
Perhaps the frustration we feel from Federated's arrogance and lies, Chicago City Hall's failure to act and journalists' failure to investigate and report the truth help to explain Field's Fans' resolve to continue our efforts to see Marshall Field's restored.
Date: Mon, March 5, 2007, 12:03 pm CT Date: Mon, March 5, 2007, 8:29 am CT
If you're trying to be a National retailer, why not back it up with facts and more important, tell the public how "national" the store really has become.
While it may be true that it is common practice for reatilers not to post results of former stores within 12 months of a merger, I believe it is also true that companies hide these facts from the public when business is not going well as expected.
Macy's nationwide expansion was really not in demand and necessary, for it would have expanded nationwide long ago, before the May stores were up for sale.
Mr, Fuentes, if Federated strongly believed their theory based on arrogance and those fictional survey results that Macy's would be highly successfully on a national level, where's the proof?
>From national retalier to national disaster is what I call it.
Viva La Boycott!
Date: Mon, March 5, 2007, 8:19 am CT Date: Sun, March 4, 2007, 4:34 pm CT
Perhaps Terry Junkbrand will have to step up his "re-indoctrination" efforts to stop the "defectors" from escaping the grasp of macy*mart.
It's also interesting to note that Kohl's private brands are selling so well; perhaps because they offer quality and value not available at the Red Star Store?
Date: Sun, March 4, 2007, 4:34 pm CT
A short while ago, I visited the State street store, even though it switched to Macy's. I was particularly interested how they may have changed and altered the store. A quick trip to the Walnut Room was my first diappointment. The surroundings were filthy, and the men's restroom was one of the filthiest restrooms I have ever been in. It became very clear to me that even the employess must have stopped caring about the store they once loved. Next, I strolled through the store to "browse" around. What I found missing were a number of signature brands which seemed to have vanished. Far too many to list, but they were replaced by very cheap, unknown brand names. Clearly another "sign" that even disigners didn't want their wares at Macy's. The goods Macy's is trying to market to consumers is insulting. They need to understand that Field's customers don't want to buy "crap", that's why we are going to Nordstrom!!!
You would be amazed at how many people in Milwaukee absolutely HATE Macy's. The store is always empty, and in shambles on the inside. We wuold rather drive one hour south to the nearest Nordstrom.
On a funny note, while my Dad and I were eating at the Walnut Room with my daughter, he remarked at how much the Macy's logo looked like some sort of Communist flag. I still get a chuckle about this.
Maybe I need to fly to London and go to Selfridge's to get my nostlagic Field's fix!!!!
Date: Sun, March 4, 2007, 3:00 pm CT
As I mentioned before on this site, I agree with you wholeheartedly about Bergdoff Goodman in New York. This store takes retail shopping to whole new level! I'm sorry if this rehashing is annoying, but it's so true!
Let me know how your exeperience at Bergdoff Goodman goes. Have fun! In the meantime.....
Viva La Boycott!
Date: Sun, March 4, 2007, 2:56 pm CT
I attended a birthday party this eve and ran into a guy who worked for many years part-time at Dayton's/Field's in men's clothing.
We spoke at some length about the current situation while eating together at the party. He certainly knows my opinion of macy's as I have expressed it whenever I see him....LOL. Back in September his attitude was that I "need to give it a chance and that some people actually like it better."
My, my....how times change. This eve he described to me how really tacky the macy's store brands are for men: Alfani, Tasso Elba, Club Room, Donald Trump, the EDV Junk,et al ad nauseum.
Additionally, he said the morale of all the employees is really in the toilet at the big stores in the Minneapolis/St Paul market. He didn't name the stores but the big ones here are considered to be Southdale, Rosedale, Ridgedale and Nicollet Mall. These were always considered to be the company's best performers along with State St and several other Chicagoland stores.
I found this conversation to be quite pleasant uplifting party chatter actually.
Regards.
Date: Sun, March 4, 2007, CT
Thank you for writing to bring up this point which I am sure will come up again especially after this Thursday.
To respond, yes, it is routine practice to omit newly acquired stores until they are on equal footing in terms of stats.
I don't think anyone's disputing that.
What most all of us are disputing is the routineness of what is happening behind the stats. Using your comparison of CVS and Osco/Sav-On, sure, I see some growing pains at these stores when I shop there. Now and then I have even passed an Osco that was recently converted to a CVS to go to another CVS since I thought it would be better stocked for a sale item I was looking for. But when I go in that former Osco-turned CVS, I do see about the same amount of traffic. (It's not like last Thursday, when I walked though State Street for a quick view and counted a total of one person holding a Macy's bag on the First floor and basement.) You don't hear that, say, Walgreen's is picking up lots of business from disgruntled former Osco locations, although I am sure there are a few people who have switched.
The point myself and most everyone else here is making is the apparent dramatic reduction in business and expression of disgruntled customers
is well in excess of what would expect for a routine takeover. What's sneaky is to dismiss what is dramatically more than routine as part of a switch in owners and store as simply routine. What's happening behind the figures is not your routine decrease.
Date: Sun, March 4, 2007, 2:02 pm CT Date: Sat, March 3, 2007, 10:37 pm CT
USE MACY'S NEWSPAPER ADVERTISEMENTS FOR BIRD CAGE LINERS
Such ads are readily available in cities nationwide and will not be needed for shopping. (Macy's ads also can be utilized for training puppies.)
Date: Sat, March 3, 2007, 10:29 pm CT
I met some out of town friends in from Florida at the Palmer House the other day. We were doing some shopping and theater in the late afternoon. I was taking them to North Bridge and Nordstrom's were you can find a real department store with actual designer apparel.
Of course as we walked by M**y's on State Street we all looked into the corner windows at State and Washington. What did they have in both of them but a pile of rugs with signs of 65% off. Very creative, huh!! This is the busiest traffic corner in the Loop and this is what they try to attract people into their store? One of my friends wanted to take a peek inside and see what Federated had done. I said, "It isn't going to be pretty"!
As you entered into the Washington and State St. corner you could hardly make your way through without bumping into all the cramed, and of course cheaply constructed, make-up counters they have put into every square foot of selling space. That probably helps anyone coming into the place not notice as much that it's empty of traffic. As you walk to the escalators you immediately notice the place is filthy, but how can that come as a surprise since we all know that Federated layed off a number of its cleaning staff on State Street. There were cracked tiles, filthy rugs and dust that you noticed above all the cosmetic units.
As we did make it to at least the third floor we noticed in the atrium area they had covered all the beautiful green marble directory signs with something that looked like cheap cardboard which was truly kinko's quality. I'll at least give them credit for making the communist star on it relatively small! We had all seen enough. None of us with a bag in hand. There were so many discounts and clearance items it looked like a rumage sale or pretty close to what Carson's closing resembled a month ago. The shoe selection was awful, clothes were wrinkled on their displays, what an embarrasement. The new store manager at State Street must be taking heavy medication at this point to make it through her day here. I don't see this place lasting through next year.
Anyway, we exited at Randolph Street and Wabash and what did we find again, but huge piles of oriental rugs all over the place. Does anyone think this can look good on the first floor? The sales associates were all falling asleep from the lack of anyone buying here, it is so sad.
Viva la boycott! My friends and I went to Nordstrom's and dropped some major bills... they at least have a great shoe department and as always have real designers there. The place was crowded and alive with energy, subdued elegance. Field's has been turned into a bad JCPenny, it is so so sad. I won't ever go back inside again, it hurts to much to see what they have done to Chicago's most iconic store.
Mrs.W
Date: Sat, March 3, 2007, 9:12 pm CT
Images of Federated/Macy's ["Goliath"] beginning to tremble at the knees a bit in front of our "David" [Loyal Field's Fans everywhere], are clearly coming into focus in my mind...you too?!
Date: Sat, March 3, 2007, 7:43 am CT
Here is an excerpt from the Tribune article:
In the wake of Federated Department Stores Inc.'s conversion of Field's to Macy's in September, (Jim) von Maur said his company's stores have experienced an unusually 'huge' sales jump.
Many Chicagoans loyal to Fields vowed to boycott Macy's.
'We are certainly feeling the effect,' von Maur said."
Date: Sat, March 3, 2007, 5:48 am CT
Macy's went bankrupt after a failed expansion attempt in the mid west.
History will repeat itself.
This time they have a nation wide expansion project and fail to report the negative sales in HALF of their stores.
The former May/Field's stores are not just a few stores, or a couple of dozen stores, but ALMOST HALF of their stores, and they all have negative sales.
It's only a matter of time before this house of cards falls.
Date: Sat, March 3, 2007, 12:45 am CT Date: Sat, March 3, 2007, 12:43 am CT Date: Fri, March 2, 2007, 10:59 pm CT
THE RAIN ON MACY'S PARADE
How Greed, Ambition, and Folly Ruined America's Greatest Store
By Jeffrey A. Trachtenberg
In the fall of 1990, amid a torrent of rumors that retailer R.H. Macy & Co. would soon file for bankruptcy protection, I went to interview company Chairman Edward S. Finkelstein. It was four years since Macy's had gone private, and now it was reporting losses in the hundreds of millions. Both Wall Street and Seventh Avenue were wondering how--and if--the company was going to meet interest payments on its multibillion-dollar debt load.
For 20 minutes, I waited outside Finkelstein's $50,000 bulletproof office doors. When I got inside, the interview proved a disaster, prompting one of Finkelstein's renowned temper tantrums. ''What do you know about Macy's?'' he demanded. ''Just what you've read?'' He denied any problems and bellowed insults while three lieutenants sat in silence, averting their eyes.
But not even such virtuoso verbal pummeling could stave off the creditors. A year and a half later, Macy's was in bankruptcy court, and Finkelstein was out of a job. It was a classic story of pride and fall, now described in riveting detail in Wall Street Journal reporter Jeffrey A. Trachtenberg's new book, The Rain on Macy's Parade.
A feisty graduate of Harvard business school ''who retained the subtle menace of a schoolyard athlete,'' Finkelstein joined Macy's training squad in 1948 and quickly rose to become fabrics-department manager in the company's flagship Manhattan store. By 1969, he was president of Macy's California, where within 12 months he more than doubled the division's pretax profits by catering to upscale customers. In 1973, Donald Smiley, then Macy's chairman, brought Finkelstein back to New York to apply his magic to the Herald Square emporium. Over the years, Trachtenberg relates, Finkelstein transformed Macy's from an oversized variety store into a glamorous chain and made shopping an adventure. In 1980, Macy's board elected him chairman.
Toward his 55,000 workers, Finkelstein played the generous, albeit mercurial and often dictatorial, patriarch. He nurtured scores of employees and rewarded his staff handsomely. The trade-off was putting up with Finkelstein's dark side: He never let executives forget who was boss. During weekly meetings, he would often ''scream, demand, and belittle,'' Trachtenberg reports, enjoying it when his staff turned on each other because ''this meant they cared.'' Every Monday morning, on returning from his Connecticut weekend retreat, Finkelstein would hand out gifts to a favored few--eggs laid by his hens. Recalled one executive: ''If you never got eggs, you started to worry.''
For six years, Finkelstein himself had few worries, traveling in a chauffeured Mercedes and living the high life. Then, in the summer of 1985, convinced that a leveraged buyout would make millions for him and several hundred top managers, he decided to take Macy's private. The board, initially resistant, acquiesced, as they had with most of Finkelstein's demands. It was the '80s, and merger fever was rampant. Two of Macy's rivals, Federated Department Stores Inc. and Allied Stores, had been taken private by Canadian real estate developer Robert Campeau, and Finkelstein decided that if Campeau could do it, he could, too.
True to form, Finkelstein celebrated the LBO by hosting an elaborate black-tie party at the Metropolitan Museum of Art's Temple of Dendur in July, 1986. But the champagne had hardly been finished before things started going wrong. It soon became clear that investment bankers' projections of future cash flow--the money needed to service the LBO debt--had been too optimistic. And with the economy sagging into recession, two Christmas shopping seasons in a row proved disastrous. In November, 1988, Macy's reported that it had lost $188 million for the year ended in July, more than 13 times what it had lost a year earlier. The company began to close stores and lay off employees, with Finkelstein insisting all the while that Macy's would rebound.
But there would be no miracles on 34th Street. In early 1992, the once-great retailer stumbled into bankruptcy court. ''Every cent invested by Macy's more than 400 managers was wiped out,'' writes Trachtenberg, whose description of the days leading up to the company's bankruptcy filing is fast-paced and absorbing.
Trachtenberg places the failure of Macy's squarely on Finkelstein's shoulders---the chairman, he argues, lacked critical financial acumen. Rather than listen to anyone who didn't share his misplaced enthusiasm, Trachtenberg says, Finkelstein just bellowed at them. Nor would the chairman assume any responsibility for Macy's downfall. ''His take on the bankruptcy was that it was somebody else's fault; an act of God; a conspiracy; the recession,'' notes Robert Miller, a lawyer for Macy's bondholders.
Date: Fri, March 2, 2007, 10:38 pm CT
I'll be flying to one of the Big Apple's borough, Manhattan next week. I'll be doing some shopping. It's been awhile since I was in Manhattan. I use to go to New York every year throughout the 1990's. Last time I was in NYC was 3 weeks after 9/11. My Uncle lives in midtown Manhattan.
During my college years in the 90's, going to Manhattan was my spring break destination. I picked up the New Yorker accent back then. Friends here use to mimic my pronunciation/accent. Actually, I was suppose to be born in Manhattan but my parents decided to settle here in Chicago instead.
I have to admit, during the 90's, I use to love shopping at Macy's Herald Square. I thought Macy's was very decent back then (Macy's in Brooklyn was terrible/ugly, never went to that Macy's again), also loved shopping at Bloomingdale's, Lord & Taylor, Saks, Tiffany & Co., Bergdorf Goodman (BG was much more beautiful and luxurious than Neiman Marcus), also shopped at now defunct stores: Bonwit Teller, B. Altman, Abraham & Strauss, Stern's and Alexander's which was located in the World Trade Center. Wow, brings back memories.
Anyway, I'll be wearing my Chicago World Series Champs White Sox jacket, my Bears hat, my Northwestern University sweatshirt and I'll be carrying my BIG GREEN SHOPPING BAG, "MARSHALL FIELD'S" while I do my shopping around Manhattan especially inside the Macy's Herald Square store. Which reminds me, during the 90's, I use to bring both my Field's and Carson's shopping bags when I use to go to Manhattan shopping and proudly flaunting both shopping bags because they were a Chicago store Icon's.
Here I come New York....Until then....Good Night All and God Bless....
Date: Fri, March 2, 2007, 7:15 pm CT
Target has become my store of choice for a lot of things I would have gotten at Field's, especially since a new Target opened in Ravenswood close to Edgewater. Sure the quality and selection aren't there, but given the prices, the value certainly is. I agree with other posters, if Macy's doesn't improve its value proposition for us in the Midwest, it doesn't stand a chance of competing against Target, Penney's or Kohl's.
And of course, it's just a given that Macy's can't compete against Nordstrom, Neiman-Marcus or Saks.
Date: Fri, March 2, 2007, 5:14 pm CT
I just spoke with my sister who lives on the St Paul suburban side of the metro area. We are just finishing our 2nd blizzrd in 2 weeks so the snow is piling up and some businesses are finding it di
fficult to find places to put the snow when they plow their parking lots. One such place is Maplewood Mall by my sister's house.
She said she went there this morning to do an errand once the roads were clear. Most of the stores there are really busy except for macy*mart. Therefore, the owners of the Mall had the snow plows a
nd trucks dump all the snow from plowing around the Mall in the parking area for macy*mart since there are never that many cars parked there anyway!
What a hoot.....LOL.
Regards.
Date: Fri, March 2, 2007, 1:23 pm CT
Actually, it is Field's that was America's greatest, but the book sounds facinating.
A found a summary which leads me to believe history is about to repeat itself, only this time it will be Terry Lungren and not Ed Finkelstein.
The book talks about Macy's first bankruptcy. With Lundgren's current course, I bet there will be a second Macy's bankruptcy, again borne of green, ambition and folly.
Pathetic.
Date: Fri, March 2, 2007, 12:50 am CT
My point was that Bloomingdale's doesn't really have an identity here in the Midwest, and thus, it might have made sense to try to revive those stores with an infusion of Field's. Target didn't do
much right, but the furniture stores performed quite well, and at least better than they are performing under Federated. Therefore, Medinah and the other Home Store could easily have become Field
's Home Stores. 900 North is right across from Water Tower, but remember, my thought is that Macy's could have coexisted with Field's (as a competitor to Carson's and JC Penney), so Federated coul
d have chosen which one was better suited to being a Field's and which one a Macy's. Whichever one was the Macy's could have been their "flagship" here, unless Federated decided to acquire the old
Carson's store.
As for purchasing power, the fact of the matter is that a lot of the branded merchandise is similar (e.g. Coach purses), and so synergies did exist, and didn't have to be tied to a complete rebrand
ing. Certainly best practices could have been shared (if that meant Macy's fitting rooms and Field's service, then that would have been the best of both worlds). Synergies are a prime reason for
any merger, although overestimation of synergy is quite common, and probably the reason so many mergers fail to generate as much value as the acquirers believe they will. As for house brands, ther
e's no reason why Federated couldn't have carried Field's house brands. They could have (should have) made the decision as to which brands were better, and which suppliers were better, and went wi
th those, using their larger buying power as leverage. Why not try to sell Field Gear in Cincinnati or LA instead of trying to shove Alfani upon Chicago and Minneapolis customers?
IOW, the Federated acquisition didn't have to be a negative to Field's, and if management comes to its senses eventually, it could still be made positive (that would, of course, require Field's to
be restored). Federated itself isn't the problem. Lundgren and his strategy are the problems. He went with the lowest common denominator, and is banking everything on what has become a mid-range
brand.
Date: Fri, March 2, 2007, 12:47 am CT
Perhaps I am being a bit short-tempered as I had an unusually long work weekend with a Fundraiser for the non-profit for which I work. Drew sent me the story that had quotes in it from Karen Hoguet
, the CFO of FDS, about how the shoppers need to be educated on macy*mart and its EDV products blah blah blah. Everytime I read that crap it makes me throw up in my mouth. The sales people in the M
inneapolis Stores laugh about the poor quality of those products and make jokes about having to sell it and use stronger words than "crap" when describing it.
Her quotes rubbed me so, so very wrong this week that I realized something very important. I hate Queen Isabella for giving Columbus the ships so that he could discover America, which makes it poss
ible for macy*mart to be doing business here.
Regards.
Date: Thu, March 1, 2007, 9:11 pm CT Date: Thu, March 1, 2007, 6:00 pm CT
At the same time, more than a couple of you made contact to say that the Sun-Times coverage of Federated's Q4 Conference call was almost entirely a recapitulation of Macy's press releases--there seemed to be little or no critical look at the realities of what Federated presented. Other news reports were similar, especially those that relied on a feed from Bloomberg.
Crain's story on lack of sales at 111 N State and elsewhere also was a turning point--it would help our cause to write and appreciate the honesty of their report and make suggestions as to where else they could cover this major story.
Please respond to these stories--good or bad! It makes a difference. And remember, the boycott is working!
These suggestions are made:
Date: Thu, March 1, 2007, 5:39 pm CT
What I let out a cheer for was the S-T brief's mini-headline: "Field's Parent Downgraded."
YES! FIELD'S! ( They didn't say "Macy's.")
Date: Thu, March 1, 2007, 12:19 pm CT
So, I was surprised to see they carry Coach at Macy's. I walked over to check the price, thinking--I don't care how much cheaper it is here, I'll never give them my money. Surprised to see it's the same price as Nordstrom. ????? I thought they were a discounter??
Or at least I thought their stuff is supposed to be cheaper. (Not that it makes any difference to me.)
Well, I have no clue who they are. But it seems, neither do they.
Here's some questions, Macy's/Terry Lundgren:
Why on earth would I buy a Coach purse or anything at all from you --when you've destroyed a store I've loved all my life---without a care for how anyone feels about it?
Why wouldn't I buy at Nordstrom's (a store that stands behind its products and offers unparalled service) or anyplace else that isn't Macy's?
How you are going to "re-educate" me when you don't even know who you are?
How can you be so arrogant as to tell us we need to be re-educated?
How are you going to survive in an environment where 8 out of 10 shoppers (personal poll of approximately 100 North Shore Suburban Chicago shoppers) wouldn't set foot in your store, except to pass thru in cold weather????
You've got big problems if you think you're ever going to make it in this area. Are you just trying to run these stores into the ground?
It's not that we're disinterested in you Macy's, it's that we despise you. We despise you for what you've done to our Marshall Field's and for the fact that you don't seem to care what we have to say about it.
Date: Thu, March 1, 2007, 9:50 am CT
You knock it out of the park by exposing Macy's as a true fraud in the Chicago market. Welcome to Fieldsfans.org. and thanks for joining the boycott. I'm sure from reading other responses, you can get tips and information on alternative places to shop other than that Moscow Department Store. I shop Nordstrom's, Lord and Taylor, Neiman Marcus and Berdoff Goodman's when I'm in New York.
Thanks for your response. I laughed hysterically. You made my morning.
Viva La Boycott!
Erick
Date: Thu, March 1, 2007, 12:42 am CT
http://articles.moneycentral.msn.com/Investing/StreetPatrol/AvoidMarthaStewartTheCompany.aspx
Date: Thu, March 1, 2007, 12:01 am CT
There are only five Bloomingdale's in the midwest--only two have full lines with Medinah Temple and Oak Brook being only home stores and 900 N Michigan being fashions primarily.
Old Orchard is the other Chicago store. Then there is Mall of America. That's it. Save for Mall of America, all of these stores are in the same mall or adjacent to Field's locations. We'd rather have our Field's in stores that were designed for Field's.
Bloomingdale's is not the same kind of store as Field's. Macy's is not the same kind of store as Field's.
Sure there are certain synergies that might be had, especially in terms of logistics, but after reading some books on Federated and Macy's, I don't see Federated as being the kind of company that "gets" Field's.
Regardless if Field's had been made in Macy's or Bloomingdale's, I'd still be out there leafleting and the rest.
Date: Wed, February 28, 2007, 10:25 pm CT
Taes t put in place the 13-hour sales, but didn't rely on coupons as much as May or even Federated, for that matter. Sure, they struggled at times with the stores, but that was probably more lack of synergy and mismanaging of the brand (IOW, taking it down market in the early 90s). Actually, probably an easy, winning model for Federated turning around Field's in 2005 would have been the following: Convert the Michigan and underperforming IL/MN Field's stores to Macy's (Michiganders didn't care, anyway, and didn't like it when Hudson's became Field's). Believe it or not, the two brands could have co-existed, as Macy's is quite comparable to Carson's/Boston Store. Combine the IT/purchasing systems to get synergy on the bulk of items that are in common (which was done). Upgrade the fitting rooms (that could be done anyway). Undo some of the May "improvements" (coupons, cluttered racks). Fold the Bloomingdale's stores in the Midwest into the Field's chain to give the higher profile designers greater access in higher volume stores. Make the connection between Field's and the rest of Federated more clear by expanding the use of signature FIELD's items (e.g. adopt green bags in more of the country; place MF&Co. Frango's and Field's clock Radko ornaments, among others, in nationwide flagship stores only - where they can get adequate presentation without oversaturation; and make the credit cards interchangeable (in Bloomingdale's as well as Macy's) while retaining the Field's name). The purchasing power and other synergies alone would have brought sufficient margins back to Field's without sacrificing the high-end sales that Federated has ceded. Instead, we have Federated Frango's collecting dust underneath escalators at $4.25/lb in the rest of the country, an empty State Street, and a lot of money spent promoting a brand that doesn't fit here.
Date: Wed, February 28, 2007, 10:10 pm CT
How about that analyst in the Tribune that is quoted as saying it may take mesys a year to figure out who its customer base is! What a joke! If I said something like that in business school I would have failed out of class! Where do they find these analysts. Mesys is not interested in knowing its customers. If they were they could know who they are in a day like the people who run Nordstrom or Wal-Mart. They are interested only in how to reeducate consumers in mass numbers and impose their same-old same-old mass merchandise in numbers that impress very insulated wall street analysts who obviously haven't seen the junk or care to.
As one of many lost Strawbridges customers here who can't find a reason to spend a dime in mesys, and as someone who spent a lot at Fields on State Street but told by TL that mesys pulled the records of people who want Fields back and we didn't spend significant money there (lie), I know we have made ourselves very clear about how they have done wrong by the stores they have ruined coast to coast, and they aren't interested in a word we have to say. And the article in Pittsburgh mentioned by Drew... we have had similar articles here in Philadelphia that make you gasp with disbelief. We shoppers need more time to be educated on how to shop!! What a joke. Here all along I thought you just find something nice pick your size and pay and leave. That picture of TL at the podium with arms raised in the Pittsburgh Post Gazette makes him look like the dictator on the balcony singing Don't Cry for Me Chicago only without the Dior dress. What a sad tale that bad management can make such a mess simply by not listening.
A friend who works in a former suburban Strawbridges, now mesys, said to me, don't be so hard on us about the stuff all over the floor, the staff is so cut back there is no one who has a minute to keep up, and they have been asked not to pressure the management who are so stressed they are not the same people they were a year ago. All while analysts on wall street don't have a clue about the truth behind mesys spin and the media keeping the spin spinning.
I miss Fields! I miss reading Doris. Good work everyone on keeping Fields alive!
Date: Wed, February 28, 2007, 10:05 pm CT
The original picture now resides permanently and safely in the Chicago History Museum (formerly the Chicago Historical Society). I recently was looking at the Museum website and noticed that the painting is one of several classic items in the museum's collection that can be "adopted" to help pay for upkeep, etc. The options for adoption contributions range from $25. up to $500. I thought some of you might be interested in the program and/or going to see the painting. It is a beautiful and tangible reminder of the prestige and popularily Marshall Field's once enjoyed.
Date: Wed, February 28, 2007, 8:33 pm CT
Drew, you summed it up perfectly about their arrogance and their "reeducation" attitude. One of the things that always sets me off is when I read an article about the debacle and Lundgren or one of his minions say "some markets have been slow to catch on to our concept." Does this idiot think we're going to wake up one morning, slap ourselves in the forehead, and suddenly decide we love Macy's? Even the analysts say thing like "when the consumers return..." They rarely say if, but when! I have a clue for these guys... when = NEVER!!!!
Last weekend I wanted to buy items from 3 different brands of high-end cosmetics. Of course, Fields carried all three. Went to Oak Brook and had to hit 4 stores (Origins, Nordstrom's, Sephora, and finally Lord and Taylor) before I found all the items. Most of them carried what I was looking for, but they were sold out, perhaps because no one will buy them from Messy's? I told the saleslady at Lord and Taylor that I would simply go without the products rather than set foot into Messy's. She laughed and said "I've heard that before!"
I drive past Oak Brook between home and work, and after a hard day I would often stop at Field's for a cup of coffee and a calming browse through the store to relax myself. It was always so attractive, nicely lit, and shopper-friendly. I always spent way too much money! Now, on the 2 occasions I've forced myself to walk through the store since Sept. 9th, it's been loud, garish, harshly lit, and dirty. It's hard to pinpoint exactly, but the entire ambiance has changed...I couldn't wait to exit!
I hope this time consumers across the country--not just Fields fans--finally vote with their wallets and tell Lundgren and his cronies to keep their homogeonized overpriced crap!
Date: Wed, February 28, 2007, 7:18 pm CT
I just read the article from the Chicago Tribune "Field Day for ..Whatever.. blah blah blah"
Are these reporters just plain stupid? &^*^$*&^%!
I have shopped at Field's, LS Ayres and other May Stores for years and have never seen anywhere near the level of coupons, sales and promotions as what Macy's have created!
All these STUPID writers keep saying "Well the old May Customers aren't used to the reduction of Coupons & Sales"
Ignorant Stupid People! Get off your dumb asses and go to one of these stores or pay attention to your mail and newspapers! JC!
Do they just write and make no observations? Where in the hell do they get this information?
You would expect some level of intelligence from the Media, wouldn't you?
The more I read, the more angry I get!
Just Bring Back Field's! Remember.. Pride Comes Before The FALL!
Date: Wed, February 28, 2007, 6:59 pm CT
I worked for MF a few years after the BATUS acquisition in the 80's and they were still transitioning off when I was there. A lot of our sales checks (remember those days?) still had MF&Co listed on them along with the charge card imprinters.
Date: Wed, February 28, 2007, 6:57 pm CT
What's next? The "I Found Lint In My Bellybutton" Sale?
Who do they think they're fooling?
Wall Street... Wake UP!
I emailed her and stated that this information is totally incorrect!
http://www.post-gazette.com/pg/07059/765439-28.stm
Date: Wed, February 28, 2007, 6:30 pm CT
It is very sad to see Marshall Fields lose its name and its exclusive list of designers that high-end stores simply could not touch. How telling it is by this reality! Fieldsfans.org is such a great effort by the true and authentic people of Chicago and this nation. Macy's is in serious trouble as Chicagoans continue to speak with their dollars that this despicable institution is in no way shape or form, a substitute for the beauty and majesty of Marshall Fields.
Viva La Boycott!
Date: Wed, February 28, 2007, 5:35 pm CT
I should be one of Macy's and that idiot CEOC-s easiest converts. I'm a 25-year-old male and Field's was never one of the anchor stores at the malls closest to where I lived. I had to drive to the Orland Square or Louis Joliet malls. They were still Field's, but not quite State Street or Woodfield or Old Orchard. But I still made it into Chicago once or twice a year after high school to shop State Street and Water Tower. I was even going to give Macy's a chance after the conversion even though I really would have rather it stayed Marshall Field--now I want Field's back and Macy to high-tail it back to NYC. That was a big mistake walking into the Orland Square Macy's last October.
Macy's had not executed any of there 'improvements' at that store yet other then the addition of INC, Charter Club, Tasso Elba, etc. All junk I don't buy. The only way I buy Carson's house brands is when they are discounted to the point of practically give them away (hey, I need something to wear while playing with the corrosive chemicals at work). I wasn't impressed. I loved Field's because I could shop at one location (one fitting room trip, one register line, etc.) and choose from a large selection of designers I liked (Calvin Klein, Kenneth Cole, Hugo Boss, DKNY, Diesel, and the like). I could even drool and dream over the 'real' designers that cost a small fortune when I went to State Steet. Now I find knock-offs. It's like going out shopping for a Caddy and only finding Kia. Yeah, it's a car and it get's the job done, but it's NOT what I want or will spend my money on. And one of the escalators was broken (an aunt of mine said it was still out of order six weeks later). Maintenance staff fired I take it? And the visitors/posters here already know the answer to my next question: Was I able to find someone to get permission/help in undressing a mannequin because that was the last one in my size? Hell no. Years ago, I remember PennyC-s of all places helping me search a store and finally taking a tie off a mannequin because I wanted to buy and wear it for my 8th grade graduation. Even MacyC-s C+couponsC- from the paper suck. Read the find print and I see I can only use them on there knock-off brands, not on MenC-s designer apparel. IC-ll be shopping elsewhere.
And donC-t get me started on there exclusive house brands. I bought an INC blazer from the Hudson Bay Company in Toronto last November/December. This is a Canadian department store, not MacyC-s that I found it in. IC-m not really happy with it and only bought it cause it was one of the few blazers in my size that I remotely liked (I needed something to wear while attending the touring musical Chicago). Considering I have other things in this size (42L) that fit just fine, this one fits less so. And the fabric quality is decent but not of a major designerC-s standards. And I got home and found out it was the same stuff that MacyC-s hacks. Not happy with my purchase.
After that nightmare, I found this site online I have been hard-core anti-Macy's ever since. I've even bought items on Ebay that came from Field's just to spite Macy's. I stopped at the State Street store last month when I was bidding farewell to the State Street Carson's with my credit card. Hmmmm...I'm pretty sure my computer monitor is bigger then the TV they put in for the second floor men's fitting rooms. And who is that supposed to be for, especially on the men's floor? Men don't wait for other men when shopping, we go hit on hot sales girl we saw else where in the building. Women are following you into the fitting rooms to approve the clothing selection. And children...well men generally try not to leave the house and shop with young children. And the Ipod vending machine. Wow. You want me to use my credit card to spend $250 for an Ipod to fall at my feet. Literally. Somebody thought this is a good idea that'll appeal to my generation? Please tell me some one has a drug sniffing dog. Cause it'll maul him/her to death, I guarantee it (if you get what I'm implying). And the red carpets, tables, and walls that now grace that beautiful old building: nice way to remind us that you Macy's are a cheap whore from a red-light district. And I feel bad for the employees. They look a little lifeless in head to toe black, and it must be hard working for company that is struggling in this area. I also thought the store was a little empty for a weekend, especially the higher you go. And what is up with those dumb in store scanners? If they would alter the sale/clearance signs to make them easier to understand (like CarsonC-s and yellow dot clearance signs), no one would need to them. Or if you had more sales associates, I could ask them. A sign divided in three parts saying: 1) Save 20% when you use your MacyC-s card, 2) Sale Take 50% off, 3) Prices marked are 20% off. You could word it better so I knew that the 50% was off the already reduced price. And your scanners donC-t tell what IC-d pay if I
put the bill on a MacyC-s charge (like IC-d ever get one of those now). Also, yet another escalator was broken. Hmm, nice pattern you have going there.
I want Marshall Field and Company back, name and merchandise selection and service back to what it was before. It might not have been perfect and could used some tweaks. I think the idea of showcasing local designers on the first floor was good idea. Adding valet service to 28 could be good if people use it. Other then that, nothing else Federated has done is worthwhile. Field's was literally green like money and I was more then willing to part with mine for them (when I had the money). Macy's is red and has me seeing red. I don't know if my family or I will ever have more memories from Field's (like when I first got a Santa Bear in 1985), but I know Macy's won't make any memories for me. If anyone gives me anything from Macy's and I can't take it back for cash, then I'm either leaving with Frangos or I might even just drop clothes off at a consignment shop.
I'm not optimistic enough to believe that Federated (or whatever they'll be called) can restore Field's. I like to hope that we'll get Marshall Field's back like it was before, just like we got Fannie May back from the dead. By the time Federated stockholders realize the problems they have in management, they will have lost too much money/market share and will likely have to give a large severance check to the dimwitted CEO just to get rid of him. There won't be any money for them to restore anything. But maybe they'll be motivated to sell the rights to old store names and under performing locations to get cash. Maybe the people who bought Lord and Taylor will want to buy Field's and restore it like L&T.
I know some people ridicule the boycott since C+people will loose there jobs.C- My first priority with my money is to get what I want with it. IC-m not a lady, but there was a reason we have the FieldC-s phrase C+Give the lady what she want.C- IC-m not shopping at a store and buying stuff I donC-t really want just so someone can have a job or a store can remain open. MacyC-s will have to sell C+relevantC- merchandise for an area (not a nation). FieldC-s did that, MacyC-s does not. And I still have to shop somewhere, so those locations likely will have to hire more people to handle an increase in traffic from displaced customers. And as painful as I know it would be, I would rather see 111 N State Street go the same route as 1 S State Street. At least then I might have the chance to find stuff I want to buy in whatever might takeover part of the space. Target understood that FieldC-s did not compete with there stores when they own it. I shop Target and Walmart and Kmart for groceries, maybe a CD or DVD. I donC-t buy clothes or linens or kitchen utensils there. IC-ve basically stopped shopping PennyC-s and KohlC-s cause I donC-t like there knock-off clothes which usually donC-t fit me very well. The people that generally shop at these stores still view MacyC-s as too expensive. And now the people who used to shop FieldC-s are not only pissed off, but view it was too cheap in the quality of what they offer. IC-m amazed that they can pay the electric and heating bills for State Street.
I remember being a little boy of like 3-4 and staring at the top of two different boxes and being confused. They held Christmas ornaments and had this strange swirling thing on the center of the top. It took me years to realize that those swirling lines were actually the initials of two great old Chicago department stores: MF&Co and CPS. A silly, stupid, and (yes Mr Lundgren) emotional memory, but I hope the red communist star store drowns in a sea of red ink. And the musical Chicago I mention earlier, I had to laugh out loud in the theater before the performance as I read the playbill. This was after FieldC-s was gone in late November, yet the playbill had an article about Honest EdC-s which looks like a literal circus of a store. But the article was titled C+Keep Your HarrodC-s, MacyC-s and Marshall FieldC-sCC- ItC-s just further proof that even outside Chicago, people knew the name Marshall Field. ItC-s brand value went farther then Federated ever thought.
For ChicagoC-s sake, something needs to happen soon. With FieldC-s, CarsonC-s, and Lord and Taylor gone from the downtown and FederatedC-s stores out of the running too, shopping in Chicago rather sucks right now. I donC-t like driving into other suburbs instead of a train ride into downtown Chicago, but thatC-s about all I have left. Chicago might be soon loosing tax revenue for moderate to higher end goods cause I like most others will know have to shop in the suburbs. So I raise my glass to the fond memories Marshall Field and Company left me. If youC-re gone for good, at least I had some experiences there so I know what to expect when shopping. And if you come back, then IC-ll be one of the first to sign up for the store charge card. And get put on the mailing list.
Wow, this is three pages long in Word. I think I'll stop now.
Date: Wed, February 28, 2007, 4:37 pm CT
Imagine my horror when I received my statement with a FDSBank (Federated Dept. Stores) Privacy Policy inserted in the bill. There is also a 15% off coupon with five lines of disclaimers, ala Macy's.
Is Federated still handling L & T's credit card accounts? ? I feel like we should be boycotting them -- at least their credit cards -- since I think this means Macy's can stikll look at my credit. Any one know id L & T has plans to transfer their credit card portfolio away from Federated and Citibank?
Date: Wed, February 28, 2007, 3:32 pm CT Date: Wed, February 28, 2007, 3:01 pm CT
http://retail.seekingalpha.com/article/28202
Date: Wed, February 28, 2007, 2:13 pm CT
I spoke with friend who was shopping at the former Kaufmann's at a suburban Pittsburgh mall and ranted about the "exciting" macy*mart. She said, "If you gave me a thousand dollars and said to spend it in THAT PLACE, I'd come back home with a thousand dollars!" She went on to say that on a Saturday evening the store was deserted, but Bon Ton and Penneys were very busy. When she was approached by a clerk, she shook her head and said "I really miss Kaufmann's." The clerk replied, "That's all we hear from people. Look at the clearance racks. Nothing's moving. Then management pressures us to try to sell this junk that nobody wants." She commented that absolutely nothing even slightly appealed to her--and she is a true clothes-aholic. Although she had spent thousands of dollars on clothings, gifts, and home wares at Kaufmann's, she said she has charged nothing on her platinum macy*mart card.
"One size fits all" isn't working. Too cheezy, too expensive--as the Tribune article mentioned, macy*mart hasn't found its niche. When and if they ever do, will they be able to turn things around?
In the Pittsburgh market, JC Penney has upgraded and captured the former Kaufmann's mid level shopper, Boscov's has brought innovative merchandising into the region, and the bargain hunters have migrated to Kohl's. The upscale shoppers visit small boutiques and exclusive shops. What demographic group is targeted by macy*mart?
Date: Wed, February 28, 2007, 1:46 pm CT
http://www.post-gazette.com/pg/07059/765439-28.stm
The tone of the article seemed to imply "reindoctrination." We at macy*mart know what is best and you WILL learn to accept our ways. Their arrogance is blistering; it wasn't "We are adapting our stores to meet the shopper's needs and expectations" but "We know what's best and we will 'reeducate' the stupid consumer to the macy*mart doctrine."
That smug, smirking Lunkhead has developed into a Communistic dictator who seeks to have his employees force his policies down the throats of unwary consumers. PLEASE shop elsewhere and stop this power-crazed megalomaniac before it's too late.
Date: Wed, February 28, 2007, 1:09 pm CT
----GRATITUDE that the truth about the abomination that is Macy's is finally starting to be so obvious that it can no longer be ignored by the national and local media
----SEETHING ANGER at the blatant lies Terry Lundgren told and got away with for so long, when he said Macy's would be just like Marshall Field's but with nicer fitting rooms
----DISBELIEF that within only five short months our once great Marshall Field's could be obliterated in so many more ways than name alone
----DISPAIR over whether Field's can be brought back in her former glory when so much of what made the institution special (people, tradition and merchandise) has been lost
----DETERMINATION that the boycott of Macy's will continue on and on
Probably some cynics will say, "So yeah, a bunch of designers jumped ship. Only a few people could afford them anyway, so what's the big deal?" Well, the big deal is that the exclusive arrangenments these international designers had with Field's demonstrates they understood how special Marshall Field's was to the fabric of Chicago. This was also one of the many reasons tourists flocked to the State Street store.
But Field's really was a store for everybody. For generations. If you were just starting out and managing on limited funds you could always find inexpensive, but quality merchandise available at Field's (and they treated you like you mattered.) As you moved up the ladder there was merchandise that met your needs for home, career, lifestyle and gift-giving. For those lucky few at the top of the heap Marshall Field's offered them the world's top designers in the 28shop.
Now we have Macy's. Thud.
And, always remember that Federated started this. Federated struck the first blow. Terry Lundgren kicked our beloved Marshall Field's to the curb. Now Macy's is being kicked to the curb.
Date: Wed, February 28, 2007, 11:29 am CT Date: Wed, February 28, 2007, 11:24 am CT
Bring back the "shops within shops", bump it up to 60% of the store. Bring back the website and make it even bigger and better, reintroduce the Field's private brands, bring back a quarterly "Fashions of the Hour" with celeb interviews, fashions, cooking, gift selections, travel and style articles and send it to all credit card holders, to high income addresses, sell it on newstands etc. What is sold at Field's doesn't have to be the same as Bloomingdales ie if Blomingdales sells Armani, sell something like Prada or Dior instead, ie 75% of Field's brands would be exclusive to Field's only.
They could make Field's and Bloomingdales two very different corporate cultures, two very different shopping experiences. One wouldn't be better than the other, just different yet complimentry. BE UNIQUE! But then I forgot! Silly me. All this excellence would show up Macy's and in Lundgren's "mind" Macy's is suppose to be the great savior of FDS and for the American public! Macy's has to be mediocre in Lundgren's world, the emergency brake always has to be on, otherwise it might compete with Blomingdales.
Date: Wed, February 28, 2007, 10:51 am CT
Living my entire life as a resident of one of Chicagoland's collar counties, I fondly recall waking early and dressing nicely for a semi-annual Chicago Shopping Excursion with my mother. We would return, exhausted, with a vehicle full of green and white shopping bags and boxes.
I would bring my children to the City for a day of shopping. Now Target's Marshall Field's, The Fed-Ex man would also grace our doorstep with internet purchases on a more-regular basis then I care to admit! The perfect gifts were sent to friends and family, via. the personal shopper my mother has also used for years and years.
Up until the fateful day the dress code changed to somber black, I refuse to remove my Field's card from my wallet. The balance-zero. (paid in full before the changeover). Our personal shopper, sent a card announcing her retirement.
I find it arrogent and disrespectful. I applaud Target's companies for their regal attempt to do good by Chicago.
Marshall Field's IS Chicago. I am glad to know I am not the only one feeling-lost.
I applaud your efforts, and would love to purchase a lapel pin.
Melissa Eldredge
Date: Wed, February 28, 2007, 10:02 am CT
Field days here for Macy's rivals
Date: Wed, February 28, 2007, 9:53 am CT
Hope that helps,
Marc
Date: Wed, February 28, 2007, 7:38 am CT
Date: Wed, February 28, 2007, 12:51 am CT
Federated wants to "ask" the shareholders if it is ok to change the name of the company to "Macy's Group Inc." As a fan of the "original Macy's," you might think that I would be very happy.
One problem...a BIG problem; the Macy's of today is NOT the Macy's I grew up with. Today's leadership are taking Macy's down-market and many things are missing.
What's missing ? Simply stated, GUEST SERVICE, not only on the sales floors in each department, but in every area of the company. It is very sad !
There is nothing that makes you want to shop the average Macy's. NO RESTAURANTS, NO FUN AND EXCITING DEPARTMENTS, NO MERCHANTS MINDING THE STORE.
Instead, the store has been turned over to the bean-counters and real-estate moguls. Indeed it is very sad ! TAKE A LOOK AT HERALD SQUARE...with it's lack of a fine dining room , fun departments that make people want to come to the store and actually stay awhile !
---THE REAL QUESTION IS, IF FEDERATED DEPARTMENT STORES CHANGES THEIR NAME TO MACY'S GROUP INC, WHAT HAPPENS TO BLOOMINGDALE'S ? WHAT WILL THE COMPANY LOOK LIKE FIVE YEARS FROM NOW ? MOST OF ALL, WHAT WILL HAPPEN TO OUR BELOVED MARSHALL FIELD'S ?
FEDERATED STOCKHOLDERS, THE TIME IS NOW TO DEMAND EQUITY. AS YOU WILL SURELY SEE, MARSHALL FIELD'S MIGHT MAKE THINGS BETTER FOR THE COMPANY AS A WHOLE IF IT WAS RETURNED TO ITS RIGHTFUL PLACE !
Respectful Regards,
RG74
Date: Wed, February 28, 2007, 12:33 am CT
I would prefer it if they eventually sold off Bloomingdale's. I like Bloomie's over Macy's, even though the product assortment (at least for men's clothes) has gotten trendier and pricier. When Bloomie's first came to California in 1996, they had a great in-house label called East Island. They were nice, comfortable, hard-wearing, and reasonably priced clothes. Kind of similar to Field Gear in a way. However in the early part of this decade, the brand disappeared and Bloomie's has decided to focus on two segments of male shoppers: the ultra-trendy crowd and the more "mature" gentleman. There's no middle ground anymore.
Keep hitting them where it hurts, the bottom line. Eventually this big idea of theirs will end up being deflated like one of those silly Thanksgiving balloons. There's no place like Field's!
Date: Tue, February 27, 2007, 11:36 pm CT
There's a line buried towards the end of the article that highlights a huge problem for Macy's: "The dilemma has left Macy's without a clear-cut niche, analysts said. Some customers view it as too expensive, others as too cheap."
Or better put: one size does not fit all and one store does not serve all.
Give us back our Marshall Field's!
Date: Tue, February 27, 2007, 10:44 pm CT
Walked through Lord & Taylor today, it's sad. Bought a new shirt & tie at Nordstroms a few days ago. The service was better than any tie shopping I ever did on State Street. In fact, the State Street tie department had terrible service. So, I can't imagine what it is like now.
What does everyone think of JCPenney's "Every Day Matters" campaign? I must say the ads are very classy. Their brand relaunch is already off to a much better start than Messy Mart's "excitement" last fall.
Date: Tue, February 27, 2007, 10:21 pm CT
Chicago is proud to be one of the great cities of the world. Marshall Field's is Chicago's store and we take care of our own!!
Viva la boycott.
Date: Tue, February 27, 2007, 9:50 pm CT
If you have enjoyed the latest headlines, wait till next week, when Federated is required to post earnings that -- finally -- include the former May Company stores. I can see it now: EMPEROR LUNDGREN HAS NO CLOTHES!
Hang in. We are winning. I would rather the building becomes a bowling alley than an inferior store that so blatantly disdained our traditions and culture.
Zelda
Date: Tue, February 27, 2007, 8:48 pm CT
I love Bergdorf Goodman too! There is a salesperson in the men's department that I bought something from in August 2002, and when I returned the next time in March 2005, he asked me how things were in Atlanta and if I was still enjoying my pajamas! THAT is service! That's the same sort of service I got from Field's.
You're correct that the men's store is much larger than what Neiman's has at Michigan Avenue. But remember, 5th Avenue is their flaship (only) store. A branch location would certainly be smaller.
Date: Tue, February 27, 2007, 6:43 pm CT
Does anyone know how old something like this may be?
Date: Tue, February 27, 2007, 6:07 pm CT
Federated Department: No Longer Getting My Shopping or Investment Business
Date: Tue, February 27, 2007, 5:25 pm CT
Field's is more than a store, it's part of Chicago's identity and culture. Federated: Please give it back or continue to suffer the consequences of bad decision to disrespect our city and our people.
Collectively, Chicago is insulted and disrespected by what Lungren and company have done. The media and shareholders need to hold him accountable for what he has done. We Chicagoans will hold him and Macy's accountable by not shopping those stores and giving our business to other Chicago stores.
Jim
Date: Tue, February 27, 2007, 5:05 pm CT
The only reason the stores are losing money like never before is because of Federated's very bad business decision...bring back Field's and bring back business and money beyond your wildest dreams.
Date: Tue, February 27, 2007, 4:50 pm CT
Sometimes the statements made by the media never fail to amaze me. They have such a knack for stating the obvious.
I'm even more amused by the statement...."things are going poorly. for Macy's stores in the Chicago area, a conclusion he bases on sales-tax receipt data from the Illinois Department of Revenue."
Good going. Keep up the fight!!
Peter
Date: Tue, February 27, 2007, 4:37 pm CT
Date: Tue, February 27, 2007, 2:56 pm CT
Bergdoff Goodman, at least for men, is the bigger and better between the two.
Date: Tue, February 27, 2007, 2:27 pm CT
That's pretty much what Macy's did when they dumped Field's. And I can't say enough that it is about more than just a name. Macy's and Bloomingdale's just doesn't compare with Field's, my fellow Field's Fans.
When will Lungren get over his pride, ego and fear and do the right thing by Chicagoans, Field's Fans and shareholders?????? Hint: The right thing isn't introducing Frango shower gel or buying ad space on the front of the Sun-Times.
The sad part is the flop of these stores that used to be Field's didn't have to happen if Lundgren had done the right thing by Field's. People may not lose their lives, but Lungren's bad business decision is costing people their livliehood. Here's to prayers for them that they land at places with good bosses rather than the kind at Federated who would risk their employees' careers on corporate imperialism.
Date: Tue, February 27, 2007, 1:35 pm CT
Normally a lurker but can't stand it anymore.
I have to ask: Who in their right mind would rather have Martha Stewart instead of Marshall Field's?
Date: Tue, February 27, 2007, 1:15 pm CT
Hosts of the show Sherman Kaplan and Chris Cridell had a conversation with retail market analyst Howard Davidowitz that was similar to the conversation that these three persons had on the same show a few weeks ago.
Today, Davidowitz said "...Macy's legacy stores are doing great, but the stores of the former May Company are in the tank, and Federated has not revealed the sales revenue from those stores...."
That is nothing new, but it is good to hear it continually repeated in the media.
Date: Tue, February 27, 2007, 12:48 pm CT
First of all, media outlets like the Tribune still seem to be accepting the spin of Lungren only talking about sales at "legacy" stores, while vaguely saying the former May Stores are not doing well but are doing less badly. One has to ask why papers don't question the "emperor's new clothes"? How can papers let Lundgren get away with being vague about the stats of about 400 -- or about half--
their stores??? How are they doing less badly?
Also, how is the public to perceive that Macy's is going more upscale with a brand name -- Martha Stewart -- that is most associated for about 20 years with a discount store that is not
doing well?
As noted, perhaps the biggest point of today's FD Q4 conference call is Terry Lundgren's proposal to the change the name of Federated Department Stores to "Macy's Group, Inc."
From the perspective of Field's Fans, this helps our cause because 1) the change makes Bloomingdale's link to Macy's much more obvious, and 2) it underscores that Field's was taken down-market when it was Macyized.
Occasionally I'll talk someone who is boycotting Macy's but is unaware of the relationship between Macy's and Bloomingdale's.
Changing "Federated" to "Macy's" will make it much more clear that Bloomingdale's is also effectively part of Macy's. Now it will be more clear that they need to boycott Bloomingdale's as well.
The switch to "Macy's Group, Inc." further underscores and publicizes that Macy's has taken Field's down market. Federated's logic is that a separate store like Bloomingdale's is needed to appeal to a lucrative market of quality that Macy's doesn't reach. If Field's is supposed to be the best of Macy's then why didn't Field's become Bloomingdale's instead since the latter is really Macy's best?
This makes it even more clear that, contrary to what Federated says, the former Field's stores are not the same quality now that they are Macy's.
The switch from "Federated Department Stores" to "Macy's Group" definitely will help the cause of our boycott in support of bringing back Field's.
Jim
Date: Tue, February 27, 2007, 11:56 am CT
Enjoy!
Date: Tue, February 27, 2007, 11:04 am CT Date: Tue, February 27, 2007, 9:35 am CT
On the positive side, it does seem that analysts don't buy Federated's line about how well the integration is going. If this continues, there will be pressure to do something bold on the May stores, such as bring back the names and the quality.
Date: Tue, February 27, 2007, CT
I think Roundy's is useful to discuss here, because of the behind the scenes connections with the Dominick's story, which of course, has some parallels to the loss of Field's to Macy's in Chicago.
jim
Date: Tue, February 27, 2007, 2:55 am CT
Something I keep forgetting to mention to you re: the Roundy's entrance into Chicagoland. I'm perplexed as to why the Chicago biz press is not picking this up. Roundy's is actually owned by a Chicago-based investment group, even thought the business operates out of Milwaukee.
They run a nice operation, actually. They took over a neglected chain here in Minneapolis from Fleming out of Texas, called Rainbow and have slowly but steadily been turning it around. They have some decent quality house brands, good bakery & deli but especially large fresh, good quality produce. I am not impressed with their meat dept though. The operation here is on the lower end of price scale and has a warehouse feel to it. This is an especially tough food market town with Super Valu/CUB and Target both headquartered here; LUNDS/Byerly's and Kowalski's on the luxury end are all headquartered here; Wal*Mart is trying like heck to break into Target's hometown; and some independents who really know how to deliver high quality foods and service are still thriving as well.
Regards.
Date: Mon, February 26, 2007, 8:44 pm CT
Below is a response I received from Bill Virgin, a columnist in Seattle, followed by my original email to him. He wrote a great column how mergers never benefit the customer. Even though I live in Minneapolis, I took the opp to thank him for his excellent column and show how it applied to Federated/May. His response:
Out here The Bon Marche got Macy-ized, but there wasn't nearly the outcry that I've been reading about in the Midwest with the change from Marshall Field's. Thanks for the note. Bill Virgin
-----Original Message-----
Sent: Thursday, February 22, 2007 8:50 PM
To: Virgin, Bill
Subject: column re: mergers
Hi Bill,
Thanks for your column re: mergers and how they never benefit the customer. Another example is the merger of Federated Dept Stores and May Co Dept Stores. In my region, the Midwest, Minneapolis specifically, we lost our wonderful Marshall FieldC-s when it was downgraded by Federated into a MacyC-s.
The changes are unbelievable just since September. And always in the background are the noises from MacyC-s CEO Terry Lundgren about how now all regions of the country will benefit from MacyC-s exciting national brand strategy. However, as the severe decrease in same-store sales show in the Midwest, we are not buying that argument.
For years, Marshall FieldC-s and itC-s forerunner in Minneapolis, DaytonC-s (the parent company of Target), distinguished itself by offering not only the same brand names as all other department stores, but by finding small, unique names to offer. Now many of the high end designers have left since they donC-t want their goods sold at MacyC-s. Additionally, MacyC-s has removed many of the really unique brands to make room for their heaps of poor quality, over-priced junk generic store brands such as INC, Club Room, Donald Trump, Charter Club, Style & Co., Green Dog, Tools of the Trade, and blah blah blah ad nauseum.
The service has become a joke. If I could not find an item in my size or color, FieldC-s would send it to me without a shipping charge from one of their other stores since my store was out of said item. Now at MacyC-s, itC-s difficult to locate anyone who knows how to conduct a transaction accurately. And forget any expectation of a greeting------these people are too important to actually speak to a customer, although I am often privileged to overhear conversations about when they are taking their break.
Here in Minneapolis/St Paul, St Thomas University conducted a very telling survey of consumers that reveals exactly what you wrote. 38% of those interviewed do not plan to shop at MacyC-s at all and 21% say they will spend less or substantially less than they did last year at Marshall FieldC-s. Before the downgrading of FieldC-s by Federated, one of the Marketing professors at St. Thomas had conducted a survey also and had produced some results that caused him to say that Federated really ought to rethink their rebranding strategy. From a marketing perspective, it made no sense.
As Lundgren has found out in the Midwest, MacyC-s has not become the C,new sensation across the nationC. as they proclaimed in their marketing campaigns. Thus far, they have failed to report same store sales for the stores which were former May Co stores. However, the analysts have become quite restive about this since that comprises approximately 400 of their 850 stores. It now appears that in March, they will for the first time include those stores in their monthly reporting.
I am actually very surprised that analysts think so highly of that company. Their stores look dirty and run down. The merchandise is very bland. Service is non-existent. It tells me that analysts for retail donC-t really understand what a good retail operation looks like.
Date: Mon, February 26, 2007, 7:59 pm CT
http://www.thesqueakywheel.com/complaints/2006/NOV/complaint10791.cfm
Date: Mon, February 26, 2007, 7:51 pm CT
If you're looking for Bergdorf Goodman to come to Chicago, I wouldn't be so anxious. Since it's part of the Neiman Marcus company, they'd never put one here to compete with their already existing store. You should also be able to find the majority (but not all) of the brands you see at Bergdorf's in our Neiman's.
Date: Sun, February 25, 2007, 6:04 pm CT
I had heard that Roundy's was interested in opening a food emporium in the Carson's building:
Date: Sun, February 25, 2007, 6:13 pm CT
If you can't pull customers on a Saturday during a sale, I see little hope for Macy's. (YEAAAAAAAAA!)
Meanwhile, on the 7th floor: No wait at the Walnut Room. Seems like even the pre-theater lunch crowd has abandoned Macy's. Frango Cafe had 2 patrons. Seven on Seven had maybe 30 diners.
I wanted to get a Coke but there was no one around WHO KNEW HOW TO OPERATE THE REGISTER! Way to shop!
Overheard on escaltor: "We traveled all the way to Chicago for this? Remember when this was a good store."
Three cheers for the three ladies wearing very large "I WANT FIELD'S" buttons. Bless your hearts.
Date: Sat, February 24, 2007, 11:00 pm CT
I will never walk in that store until it's Field's again--in name, quality and service.
Date: Fri, February 23, 2007, 11:58 pm CT
So glad Lunkhead has stopped trying to isolate the resistance to macy*mart to ONLY Chicago and make it sound like it's just a few crazies there. Now he finally has to admit it's Minneapolis, too....YEA!! (from the Market Watch link a few posts below this one).
I am quite proud to be recognized in the national business press for our efforts here ...LOL. While we may not be able to muster the street show that you all have done with the 1890s costumes----it's our passive aggressiveness, you see--- it does seem that our quiet but stern approach has yielded some complimentary results.
And while we were not yet able to rid ourselves of that Polenta person who held on to the governorship here by 1 ppt, our legislature returned big time into the Blue in November. That makes Illinois, Wisconsin and Minnesota an island of Blue sanity smack in the middle of the country. All in all, a most productive 6 months on several fronts.
Regards.
Date: Fri, February 23, 2007, 10:40 pm CT
Just now as I was watching the Channel 7 News, Jerry Taft mentioned "the webcam over on the macy's building". This is not the first time I've heard the newscasters at Ch. 7 refer to it as such. That really irked me again tonight to hear the Marshall Field's Building referred to as macy's. So, I just finished sending off an email to the Channel 7 News Dept. to please stop referring to it as the macy's building. I said that even though it is occupied by macy's, it is STILL and always will be the Marshall Field's Building as listed on the National Register of Historic Buildings.
Anyone else hear them calling that the macy's building?
Keep sending letters and or emails to the media.
Beth
Date: Fri, February 23, 2007, 9:47 pm CT
The MySpace page is
UNBELIEVABLE
SOOOO INCREDIBLE
You ALL must go!
Thank You to who tipped us off and to whomever produced it!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
B
italbearr@yahoo.com
Date: Fri, February 23, 2007, 8:55 pm CT
Steve-- in my work I have the chance to interact with some high power people who would be the ones to occupy the "box seats" at events -- be it the Symphony, Opera, Or sporting events -- please let me assure you that those people do not even consider going to macymart to buy --Anything. They DO however consider bloomingdales and so we need to keep working the bloomingdales angle as well!
I am SO SORRY that I missed the CBS Sunday morning story-- I will see if it is available on the web--
Thanks All
B
italbearr@yahoo.com
Date: Fri, February 23, 2007, 8:06 pm CT
About half-way down the list the author lists Marshall Field's being taken over by Macy's. People have boycotted Frango mints and the Walnut Room; so they've gotten thinner!
Date: Fri, February 23, 2007, 7:01 pm CT
Bon-Ton is becoming quite a darling in the eyes of stock pundits. Fortune/CNN has a love fest going for it today:
http://money.cnn.com/2007/02/22/smbusiness/bonton.fortune/?postversion=2007022315
Date: Fri, February 23, 2007, 5:47 pm CT Date: Fri, February 23, 2007, 1:23 pm CT
It seems Federated is good at ticking off and disresepcting the traditions of Minnesotans as well as Chicagoans. Here's a quote from the story:
Way to flop!
Date: Fri, February 23, 2007, 11:39 am CT Date: Fri, February 23, 2007, 10:56 am CT
Ralph Lauren's Polo store on Michigan Avenue has become my favorite store;also Lord and Taylor in the suburbs. I wish Bergdoff Goodman in New York opened a store in Chicago.
Stay tuned for the sales report and remember...
Viva la Boycott!
Date: Fri, February 23, 2007, 4:57 am CT
Date: Thu, February 22, 2007, 6:59 pm CT
Federated will also release its February 2007 sales report on Thursday, March 8. It is understood that this will be the first sales report to include both former May Department stores, Marshall Field's and "Legacy" Macy's and Bloomingdale's stores together. Sales reports in the most recent months excluded former May stores (including former Field's stores) so this should be a bit different.
In other news, I've received reports that new flyers are being sent out in the mail that say "Marshall Field's 13-hour sale is now Macy's One Day Sale." And the response I'm hearing from those receiving these flyers is, "Yes, we've heard you before, we don't like it and don't plan to shop Macy's."
Date: Thu, February 22, 2007, 5:08 pm CT
Date: Thu, February 22, 2007, 10:13 am CT Date: Thu, February 22, 2007, 8:05 am CT
What's more, I know Carson's will be back in the Loop or Downtown.
While we are on the subject, it's disappointed that I've let more than a few media outlets know of how Carson's landed at 1 S. State because of Marshall Field. And it's unfortunate to note that the news doesn't explain that before Carson's was at 1 S. State, Selfridge went solo there, before moving to London.
Date: Wed, February 21, 2007, 10:32 pm CT Date: Wed, February 21, 2007, 1:20 pm CT Date: Wed, February 21, 2007, 11:10 am CT
I really wonder if Bon_ton will even open a store downtown, most likeley it sounds like they are looking to open near downtown where the price of rent and land would be much lower than the central city.
Date: Wed, February 21, 2007, 8:05 am CT
Date: Tue, February 20, 2007, 11:29 pm CT
Date: Tue, February 20, 2007, 8:41 pm CT
I have also been reading about the drop in customer satisfaction from the Michigan pole. I'm sure Terry will have a spin to blame it off on the May Stores.
Its interesting how the May Stores are still knocked even though they have been defunct for over a year.
Anyway here is another "Way To Flop" Story for you.
I was at Polaris Mall in Columbus a few days ago with a friend. She had seen an add in Macy's flyer for one of those hand-held can openers that cuts the lid from the side and she wanted it. We went to the housewares department and couldn't find it anywhere. Finally we asked a sales associate. He said that the store had just recently become part of Macy's Midwest instead of Macy's South and they didnt carry any of that merchandise.
What a shocker!
I sure miss Field's!
Date: Tue, February 20, 2007, 7:15 pm CT
Just a silly thing, but I saw a comic strip a few days ago in the paper (The Dinette Set, by Julie Larson). The gag involved the characters ordering ice cream in a shop, and making the waitress list all 31 flavors, when they really just wanted vanilla. Anyhow, as the waitress was listing all the special and exotic flavors, one of the flavors was "Frango mint!" It just exemplified how wide spread the Field's name and its associated brands are. I have no idea where the cartoonist is from, but she obviously has experienced Frangos. ;-)
Date: Tue, February 20, 2007, 6:07 pm CT
When doing so, these suggestions are made:
* Signoria di Firenze sheets can be purchased at several different stores--not sure which store is preferred so just Google "Signoria di Firenze sheets."
* Penney's has never had a downtown store--as someone pointed out--and I believe Ford City is the only one in Chicago city limits. (The Brickyard store is long gone.)
Not sure if that is for real that JCP will move into the Joffrey building, but, as I have pointed out, I would love for Carson's to move back to Block 37 which is where it used to be about a centry ago. before Marshall Field I convinced them to take over Selfridge's at 1 S State.
* Regarding Frangos, I truly believe the Marshall Field's logo is featured in advertisements at this point simply when that's the only photo they have of the particular Frangos they are selling.
As mentioned including in the 12/31/06 Tribune, no more Frango boxes will be made with the Field's logo and when the existing stock is gone, they are gone.
I think as far as they are concerned, Macy's views the transition to plain "Frango" as pretty much done.
Jim
Date: Tues, February 20, 2007, 4:00 pm CT
There's a great article in the Chicago Sun-Times business section today entitled "What Shoppers Want." I quote:
The study was conducted by the University of Michigan is based on 15.000 surveys conducted in the fourth quarter of 2006.
Here's the URL if you want to read the whole thing:
WE ARE UN-STOPPABLE! KEEP BOYCOTTING! SPREAD THE WORD!
Your Friend in Field's,
Zelda
Date: Tues, February 20, 2007, 2:17 pm CT
J. C. Pennys has never had a downtown store in Chicago as far as I know. We had Goldblatt's, Montgomery Wards, Wieboldt's, Lyttons, Charles A. Stevens, etc. on State St., but never a Pennys. That would be interesting if they opened a store across the street from the old Marshall Field's. I really wish one big department store would take over the Carson's building when it closes, so it doesn't get chopped up into smaller stores.
Date: Tues, February 20, 2007, 11:49 am CT
Out of hot chocolate at the Frango Cafe on State St. on a Saturday?!! Out of Strawberries?!! Out of DESSERTS?!! Pray tell, what DID they have? Stale cookies? Luke warm coffee? This says it all.
Just what do the execs at Macy's think they're doing? Do they think Chicagoans and visitors to Chicago WON'T NOTICE? Do they think Field's shoppers would be just as happy to eat at McDonald's, like a bum on the street? Where are the Macy's people from, Mars? Quality doesn't count? Sales don't count? What does count? It really makes me wonder.
Date: Tues, February 20, 2007, 11:01 am CT Date: Tues, February 20, 2007, 9:38 am CT
Wonder what kind of spin Lungreed will put on Federated's rating drop? Evidently macy*mart hasn't become America's "way to shop."
Date: Tues, February 20, 2007, 9:03 am CT Date: Tues, February 20, 2007, 6:49 am CT
Date: Mon, February 19, 2007, 10:44 pm CT
I'll be going to Chicago in April, and I dread to think what has become of 111 N. State, but I need to see the desecration with my own eyes, just so that I can compare before and after Field's. Of course Field's is gone, and by the time I get to Chicago, Carson's will be gone from the Loop, and Lord & Taylor I believe will almost be gone from Water Tower. It's sad that in a short span of time, shopping in downtown Chicago has lost so much uniqueness.
Date: Mon, February 19, 2007, 9:56 pm CT
Interesting how no one in the media ever grills Terry about quality and selection. Just goes to show how shoddy and shallow reporting is in today's news, TV, radio or print.
Date: Mon, February 19, 2007, 9:22 pm CT
If you did see it, you can send comments to the editors and producers at sundays@cbsnews.com . You can also send feedback via the "Contact Us" link at the bottom of the page.
Date: Mon, February 19, 2007, 6:47 pm CT
Date: Mon, February 19, 2007, 2:39 pm CT
Date: Mon, February 19, 2007, 1:25 pm CT
I was there with a friend who had never been in Field's in his life and wanted to see the store. He thought that it would be the same as Famous Barr in St. Louis. I made sure he stood corrected.
We went to the 7th floor to look around. I was still impressed at what Target had conceived. Down to the small details of the shafts of wheat carved into the chairs. Their affinity to the true origins of Frangos by Frederick & Nelson, etc.
We went to the Frango Cafe since my friend had heard of the frozen hot chocolate and wanted to try it. We were told after we sat down that they were out of the frozen hot chocolate, then he tried to order hot chocolate...no go. We were told they were out of most of the desserts including the pot de creme. I tried to order a strawberry shake. No strawberries. We all know this would NEVER had happened as Fields.
As usual, Macy's took a very simple thing and screwed it up. This was a Saturday for god's sake, no frango chips, no hot chocolate. These are their signature items.
I disliked Macy's before, now I hate them to the ends of the universe.
Keep up the boycott in Chicago. I'm doing my part in California.
Date: Mon, February 19, 2007, 11:58 am CT
I was wondering if someone could kindly post the link to the CBS Sunday Morning video. It would be really great to see that ! How I miss Marshall Field's. Ahhh...the quality..the class..the fabulous Walnut Room and restaurants.
KEEP IT ALL ALIVE !!!!! Federated please bring back Marshall Field's !
Date: Mon, February 19, 2007, 9:06 am CT
Even in my cheap balcony seats, people are talking about never shopping at the m store. I can only imagine what they are saying in the box seats!
Date: Sun, February 18, 2007, 6:37 pm CT
I also noted they showed a lot more of the interior of 111 N State than of Herald Square.
I was glad that the segment on us Field's Fans showed a healthy bit of the 9/9 march on State Street as well as nice bit of the 1890s ladies (and gents) from last Black Fridayi, 11/24. If you were at the protest, there's a good chance you could pick yourself out of the footage they showed.
I was actually interviewed for about 12-15 minutes--not the 30 seconds it seemed like on the airing-- and did represent to some of your other points mentioned below, farther below and more.
The two points that definitely stick out from Lundgren's part of the interview was the reprise of dismissing Field's fans as emotional and also their showing Frangos with the Marshall Field's logo on the box.
Any good salesperson will tell you shopping and making the sale is ultimately an emotional thing. Otherwise, for example, people wouldn't buy or need fancy pattern ties or high-heel shoes or... If it wasn't emotional, well, we might as well as shop at Big Lots or some other place that is barebones.
As for the Frangos, they showed them displayed on a table with the Field's logo on them, as if it was a tradition that was going to stay when in fact it is not. We all know that Macy's is exhausting their supply of those boxes with "Marshall Field's" on the outside. Once those are gone, the name synonymous with Chicago and class will be gone. That's not maintaining a tradition. Neither is reducing quality and service and removing the name "Marshall Field's" a maitenance of tradition.
So look for the clip at cbs.com tomorrow and also I will look a bit more into the best address to send comments to the producers.
I'm glad we are in this together!
Date: Sun, February 18, 2007, 5:36 pm CT
Went to the lower level to visit food, housewares and linens -- surprisingly, they still had Frango's with the Marshall Field's logo (lots of them -- even had them stacked at the registers in the housewares and clothing departments). Also, in the linen's department they still had "Marshall Field" brand towels for sale (however, they were not ON sale). The lamp department is gone, now occupied by bed pillows (about 500 square feet of bed pillows!!).
Being totally unimpressed, I headed back upstairs and made one more pass through the men's department -- was surprised to see that they had Ralph Lauren Polo on sale -- although, it was mostly clearance items at 20% off. Finally, while passing through the women's department to get back to the mall, I overheard a manager-type on his headset telling someone that "he needed help, 'stat'" to pick up the mess on the floors.
Way to flop!
Date: Sun, February 18, 2007, 2:45 pm CT
Back in December, a friend started a conversation with a construction foreman at the building going up between Field's and the Chicago Theater. He was told that the retail space was being built to JCPenney's specifications but they hadn't signed a lease. With that space, Block 38, and the Carson's building vacant, there's a good chance that they will indeed have a State Street presence someday. Does anyone know where (or even if) Penney's had a store in downtown Chicago previously?
Date: Sun, February 18, 2007, 1:24 pm CT
In the interview, Jim McKay presents himself as a sincere Everyman who is devoted to a cause. On the other hand, Terry Lunkhead came off as the arrogant, phony, distant, condescending pretty boy. TL looked as artificial and emotionless as the displays in macy*mart.
Date: Sun, February 18, 2007, 1:03 pm CT
Both the Valentine's promo and the President's weekend sale ads virtually elilminate the entire store. Why don't they just state that the only merch on sale is the Messy's store brands?
Date: Sun, February 18, 2007, 11:51 am CT
I was in Nicollet Mall Store yesterday and was amazed to see not 1 sign of preparation for the annual Spring Flower Show. Recall from my previous posts that this was a massive effort with Bachmann's the horticulture firm and took weeks of preparation and construction in the 8th Floor Auditorium. For at least a month prior, there would be lumber, stones, gravel and yards upon yards of soil hauled in. Then there would be several weeks of construction of beautiful garden sets, walls, French Country Houses, Viennese Gardens,ponds & water falls,animated figures, plus the addition of live horses and fish. One year Schmitt Music brought in Elctronic Pianos hooked up to lights so we could create out own light and garden sounds. There were also other interactive methods of creating "Garden Sounds" using pre-recorded Musique Concrete`. The long 100 ft hallway from the elevator/escaltor area was even hand-painted with a new mural for each show-----since it needed to cover the hand-painted mural from the 8th Floor Auditorium Christmas show that just finished December 31.
But now that the show has been moved to the exciting 1st Floor to imitate the shows in Herald Square & Union Square, in order to increase the excitement by viewing the exciting flowers among the exciting macys merchandise, it appears there is no need for any such grandiose pre-planning and pre-construction. The flower show starts in about a month and there is no sign of anything. Apparently there will be no construction----that would interfere obvioulsy with store operations. therefore, it appears to me that the flower show will be limited to some vases and pots piled on top of the women's budget sweaters display cases--in order to increase the excitement and draw larger crowds.
Tony from Milwaukee emailed me re: one of the episodes of "Unwrapping macys" where they were trying to put together the flower show and he said it was hilarious; like the Keystone Cops bumbling around. One of the Asst Store Managers was upset that the flowers were up so high because now people would notice the dirty ceiling....LOL. I will take this responsibility to keep you posted on what is sure to be a real macy*mart fiasco. Stay tuned right here everyone for your eye witness, detailed reports.
And I don't think Macy*Mart Event Planning has any idea of what they are dealing with in Minneapolis. There are some serious ---stoic Norwegians maybe--but extremely serious garden clubbers who attend this event. If the 40+ yr tradition is now turned into a joke, there will be hundreds of people irate enough to add their voices to the protest for yet another new reason. A few of these people worked in the Oak Grill 12th Floor Restaurant as VOLUNTEERS at Marshall Field's because Field's then donated the wages to their Garden Clubs. You get the picture----Minneapolis has all the pride and commitment of Chicago.
Regards.
Date: Sun, February 18, 2007, 10:46 am CT
Regarding the flower show, the one episode I saw of "Unwrapping Macys" was them putting together their flower show.
It was totally laughable. It was like a 3 stooges comedy. They barely pulled it off, and let me tell you the flower displays put on the top of the display cabinets were not inspiring at all. They kept having problems upon problems.
Terry Lundgren scheduled an unannounced press conference from the unfinished flower show. Everyone had to scramble to straighten the mess up because "what Mr. Lundgren wants, Mr. Lundgren gets," was said by the m store staff.
The Herald Square store assistant manager got upset that the flowers where on top of the display cabinets and everyone had to look up at them. This is a direct quote from the assistant manager, "With everyone looking up at the flowers, now they will notice the ceiling is dirty!"
Please report to us the certain disaster that macy's will do in Minneapolis.
Date: Sun, February 18, 2007, 10:32 am CT
If the m store truely did a bait and switch, this is illegal and the attorney gerneral's office should be contacted!
Date: Sun, February 18, 2007, 9:06 am CT Date: Sun, February 18, 2007, 9:04 am CT
Anyway, I know where to go if I'm ever in Greenfield, Mass.
Date: Sun, February 18, 2007, 5:16 am CT
PS. Should any of you venture into any of the stores, Stop by men's tailored, ask them if you can have one of the old Marshall Fields wooden hangers. They will give them to you, and even peel the Macy's sticker off of it.
Date: Sat, February 17, 2007, 3:42 pm CT
Glad the posts keep coming. Haven't seen any from Doris lately. Doris we need your enthusiasm!
Date: Sat, February 17, 2007, 2:46 pm CT
Steven: Regarding the article that compares Nordstrom's approach verus Macy's approach to introducing new items, it's even more facinating to consider that last paragraph (featured in your post) in the context of "Give The Lady What She Wants." It's clear Nordstrom's model fits that while Macy's seems more like "Tell the lady what she wants."
Regarding yesterday's Sun-Times, as many of you noted, Macy's is just another store with ads featuring red graphics. Over the past week, think Carson's, ValuCity, MBFinancial, Verizon, and many more. Seems like every ad is red save for exceptions like T-Mobile (pink) and Home Depot (Orange) which are simply variations on red. This "everything is red" thread has been mentioned for weeks here, but the loss of Field's green in ads really struck me when I saw an ad for Roger Ebert's Oscar contest. It's a lot of green ink just like the Field's ads. I was grabbed by the color since it was distinctive. Field's ads stood out. Macy's do not.
Another slogan:
"Get rid of the red store, bring back the green!"
jim
Date: Sat, February 17, 2007, 1:36 pm CT
I find it curious that JPenney wants to be like Macy's. It's almost ironic because Macy's becoming more and more like JCPenney. I hope Penney's aims high with a goal of being more like the Macy's before it went bankrupt and before Macy's was owned by Federated.
The Macy's that had service, variety, an edge and elegance and was a little closer to Field's.
I'm surprised that Penney's doesn't open a store in the Loop or River North.
Field's was a unique store. If nothing else you could say you bought it at Field's and know it was specially connected to Chicago. Macy's is ubiquitous and middle of the road. No one needs to shop Macy's. You can go to JCP, Kohl's, Carson's or Nordstrom's and get it for less money and more convenience or with better service and better quality.
Date: Sat, February 17, 2007, 1:16 pm CT Date: Sat, February 17, 2007, 11:02 am CT
The fact that we Field's Fans are out there protesting and boycotting do the cause of bringing back Field's a great service. While not every single person who is pro-Field's and anti-Macy's is aware of a boycott or protest, whenField's supporters and Chicago boosters see the issue discussed on TV or in the Tribune or NY Times or elsewhere, they make a mental note and carry that directly or indirectly to others. They actively or passively infleunce them not to shop at Macy's in order to bring back Field's. I wouldn't be surprised if that's why Macy's is so afraid of Field's fans and has tried to squelch the backlash in the media.
Keeping this issue in the public eye has a trickle effect to others. The karma spreads. Having a boycott and protest activities helps Field's not get forgotten so it can come back.
Beyond that, the loss of Field's is a loss for Chicago's identity as an international city. Sure, I've shopped Famous Barr, Lazarus and Kaufman's. Yet, when you go to Europe, do more than a token number know what those stores are back in the States? I don't think so.
But there are a significantly greater number of people worldwide who sure do know what Marshall Field's is in Chicago and know it as destination. That's why Field's literature as recently as a couple of years ago pointed out that Field's is Chicago's number three destination. People in Europe come to Chicago to visit Field's.
If they come to American and want to visit Macy's, they are going to visit Herald Square and not the State Street store. With 111 N State a Macy's outpost, why come? They will just wait to visit the bigger Macy's in NYC.
It is Field's that is an international institution that is associated internationally with an internationally known city Chicago. As we become more generic and plain, there becomes less reason to make the trek to our City. Chicago is the largest small town and smalled megalopolis in the US. Chicago teters on being a mid-west town like Indy or Columbus. In so many other ways it is a great center with NYC, Paris or London as its peers Field's helped give Chicago an edge in the latter. Say "Harrod's" and people know you mean London. Say "Field's" and people know you mean Chicago. That's world-wide and that's a priceless asset worth fighting for!
Date: Sat, February 17, 2007, 8:34 am CT
The exhibit, "Dior: The New Look," is co-sponsored by Saks Fifth Avenue and not Field's supposed successor, Macy's on State.
If Macy's really cared about the legacy of the chicago store, they'd be first in line to sponsor this
Then again, they did give most of their archives away last year. What do they care about Chicago??????
Date: Fri, February 16, 2007, 4:07 pm CT
[ The link below features both the story as well as the same photo that appears the print edition. ]
Date: Fri, February 16, 2007, 3:18 pm CT
I love the comparison between Macy's and Nordstrom at the end:
"Nordstrom does it like a laboratory. They try new things and learn an awful lot about what the customers want. Then, they might even interpret that into their own brand," Waters says. "Macy's says here's what we think is right, so here's what you get. It's a homogeneous shopping experience that isn't very pleasant."
Date: Fri, February 16, 2007, 10:59 am CT
Date: Fri, February 16, 2007, 10:01 am CT
The sign read: NOTICE: We apologize. The correct price is $42.
In other words, they were at the regular price. How many folks saw the tantalizing cheaper price and made a special trip to get the "bargain"?? $17 is certainly an attention getter when the regular price is $42.
Looks as if at macy's, if it's too good to be true; it probably is.
Date: Fri, February 16, 2007, 9:43 am CT
Keep in mind, Macy's doesn't say how many of the new jobs will be full or part time.o
Date: Thu, February 15, 2007, 9:46 pm CT
That said, I predict Federated will be sold off in parts that make sense. At best, it means a return to Marshall Field's. Let's face it, these Chicago area stores are not worth what they were a year ago, with their dramatically reduced sales. They are worth more as Field's. At worst, stores will be sold off one by one. It's clear what we want.
I also bet Bloomies will be spun off or desolved.
Date: Thu, February 15, 2007, 9:06 pm CT
http://money.cnn.com/2007/02/15/news/companies/icahn/index.htm?section=money_topstories
Why is Icahn so enamored of Lunkhead and his strategy? Surely he can't think the macy*marting of America is working, unless he has some other than retail in mind.
Date: Thu, February 15, 2007, 6:13 pm CT
Have NOT been to Field's since the name change.
Probably will not go again.
It is/was a Chicago Landmark both in architecture and in retail marketing firsts.
Not sure why Chicago would allow this. There are many wealthy chicago families who could have kept this going.
A sense of history traditon and what chicago has to offer "the world" in tourism was at stake here.
I am with Studs Terkel who said this is what's wrong with our country, we have no sense of or respect for history. community is more than geographic space and real estate. community is the pride and association of relating to institutions we all are proud of and support.
community is a regard for those who went before us and an obligation to mmreserve what they did right and learn from and correct what they did wrong.
Lynette
Date: Thu, February 15, 2007, 1:18 pm CT
Even though the Jewels here near me in Wisconsin were located in not the greatest neighborhoods, I shopped at them partly out of being homesick for familiar Chicago places. I don't think Pick 'N Save will fare well in Chicago's market, which is becoming more and more fragmented.
Date: Thu, February 15, 2007, 1:06 pm CT
As a teen, I would visit via the South Shore train with a group of friends. The day was spent going up and down the escalators, checking out every floor. We ended the day in the furniture department where I would dream of my own aparment some day with the coolest furniture. It also came in handy as a place to sit down and rest before catching the train home.
Today I am the mother of three. All of my children have eaten in the Walnut Room. They have seen the Christmas windows. Just the other day, my thirteen year old son commented that he just loved Chicago. (Thirteen year old boys don't love much of anything- this was big!)
Marshall Field's IS Chicago.
p.s. Does anyone know the name of the manufacturer of the play size doll houses that Field's toy department carried in the 1970's?
Date: Thu, February 15, 2007, 10:12 am CT
BRING BACK MARSHALL FIELDS. I HAVE NOT ENTERED THE STORE SINCE IT'S BEEN GONE.
Date: Wed, February 14, 2007, 8:06 pm CT Date: Wed, February 14, 2007, 2:06 pm CT
Michigan Avenue- a 12% increase. Very impressive for a store that does over 150 million per year, beat out stores in areas where there are large population gains. They should thank Macy's for all the business.
Date: Wed, February 14, 2007, 3:24 pm CT
No one likes macy's
In Chicago they're despised
We want Marshall Field's
Date: Wed, February 14, 2007, 2:04 pm CT
I saw an interesting article in yesterday's news about Roundy's Foods. They're a large grocery chain out of Milwaukee, and they are entering the Chicago market, because they feel it's "underserved." Read: not much competition. In the article, a retail analyst said that he thought Roundy's was making a critical mistake in judgment regarding the Chicago market. The analyst pointed out that Jewel currently has a 45% market share, which is absolutely unheard of in a major metropolitan market. He said that while some folks might interpret this as a lack of competition, he said that in Chicago, it simply represents fierce brand loyalty. His point was that Chicagoans don't necessarily welcome "outsiders," and he talked about the disasterous results at Dominick's when Safeway fiddled with the brand identity.
He didn't mention Macy's by name, but his whole discussion made it clear: don't mess with Chicago brands!
Viva la boycott!
Date: Wed, February 14, 2007, 10:52 am CT
[Nate, please email jjmckay@fieldsfanschicago.org about your second paragraph. Your email above does not work. ][
Date: Wed, February 14, 2007, 10:23 am CT Date: Wed, February 14, 2007, 4:50 am CT
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Qx1GOmUyM2k&mode=user&search=
And a commerical I found for you guys. Keep up the good work!
Date: Wed, February 14, 2007, 1:35 am CT
"Federated's total sales for January - the five-week month ended Feb. 3, 2007 - were $1.780 billion, an increase of 19.0 percent over total sales of $1.495 billion for the four weeks ended Jan. 28, 2006. Total sales from January 2006 to January 2007 were impacted by the closing of 78 duplicative store locations over the past year."
So, they added 25% more days, but only increased sales by 19%? That's really a DROP overall, about 5% by my calculations.
"On a same-store, comparable four-week basis, Federated's January sales were up 8.6 percent. This compares with guidance for same-store sales to increase by 1.5 percent to 3 percent."
So, Federated + May is DOWN 5%, and Federated alone is UP 8.6%. May is about half of the new company, so my quick estimate is a decline of about 20% at the old May stores.
And I've never bought the "total sales...were impacted by the closing of 78 duplicative store locations." Weren't all those closings in malls that already had a Macy's? If Macy's was so much better than the May store they replaced, wouldn't they have the combined sales of the two stores?
Date: Wed, February 14, 2007, 1:27 am CT
A girl in his 7th grade English class was getting a lot of compliments on her shoes from her classmates. My friend asked her, "where do you get shoes like that?"
She replied, "my mother brought them back from Chicago when she was there at Christmas."
He asked her, "didn't you go with her?"
She said, "No! It was too cold! And besides, Marshall Field's is gone! What's the point? I can go to Macy's in Birmingham!"
This girl is thirteen!
I can't wait for early March when they finally include the May Company figures!
Date: Tue, February 13, 2007, 11:17 pm CT
Down towards the end of the article is mention of analyst Jeffrey Stein, who follows Federated for KeyBanc Capital Markets in Cleveland. He said in a Jan. 4 company note, "We believe there is more resistance to many of the new (Macy's) private label apparel brands than anticipated, in addition to continuing weakness in home (departments)." He said further he expected Macy's management to "get it right" with the conversion, but increases in sales and earnings might be slower than expected.
Geez, people, how can anyone expect Macy's to ever get it right? Are the words "inferior quality" and "overpriced" just not in these analysts' vocabulary?
There's also a laughable comment by Ann Komlo, regional vice president for Macy's Midwest, who said Macy's stresses customer service more heavily, as well as wider and cleaner aisles and its exclusive brands.
Girlfriend has obviously never been to Chicago and State Street. Poor thing. I really feel sorry for these people who think they're getting something special with Macy's. They probably think Applebee's is a fine dining experience too. How sad.
Date: Tue, February 13, 2007, 10:19 pm CT
During the end credits, it says that a fee was paid by Macy's for promotional consideration in the show. I believe this is was what Lungren was talking about when he said he wanted to advertise Macy's on "Desparate Housewives."
Speaking of "Desperate Housewives," Felicity Huffman who plays one of the housewives has commented on Chicagoans and what Field's means.
"American Way" is the complementary travel magazine provided on American and American Eagle airlines. A very kind and generous Field's Fan brightened my day recently by mailing me the January 2007 issue.
The cover story is Felicity Huffman's guide to visiting Chicago. At one point she comments on Chicago neighborhoods and its people. She mentions Field's and Macy's in such a way that is so matter-of-fact, astute and graceful.
Of course, there are more than a few reasons why Field's means so much--and Huffman nails one of them.
I don't watch much TV, but after reading that, I wanted to catch "Desperate Housewives." Interestingly enough, the episode I caught was this past Sunday's with the Macy's promotional setting in the script, followed by the Macy's commercial.
------
Thanks for filling us in on Bolingbrook, Sean. I've noticed one hallmark of all the stores designed from the start as Field's--not the stores converted from Hudson's, Dayton's, etc--is that they have a volume space that alludes to the soaring Burnham atrium at State Street. Even recent stores like Spring Hill or Northbrook have such a spatial quality with the second floor cut out, overlooking the first floor. I would expect the Bolingbrook store to have such a space if it is built to Field's specifications and concepts.
I'm glad we're all together on this.
The boycott is working.
jim
`
Date: Tue, February 13, 2007, 9:22 pm CT
Department store jewelry counter operator Finlay Enterprises Incorporate reported fourth quarter and full fiscal year sales on February 8, 2007. During the fourth quarter, which ended February 3, Finlay sales slipped 18.6 percent (YES, EIGHTEEN PERCENT) to $343.1 million.
Finlay considered that its fourth quarter results, which included the Christmas retail season, experienced poor performance across former May Company doors, which fell under the Federated brands (Macy's and BloomingdaleC-s) during 2006.
Looks like another business is getting dragged down with Macy's.
Date: Tue, February 13, 2007, 6:48 pm CT Date: Tue, February 13, 2007, 6:00 pm CT
"Nordstrom Sitting Pretty with the Right Fashion Mix"
The first sentence is GREAT:
"While some retailers have foundered in the last six months (are you paying attention Messy's?), Nordstrom has struck the right fashion pose...."
Also of interest:
Nordstom is planning a move into the Boston market and in to Midwest markets where customers are open to new shopping venues after the Marshall Fields brand was absorbed into Federated Department stores inc, Macy's brand.
Let's see: Penney's, Kohls and Carsons are attacking Messys, Nordstrom will kill of Bloomingdales!
Date: Tue, February 13, 2007, 5:53 pm CT Date: Tue, February 13, 2007, 5:51 pm CT
My wife and I were deciding what to give each other for Valentine's Day and were casually looking through the Sunday papers. A few comments, we couldn't believe the tacky circulars in the Sunday papers and the bargain prices they are trying to get people into their stores. They had a one pound box of Godiva's advertised for $17.50 normally $42. Sounds like nice profit margins on that, keep it up Macy's! In years past it would have been simple to go into Marshall Field's for a few nice gifts, we both miss those days.
The stock price run-up lately for FD is due largely to private equity companies looking to take Federated private. After dismal results starting next month with the added sales results from Field's and other May stores I bet before summer Federated is part of an LBO to take the company private. Let's hope we can count on some of these firms to understand the branding power of Field's and the ultimate return of the greatest department store in America. Let Macy's fight it out with JCPenny, Field's was in a different league.
William, you bring up a great point, please if you know of former Field's Associates that have landed at other fine stores please share on this site. My wife and I both will seek them out for our shopping visits. I am also one who couldn't believe the junk left in the Men's Suit Dept. Even their best lines of Hart Shafner Marx seemed like it was an outlet selection. What a disappointment!
Bring back Field's!
GregB
Date: Tue, February 13, 2007, 2:46 pm CT
Bolingbrook, was conceived, designed and built to the specifications of Marshall Field's, and Implemented by MAY store planning, the only input from federated was to cheapen the finishes (case lines, carpeting, furnishings, etc.) so if the store is beautiful when it opens it is because it was designed to be Field's. However, even if it is true to its original plan, it will never get my business during my 5 yearly trips to Chicago...Unless by some Miracle it becomes Marshall Field & Co. at Bolingbrook.
There's no place like Field's!!! Viva la Boycott!!!
Date: Tue, February 13, 2007, 2:20 pm CT
Appearently a new advertising gimmick from FDS.
Date: Tue, February 13, 2007, 2:35 am CT
But it is also a sign that sales at the State Street Store have imploded. You just don't leave a company after 15 years of service. There's no money to be made at Macy's selling men's clothes. They are taking on water fast as Macy's low-end merchandise doesn't cut it.
I can see Federated abandoning ship in the next 18 months... Maybe then someone else who understands what Marshall Field was about and can do something innovative with the great store on State!
Date: Tue, February 13, 2007, 12:09 am CT
A few days ago I posted on the absurdity of the Annual Spring Flower Show being held on 1st Floor instead of the 8th Floor Auditorium of the Nicollet Mall Store. The macy*mart events planning department decided that it should be that way since the left and right coast stores have no auditoriums, they always do their flower shows on the first floors. They believe that, "People in Minneapolis will come to appreciate the excitement of viewing the flowers with the backdrop of the exciting merchandise of macys."...LOL
Apparently they have not visited Nicollet Mall nor have they ever attended the extravagant flower shows put on by Dayton's, then Field's with their horticulture partner, Bachmann's for over 40 years. Today's Star Tribune had a very telling small article with quotes from Dale Bachmann. macy*mart's events planning department had no idea that after spending hundreds of thousands of dollars on the flowers, Bachmann's requires the temperature to be 62F in order to keep the flowers even reasonably in good shape for the duration of the show, which this year runs from March 21-April 7. Hence, the 8th Floor Auditorium was always very chilly but since that time of year in Minneapolis IS CHILLY---no problem. People wear coats when they arrive at the store and wear them into the auditorium as they have been coming to the Dayton's-Bachmann's Flower Show for years and knew the Auditoriium to be kept chilly to preserve the flowers for the remainder of the show.
However, this year, since the show is on first floor, in a shopping area, the store management is objecting to turning down the temperature to 62F as it will be too cold for shoppers. Dale Bachmann is of course trying to be politic in his response in the press, saying things like, "The store might consider turning the temperature down a couple of degrees so the flowers might be preserved for the length of the show", and "I hope they will turn it down a bit more at night"....What ignorant asses! The guy's family has had a partnership with the store for more than 40 years, invested hundreds of thousands of dollars every year of that 40 years plus thousands of man hours of time, and now some New York clerk in Public Relations, who no doubt has never seen the store and no doubt has no idea of the sheer magnitude of our show compared to the rinky-dink routine they put on in NY and San Francisco in the aisles of the store, spits in his face.
Like most dealings with macy*mart,it leaves me seething, but not surprised. Another fabulous, unique Midwestern tradition gone in order to better serve us and welcome us into the macy*mart way of blandness, junk, rudeness and krap.
Regards.
Date: Mon, February 12, 2007, 10:28 pm CT
I think people are getting tired of TOO much discount and want a little of the glamour from the 80's back so they are going back to upscale stores again. This may sound a little strange but I think people can actually get bored with all this discount..like reality TV...has gotten too saturated.
I walked past the State Street store....THOSE WINDOWS ARE AN ABSOLUTE DISGRACE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! The signage is dirty and there looks like pieces falling apart!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
The only solace I get from walking past is to keep my focus on the clocks and the lovely Field's plaques.
Date: Mon, February 12, 2007, 10:36 pm CT
http://www.wwd.com/issue/article/112719?src=newsletter
(Women's Wear Daily,req.sub.)
Date: Mon, February 12, 2007, 9:06 pm CT
Yes, there was also the token broken escalator going from the first floor to the second.
Perhaps the most obnoxious thing were the racks upon racks of clearance and sale merchandise -- looked like Kmart! But the worst of it was all the squeeking hangers that slide across the racks! Also, Macy's has changed the signage (at least in that store). The sale signs are much bolder. You can spot the %80 off 3 aisles away!
Date: Mon, February 12, 2007, 12:19 pm CT
Just finished reading the Sunday paper this eve; lots of special circulars and ads for VD....lol....Valentine's Day here in Minneapolis. And not a single one of them had any class. All of them were a blur: JC Penney, Kohl's, Target, macy*mart, Herberger's, Wal*mart, and all of them were red.
Actually, the back page of Herberger's mag section was a Clinique ad, and the layout was reminiscent of Dayton's/Marshall Field's. For a moment I thought it may have been macy*mart.
Regards.
Date: Sun, February 11, 2007, 10:20 pm CT Date: Sun, February 11, 2007, 9:37 pm CT Date: Sun, February 11, 2007, 8:41 pm CT Date: Sun, February 11, 2007, 7:17 pm CT
Date: Sun, February 11, 2007, 5:40 pm CT
The Sun-Times had a story about retail stocks, with special attention on how department store stocks have really run up in the past couple of weeks. The S-T story of course mentioned the increase at Federated stores but failed to mention that about 400 of their 850 or so stores were left out of sales reports.
The Tribune had an article that talked about Norstrom and it was doing well. The article, from a syndicate and not a Tribune writer, mentioned that shoppers were considering Nordtrom in the Midwest because the switch from Field's to Macy's.
Date: Sun, February 11, 2007, 3:47 pm CT Date:Sun, February 11, 2007,
These suggestions are made:
Date: Sat, February 10, 2007, 6:12 pm CT
Thank you for your email to Costco Wholesale.
We do not carry Frango Mints.
Thank you,
Costco Wholesale Corporation
just to (hopefully) get something straight, here's what i received from Costco customer service, after explaining there had been some question over whether they did or had ever carried Frango mints. the store at which i shop told me, no, they did not have Frango mints nor had ever had them and as far as she could tell, no other store did either, but recommended the web site. so i e-mailed customer service and the above is what i got back within 24 hrs. it seemed unbelievable Costco would have Frango mints. and, apparently, it is. maybe someone has their 'F' mints mixed up. ??? in any case, there you have it.
Date: Sat, February 10, 2007, 11:45 am CT
Mesys a destination for food!!?? What a joke because thats one of the things FDS killed off in so many stores they ruined. If the mens clothing in the stores they runied across the country are any indication, can we expect any new FDS ideas of food to be bland, nauseatingly presented, dishonestly priced, too big or too small, cooked up by ill-treated employees, and picked up off the floor who knows how many times before we got to it. No thanks.
Date: Sat, February 10, 2007, 6:27 am CT
I grew up experiencing the tail end of Macy's goodness. It truly was one of the greatest department stores ever. It is true that Federated helped rescue Macy's from bankruptcy yet Macy's is not the same company today.
It really hurts my feelings when I think about the amount of money my family and I spent over the years supporting the department stores. I truly believed that Terry Lundgren and his staff would have only the best intentions for the department store. I was wrong. We are truly witnessing the dismantling of the great department stores that generations of Americans have come to love.
In the case of Marshall Field's, it is more than Americans that love the store. People all over the world that have come to respect Marshall Field's as one of the greatest retail experiences ever.
How could anyone qualify the destruction of the great retail icons that have served generations of families ? The great loss of Marshall Field's and all of the May Company regional department stores including, the Strawbridge & Clothier main store, Lazarus flagship store and the possible closure of the downtown Miami Burdines is truly devastating.
As far as Marshall Field's Frangos, I think that just throwing boxes of chocolate out on a table, not explaining to the customer what they are and of taking the Marshall Field's label off of the box is all part of Federated's plan to say they don't sell.
The question is, when will Federated's stockholders stand up to Terry's dictator like leadership that is destroying the American department store as we know it ? When will the bleeding stop ?
Date: Fri, February 9, 2007, 7:31 pm CT
macy's Loves The Bears --?????????
WHO ARE THEY KIDDING
I am sure they had to ask what the team was called and I agree that they likely have "macy's Loves the Colts" in Indy.
they say macy's is " here to stay" They say we have to "accept it and get used to it"
And THAT IS why I have not, will not, and will never, spend any money with the red star store or it's pretentious twin-bloomies.The thing is that the merchandise is so awful, it is a natural to not even waste my time considering it as an option anyway.
let's keep it up all
B
Date: Fri, February 9, 2007, 3:32 pm CT
Date: Fri, February 9, 2007, 1:58 pm CT
In the newspaper retailer reports: "Upscale department stores such as Nordstrom, Nieman Marcus and Saks Fifth Avenue continued to exceed expectations, while discount retailers had less stellar results."
Some probably went to Bloomingdale's too, which would account for Federated's better than expected results.
What we really need is a survey like the one done in Minneapolis. Macy's has certainly lost the dominant market share in Chicago that Field's had.
Date: Fri, February 9, 2007, 2:17 pm CT
I cannot imagine why Carsons could not have negotiated a lease for a smaller renovated store in the building. State Street has really gone down!!!
Maybe Lord & Taylor will take over the remaining space on block 37, heard part of it is leased, leaving a space similiar in size to what they had at Water Tower. Originally a few years ago the plans called for Lord & taylor on State Street. That would at lweast raise the level a bit, leaving the south side of State to low end retail
Date: Fri, February 9, 2007, 11:56 am CT
Mike is absolutely right about Howard Davidowitz's changed point of view. Now he's in today's Sun-Times (yes, the Sun-Times, usually biased toward Macy's) Business Section saying Federated's figures only tell half the story.
Here's the URL for the article:
If you can't access it by clicking on the above, go to www.chicagosuntimes.com and search the site for articles about Macy's. It's dated today, February 9th.
OUR BOYCOTT IS WORKING!!! KEEP UP THE GOOD WORK!!!!!
Your Friend in Fields,
Zelda
Date: Fri, February 9, 2007, 8:24 am CT Date: Fri, February 9, 2007, 7:32 pm CT
Azam Ahmed's story in today's Chicago Tribune, where he touts the sales increases at Federated, totally missed the point that one should not uncritically present bad data from a company.
There is a graph comparing retail companies that shows Federated with an 8.6 per cent increase in sales compared to January of last year. That figure left out analysis of converted-to-Macy's stores.
What if a surgeon had three out of ten patients die, only to write an article about his seven remaining patients? He could write "Seven out of seven patients lived."
These journalistic gaffes will be over one month from now, though we should still be on guard for altered data from Federated.
Date: Fri, February 9, 2007, 7:20 am CT
EXCERPT:
"Ex-Field's stores a drag on Macy's--
Profits lower than other stores' "
February 9, 2007
BY SANDRA GUY Business Reporter
Marshall Field's and other former May Co. department stores saw sales improve in January, but they still are hurting Federated's otherwise impressive gains...
Date: Thu, February 8, 2007, 5:26 pm CT
The basis for the segment was the January revenues reported by Federated. The main takeaway point for us from this "Noon Business Hour" segment was that the show's guest analyst, Howard Davidowitz, has changed his tune about his rosy outlook for Federated.
As many of you know, Davidowitz predicted last year that Federated would weather any problems with the store conversions without much difficulty. On today's show, he sounded like he made a 180 degree turn.
Mr. Davidowitz was animated when Sherman Kaplan asked him about the fact that Federated had reported an increase in sales at its stores. Davidowitz clearly scoffed at Federated's claims and pointed out the fact that we already know, i.e., that the January report from Federated did not include converted stores, with Davidowitz specifically mentioning the fact that Federated left out the former Marshall Field's stores.
"There is no way to know what's going on," Davidowitz said, in an obviously irritated tone. That is the only verbatim phrase that I scribbled down, but there were several other good ones.
The point of the segment served to debunk Federated's glossy figures and is the first time that I have heard the colorful, oft-quoted Davidowitz criticize Federated.
Date: Thu, February 8, 2007, 3:00 pm CT
FD's spin will be harder to spin. The honeymoon is about to be over.
Great news for Field's Fans and fans of quality and good service.
Date: Thu, February 8, 2007, 1:48 pm CT
Date: Thu, February 8, 2007, 12:33 pm CT
No wonder Macy's is making noises about trying to "make the State Street store a destination for food." The ridiculous part about this is that prior to the Macyization, Field's on State WAS a huge destination for food!
As I've said before, it would be awesome for Carson's to reopen their new downtown store in the Block 37 development at 108 N State. This would be across from Field's department store building, and, most interestingly of all, be at Carson's old location before they moved to 1 S. State about 100 years ago, at the suggestion of Marshall Field I. A facinating footnote is, as mentioned here a while back, that 1 S State St was first Schlesinger and Meyer and then the original Selfridge's before it became Carson, Pirie, Scott & Co.
The "Macy's Loves The Bears" windows are ridiculous. How phony can you get. One thing New Yorkers and Chicagoans have in common is how much they are repelled by outsiders pretending to be locals unless they really earn it. The Bears windows only serve to further repel Field's shoppers already outraged at Macy's. Like Macy's doesn't have something similar in Indy too right now as well. It's all a lot of schmoozing with no substance or genuine comunity interest.
jim
Date: Thu, February 8, 2007, 12:10 pm CT Date: Thu, February 8, 2007, 12:07 pm CT
Messy's has an arms length transaction mentality when it comes to their business model.
As a former Messy's employee, they moved all alterations off site to a warehouse and we were required fit our customers in the store and transmit the garment off site for alterations. I'm vaguely aware that at one point in time Field's may have tried this model in the late 90's as well. But based on the Hawthorn article, they may have gone back to in-store tailors.
Messy's claimed this helped keep alterations costs down. However, to me it discouraged customer service and encouraged bad fittings.
If you're spending good money on a suit, you have the right to have it fitted properly.
Field's on the otherhand understood that the relationship didn't end when the customer walked out the door.
That's the bed that Messy's made when they killed Field's. Now they have to lie in their own waste.
Date: Thu, February 8, 2007, 11:31 am CT
Macy's loves the Bears????????????? Please, try saying the New York football teams.
I hate hearing that name and seeing those Communist bags.
I refuse to eat at the Walnut Room and will NOT buy Field's trinkets in any of those stores.
I wish to God the Board of Directors at Federated would be like the Board of Directors at Kraft Foods (based in Northbrook, IL) and DUMP the CEO for all the mistakes he made. They did that to Roger Deromedi (who my society friends tell me is a just as cold and arrogant in person) and hopefully they will do that to Terry Lunkhead.
He needs to realize no CEO is untouchable!!!
John
Date: Thu, February 8, 2007, 11:07 am CT
I agree with you. I love the way FDS point out how in tune they are to their regional markets, (Read..."Midwesterners are just fat"). They are basically saying, "We're so smart for bringing back plus sizes."
Hello....Field's (via Dayton Hudson)had an extended sizing program in place before FDS came through and pillaged Field's good name.
The villiage idiots at FDS got rid of it because it didn't fit into the model of the other stores, (Read..."nationwide department store model").
Good god, everytime I see a spin like this, I just want to kick someone upside the head. FDS wanted an emotional attachment to Messy's. Well they sure got one. However, nausea and hatred are not emotions I would want associated with my business.
When will the village idiots understand that "Give the lady what she wants," actually means someting.
Date: Thu, February 8, 2007, 9:45 am CT Date: Thu, February 8, 2007, 7:15 am CT
http://phx.corporate-ir.net/phoenix.zhtml?c=84477&p=irol-newsArticle_Print&ID=960597&highlight=
Some notes: There is just the generic "continued improvement at former May stores" note again, although they've raised profit estimates for the quarter. February will be the first month that includes all stores in the same-store sales figures, and it's interesting to note that the guidance is for a 2-3% increase.
I get the sense Lundgren is saying "stay the course" in the various quotes in the press release. It will take a disappointing 2007 to get the results we want.
I think the Sun-Times article is interesting in that Federated's stated reason for selling L&T was that the stores were too small. If the intent was to change the stores so much and build new smaller stores, why not keep L&T and some lower-performing Field's locations, and sell the rest of Field's to private equity? The part about Oak Brook confirms what I had heard from one of the associates before the transition (i.e. that Federated had big plans for Oak Brook and saw it as one of their premier locations).
Date: Thu, February 8, 2007, 6:56 am CT
There have been no in-store displays, and certainly not "Smell me!" in ten-foot-high letters.
Having read Stanley Marcus' "Minding the Store," the whole thing is about cooperative advertising money. While the store wants to feature products that it wants to sell, there is also a push to get co-op money from the manufacturers. If they don't contribute, they don't get as much exposure. Remember when Lord & Taylor would advertise Ralph Lauren and Tommy Hilfiger with vague phrases like "that free-spirited American designer?"
The CBS news did a piece this morning about the "new" Taurus, as well as the revival of the Westinghouse name, and the casting call for a new Maytag Repairman. The point was that heritage and tradition are valuable selling points.
People who wouldn't look at a Ford Five Hundred will buy a Taurus, because they know what it is. People shopped at Marshall Field's, because they know what it is. And people don't shop at Macy's, because they know what it is.
Date: Wed, February 7, 2007, 11:28 pm CT
here is my post to Retail Wire, in response to Ertugrul Tuczu's comments about how macy*mart will offer extended sizes now:
It sounds like Mr Tuczu has started to pay attention to those of us in Minneapolis who keep telling him and all of his cohorts housed in the offices on Nicollet Mall, as do our counterparts in Chicagoland, "Stop with the crappy macy's house brands!" While there are numerous reasons that macy's north is doing so poorly, some of them are certainly that their house brands are of lesser quality, higher priced, and in the men's lines, they lack the extended sizes that distinguised the Marshall Field's and Field Gear lines.
The situation is rather humorous in a way since some of the changes they outline for the future are items they could have found out if the had listened to their customers before they plunged ahead with their grave marketing error of destroying the well-established brand of Marshall Field's in the Midwest. Now they are finding out that as they look at large decreases in same store sales since their "exciting conversion", the consumer finds no excitment at all in their bland merchandise linked to equally bland marketing.
Here in the Minneapolis market, the St Thomas University study showed pre-conversion that changing the name was a bad idea. They did it anyway. Post-conversion, another study showed that significant percentages of people really did not care much for macy's and planned on not going there at all or planned on spending less money there compared to last year at Field's.
There are several blogs for Marshall Field's fans to congregate, post and chat. It has long been suggested that macy's follows the threads there as a way to keep up on why people don't like macy's north. Apparently macy's management has chosen to act upon some of the frequent complaints.
Date: Wed, February 7, 2007, 10:53 pm CT
Since the first week of January till this past weekend, I've been shopping like there's no tomorrow. I've spent a little over $4,000.00 on contemporary/traditional clothes, shoes, watches, accessories and leather jackets (Polo Ralph Lauren, Lacoste, Kenneth Cole, Perry Ellis, Calvin Klein, Timberland, Andrew Marc, Henry Jacobson, Tumi, 2xist, 7 for all mankind and Cole Haan). These should last me for a couple of years. I went shopping early to get the best designer collections at both Carson Pirie Scott and Lord & Taylor before closing their downtown stores. I spent nearly $2,000.00 at Neiman Marcus mag mile store. Also shopped at Von Maur and Nordstrom suburban stores.
I love shopping at flagship full line department stores in downtown Chicago (more choices and more merchandise). I'm angry and frustrated that Carson's and Lord & Taylor are soon to close. Field's State Street is no longer Field's. Don't want to spend my money at Macy's State Street store. I don't like shopping at smaller suburban department store chains. There's an exception, I like Von Maur @ The Glen Tower Center in Glenview and also the very first Nordstrom chain in Chicagoland @ Oakbrook Center in Oak Brook.
I plan to move in downtown Chicago in a couple of years. Hopefully by then, Macy's State Street store will become once again the elegant Marshall Field's State Street store, a brand new full line upscale Carson Pirie Scott, Lord & Taylor and Von Maur downtown stores. It would be awesome for Lord & Taylor to move to the Carson's State Street store after a major renovation. Maybe even Bon-Ton might bring back Carson's at the State Street store after the completion of rehabbing the 1 South State Street L. H. Sullivan building.
Until then.....Have Faith and Don't stop believing. Looking forward to baseball. Go White Sox/Go Cubs..... Thanks for a great 2006 season Chicago Bears. Go Bulls.....
Date: Wed, February 7, 2007, 10:25 pm CT
Here is a link to the story about everyone's efforts to keep Marshall Field's, Marshall Field's. ("gle" referred to the website.
http://www.massmarketretailers.com/articles/Retailer_learns.html
Date: Wed, February 7, 2007, 7:54 pm CT Date: Wed, February 7, 2007, 4:04 pm CT
Macy's dumped some tailors from their Vernon Hills store which we all know was Field's until last September.
Now a new "Stitch It" shop has opened at the same mall featuring the same quality tailor from Field's. She's happier than ever.
Where did Macy's business go? Elsewhere because Macy's threw their customer's and business away when they dumped Field's.
Looks like the boycott is really working in more ways than one. Here's to the former Field's employees and their new bosses who are surely smarter than the bosses they had at Macy's.
Date: Wed, February 7, 2007, 3:35 pm CT
"No, this is from JC Penney, I don't like macy's at all"
(This is in Seattle mind you).
Viva La Boycott!
Date: Wed, February 7, 2007, 3:32 pm CT
Fascinating article on the return of the Taurus at Ford Motor Co. from the Associated Press today. It seems that Ford realizes they made a mistake and they are resurrecting the name of their top-selling model. First A T and T, now Ford. Hope these things run in threes.
Date: Wed, February 7, 2007, 1:38 pm CT
Date: Wed, February 7, 2007, 1:19 pm CT
Is there a way for a town to petition not having a Macy's open in there area?
B
Date: Wed, February 7, 2007, 12:36 pm CT
In the meantime, I'm glad to see this website continuing and that Field's discussions are showing up in other places such as topixnet.
My little green photo album of protest pictures goes with me everywhere. When people say they want "one of those cool T-shirts," I have a little green slip of paper with our website written on it to give them.
GO FIELD'S FANS!
Date: Wed, February 7, 2007, 10:06 am CT
Date: Wed, February 7, 2007, 6:44 am CT
Date: Wed, February 7, 2007, 12:02 am CT
Also, the Frangos adverstised on the back have no Marshall Field's logo.
Who said that Macy's was the same as Field's? Federated and pretty much most no one else. They just wanted Chicagoans to think that this past holiday season thinking they might try their inferior stores. What we need is a new owner who will make Field's better than ever. Macy's makes it seem like they had to take Field's downmarket because of some of Target's mis-steps. Not true. A good owner would have done the opposite.
Viva la boycott until we get our Field's back! Bring our girl home!
Date: Tues, February 6, 2007, 4:04 pm CT Date: Tues, February 6, 2007, 1:32pm CT
The NYC flagship is being brought down from 10 to 5 or 6 floors. Also rumors of a purchase of Saks or Barneys New York.
The design firm that got the business has also done Saks Fifth Avenue, Burberry, Holt Renfrew (Canada), and Bergdorf Goodman, among others.
An ad agency has also been hired to reposition the brand. Good luck to America's oldest department store (1826).
Date: Tues, February 6, 2007, 1:00 pm CT
Yes, Strawbridge merchandise was for the most part the same in Boston, Indianapolis, Las Vegas, etc. but to those cities who lost their May store now we have NO CHOICE. After all these years my visits to Philadelphia no longer start at 8th & Market. And now with that joke of a mini-macy'sdown the road I can't even buy a friggen pan or blanket downtown. But I can smell like Donald Trump if I choose.
So RG74 I'm with you. I'm a Philly native who had Terry Lundgren's corporate greed lose some of my identity. Yes May hurt Cleveland, Akron, Rochester, Hartford, Richmond, etc. but selfish me still had Strawbridge's. rdante, if you hated it and it wasn't worth the 90 mile trip then don't make the trip. Shop somewhere else. But now you don't even have that choice to make.
****
Paid my final respects to the downtown Miami former Burdines store last week. I ate in the Royal Palm Restaurant since I needed one last Popeye Salad (I have the recipe) but spent no more money there. Lundgren says the store is too old. Maybe he's too immature. I expect the closing announcement this Spring. Goodbye local identity and retail history.
Date: Tues, February 6, 2007, 12:31 pm CT
Thanks, Alfred! It's so wonderful to know that the love of Marshall Field's has such a wide fan base. In Chicago, Field's was part of our identity, but anyone who went to Field's even once knew they had been to a very special store. That's what made it the number 3 tourist destination in Chicago for years and years.
Best to all, and keep boycotting!
Zelda
P.S. By the way, on my walk through State St. Messy's yesterday, I saw ZERO RED STAR BAGS on the Wabash side of the first floor!
Date: Tues, February 6, 2007, 2:33 am CT
Woodfield and Oak Brook were the top 2 Lord and Taylor stores in the area, Water Tower was usually third.
As for my mom, she worked for Carson's when it opened at Hawthorn Center, they are a very busy location, even though they do not have a home store. Carson's opening at the mall actually helped the mall, because the Lord & Taylor wing was dying out.
Date: Tues, February 6, 2007,
This store opening is Macy's first chance to show a store a brand new, fresh store not a converted Field's and show what they are all about. I wouldn't doudt that whatever the store designers/architects had in mind for Field's was discarded. Macy's now has the perfect oportunity to strut their stuff, to show their aesthetic, their taste, their corporate culture to the Midwest. Looking at the store listings for Bolingbrook it sounds very very middle of the road across the board. I would be curious if they have any eateries or gourmet/wine departments. Again that doesn't exist in any Macy's in the Bay Area unless it's the flagship at Union Square.
Macy's opened a store two cities down from where I live about 3 years ago. It reminds me of a Kohl's, very cluttered, very utilitarian, the majority of the brands being their house stuff. It's about the same size as a Kohl's being only 2 stories with a very abbreviated selection of housewares, no fine china/crystal and a tiny amount of kitchen stuff and bedding. I wouldn't expect much from Bolingbrook.
Date: Mon, February 5, 2007, 11:36 pm CT
This eve after work on my way to the gym, I again cut thru the Nicollet Mall store in order to take the skyways over as we are having some real winter finally this year, after 10 years of wimpy winters here.
These past months I have been curious about the Armani Men's Shop on 2nd Floor. While I know Armani told macy*mart to stuff it, the shop has remained open. However, today I saw that the name has been removed from the wall so they must be finally ready to pull the plug on the Armani shop here as well. It was a beautiful area with high-end, elegant fixtures and display cases with fairly new cherry wood trim all around the shop. Just right I suppose for some Alfani and Donald Trump merchandise, that have buttons already hanging off the shirts; suits that have poorly constructed seams and cheesy fabrics; and especially for some dress shirts that have the interfaces applied with too much heat so that the collars have permanent bubbles in them.
The elegant surroundings of the former Armani Shop will break down my resistance and make my feet sashay me right in there, arms quivering trying to pry money from my pockets; speaking in several languages at once, begging someone to sell me something-----rather like the mad calypso scene in Beetle Juice, don't you think?
Regards.
Date: Mon, February 5, 2007, 9:46 pm CT Date: Mon, February 5, 2007, 3:15 pm CT
Macy's, you are New York. We Chicagoan's aren't falling for it.
Jane
Date: Mon, February 5, 2007, 11:32 am CT
Yeah, right. It's a like a bad pickup line from some jerk who says the same thing to all the girls just to get his way. I'm sure Macy's had an ad like that in Indy today too.
How phony can Macy's get????
Date: Mon, February 5, 2007, 8:32 am CT Date: Sun, February 4, 2007, 11:25 am CT
This is how Herald Square and Union Square do their flower shows since those stores do not have auditoriums and macy*mart sees no reason to continue this pattern of an elaborate 40 year plus tradition of an auditorium show in Minneapolis when the coastal cities seem fine with it. BTW, Bachmann's is a high-end local horticulture firm that has teamed up with Daytons & then later Field's to bring this show to fruition each year. They have also supplied the White House with poinsettias in past years. Some years the 8th floor auditorium Flower Show involved constructions of ponds, waterfalls, French country houses & the exhibition of live horses. I hope after this year, Bachmann's tells macy*mart that their name cannot be attached to such a rinky-dink venture any longer. Perhaps the floral department at Wal*Mart could help them out next year with some vases and bouquets.
Regards.
Date: Sun, February 4, 2007, 1:43 am CT
Macy's made a HUGE mistake.
Date: Sat, February 3, 2007, 9:26 am CT
The deal, announced in November 2006, was to close on Feb. 2, but the Federal Trade Commission has made a second request for documentation during its antitrust review of the transaction between Men's Warehouse & Federated Department Stores. As a result of the delay, the acquisition is not expected to be finalized until some time in the first half of 2007, if everything is on the up & up.
Big Brother is Watching Federated Deals!! THAT'S A GOOD THING !
Date: Fri, February 2, 2007, 9:40 pm CT
On a totally separate subject, I noticed a flavor of Frango as I walked through the Vernon Hills store. Hazelnut Frangos! Sounds pretty yummy to me, but without the Marshall Field's name on the box (which none of them possess), I care for no part of that.
I also noticed how they have drastically cut back on the food selection in Marketplace. Pretty much all you can buy (if you actually want to do something like that) is frozen yogurt, pre-made sandwiches, and stuff like that. No more of that endless selection of pasta salads and stuff.
Date: Fri, February 2, 2007, 8:53 pm CT
GOOOOO!!! BEARRRRRRRRRRSSSSSSSSSSSS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
going to the site via the wayback timemachine is
well
exhillarating and
Ultimately depressing AT THE SAME TIME
It is SOOO INCREDIBLE to see the magic of Field's as though it were still there welcoming and elegant -- and then you realize this is just a memory of a site that has been closed down by the communist star.
it is wonderful to see and at the same time heartwrenching
but... THANK YOU for pointing it out -- it helps to preserve just a bit of the magic and helps to demonstrate what has been lost and what a TRUE disaster macy's is.
I DO think that macy's wants to alienate ALL former shoppers with sophistication, style, and individuality. They, I believe, want only mass drones who will simply buy whatever is placed in front of them without thought or care.
a "Chicago shops Marshall Field's" sign at the Superbowl would be AWESOME!!
GO BEARS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Keep it up all
Thanks
B
italbearr@yahoo.com
Date: Fri, February 2, 2007, 8:02 pm CT
The salesperson selling Chicago Bears salt-and-pepper shakers, playing cards and shirts stated: "This is the busiest part of the store." (We all know that it can't possibly take much at all to be the busiest department at macy's on State with as slow as things have been throughout the store!)
http://www.nwitimes.com/articles/2007/02/01/business/business/661e1ebaa05ce402862572740075a013.txt
Another point to keep in mind: Macy's is also pushing our Chicago Bears' opponent's merchandise in Indianapolis. It's hard to get a nice warm, fuzzy feeling about "the new sensation, macys" being our hometown store, when they are merely trying to profit from the game without any solid, allegiance to either city.
Date: Fri, February 2, 2007, 6:39 pm CT
The tabletop department, which used to have a high-end collection is now cut in half. Replacing the 1/2 former tabletop area is woman's lingere...moved from the second to the third floor, where there are no other adult apparel items. It looked totally misplaced. The hardwood floors and fixtures of the china department, right down to the crystal fixtures, went to the lingere; however, the lingere carpet had been cut out and replaced with a different pattern that clashed with the china department pattern.
The once high-end tabletop department is now on clearance for 50% off! Really, nice stuff. The current tabletop department is very middle of the road and boring. Typical Macy's.
Best comment. Two sales people talking, looking at the sales counter being installed in the tabletop department (the old one was eliminated because of the consolidation): "What mastermind configured that counter? There is no room to place, wrap and bag merchandise!" Answer: "The mastermind that planned the sales counter is probably the same mastermind that decided to put lingere in the china department!"
I guess Terry Lungren has now expanded his role to include store reconfigurations.....
Date: Fri, February 2, 2007, 12:38 pm CT
How much longer
Must we wait
Until they're* back
And doing great!
*Marshall Field's Stores
Date: Fri, February 2, 2007, 10:52 am CT
While they did renovate quite a few of the former Wanamaker stores that had become run-down, the merchandise was so generic! The only thing the kept was the name, big deal! Gone were the yellow bags, and anything else that made the store Philadelphia. The store and merchandise were the same as Boston, same as St Louis, same as Houston.
Marshall Field was something special. Strawbridge's became nothing special at all under May Company. I used to drive 90 miles to shop at Strawbridge & Clothier & John Wanamaker, May Company took away their uniqueness.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Date: Fri, February 2, 2007, 9:49 am CT
Some sad reality I have noticed at the Fox Valley store; there is no more Home Decor department. It has been replaced by luggage! There is no more Marshall Field wine. What they have is on clearance for 50% off. I believe the candy counter that sells individual chocolates, etc., will be the next thing to go.
Oh, and yes, the usual is broken once again!!
Date: Fri, February 2, 2007, 7:53 am CT
Well.. I have one thing to say about the Juicy Couture ads --
Yes, they're horribly tacky, and everything (in my opinion) from JC is horribly tacky. HOWEVER... they're edgy and Juicy is very euro-forward. I would never have been surprised to have seen such ads in Marshall Field's. What was so great about Field's was that they were always pushing the envelope and trying new, edgy things -- the people that used to work in visual had a keen eye for the latest fashion, and State Street was far more forward than any other Field's.
Just like I wouldn't have been surprised to see Motorola vending machines in a Field's.. it's new, cutting edge technology, 21st century. Field's has always kept up with the times and reinvented itself over and over. However, we continue to say that all these things Macy's is trying are trashy. I don't think everyone who follows this blog are out of touch with reality... Think very hard, guys. We just want Field's back..
[ Remember French Connection UK and its controversial shop at State St on the Wabash Side?]
Date: Thu, February 1, 2007, 9:13 pm CT
Plus, why did Lord and Taylor leave Fox Valley and Hawthorne? They seem like good malls to me, but I can't find a reason why. If it were now, I'm sure they would stay at those malls.
Also, is the Macy's at the Woodfield Mall ever busy?
Date: Thu, February 1, 2007, 3:54 pm CT
Anyway, if you go to yelp.com which is a young persons web site to write reviews and compare the Marshall Field's and Macy's ratings and a smile will creep across your face. Even the young twenty-somethings despise the change and appreciate tradition.
So Icahn thinks the whole May purchase will work ultimately for Federated. Hm...well all I can say is department stores are suffering and to throw away brand loyalty and customer appreciation doesn't seem to me to be a winning formula no matter how many advertising dollars are saved across the nation.
It is hard but we must keep talking, we must keep remembering and we must stay away and not shop at Federated (Macy's or Bloomingdales).
Stay strong!
Date: Thu, February 1, 2007, 12:42 pm CT
There's a website called "topic.net" which has a forum about the Federated takeover of Field's. I've been having a lot of fun venting to a guy named Otis, whom I think is just a Federated Flunky. Check out [ corrected URL 2.6.07 ] http://www.topix.net/forum/com/fd/
We shall prevail!
Date: Wed, January 31, 2007, 3:57 pm CT
DK
Date: Wed, January 31, 2007, 12:08 pm CT
Yet, I think that if Terry Lundgren would make it his business to restore Marshall Field's, he could truly win over so many core guests that have abandoned the stores. If the the old adage that states the customer is always right is true, then it should be so simple.
If Lundgren and his directors would adjust the Macy's North division to the Marshall Field's division... (not just in name only...but in quality and service too) then the goodwill and sales would be very positive.
Again, I refer you back to the the Philadelphiha situation under May Company where the Hecht's name was brought into Philadelphia..to replace the famous John Wanamaker department stores (comparable to a Marshall Field's of the East.) and replaced all of the stores with the newly aquired Strawbridge & Clothier moniker...(even though Strawbridge's was still operated under the Hecht's division.) Traditions were left in tact like the Corinthian Room ( a beautiful full service dining room in downtown Philadelphia...) the story goes on...but my main point is that to appease the clientel, the May Company did the right thing.
PLEASE MR.LUNDGREN,WE REALLY-REALLY-REALLY NEED OUR BEAUTIFUL MARSHALL FIELD'S RETURNED TO ITS FORMER GLORY. MACY'S HAS ITS PLACE IN NEW YORK..BUT NOT IN CHICAGO.
THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
WARM,RESPECTFUL REGARDS,
RG74
Date: Wed, January 31, 2007, 12:04 pm CT
GO BEARS!!!
Date: Wed, January 31, 2007, 11:58 am CT
I must agree with earlier posts that it is perplexing that mesys advertising and marketing have been spectacularly bad. Their need to alienate big Strawbridges customers here has been so systematic for the past 8 months that the only explanation I can imagine is that there is a business plan in place that acknowledges that it is a given that shoppers looking for quality and service are going to have to be let go and are smaller in numbers than the masses of Wal Mart shoppers that will be attracted to mesys undistinctive generic junk strewn around their stores. People who never have taken a marketing course could tell you what a disasterous plan this is. And mesys is famous on the east coast for how you can never find an employee who is empowered to actually care if something is not right ... they just get rid of you by sending you to their tedious 800 number or website.
Just cutting through the downtown mini mesys to get from Market to Chestnut, you can't avoid the big plastic cubes holding cardboard signs with a giant pair of lips to promote Valentines Day. Is the Rocky Horror Picture Show opening here? John Wanamaker must be turing over in his grave.
Bring back style and quality merchandise and real service and one stop shopping that was accessible to everyone ... there is no place like Fields.
Date: Wed, January 31, 2007, 11:55 am CT
i had to blog about it today ...
http://whatsthecode.blogspot.com/2007/01/chocolate-memories.html
ew. dirty macy's.
Date: Wed, January 31, 2007, 7:37 am CT
I live in Indy. I hate Macy's. Bring back Field's and Ayres. I can't wait until March when Carson's opens. The signs are already up, as are the awnings. Too bad they are red. Go Colts.
Date: Tue, January 30, 2007, 10:18 pm CT
I saw an ad for Juicy Couture's "Smell Me!" campaign in a magazine while flying to Chicago in December. Not only is M***s sponsoring this blunt, trashy message, but on one of my visits to State Street they had a set-up for a fashion show in the atrium with the phrase in ten-foot high letters! The magazine ads show women in extravagant 18th century French dresses (like Marie Antoinette) in scary neon colors. The men looked like they found themselves unexpectedly naked in the dressing room, covering themselves in swathes of hot pink and lime green taffeta.
The sort of tacky, brazen stuff one expects from Juicy Couture. The mass-market version of the shocking designs from John-Paul Gaultier when he was riding the crest of the Madonna bullet-bra wave. Not the sort of thing one would find in a store with class, style, and a desire to cater to everyone's need for better quality and better service. Too bad Macy's has no interest in being that store.
Date: Tue, January 30, 2007, 10:16 pm CT
Very tacky. But what do you expect - IT'S MACY'S!
Just wait till you see the "exciting" men's fashions for spring from our favorite designer Alfarni and International Design Concepts! Way to flop!
Date: Tue, January 30, 2007, 9:58 pm CT
[ The rest of this item will appear at a later time]
Chicago IS Marshall Field's...and Marshall Field's IS Chicago!
Go Bears!
Date: Tue, January 30, 2007, 8:10 pm CT
But what I do remember is a golden age of Field's for ME! That golden age was when I first moved to chicago in 2000 and discovered MARSHALL FIELD'S! I'm embarrassed to say that before I moved to the midwest, I thought it was the same as the clearance clothing store
MARSHALL's!!! Needless to say, that wasnt the case.
I moved here from New Jersey. Let me say, Macy's is simply just Macy's. Everyday stuff. Nothing that special.
Marshall Field's was really something special. I would always come in for one thing and end up with something extra that I just had to pick up. And the sales people had this knack for suggesting the right thing. Macy's pushes things.
I was reading how Richard Roeper of the Sun-Times was overwhelmed to the point of annoyance at the sales help. I believe Macy's has more than enough quantity of sales people there. Understandable since the store has so much less traffic than it did as Field's. But quantity doesn't equal quality. They have pushy sales people now. That's how they seem to want their associates to be.
Macy's doesn't get it. That's what I learned in the golden age of Field's. 2000-2005.
BRING BACK MARSHALL FIELD'S!
Date: Tue, January 30, 2007, 12:04 pm CT
But the article confirms what we've been saying: Macy's carries fewer high end suits!
"Macy's takeover of Marshall Field's is one example of Hartmarx's woes. Macy's sells fewer lines of high-end men's suits than did Field's, and it has replaced many outside suppliers with its own private-label brands."
Alfani sure isn't high-end in this poster's book. I doubt it is high end for any of us Field's fans.
http://www.suntimes.com/business/234545,CST-FIN-hart30.article
Date: Tue, January 30, 2007, 7:54 am CT Date: Mon, January 29, 2007, 10:23 pm CT
I've heard that Old Orchard is closing the Home Decor department. Employees have never seen it so bad. Other department are facing tear down too.
The employees are hoping for a miracle...The boycott hopefully will lead to the return of Marshall Field's here in the Chicagoland area again.
It will be the Marketing Takeover of the Century...I am sure.
Date: Mon, January 29, 2007, 10:23 pm CT The one that really struck me was a front window near the main entrance for a women's cologne (I don't remember what, but I can only imagine) with a poster of a woman holding the fragrance, and a LARGE NEON sign screaming, "SMELL ME!!!" Honestly, would Marshall Field's have EVER resorted to anything as tacky as this?
Date: Mon, January 29, 2007, 10:23 pm CT Date: Mon, January 29, 2007, 10:23 pm CT
They should put in the Macy's disaster!
Join me in sending the editor an email telling them why Federated department stores should be included. The editor is Josh Quittner, jquittner@business2.com
Date: Mon, January 29, 2007, 10:23 pm CT Date: Sun, January 28, 2007, 10:23 pm CT
http://web.archive.org/web/20050216044116/www.fields.com/common/index.htm
The Internet Wayback Machine takes you back in time. Before the red star was plastered all over everything. Other pages available too - just go to http://www.archive.org/web/web.php
Date: Sun, January 28, 2007, 10:21 pm CT Date: Sun, January 28, 2007, 3:38 pm CT
Sponsored by Macy's.
Now, just before I came to this site to report it, I looked at the Chicago Trib and Sun-Times... no such banner.
Coincidence? I don't think so. (Go Bears!)
Date: Sun, January 28, 2007, 1:41 pm CT
I will defintely visit the Miami Beach store near Lincoln Road for a bit of nostalgia on my next visit to my hometown. Of course won't buy anything. Why?
Viva La Boycott!
Date: Sat, January 27, 2007, 7:35 pm CT
http://wealth.bloomberg.com/apps/news?pid=20601109&sid=apfVIpE1wPRs&refer=exclusive
Date: Sat, January 27, 2007, 1:29 pm CT
Amen. It just makes us more determined to bring Field's back. And so we don't shop at those FDS stores. And we remember Field's with love.
And we-- Boycott. Wear "Marshall Field's Forever" lapel stickers and "I Want My Marshall Field's" buttons. Point people to fieldsischicago.org on our bumper stickers. Leaflet joyously under the Great Clocks. And around the world, from Kathmandu to London to San Francisco, tell everyone how much we miss Field's. Any firm, however determined, must pay attention to this emerald-like brand loyalty. Legions of marketing books have been written about how to create a brand like Marshall Field's--it would ultimately be the height of corporate malfeasance to destroy it.
Field's will be back. It's just a question of who will seize the business opportunity first--FDS or one of its LBO "partners"?
Date: Sat, January 27, 2007, 1:10 pm CT
Won't that be fun?
In Vernon Hills, Frango products are now hidden on the lower level in what used to be the Marketplace cafe. Bulk candy was discontinued.
The poor folks with the "oriental rug caravan" at the store last week. Zilch business according to the salesman.
Well, off to Lord and Taylor!
Date: Sat, January 27, 2007, 11:02 am CT
http://www.chicagoreader.com/features/stories/hottype/070126/
Date: Sat, January 27, 2007, 7:49 am CT
One was about not sacrificing quality and service to bring in more customers, and the other was about Neiman-Marcus' disastrous entry into the Houston market. Even Neiman-Marcus couldn't get away with what Macy's is trying to do!
Date: Fri, January 26, 2007, 10:35 pm CT
the store was (over)crowded with merchandise and fairly empty of shoppers, although it was a tuesday evening. It is the only department store on the beach, south of Bal Harbor.
Burdines had a distinctive "Floridian" feel and flavor -- unique and totally different from the uncomparable ambiance of Field's --but that too is gone-- wiped away by the communist red star and the curse of plain sameness.
Back to ohio for me for now --
B
italbearr@tahoo.com
Date: Fri, January 26, 2007, 6:33 pm CT Date: Fri, January 26, 2007, 2:34 pm CT Date: Fri, January 26, 2007, 12:01 pm CT
It made me think of Field's. Field's and the Bears mean so much to Chicago. Field's was even a bigger winner! Macy's is a big loser. They will never have my business after what they have done. That the people at Macy's think they deserve Chicago's business is despicable.
Date: Fri, January 26, 2007, 12:38 am CT
BTW, has anyone else noticed that those hideous black awnings that were installed on the State Street store are never used anymore? For a while, the awnings on the Wabash side were folded up so that you couldn't even see the macy name! Smart move.
Date: Thu, January 25, 2007, 8:38 pm CT
Plus it seems as if Macy's is going for that same feel that Target has, which, again: not working. It's ironic that the discounter's advertising outclasses Macy's by miles. I know that Macy's has been using the color red for awhile but also: JCPenney, Kohl's, Target, KMart, and now even The Gap to an extent. How do they expect to distinguish themselves? Because the star and the font don't exactly dazzle either. So their logo and advertising is just kind of. . . there. It's not elegant or classy and I can't even say that it's garish which I suppose might work in its favor in some way because at least it would be up in your face. Terry Lundgren may talk about "fesh and exciting" but this is not walking that talk at all. It's as generic as the stores it represents.
Date: Thu, January 25, 2007, 7:35 pm CT Date: Thu, January 25, 2007, 1:14 pm CT Date: Thu, January 25, 2007, 8:01 am CT
Discussion about Macy's change. In the poll at the above link, there were 9 issues that Macy's is expected to grapple with in 2007. 45%-- almost half--singled out "Chicago-Resistence to Field's name change" as being the biggest challenge.
Date: Wed, January 24, 2007, 10:14 pm CT
I had this experience both Monday and again this eve. There was some event going on in Target Center, the arena for basketabll, ice shows and other events. My gym is in the lower level of that place and on event nights, parking is like $10 close to it so I do a quick circle back and park near the Nicollet Mall Store. Then I just cut thru the store and take the skyways over to the Target Center/Gym. However, by the time I am thru at the gym, the store is closed so I have to go a different way back to the car.
Both nights, on my return walk back to the car from the gym, I went a way where I pass down a long hallway where for a couple of decades I would see the sign for Dayton's and then later Field's, when the store was closed, lit up above a nice glass inner entrance that led to the Women's Shoe Dept. Every time I saw those signs, I would always think, "What a first class store," or "Aren't we lucky to have such a grand store located right here?" You get the idea.
But this week, I would see that sign for macy*mart, above the glass doors and it always caused a physical reaction and real emotional letdown, like, "No more unique, cool store here-------just another crappy chain store. How sad."
I thought about both nights after it happened. It was certainly not a surprise to me that the signs were there. What was a surprise tho was that after all these years it was still a matter of pride to know that we had a grand place right here in the midwest that was better than what was available elsewhere; it was also a surprise to feel such a letdown just from looking at the macy*mart sign.
Regards.
Date: Wed, January 24, 2007, 6:43 pm CT
Heck, I wont be surprised if they provided their services for free!
Here's a nice tag line:
VIVA LA BOYCOTT!
Date: Wed, January 24, 2007, 1:02 pm CT
Just wanted to share with you all some Field's trivia. As many of you know, director John Hughes (a north shore native) films his movies in Chicago. Well, he also puts subtle Field's references in his films as well.
In Home Alone (filmed in Winnetka), there is a glimpse of a Field's shopping bag under a table in the master bedroom as Kevin (MacCauley Culkin) is searching for his family.
In Curley Sue, the lawyer and her assistant go on a shopping spree at Field's and purchase lots of things for Jim Belushi's (a Wheaton native) character and his foster daughter.
In Ferris Bueller's Day Off, when Matthew Broderick is singing on the parade float, there is a brief shot of a window washer dancing while suspended from a rope right next to the Great Clock.
That's all I can think of right now, if anybody knows of anything about Field's in movies, please post it.
Date: Wed, January 24, 2007, 11:01 am CT Date: Wed, January 24, 2007, Date: Wed, January 24, 2007, 1:18 am CT Date: Tues, January 23, 2007, 6:38 pm CT Date: Tues, January 23, 2007, 2:45 pm CT Date: Tues, January 23, 2007, 12:13 pm CT Date: Mon, January 22, 2007, 11:59 pm CT
It is telling that they are moving their ad design contract to a new agency. Companies don't make such moves after just a year if things are going well. We're now entering the slowest part of the retail year, so don't expect much news or developments on the "Field's" front. Purchases are being made for next Christmas, so I think Jim McKay is right that 2008 is the more likely year for a change.
Date: Mon, January 22, 2007, 11:10 pm CT
The Frango mints aren't moving very much in the Pittsburgh area, basically because people don't know what they are. I believe that Foul Disgusting Shoppes will eventually phase out the Frango line because of "disappointing sales." Maybe they can have the racks of plastic bags of assorted candies like those at CVS instead. Better yet, vending machines which can be leased out at no expense to macy*mart.
I still think that macy*ization is a plot to get the best retail real estate in the choice malls, sell it off for a huge profit, and dump the remaining properties for whatever the market will bear. Remember that many leaseholds were long term contracts signed many, many years ago and that May was an original anchor in some of the best malls. Look what happened to properties held by other defunct retailers; most were quickly turned over.
Date: Mon, January 22, 2007, 9:55 pm CT
[ Author -- please email jjmckay@fieldsfanschicago.org to discuss this paragraph. Thanks. ]
Date: Mon, January 22, 2007, 9:21 pm CT OF SPECIAL NOTE: Please write in responses to last Wednesday's New York Times article about our cause and also the Tribune "Voice of the People" item that was naively pro-Macy's. The following are some points to keep in mind.:
If submitting by the internet, send your "Letter to the Editor" in a standard email message. Do not use web page forms or blog sites for the newspapers, unless you absolutely have to. If you sub
mit by an email, you have the opportunity to cc: or bcc: a copy to yourself--submitting via other methods on the internet mean you probably won't have a dated copy of your response, if you get a cop
y at all. It is very important that you keep a copy for your records.
Thanks again to all who write and make our cause known. Writing really makes a difference! If you see something -- write something!
Jim
Date: Mon, January 22, 2007, 7:21 pm CT
Say what?
http://online.wsj.com/public/resources/documents/info-retail06-06_gap.html
Date: Mon, January 22, 2007, 2:56 pm CT
To the three ladies walking through Messy's on their way to Lord and Taylor: LOVED YOUR GREEN MARSHALL FIELD'S SHOPPING BAGS. You go girls!
Date: Sun, January 21, 2007, 10:01 pm CT
There is a macy's in the huge Ala Moana shopping center here, and I was curious to see if they had the Frangos and how they were selling. Indeed, there was a table of Christmas gift-wrapped assorted chocolate Frango and peppermint Frango one pound boxes with a 50% off sign. As we surveyed the display, a saleswoman scurried over and told us "I think they're four and a quarter." We were puzzled by that, because 50% off should have been $10. for the assorted. She went over to scan it to check the price, which really did come up as only $4.25
It's so telling that Macy's doesn't understand that Frangos are associated with the midwest and a trip to Chicago. They just don't get it. I wouldn't be surprised if they have killed Frango's brand equity by selling them everywhere.
Interestingly, the sales associates in Honolulu don't wear all black.
Date: Sat, January 20, 2007, 8:22 pm CT
You can easily locate nicer products and/or better values without much effort. As I mentioned on previous posts, the Bon Ton (Carson's) has moved upscale and their customer service has ALWAYS been very good. Even JC Penney and Kohls have more interesting items and better quality and they appreciate their customers.
Maybe when you call to close the account they will send you some coupons! WOO HOO!
Date: Sat, January 20, 2007, 7:58 pm CT
Of course, it was the Dayton Family started Dayton's Dry Goods in the late 1800s and later Target around 1966. Their vision and retail acumen led to the construction of Southdale, which was the first covered shopping mall in the United States with stores under one roof, back in the mid 1950s.
Regards.
Date: Sat, January 20, 2007, 7:52 pm CT
http://www.adweek.com/aw/national/article_display.jsp?vnu_content_id=1003535101
When the re-branding of the former May Co. stores was announced, it was "interesting" that Macy's hired two new ad agencies - both in Chicago. JWT Chicago was charged with creating the campaign and Starcom (the media agency) helped determine where to place the ads. I say "interesting" because Macy's probably knew that Chicago was the "toughest market to crack"
Nonetheless after the drop in sales this Winter they moved the busineess. The creative was quickly moved from JWT Chicago to JWT New York. And just this week Starcom was fired and replaced by a NY agency.
Being an Agency person myself... it is very difficult for business people to sell an idea to the public if they don't really believe it. I assume that was the case with the Chicago-based agencies. Deep down they really didn't believe what Macy's was doing. How could they come up with a campaign to sell it to the public? They couldn't.
Date: Sat, January 20, 2007, 6:05 pm CT
My best friend broke hers, is devastated and now that MF is gone....
I've searched the web and can only find the modern one. Any help is great. Thanks.
Date: Sat, January 20, 2007, 2:58 pm CT
It would have been so great and so appropriate if, at the time, our local business press had been more curious and had pushed Terry for some detailed background information on this survey. We will learn the answers to these important questions when a brave Federated insider someday writes a "tell-all" book on how the tragic Macy's debacle came to be. And I have NO doubt the book will be written!
But just for the sake of argument let's suspend our disbelief in the veracity of the survey for a few minutes and assume that it is accurate. Mathmatics is not my strongest subject, but even I know that when you identify 2/3 of anything there is still 1/3 out there to consider. Therefore, in Terry's survey apparently 1/3 of respondents were AGAINST a name change to some degree or another. One third is not an insignificant percentage. It is one-out-of-three. That extrapolates to one thousand out of three thousand. One million out of three million. 1/3 can add up to a whole lot of people and a whole lot of shoppers who were at least theoretically unhappy to give up Field's name and could possibly be steamed enough to be unwilling to shop at Macy's. I believe it was Deloitte and Touche who did another separate survey that supported the strength of loyalty to the Field's brand. Tens of thousands of names in mere days were signed to an online "KeepitField's" petition in protest of Macy's plans. Thousands more people claim they immediately wrote to Federated to say that they would not spend a dime...ever....in any Macy's store that was formerly a Marshall Field's.
Chicago's outrage at losing its cultural and shopping icon on State Street and other locations was palpable and not a secret. Plus, Federated already had its own "survey". Clearly, Federated went into this market aware they could possibly lose 1/3 of the shopping base as a result of the name change to Macy's alone ....yet they did it any way. And it defies all reason. How many businesses do you know (or families for that matter) who could withstand a 1/3 reduction in income? And, even more crazy, knowingly put themselves in that potential position? Not many, I'll bet, yet in the Macy's North region that is exactly what it appears Terry Lundgren asked his board of directors, employees, suppliers, and stockholders to do. The shame of it for Chicago, for former Field's shoppers and also for Federated, is that the now obvious failure of the "Marshall Field's is now Macy's" experiment was an outcome both forseeable and preventable.
There is a remedy. Bring back Marshall Field's name, colors, quality brands, and service.
Date: Sat, January 20, 2007, 2:26 pm CT
"Imagine being an employee,& macy's taking over. our store has dropped half it's volume, lost more than half it's staff to budget cuts & customers complain they can't find anyone to wait on them. the work load is back breaking, doing more with less...The stores are a mess because we can barely ring the customer up, let alone recover & clean up after customers (yeah, thanks for leaving 20 items in the fitting room for us to hang up!)...yet the company preaches to us to give "outstanding" service. How can we anymore? We are just as disgruntled as the consumer, which we are losing by the thousands. This xmas was a sales disaster. Do we need a macy's in everyone's backyard? What are you to do when you have many many years invested in your job? Quit to go to minimum wage or stick it out? Sometimes I'd rather flip burgers at McDonald's."
Date: Sat, January 20, 2007, 12:35 pm CT
Meanwhile, I found some really cool $10 green (Marshall Fields Green!) mesh shopping bags at Woodfield Mall. They have "Chicago" on it with a nice outline of our skyline. They will look super hot when I pin "I want my Marshall Fields" button on them and buy a ton of them and give them people to reinforce the power of passion of our boycott and the legacy of Marshall Fields! Doris, I'm going to need more buttons, for I'm stepping things up!
You hear me Marshall Fields Fans!
I repeat: V I V A L A B O Y C O T T
Date: Sat, January 20, 2007, 12:10 am CT Date: Fri, January 19, 2007, 11:18 pm CT
Steve has said it all -----
macy's WAS, IS , AND ALWAYS WILL BE, INFERIOR to Marshall Field's
Period
Keep up the boycott of that red communist star
macy's is really just sad
what's sad is that they actually delude themselves --and some of the public, to believe that they really have something
That is the SCARIEST thing to me !!
B
italbearr@yahoo.com
Date: Fri, January 19, 2007, 5:16 pm CT Date: Fri, January 19, 2007, CT
I would like to point out that it seems to us your letter will stand a better chance of reaching significantly more people and you send your "Voice of the People" letters to the Tribune via an email message as follows rather than via the Tribune blog version. It seems your letter will have a much better chance of getting published in the print edition--which is very important to reach people -- if you submit as follows:
Thanks again to all who write and make our cause known. Writing really makes a difference! If you see something -- write something!
Jim
Date: Fri, January 19, 2007, 4:52 pm CT
Other quick and easy ways to support Field's:
Wear a Field's button.
Carry photos from the protest around in a small green album. It makes a great conversation piece. Even if people think we're nuts, they still want to see the Victorian hats.
Have a great weekend Field's Fans!
Date: Fri, January 19, 2007, 4:43 pm CT Date: Fri, January 19, 2007, 7:56 am CT Date: Thu, January 18, 2007, 11:40 pm CT
Now I say it loud and proud, "I got it at Marshall Field's". (Never just plain Field's anymore.) And I feel such sadness after I say it. It's just bittersweet. I want my Marshall Field's back!!!
Date: Thu, January 18, 2007, 10:05 pm CT
As I got off the escalator at one macy*mart store, there was a display of place settings. The PLASTIC ware was available in shades of pink, blue, green and yellow and was adorned with various flowers. The stuff looked like something you would buy for Barbie's Dream Kitchen. The staff attempted to make this crap look presentable by placing the items on various tablecloths instead of just on the shelves like wally*world.
The linen sections in this area are weak. Maybe three or four display racks of towels, two of bath rugs, several racks of Charter Crap and unknown maker sheets, perhaps one display of tablecloths and napkins. There was absolutely nothing distinctive or unique. Perhaps they are waiting for Martha Stewart to move her merchandise over from Kmart--that would be an improvement!
What looks like a wide assortment of bed pillows contains piles of the same thing. The "bed-in-a-bag" ensembles are very cheap looking--faux damask, hideous colors, ugly prints--and look like the bedding section at Big Lots. It's like Terry and the Pirates bought leftovers from Sears; no, check that. Sears actually has nicer bedding that this junk.
The Bon Ton seems to have gone more upscale with their selections, even their in-house designer lines look decent. BT is having a home sale next week and their sale catalog offers some really nice items. Their prices on identical items (like Kitchen Aid mixers) are better than macy*mart. Sorry, I forgot--the higher price at macy*mart obviously means THEIR item is more upscale. Plus the cachet of the red star really impresses others.
JC Penney has really improved their stores in this market. The stores look like a department store instead of a discount mart. Their selection, display, and assortment make macy*mart look even more cheezy. Hey, even some of the local thrift stores have better assortments and variety than macy*mart.
Date: Thu, January 18, 2007, 7:47 pm CT
NEW YORK (AFP) - US television talk show host Oprah Winfrey is the richest woman in entertainment, ahead of "Harry Potter" author J.K. Rowling and lifestyle guru Martha Stewart, according to the lastest list.
Winfrey, with an estimated worth of 1.5 billion dollars, easily tops the Forbes.com list....
Dear Oprah,
Wouldn't you like to own Marshall Field's?
We know how much you loved it!
Date: Thu, January 18, 2007, 7:10 pm CT
Regarding the NY Times article from yesterday, the print edition also included a close up photo of one of those "I want my Marshall Field's" buttons that Doris and others have passed out and there also was a photo of the corner of the Field's store building at State and Randolph. This was in addition to a photo of the Burnham atrium which also appeared on the web.
Thanks to all who help in so many ways.
Jim
Date: Thu, January 18, 2007, 6:38 pm CT
I just happened to notice that the cover of the 2007 edition of Rand McNally's Chicago 7-County street guide has a photo of one of the Field's clocks. No store names are visible, so I can't tell when it was taken. The photographer's credit on the back cover calls it "Great Clock on the Marshall Field's building on State Street, Chicago."
Date: Thu, January 18, 2007, 6:12 pm CT Date: Thu, January 18, 2007, 6:02 pm CT
So this post is for those SPECIAL people.
I have decided to make it easy for all of us so I called the President. I explained to him that we were no longer interested in having the United States, so we will be renaming it the "UNITED STATE". We also decided that that "STATE" would be called "STATE". So, no more Illinois, Indiana or Texas and certainly no more New York. I hope you all dont mind.
Additionally, we have also decided to eliminate individual city names. Chicago, Seattle and Columbus will all be a thing of the past. We feel a better solution is to just call them all "City". I'm sure that this will avoid confusion and make everyone feel more special and connected to their local cultures.
All Banks and Restaurants will also be merged into their respective and unified names. We were thinking about "BANK" and "RESTAURANT".
National Parks will be just that, "NATIONAL PARK". Yellowstone, Mt. Rushmore and Liberty Island will just be "Attractions".
All Military Branches will also be renamed to "MILITARY".
And while we were at it, we decided to eliminate all names of "SPORTS" teams because we figured "NO ONE" would mind. They will also have to learn to play all types of sports instead of just Baseball, Football, etc. The new name for these will be "HUMAN INTERACTIVE TEAM".
Well, I hope this made a point to those of you who may look at this site and wonder why we are so concerned about our beloved Marshall Field's. This symbol of American History is just as important as any of the things I mentioned above.
Date: Thu, January 18, 2007, 2:01 pm CT
Christmas is not the same without Marshall Fields. I got a comment today on my jeans from a cute woman. She loves them. I told her they are my favorite most-worn pair from where else? Marshall Fields (Woodfield Mall). Iahad them for two years now and they are wonderful and better than the two pairs of True Religion jeans I have.
Anyway, I dont have any racoon dog fur to keep warm, so I'll just keep looking for some outerwear. I'm still adamant about sticking to the boycott of that store on State Street, you know that store who like on Thanksgiving Day is full of hot air!
Viva La Boycott!
Date: Thu, January 18, 2007, 10:41 am CT Date: Thu, January 18, 2007, 9:31 am CT Date: Thu, January 18, 2007, 6:32 am CT Date: Thu, January 18, 2007, 6:09 am CT Date: Wed, January 17, 2007, 10:38 pm CT
Darrid's observation about the Santa Bears and the Field's ornaments is quite telling. Not too long ago (even in the nadir of Target's ownership in the late 1990s/early 2000s), if you arrived at any Field's store later than noon on the Friday after Thanksgiving, you'd be lucky if any of the Miss Bears were left, let alone Santa Bear himself. Apparently he got a divorce this year (no Miss Bears, although even under May, Santa Bear's daughter mysteriously disappeared in 2005), and fewer people bought them, or else they really overestimated demand and ordered way too many of them. Either way, I heard that they donated a thousand to a toy drive in late December, and it seems they still have some left now. As for the ornaments, the Radko ones always went quickly (any word on those?), but the ball clocks went a little more slowly. I bought the latter in 2005 about a week after Thanksgiving. Still, by mid-December in most years, they'd be gone.
I still haven't decided whether to write Federated about the money I spent elsewhere (particularly Nordstrom). They don't even pretend to be a competitor of Nordstrom anymore, but I did find it interesting that they were one of the biggest beneficiaries this Christmas, bucking the disappointing trend that affected Federated. Basically, I've reached the point where I don't even think about the stores unless I'm near one of them. It would take a lot more than a $10 gift card to get me back in the stores.
Date: Wed, January 17, 2007, 9:54 pm CT
All of you please continue to tell your friends and relatives to stay away from Macy's. Remind them that we are working harder than ever to bring Marshall Field's back. Be sure to remind any skeptics that we will continue to keep this issue front and center for the press and the public. Don't for second allow anyone to say "It won't work." With that kind of attitude, we would never have built this great city.
Remind your friends and family that we are planning strategy not only for the next few months but for the next few years. The New York Times article is yet one more inspiring milestone in our fight. Congratulations, everyone!
Date: Wed, January 17, 2007, 9:28 pm CT
This afternoon I ate lunch with my new boss in the Sky Room on 12th Floor of the Nicollet Mall Store. She and I needed to run into Downtown from our office, which is on the edge of Downtown, to turn in a contract to a theater, and we did lunch while we were there.
To get back to our car after lunch, we walked through the store on 2nd floor and took the skyways back. Oh Gawd, what a disaster. The store looked exactly like what Lunkhead and company promised macy*mart would not ever look like: Rolling racks of junk parked in the middle of the aisles for clearance purposes. Nicollet Mall is an exceptionally busy store over the noon hour on 2nd floor with both shoppers and downtown workers just passing through, connecting with skyways in all directions. The rolling racks of crap positioned in the middle of the main aisles are actually a safety hazard as people who are walking quickly are now bunching up, trying to get around them. The quantity of unsold junk was unbelievable. As you know from my posts as well as from other Minneapolitans plus the St Thomas University study, sales here are really down for macy*mart. The store was stocked to the rafters with Fall and Winter merchandise on 2nd floor (men's), and the need to now move it out on clearance is tremendous.
The junk was bad enough on display on shelving and in normal display modes. To put it on rolling racks in the aisles really made this seem like some Men's Warehouse ("Wearhouse") Clearance Sale. When Guzzetta and his assistant, Teflon Amy continue to tell us how "excited" they are by all the positive changes at macy's, it is the most ludicrous thought I have heard in a long while. So far all I see at Nicollet Mall, a former retail power house, is rolling racks of junk in aisles; a few couches outside new changing rooms; favorite brands are gone; some new unnecessary signage; iPod vending machines; reduced service; new really bad sales people; a couple of my favorite long-term sales people are gone; and some really cheesy store brands have been introduced; e.g. for $50 I can smell like Donald Trump.
Regards.
Date: Wed, January 17, 2007, 8:17 pm CT Date: Wed, January 17, 2007, 7:46 pm CT Date: Wed, January 17, 2007, 5:04 pm CT
However, I only half agree with the end comment by Gayle Schor, who claims she speak's for every Chicagoan: "We're all heartbroken," yes, but we're NOT all still shopping, at least not at Messy's!
Date: Wed, January 17, 2007, 3:07 pm CT
Rather, I am most saddened by the fact that Chicago has lost some of its unique character in as a result of the name change. After all, why would a tourist in Chicago or a suburbanite visit Macy's on State Street when they already have one in their own town? After all, no one visits Chicago for its McDonald's or Targets and no one will visit Chicago for its Macy's. Conversely, people (yours truly included) did visit Chicago in part for Marshall Field's.
Second, I am irked by the condition of practically every other Macy's store that was converted from Marshall Field's. Without the special features of State Street, and under the new Macy's "look", the suburban locations (in particular, the Oakbrook and Vernon Hills locations) really do come off as glorified Targets, but without the lower prices and convenient grocery section found at Target.
In short, the MF-Macy's changeover is a lose/lose situation. As mentioned, Chicago loses some of its unique identity and Federated will surely lose much of what could have been its customer base in Chicago and beyond.
Date: Wed, January 17, 2007, 2:54 pm CT
Once again, walked through the State Street store today, and it was almost vacant. I didn't see even one Macy's bag on the first floor. These people should be very worried.
HANG IN, FIELD'S FANS, OUR CAUSE IS SNOWBALLING!
Date: Wed, January 17, 2007, 2:13 pm CT Date: Wed, January 17, 2007, 12:08 pm CT
ockquote>
http://www.nytimes.com/2007/01/17/us/17chicago.html
I loved the line about FDS adding the NEON RED lighting. Victoria's Secrect tried to add Neon Pink lighting to their Michigan Ave windows and they were forced to take it down!!!! (Someone told me there was an ordinace that did not allow neon lights on the mag mile) Has anyone else heard about a neon light rule?
It's too bad the NYTimes didn't mention anything about the brand names that FDS no longer carries, but it is a great article.
Keep of the good fight. As they mention in the article, 60,000+ people have vocalized their desire to keep Marshall Field & Company!
Date: Wed, January 17, 2007, 11:38 am CT
The article emphasized the historical ties that Field's had to Chicago and that is a great argument...BUT it might be also a good idea to emphasize that Macy's is an inferior store to Field's. Field's was a mid price to a very high end store. Macy's is a low end to mid price store. it's nothing better than a Penny's. The rhetoric I would constantly emphasize is Macy's is a low end store, the stores are cluttered and dirty and sell low end merchandise with lousy customer service. Big business doesn't concern itself with history, tradition and what's appropriate but they understand "Macy's sucks it doesn't hold a candle to Field's". If FDS decided to replace Field's with Bloomingdales I could see a "fairer fight" the stores are very similar but Macy's....uh no, not even in the same league since Lundgren and Co took over FDS.
Date: Tue, January 16, 2007, 10:30 pm CT
It was a Monday night, so I didnt expect it to be to busy. The outside looked drab with the retracted black awnings. I checked out the Walnut Room when I arrived. I thought it was closed, but then saw 2 tables occupied.
I decided to wander around the rest of the store just to make my own observations.
I remembered someone saying that red neon had been added to one of the atriums. When I found it I noticed that it wasnt neon, it was actually tube Christmas lights. How Classy!
The Cellar also looked bad. Im not sure if they were just remodeling or what but much of it had been emptied out. I was pleased to see the Frango area still had Marshall Field's marked boxes and was kinda surprised by it since I hadnt seen them in a while. I did buy 2 bottle of Marshall Field's wine in the Marketplace Area but was horrified when I saw the new products were hosed with red labels. I was happy to see some of the older labeled stuff although it was all on sale. Incidentally my bag did break and I almost lost the wine.
I walked through the food court and was thrilled to see the Field's Stripes were still intact as well as the Wheat Sheaf chairs. Hopefully Chicago will run out of red paint and stop any more disasters from happening.
I was happy to see that the main atrium still had lots of green paint and shuttered to think how hideous red would look in the clean lined area. I did miss the green flood lights.
I got into the elevator behind the directory pavilion and a lady got in. She looked at one of the passengers and said "You should have had that double bagged!" She pointed out how poor the Macys bags were. Then she gave me her 2 cents on the store changes. Although she has still done some shopping there, she has given much of her money to other local Chicago stores due to the poor quality Macy's wear and mentioned Alfani. She also said she had heard that sales were down closer to 40% from a friend of hers.
I went to the remnants of the Christmas department and was really surprised what was left. There were probably 6 huge containers of the "Clock Ball" as well as some goofy Space Themed ornaments. Last year you couldn't find anything that had any type of Marshall Field's themed on it, let alone the Great Clock! There were also tons of the First Christmas Together ornaments. I guess people weren't interested to have their memory associated with the new found Macy's even though these ornaments were unique to the Chicago area. Santa Bear also looked like a "Way To Flop" item in his new Red Threads. I kind of felt sorry for the poor guy as he looked a bit sad. There were tons of those left as well.
Since I had a friend with me who had never been there we decided to grab a quick bite in the Walnut Room. We were one of the 5 tables seated. We both had the Chicken Pot Pie (I couldnt help myself.) It was interesting that they were still giving away the Santa Bear mugs. Is it normal to get them this late? Our server also made mention that the items were all from the old Field's menu.
Through all of my ventures I made a specific point to look at the associates name tags to see their tenure. Many were 10 years or more. I made a point to mention the changes and got startled looks from every one I spoke with. It was as if they wanted to talk but had been instructed not to. I really felt sorry for them.
New Yorkers may have a lot of unique places to go. I myself have been to all the big shopping places there. But there is still no experience like Marshall Fields at State Street. Hopefully we will have it back again!
Date: Tue, January 16, 2007, 9:30 pm CT
Steven
Date: Tue, January 16, 2007, 8:11 pm CT Date: Tue, January 16, 2007, CT Date: Tue, January 16, 2007, 8:11 pm CT Date: Tue, January 16, 2007, 7:00 pm CT Date: Tue, January 16, 2007, 4:23 pm CT
Reading a description of what has been done to the interiors! Well, I just won't go to see the State Street location indoors as I want clean line memories from my girlhood to stay that way.
I also read that protesters or people who will not shop the boycotted stores are just oldish and quite backward conservatives who fail to embrace the future or modern tastes. That isn't true in this case, not in any iota.
You won't see me shopping in Macy's affiliated stores in the Chicagoland area or anywhere else.
Thanks for the efforts.
Date: Tue, January 16, 2007, 7:18 am CT Date: Mon, January 15, 2007, 7:39 pm CT
Date: Mon, January 15, 2007, 2:10 pm CT Date: Mon, January 15, 2007, 1:30 pm CT
Just wanted to check in and see how everyone was doing! Been awhile since I've been on here. Hope everyone is doing well and having a good new year so far. I'm really interested to see the reports from Federated next month when they release them!
VIVA LA BOYCOTT!
- Melody
Date: Mon, January 15, 2007, 12:08 pm CT
http://articles.moneycentral.msn.com/Investing/Extra/ShakeUpAtWalMart.aspx
Perhaps the same thing will happen at Federated because of the "way to shop" flop!
Date: Mon, January 15, 2007, 2:38 am CT
What is going on ? Federated promised to "reinvent" the department store. So far, I am not impressed. So what, a few seats outside a dressing room, a couple of direction signs and a few shopping carts are supposed to do the trick ? Oh...and how about those price scanners...so handy for shoppers to use since Federated only has one clerk between several departments most of the time.
Oh...and traditions ? Forget-about-it...they're all GONE ! Philadelphia is the latest casualty, with the loss of the legendary Strawbridge & Clothier. Macy's did keep the former Wanamaker's location to their credit...but in the traditional cut-down Federated way, they closed the restaurant (a very much NEEDED full-service restaurant) and as to whether or not the famous John Wanamaker organ plays...well there is a group that supports that cause..not to mention that it is a NATIONAL HISTORIC LANDMARK.
The proof of Macy's intentions may be found inside Macy's Herald Square...with their dirty interiors,unkempt departmental merchandise,lack of unique departments...a proliferation of fast-food restaurants (except for the small take-out and grill in the cellar.) NO FINE DINING LIKE MARSHALL FIELD'S WALNUT ROOM....God forbid...they might have to spend a little money to pamper their customers...forget the fact that as the world's largest store...they would make it FULL-SERVICE and SPECIAL as they should !
Let's face it...bean counters are not merchants...yet stockholders depend on these bean counters to keep department stores profitable over the long-term. Just look at the trends...department stores overall have lost plenty of market share...and I am not saying it was all Macy's fault...however FDS is using Macy's as a scapegoat to finish off what marketshare they have left.
THE MACYFICATION OF AMERICA IS DRIVING AWAY THE LOYAL DEPARTMENT STORE SHOPPERS....TO OTHER INDEPENDENT STORES AND HIGH END SPECIALTY DEPARTMENT STORES LIKE NORDSTROM & NEIMAN MARCUS AT THE HIGH END...AND AT THE LOW END, CUSTOMERS WILL BE MOVING OVER TO TARGET TO SHOP...BETTER PRICE,BETTER SERVICE...ETC.
IN THE END...LONGTERM, THEY LOSE...AND SO DO WE...THE ONCE DEDICATED DEPARTMENT STORE SHOPPERS.
Warm Regards,
RG74
Date: Sun, January 14, 2007, 9:10 pm CT
The M store's sign on the north wall of the Milwaukee Mayfair store, with the several burnt out letters, FINALLY has new light bulbs and all the letters work. This is after FOUR MONTHS with burnt out letters!
Federaterd, take our advice on EVERYTHING, not just changing burnt out light bulbs... BRING FIELDS BACK IN ALL IT'S FORMER GLORY!
Date: Sun, January 14, 2007, 6:38 pm PT Date: Sun, January 14, 2007, 11:00 am CT
AirTran wants to make a hostile takeover bid since their board of directors declined the buyout offer.
Here are some sites if anyone is interested:
http://www.wilovesmidwestairlines.com
http://www.keepmidwestmymidwest.com
Date: Sun, January 14, 2007, 9:32 am CT
To Mike in Baltimore: I have a friend that works in the store and the latest rumor for Macy's in Philly is such:
They're trying to get a new restaurant in the store in the old Greek Hall/Regency room. They will be knocking down some of the closed off areas and exposing some of the hidden archictecture on the 2nd and 3rd floors to make room for a home store and they are trying to get floor 4 and 5 back. Also, the tree will return to the light show this year.
Despite all of the above, I will be still be avoiding Macy's as much as possible. I wonder everyday why FDS could let Marshall Field's go. It could have been a jewel for FDS and guess what-- had they kept Marshall Field's, I probably would have been more encouraged to shop at Macy's East. Oh well... Nordstrom's and Lord and Taylor... here I come!
Michael
Haddon Heights, NJ
PS- Went to Lord and Taylor in Paramus NJ last weekend and was impressed with the higher end merchandise they've been starting to carry. They have a lovely restaurant in the store too. No wonder their numbers keep increasing... they're listening to the customer about getting in higher end merchandise. Why couldn't FDS listen to their customers and keep and maintain Field's??
Date: Sun, January 14, 2007, 4:29 am CT Date: Sun, January 14, 2007, 2:30 am CT
Just a reminder of three links from the past couple of day that are very important to read:
Additional comments by Michael Miner in his "Hot Bites" blog including a reference to Gail Heriot, perhaps best known here for distributing 40,000 and couting lapel stickers, not to mention her outstanding writings about our cause
and of course, Gail's special writing which Miner references, "Is the Chicago Sun-Times Kow-Towing to Federated Department Stores?" Great reading!
Date: Sat, January 13, 2007, 11:15 pm CT
When I went away to college, I looked forward to coming home and doing Christmas shopping at Field's. When I moved back to Chicago, I went to Field's to furnish my apartment. I loved taking out of town friends for walks by Field's to see the window displays at Christmas. We would make hot chocolate and walk to Field's; that was as much a part of my Christmas traditions as going to Midnight Mass at Holy Name Cathedral and eating Christmas dinner with my family.
I honestly feel as if I have suffered a personal loss. The city has lost a landmark. Marshall Field's belongs in Chicago. Let New York have Macy's. Chicago has her own signature department store.
I urge everybody to do his part in bringing Field's back to Chicago. Hit them in where it counts, in the wallet. Don't shop there. Or, if you do go in, make a point of pointing out what you *would have bought* if the store were *still* Marshall Fields. Let them know exactly how much money they are loosing.
Date: Sat, January 13, 2007, 9:54 pm CT Date: Sat, January 13, 2007, 9:42 pm CT Date: Sat, January 13, 2007, 7:16 pm CT
You recently received a CHANGE IN THE TERMS OF YOUR CREDIT CARD AGREEMENT AND NOTICE OF RIGHT TO OPT OUT with your October statement. Because your account is currently closed, we are offering you this enclosed coupon as consideration for your acceptance of these changes to your card agreement.
A $10 off coupon was printed at the bottom of the letter.
SAY WHAT! macy*mart wants to change the terms of a CLOSED paid-off account and offers a $10 coupon to accept the changes!
Is their desperation causing macy*mart to become even more bizarre?
Date: Sat, January 13, 2007, 1:17 pm CT
Date: Sat, January 13, 2007, 9:52 am CT
******
[Wanamaker's/Macy's cafe closed--what does this mean for other restaurants like those in former Field's locations?]
When I was at Macy's on Jan 3rd I went up to have lunch at the cafe on the 3rd floor and was surprised to see that it was closed for the day. I checked with the HR office across from the cafe and the lady informed me it had closed after New Year's. She didn't know when it would be reopened and her uncertainty made me surmise that it may be closed for good. I was really disappointed as I look forward to eating there on my trips into Center City while enjoying the organ concert and then shopping. I liked it under Lord & Taylor more with the waitresses, a glass of wine, and the fuller menu...
Date: Fri, January 12, 2007, 11:33 pm CT
http://newsblogs.chicagotribune.com/news_opinion_letters/2007/01/no_fields_is_a_.html#comments
Here is one response to the original piece. (see the comments after the above URL for the copyrighted quote)
Posted by: Steven | Jan 10, 2007 11:34:36 PM
Date: Fri, January 12, 2007, 2:39 pm CT
I have just found out about the dreadful news. How come MacyC-s erased the great tradition and Invaluable Heritage of Marshall FieldC-s?
Though rather late, I found about MacyC-s taking over Marshal Fields just this week.
Never in my wildest dreams, could have think that something like this could ever happen. I used to visit Chicago often from 1995 to 2000. I always knew the Name of Marshall Fields from my great parents. They used to tell us stories of C,The Fabulous State Street StoreC.. I never saw it until 1995.
I walked deliberately from the main and center entrance on State, to fully appreciate the building and approach to the center of the store, and look up to the TiffanyC-s Dome.
I remember the faCade from State perfectly. I was incredibly excited and full of mixed emotion. But when I entered and reached to the Dome, I simply couldnC-t help feeling overwhelmed. In a second all my infant highest emotions and memories came in a flash. My Grand Mother telling us how beautiful and gigantic the feel was. I simply stayed there feeling an incredible rash of joy. I tough about all the history and histories, about all the millions of people that one day, entered the same place for about more than 150 years. And then all the grandeur and splendor of Chicago, a city that became a metropolis in just a few years. The city that rose from anything and from all. Chicago. The city that shaped modern life by giving us skyscrapers, huge department stores, and elegant travel onboard Pullman Sleeping Cars, among many other improvements.
I saw the renovations performed during 1998 to 2000, I was so happy for all the great changes going on C,On StateC..
I stopped going to the States for multiple reasons. But I was planning to pay a visit to Chicago with a friend. And I told him, on day one, we must go to Marshal Fields. YouC-ll see the Greatest store ever. So as he did not know the name, I showed him the web site, until Bum! I took me to MacyC-s. At first I thought it was a mistake in my browser. Again, www.fields.com and again the dreadful banner: ThereC-s a new sensation across the nation!
Marshall Fields is now Macy's
GOSH! I was shocked! Not believing my eyes and feeling as if a treasure or something was taken from me, from history, from I donC-t know. I felt TERRIBLE. Sad, then Anger. This is a terrible thing! I just canC-t believe how does the current administration of MacyC-s do this awful devastation.
There is no excuse at all, for changing, erasing and destroying a landmark!
It has nothing to do with Money o corporative acquisition. It has to do with History!
If MacyC-s is now the owner of Marshall FieldC-s (for whatever reason). They just canC-t erase the name of AmericaC-s most important and greatest store. They just canC-t.
It is like when The Coca Cola Company tried to change the formula of Coca Cola, for New Coke. It is Just Impossible!
Marshal FieldC-s belongs to the people. It is not MacyC-s decision to do it.
How on earth can we stop this? And then feeling a terrible frustration and deep sadness. It is already too late, September 2006, today is January 2007.
I then started searching any information about this devastating event and I found your article. I donC-t know if this can be any good, but I just feel betrayed, sad.
Would it be too much asking if you could just forward this to the management of this dreadful C,New SensationC. (as they call it).
I might be just a dreamer, but I believe there must be a way to preserve the heritage of C,The WorldC-s Greatest StoreC..
Date: Fri, January 12, 2007, 11:33 am CT
Thanks for your post and encouraging words. It makes everything worthwhile when we hear from people like the two of you. I hope Mr. Cooke and Mr. Cruickshank of the Sun-Times heed your words because apparently they foolishly believe there are only 'a few' people who want Marshall Field's to return to Chicago in all its glory. A few people does not a successful boycott make!
VIVA LA BOYCOTT!!!!
Date: Fri, January 12, 2007, 11:08 am CT
To have the Macy's name becoming essentially a bad word in this market is not worth it to FDS management, and it is only their condescending egocentrism that delays the inevitable acknowledgement of everybody's best interest.
Chicago is willing to see the State Street store expire if it remains Macy's. Ultimately, it will be FDS that blinks first.
Date: Fri, January 12, 2007, 10:55 am CT
I read the article in the January 12th issue of the Reader. So the Sun-Times wants to know who we are do they? Well I for one am sending them yet ANOTHER letter to let them know exactly who I am! They want to know? They're getting everything but my social security number and my mother's maiden name!!!
I'm sending my emails to Mr. Cooke (mcooke@suntimes.com) and Mr. Cruickshank (jcruickshank@suntimes.com).
HAPPY READING GENTLEMEN!
VIVA LA BOYCOTT!!!!!
Date: Fri, January 12, 2007, 10:06 am CT Date: Fri, January 12, 2007, 9:34 am CT
Of course people who actually shopped at Macy's would probably respond to a poll favorably.
Of course, who did Federated poll when they bought Marshall Field's? People in Idaho? Not us, and apparently none of the staff we asked at the flagship store when my wife and I were in Chicago last January. Apparently most of the people (myself included) who post comments on fieldsfanschicago.org were not polled either, or Federated might have thought differently about what Marshall Field's meant to us Chicago natives. Note: I was born in the old St. Luke's hospital on south Indiana Avenue.
Apparently Federated is going to pull a George Bush and stay the course. I'm going to stay the course as well, and remain, as always, angry about losing part of my history. And, I'll stay the course by not shopping at Macy's.
Date: Fri, January 12, 2007, 2:47 am CT
Hey Lundgren!: WE DON'T WANT A BETTER MACY'S, WE JUST WANT MARSHALL FIELDS BACK, GET IT!?
VIVA LA BOYCOTT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
fIELD'S FOREVER, MACY'S NEVER!
Date: Thu, January 11, 2007, 9:20 pm CT
>From Seeking Alpha Stock Market Opinion and Analysis
http://retail.seekingalpha.com/article/23950
Federated Department: No Longer Getting My Shopping or Investment Business
THE OWNER OF THE WEB PAGE AND HIS WIFE HAD A SHOPPING EXPERIENCE IN STORE AND ON LINE AT A FORMER HECHT'S STORE
Date: Thu, January 11, 2007, 8:45 pm CT
"This may sound very controversial to those of you on this forum but I must say from my perspective I felt that Federated's aquisition and rebranding of May was a sound business decision that could bring new life to traditional department stores that were no longer compettive in the current retail landscape."
I understand that Federated was going for an economy of scale along the lines of Target and Wal-Mart. More stores means more purchase power and yes, it is cheaper to advertise one brand than it is to advertise for many. I also get that there's a much higher profit margin in house brands. It's all "textbook" business strategy. But the textbook isn't always right.
Certainly Federated would still have had the purchasing power of 800+ stores - even with many different brands it would still be possible to centralize a great deal of their purchasing. And they still could have done house brands and done them better - by taking a tiered approach and recognizing that certain brands might do better in some markets than others. The only thing they'd be giving up is the national advertising. And these days with TiVo (I use my DVR to fast forward through all those expensive ads) and shows being available for download on iTunes and on-Demand WITHOUT the ads how much value can you really place on being able to advertise nationally? How often do you see ads for Nordstrom? Not very. And yet, they seem to be doing quite well. Because they've built a reputation with their customers that no 30 second ad on Desperate Housewives is ever going to convey.
You want to breathe new life into the traditional department store then why not go back to basics? Provide excellent customer service and products. Combine that with a nod to the history and traditions of these stores. Remind people why these department stores were considered so great to begin with and make shopping an experience again. I think that Federated could have cleaned up had they gone that route.
Instead, we get cookie cutter stores and inferior house brands shoved down our throats with lame ads that pretty much look like every other department store ad you see on television. They spent a ton of money converting these stores and advertising their new brand and sales plunged at those stores. So I really have to disagree with any of this being sound business strategy. The best lesson anybody can ever learn about following the textbook is that sometimes it's just being dumb and lazy. Think! Be creative! And more importantly, recognize when you've got a good thing and don't f*ck it up! If Federated's board had a clue, they'd can Terry Lundgren and undo this mess before it's too late.
Date: Thu, January 11, 2007, 7:49 pm CT
The article is titled, "Don't Mention It: The 'Sun-Times' went easy on Macy's over the holidays."
The item is also available on line at http://www.chicagoreader.com/hottype
Like many of us here, Mike Miner questions the disposition and content of Sun-Times articles about Macy's and its problems on State Street in light of heavy adverstising from Macy's. Mentioned are issues we've discussed here about the "Niche Advertising Supplement"--ads about Macy's shopping opportunities that read like actual news stories. It also compares differences between the Sun-Times and Tribune's reporting on this story, including the coverage afforded in the "Top Business News Stories" coverage in both papers and more recent coverage of Linda Piepho taking over as manager at State Street.
Special note is that you Field's Fans here had a part in this story by contacting me about letters to the editor that you sent to the Sun-Times but had not seen published. Mike Moran deserves special credit and applause for his tenaciousness in bringing this all to the attention of the Hot Type column. Some of your letters are referred to in the Chicago Reader.
One little note to clarify in this very fair peice, We had over 200 protesters outside of the State Street store on September 9 and there was some coverage the next day in the Sun-Times. On Black Friday, November 24, we had a second protest with 1890's costumes; this, as covered the Tribune, featured about 100 protesters and was also covered on major TV stations including but not limited to Channels 5, 7, 9 and 32, as well as CLTV. The Sun-Times, although alerted well in advance and at several points of contact, did not even mention the protest in its pages. The Sun-Times' publisher John Cruickshank is quoted in the article saying, "...20 people with placards do not make a movement, do they?" Mr. Cruickshank needs to recognize there were many more than just 20 people who are protesting and there are thousands and thousands boycotting.
Thanks to all for this, especially Mike Moran.
jim
Date: Thu, January 11, 2007, 7:48 pm CT
We do regular searches of this blog, though we haven't written till today, and also search Yahoo News regularly for stories about the decline of Federated Department stores. Today, there is a FABULOUS article about the low quality shopping experience at Macy's, which you can find if you put the following words into a Yahoo search:
federated department stores "no longer getting my shopping"
Take the trouble. YOU WILL LOVE IT!!!!
Vive la boycott! And remember, for every one of you who have written, there are hundreds like us who haven't taken the time yet, but we are helping to make it happen with our everyday refusal to shop at a store that had the audacity to think it could slither into town and gobble up the staunch patrons of Marshall Field's.
Jeremy and Max
Date: Thu, January 11, 2007, 5:00 pm CT
For starters, yesterday, the Tribune has run four "voice of the people" letters that are largely favorable towards bringing back Field's. These, of course, were in response to Monday's Tribune editorial. The Tribune editorial can be viewed at
The Sun-Times featured a pair of articles on Macy's (one main article with a supplementary piece). The article can be viewed on line but its placement in the Wednesday, January 10, 2007 print edition on pages 56-57 was quite curious. Several of you noted as I did that it layed out across the centerfold of the main tabloid section such that when you pulled out the Food section and other inserts, the centerfold opens up with the article coming across as an advertisement. Furthermore, it prominently featured a color photo of a happy family under the State and Randolph great clock prominently holding Macy's bags complete with red star bags, among others. To fully understand, go to a library or some retail outlet that has leftover Sun-Times laying around in their bins.
As always, you are encouraged to respond and we make these suggestions:
Date: Thu, January 11, 2007, 4:49 pm CT
It's such a simple word--only seven letters--yet the Chicago area media outlets seem to have such a very hard time printing or uttering the word.
Instead, we hear and see headlines such as :
"Macy's Holiday Sales Lag",
"Federated December sales fall short of expectations",
"Field's Shoppers Slow to Warm to Macy's",
"Is 'Field's Factor' To Blame For Slow Macy's Sales?"
Newsflash!!!!!!We've got a rather successful boycott going on here, folks. We shoppers know it and Macy's management knows it. But the press just can't seem to figure it out.
Chicago shops at Marshall Field's (not Macy's)
Date: Thu, January 11, 2007, 4:44 pm CT Date: Thu, January 11, 2007, 4:41 pm CT
I know several of us have jokingly written about the 'star' logo of a certain department store and its correlation with a particular form of government but here's a little food for thought: Employees are made to dress alike, not say anything negative about management and keep up a false pretence that everything proceeding as planned. While the company single-mindedly forges ahead forcing their branding philosophy all across the nation and in the process invades cities turning regional department stores into clonesC3-individuality will not be tolerated! Now, you didnC-t hear it from me, BUT. . . . .
Date: Thu, January 11, 2007, CT
Date: Thu, January 11, 2007, 4:26 pm CT
No thank you. What I want is for Federated to sell the name off as a loss to someone who will appreciate and understand the Marshall Field's legacy and build it back to the gorgeous, stylish, multi-million dollar producing company that it once was.
Date: Thu, January 11, 2007, 12:03 pm CT
My entire family is from Chicago. Most of us are still here. Like everyone else, I really miss shopping at Fields, particularly during the holidays. It's very sad to see Chicago become a land of. What is happening to our history? Where is the new league of Chicago-based entrepreneurs who can show our special flair?
Date: Thu, January 11, 2007, 10:33 am CT
Thank you so much and Happy New Year to all
Shannon Coyle
Date: Thu, January 11, 2007, 9:31 am CT
This may sound very controversial to those of you on this forum but I must say from my perspective I felt that Federated's aquisition and rebranding of May was a sound business decision that could bring new life to traditional department stores that were no longer compettive in the current retail landscape. However Federated has so misjuged the public reaction to the elimination of what in their opinion is just a name.
In the industry there is a huge initiative going on to gain an emotional conection with shoppers. In fact Sears, JC Penney, and Kohls have made this thier most important objective. Federated's elimination of the Marshall Field's brand from Chicago as well as many other hometown brands accross the nation is infact reducing thier effectiveness to be competitive. Because this emotional connection cannot be bought or sold Macy's is now in a situation that leaves them to decide to abandon it all together or try to make nice and save what connections they have left. The actions you are taking are and will certainly have a future effect on the way Federated operates its stores.
As to my personal shoping choices I would not say I am a Field's loyalist but rather a participant in the Field's tradition. Macy's North particularly disapointed me this holiday season when I visited freinds and family several times from October until the new year. Growing up in central Illinois trips were made of 150 miles to Chicago several times a year and durring the holidays that were based only on a visit to Field's. As I shopped the old Fields on Michigan Ave in October I could not help but notice a feeling of "who cares", This is just Macy's like every other. I would much prefer to go to my favorite mall in Oakbrook and find the same merchandise and service, which was until the aquisition, wonderful. I was saving the big visit to State Street for the day after Thanksgiving when I could find all of those unique holiday gifts. When that day arrived my mother said she didn't want to go because it didn't seem the same. My dad who hates crowds and shopping reminded her that this is what we do every year and they don't have the windows in the suburbs. The emotional conection to Field's that my mother had was already gone less than three whole months after the rebranding. I have to say it was lost on my dad, my sister, and myself before the day was over. The store no longer seemed exciting as crowds were low, my favorite Diesel shop was missing, the colections of better brands were gone, and the 28 shop was uninspired. I did not realize at the time but I reffered excitedly to my future vist as one to Field's but when I talked about where I had been I disapointedly reffered to my trip as one to Macy's.
As I shopped in Oakbrook later on that visit I started to think why I visited Field's there every time I shopped in the past but this time I had no urge to go to Macy's. I have to say that for more than a year I had been dissapointed with May's and Federated's Field's. I had stopped shoping at Kohl's and Bloomingdales for only one bad visit but for some reason foregave Field's over and over when I saw that green bag.
I don't want to say where I work but am happy to hear that many of you have found us lately. I can't help to think that if we changed our name today no one would care and the terrible mistake Federated has made. I often feel that if Federated had changed all suburban Fields to Macy's but rebranded State Street as "Marshall Fields presented by Macy's" and gave us all of the store upgrades they could have been heros winning over a whole new generation of customers while reviving a fading connection with the ones they had. Who knows maybe Uncle Mistletoe, Aunt Holly, Freddy Field Mouse, and many other local traditions could have been honored in cites across the nation that employed the same rebranding strategy while still allowing Federated to realize cost reductions from the synergies of a singular brand message.
I didn't think I would write this long of post but again I had an unrealized emotional connection to the Field's brand. Keep doing what your doing and remember they ulltimately can and will only do what is in the interest of business, which in retail is the will of the consumer.
Date: Thu, January 11, 2007, 6:31 am CT Date: Thu, January 11, 2007, 6:12 am CT
Date: Thu, January 11, 2007, 3:36 am CT
Date: Wed, January 10, 2007, CT Date: Wed, January 10, 2007, 10:25 pm CT
Well, something like that. I find it amazing that Carson's will be opening a new store after years of decline and many store closings. What do they know that we don't? Im sure insiders have a great scoop about the lackluster sales of Macy's Chicago.
Sales were up almost 5% at Carson's, hum, wonder where that came from?
Nordstrom up 9%
Saks up 11%
Tiffany's up 8%
Bloomingdale's although not broken out, up 2.4B
See the article
http://www.nypost.com/seven/01022007/business/bloomie_tune_business_suzanne_kapner.htm
Seems oddly similar to our service at Marshall Field's.
Looks like the high end stores did quite well.
Now I would like to have an introduction.
Right Hand, Bloomingdale's meet Left Hand Macy's.
Left and Right Hand, please remember where you came from. Also remember that as far apart as you are, there are remaining body parts left that still have names and functions. I believe the head in this case would be Marshall Field's. Remember you must have a head to operate with balance. Please feel free to draw your own conclusions from my analogy after reading the article.
Date: Wed, January 10, 2007, 7:55 pm CT
As somebody who lives in Chicago and has worked in New York on many weeks, is familiar with what Marshall Field's was and what Messy*s is, and is also familiar with two drug store chains - one based in the Chicago area and one based in Manhattan, here's yet another parallel between MF and the Dreaded Red Star - and I'm hoping that those who've been in Manhattan for any length of time will see my point:
It's a common saying in New York that you can't swing a dead cat in Manhattan without hitting a Duane Reade - and it's the truth. They're everywhere. And most if not all of them are seriously disorganized and messy, crap cluttering the aisles, and NOBODY available to help you find anything. Unlike most Walgreens stores, where the aisles are usually wide and well-kept.
With that my simple comparison -
The old Marshall Field is Walgreens.
The current Messy*s is Duane Reade.
Date: Wed, January 10, 2007, 7:29 pm CT
I continue to be baffled by Federated's decision to convert not just Field's to the Macy's brand but all the other local department stores as well. All those brands had a history that was rooted in their communities and that history was part of the shopping experience. It's an intangible and it's hard to measure but it's still there and it's something that you just don't get at Target or Wal-Mart. That's gotta be worth more than the ability to advertise on Desperate Housewives. I hope that Carson's executives are able to recognize this and make the most of it to show Federated what a missed opportunity they really had.
Date: Wed, January 10, 2007, 5:40 pm CT
Zelda, I too believe there are "spies" out there. In an earlier post James in Minneapolis wrote there were daily memos from management giving staff new directives. This proves Macy's is a store with an identity crisis; some of their best ideas are coming from those on this website. How long before they realize we want our store; and it is our store. FDS may own it but it belongs to Chicagoans.
If FDS was to hold a news conference and publicly announce changing the name back to Marshall Field's with its full complement of goods and services, with a timeline as to when this would be completed, I'm sure they would see a significant difference in sales (as a small token of good faith on our part). Then when the name officially changes back there would be people camping out to get into the store for the morning of the re-grand opening. Sales would shoot though the roof. Sales staff would have authentic smiles of pleasure instead of the fake plastered on ones they have been forced to display.
But until that time the boycott is on and alive and well!
REMEMBER TO WRITE, WRITE, WRITE!
VIVA LA BOYCOTT!!!
Date: Wed, January 10, 2007, 5:15 pm CT
My aunt is a huge Field's Fan. She spends a lot of time going around to antique malls, consignment shops and thrift stores to find nice items to sell on EBAY. She just called me on her cell phone from the SALVATION ARMY. She was laughing herself silly and gleefully reported that she had just spotted a Macy's 2006 collectible Santa Bear mug on the shelf there. Looks like it didn't take somebody long to receive and then immediately get rid of (donate) that precious little keepsake! And, no, she will NOT be listing it on EBAY!
Chicago shops Marshall Field's.
Date: Wed, January 10, 2007, 4:43 pm CT
Happy new year to you all! Keep Chicago Beautiful, by not walking around in any Alfani or Charter Club suits this new year. So someone at the Tribune compares Fields the greatest department store in the world to reeking windowless bars and a ruthless gangster! That explains a lot. Of course I am writing a letter.
Here in Philadelphia, what a strange holiday, without an annual big trip to Fields, and Strawbridges gone and vacant. A lady in line next to me at the post office was in tears last month, saying it just isn't like Christmas without Strawbridges and it's like a piece of Philadelphia has been chopped off. All you hear is disappointment about the new mini-mesys ... cheap-looking merchandise strewn in piles and on the floor, that makes you miss Ross and Marshalls. I thought from FDS that it was just me being "emotionally" attached to "underperforming brands" but have been meeting lots of others like me. Christmas time in the Corinthian Room has been replaced with the mini mesys cafe, with workers in black t shirts annoyed to serve you an expensive muffin after ignoring you for awhile, and carrying around big trash bins to fling the plastic dishes into when it's time to go.
Mesys is not a New York store; on the east coast we have learned it's the store that doesn't listen to customers or employees but does listen to money while Terry L. gets rich and the better competition disappears. I like the analyst that says that May shoppers have scattered like the wind ... that is truly how it feels to have Strawbridges gone locally, and to know that the great Fields stores are not out there. Other posters are saying May and Fields stores weren't what they once were ... maybe, but to me they were the best out there in every respect and nothing came close. So like Fields Fans everywhere, now we are speaking with money since it's all FDS can hear.
Date: Wed, January 10, 2007, 2:23 pm CT
Enough said.
-Today's article in Wall Street Journal on Tiffany's
Date: Wed, January 10, 2007, 2:06 pm CT
In any case, from the Sun-Times piece, it seems Lundgren is being adamant (again calling Field's one of the weakest performers - which is inconsistent with his own company's willingness to pay $3 billion for it in 2004 before May snapped it up for a bit more. Also, apparently Oak Brook is in for "renovation," so I wonder what that means? Jim McKay might be right that 2008 is a better bet to see Field's return than 2007. It's too bad. 2007 would have been the 100th anniversary of the full State Street store.
Date: Wed, January 10, 2007, 1:42 pm CT Date: Wed, January 10, 2007, 9:32 am CT
V I V A . L A . B O Y C O T T !
Erick
Date: Wed, January 10, 2007, 8:28 am CT
Ohio State merchandise advertising the basketball team as national champs when in fact they lost to Florida. Now Mesy's has a ton and I do mean a ton of crap they cannot sell. Funny. I actually saw the merchandise at the Easton Town Center location over the weekend before the loss. What company spends $$$$$$ on merchandise celebrating a win before the game even started?????? Just passed throught the store on my way to Nordstrom. Anyway, keep up the boycott! It does not appear the Mesy's name change brought more business to the May stores. In fact, if literally chased people away. Mesy's will fall face down on their red star . . . soon!
Date: Wed, January 10, 2007, 1:57 am CT
Bon-Ton Stores INC., plans to expand the Carson Pirie Scott nameplate in other cities/states. The newer proposed Carson's stores will be more upscale like the former Parisian stores. There's rumors, again, just rumors, that Bon-Ton will close other Carson's stores in the Chicago area. My guess is, Bon-Ton wants to start fresh with the Carson Pirie Scott brand/nameplate to be the upscale store of Bon-Ton Stores INC.. Actually to begin with, the Carson Pirie Scott brand was more upscale and carried higher end merchandise before it was taken over by PA Bergner
I'm sure Bon-Ton is aware that in the old days, Carson's was almost on par with Marshall Field's on State Street. Field's carried more higher end goods than Carson's. It was in the 1980's that Carson's decided to stay away from carrying more higher end merchandise cause it wasn't profitable. High end retailers like I. Magnin and Bonwit Teller closed its doors in Chicago. Today, consumers wants higher to high end goods than ever before.
I wouldn't be surprise if Bon-Ton plans to convert other Carson's nameplate to Bergner's in the Chicago area or just close any of the unprofitable/unappealing smaller Carson's stores in the suburbs. Bergner's started it's chain in Illinois but not in the Chicago area. Bergner's is a moderate department store.
I would love to have an upscale Flagship Carson Pirie Scott store in downtown Chicago. I hope it's in one of Bon-Ton's agenda.
Date: Tue, January 9, 2007, 10:45 pm CT
I find this interesting. It makes me wonder if Macy's North specifically had the artwork layout created for their own ad campagin. If Macy's Corporate did the artwork, why would it still be indentified as Macy's North? Obviously, Macy's North places custom made ads in newspapers which is normal in all markets, but I find it odd they would be placing custom made glossy ads in a magazine. I would be curious to hear if this is normal practice. It just goes to show that getting rid of Field's was not necessary. If something has to be marked Macy's North in a layout, editing in Marshall Field's and changing the colors from green to red would not take a skilled graphic designer very long. (Yes, it would still be crappy Messy Mart merchandise, but I am only thinking about the whole national branding argument in this posting)
Date: Tue, January 9, 2007, 7:56 pm CT
We're getting a Carson Pirie Scott! (Actually, I work with different retailers in addition to other corporations, and their expansion plans for the Midwest are really impressive. Yes, I work with the *other* guy too.) It is going to be the other anchor at the Circle Center, at a mall with a Nordstrom, Coach, and other higher-end retailers.
A woman on the street was trying to describe Carson's to those unfamiliar with the chain, "It's like Macy's, but better. Like Famous Barr used to be." I'm not sure exactly what that means, but my dad always said that the only store that compared to Marshall Field's was the Famous Barr in St. Louis. There hasn't been a lot of press around here about L.S. Ayers being Macy's now. Macy's was already here, and did not have a strong following even before the May takeover. The big stories lately have been 1) Carson's is coming to town and 2)We're getting a second Nordstrom.
That's the word from Indiana... looks like another year that I'll be buying my Marshall Field's items from eBay. I do have faith, though!
Viva La Boycott!!!
Date: Tue, January 9, 2007, 6:24 pm CT
On January 3rd, I noted that a door handle had been missing for months from one of the doors of the State Street Store on the Randolph St. side. TODAY the door handle has been replaced! Either that's a coincidence or these people REALLY ARE reading our blog to get suggestions on what they can do to make the store better. So here's an open letter to all Macy's Spies:
Dear Misguided Macy's People,
Making repairs and cleaning up specific areas of the store are not going to do it. If you want all of us Field's Fans back, you are just going to have to -- be FIELD'S! We can start with the name, of course, and the color, but Field's was much more than that. It was class! The service was personalized and not delivered by people who dressed for a funeral home. Top designers vied for space, and the house brands were solid, affordable and good quality. The first floor wasn't deep with security guards with ear pieces. If there were security guards, they weren't obvious. The place was clean and always in good repair. Whoever you were, rich or poor, you were treated with utmost dignity at Field's. There were sales - great sales - but nobody felt bombarded with coupons and constant sales that seemed desperate. Field's had self-respect. They didn't have to give away the Frangos because they knew they were so intertwined with Field's history and that they came from one great name, that they were a symbol of one great store. It was all these things and much more, and I doubt you could replicate it. But for a start, you might just change the name back to Marshall Field's. If you did that, we'd give you a chance. Now re-read this letter ten times!
Zelda
Date: Tue, January 9, 2007, 5:55 pm CT
FDS is probably trying to hang on to see how the closure of Carson's will affect their sales. Remember to continue telling your family and friends there are plenty other stores, shops and boutiques more deserving of their hard earned dollars.
ON WITH THE BOYCOTT!!!
Date: Tue, January 9, 2007, 5:09 pm CT Date: Tue, January 9, 2007, 2:14 pm CT
i was just thinking about how much I miss Field's!!!!! It's been so sad driving or walking by and not going inside, it's soooo painful! I support your cause entirely, and will always! MACYS SUCKS!!!
Standard disclaimer: This is a non-profit,
non-commercial, non-sponsored site developed with the sole intention
of focusing on what Marshall Field’s has meant to Chicagoans or anyone who lo
ve this
great Chicago institution. The views and opinions expressed on these
pages are solely those of the authors listed and do not necessaarily represent thos
e who operate this site. This site is NOT affiliated
in any way with Marshall Field's, the May Company, Federated Department
Stores, or keepitfields.org. ©2006, 2007 All Rights Reserved. email the webmaster <rmdan@fieldsfanschicago.org>
Posted by: Steve M
I live in the Boston area and I hate how Macy's came in and destroyed our Filene's. They could'nt compete with them so they came in and shut them down and renamed them. They actually thought they could shove this down our throats and we would accept it. Let me tell you how wrong they were. I have not spent one penney in Macy's since nor has my family. We don't care how many coupons you send us. You have lost us as customers FOREVER.
Posted by: Businessman
Friends,
Posted by: RG74
Major dis-placement ! The people who have given so much to build the brands at May Department Stores truly were put on a highly promotional schedule to build and maintain their momentum from one generation to the next. WHAT DESTROYED THE MAY COMPANY EVEN THOUGH THEY MAINTAINED THE INDIVIDUAL TRADE NAMES IN CERTAIN PARTS OF THE COUNTRY IS THE FACT THAT THEY MAJORLY HOMOGENIZED THEIR MERCHANDISE MIX.
Posted by: D Powers
The recent news that the Chicago State Street Macy's is not doing too well does not surprise me. Here in Indianapolis, I don't know how the Macy's (former L. S. Ayres stores) can afford to keep the lights on. I don't shop at Macy's, but during some of the past holiday sales (Presidents Day, Memorial Day) at the malls, I walked through Macy's and you could have set a bomb off in there, and probably no one would have known it. I tell you while the other anchor stores were packed with shoppers, Macy's looked like they were closed. And when I drive past the Indy malls that have Macy's (5 in the Indianapolis metro area)during a normal day, the parking lots are empty. So it looks like Indianapolis shopper are following in the foot steps of Chicago shoppers, and shopping elsewhere.
Posted by: Drew
Interesting that another macy*mart "mouthpiece" has departed. Let's see, how many high profile "executives" have gone away since Lungreed began his quest to macy*ize the nation? Wasn't the head of the former Burdine's division a recent departure? Weren't there several major changes in the North division? Of course, there were untold numbers of mid-level management changes.
Posted by: James in Minneapolis
Hi All---
Posted by: Simpsonite
Looks like the heads are rolling at FDS. Lundgren's time is coming as well. One has to wonder though, will his next move be to fire Frank Guzzetta? After all, it would be very easy for Lundgren to blame the "Field's Debacle" on Guzzetta for failing to appreciate the "affordable" faux luxury offered by Alfani and failing to "sell" and "embrace" Macy's in its target market. Since this is the worst performing division, it makes sense to start here and put the fear of God in the other division principals formerly associated with May Co who are having a tough time keeping up with the "legacy stores".
Posted by: Wm
"the sales had slipped at Marshall Field's over the last few years"
Posted by: brad
Macy's tells only part of the story when it tells customers that Field's sales slipped for some years before Macy's takeover. What Macy's fails to disclose is that many department store sales decreased, particularly post 9/11, and that unlike Macy's and some of Field's competitors, Field's ALWAYS remained profitable! In its WORST year in the past decade, Field's posted more than $100 Million in profits.
Posted by: Erick
I am really hurting over the loss of Marshall Fields. The more I shop at other stores, the more difficult it is to put Fields out of my mind. Please Mr. Lundgren, give us back Marshall Fields!
Posted by: Steven
Did you notice how MacDonald's ouster and Prince's upcoming concert in the Nicollet Mall store were announced on the SAME day? A few months ago, the Prince concert would surely have gotten the most attention, but it appears now that knowledge of this marketing DISASTER is so widespread, that Annie's story has grabbed the headlines. Prince must be pissed.
Posted by: LiMack
Well, we've been waiting for a Macy's "insider" to leave the fold and tell all! I sure hope Anne MacDonald is the one to do it. From what I've read about her she really is a respected marketer with a solid reputation in several industries. Hopefully, she will be unwilling to let Terry Lundgren's ego and bad decisions ruin her own standing in the retail world.
Posted by: John
So how much longer before the Board of Federated realizes they need to replace Terry Lunkhead? Or do you all suppose he has them so scared they would never consider it?
Posted by: Bob Warsham
Another take on MacDonald's departure from AD AGE
http://adage.com/article?article_id=117004
Posted by: Judy M
I read the letter from Macy's management.....ok, the sales had slipped at Marshall Field's over the last few years. Are these people not looking at their current balance sheets????? I have been in the State Street store and the aisles are absolutely empty of shoppers. I have stopped buying anything there. But the few times I was there looked like a vast desert in the way of shoppers - and I'm talking about lunch time in the Loop! I know employees who have left the store because they can't make any sales - no customers and no inventory. Not a winning combination. Even if sales were not what they used to be, there was always a huge flow of shoppers at Field's!! Yes, stores on State Street have closed, but the reasons for those closures are often due to bad business decisions (don't get me started on Carson's!). Such as: 1. The entire consumer group does not consist of people ages 12-30. Those of us too old for prom but not old enough for grandma's clothes have few places to shop....except for better department stores - like Field's! 2. The entire consumer group does not consist of people who are size 2-10. Again, those of us who are a 14 or larger have few places to shop...except for better department stores -like Field's! 3. Downtown shoppers do not want to see Wal-Mart or Kohl's quality on State Street. We expect more from our "great street". So stop trying to feed us your crap, Macy's management. This is Chicago - we're smarter than you give us credit for, we don't take things lying down and we love a good fight. We CAN, however, live peacefully together - ONLY IF YOU GIVE US BACK OUR TRADITIONS! BRING BACK MARSHALL FIELDS!!!!
Posted by: Bob Warsham
Federated replaces marketing chief after 15 months!
http://www.chicagotribune.com/business/chi-070530macys-story,0,2140870.story?coll=chi-bizfront-hed
Posted by: Clint
Looks like Anne McDonald is out as Chief Marketing Officer at Federated. I think that is a pretty telling sign.
http://news.enquirer.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20070531/BIZ01/705310326/1076/BIZ
Posted by: Dean Doyle
Yes,Jordan Marsh was a Boston landmark, generations went at Cristmas for the display called "The Enchanted Village". Christmas and downtown Boston was never the same as Macys took over and dumped the tradition! Now to add insult to injury they now have another Boston landmark Filenes added to their list of acquisitions! We are at a disadvantage here, nowhere to shop anymore. Bostonians can sympathize with Chicagoans, keep up the fight against Macys!
Posted by: David
Hello everyone,
http://www.chicagotribune.com/business/chi-070530macys-story,0,2140870.story?coll=chi-bizfront-hed
Posted by: Luann
I have not posted before, but have enjoyed checking in, and reading the comments from time to time. I thank Jim McKay, and all of those who are sacrificing time and energy to preserve Marshall Field, a great part of the history of Chicago. As a third generation Chicagoan, State Street has been a big part of my shopping experience. Field's and Carson's were my favorite stores, and I only realize lately how much I have taken them for granted. At first, it was the prospect of the loss of history and a Chicago mainstay that affected me most, but now the limited availability in quality State Street merchandise is having its impact. As someone who relies on public transportation, I frequent the downtown area, and literally went back and forth between Field's and Carson's, visiting my favorite selections. The two stores were the vestige of what defined State Street as "That Great Street." Although I am not averse to shopping at Macy's, I find myself lately missing the Marshall Field brand items, as well as some of the designer wear that fit me better, and could be found at either Field's or Carson's (Tommy Hilfiger, for example), but not Macy's. Last week, I was looking for stationery, and could not find the boxed Crane paper that Field's offered. Again, I am not opposed to supporting a Macy's in Chicago, but it should of found its own venue. Bearing in mind that this is a Field's forum, I must say, however, that part of the sadness is having to deal with the loss of other retail experience, the downtown Carson's, of course, and the Water Tower Lord & Taylor, in the same breath. CVS has recently replaced Osco in my north side neighborhood, and, that too, brings with it a reduction in quality, quantity, and service. How is all this homogenization an improvement? Quality and uniqueness seem to breed longevity, and give character to a region, and I fear we will soon be reduced to a number of empty buidings or fly-by-night chains and shops. Jim, I hope your efforts are rewarded, and that Field's emerges phoenix-like, as it did once, from the ashes of the Great Chicago Fire.
Posted by: K Moran
More changes in the executive suite at Macy's:
Posted by: Steven
This just popped up at the Tribune's web site:
Posted by: D.A.S.
May 29, 2007
Posted by: kara
I was passing through M on a rainy day from the red line subway. On the subway level right after you go through the revolving doors and before you go up the stairs, i noticed that a plaque of some sort seems to be missing. i can't recall what it was, but I think that it was a "marshall field and company" sign. I can't believe they'd take that down! well.. actually, yes I can. I'm assuming that is not controlled by the historic register. Also, immediately at the top of that short flight of stairs, there's some dilapidated signage with paint chipping.
Posted by: James in Minneapolis
Hi All---
Posted by: Beth
The Sun-Times displayed a complete lack of journalistic integrity when it published Sandra Guy's article promoting Macy's extraodinary "savings pass" intended to wean customers off of Marshall Field's coupons.
Posted by: Joe D
Dear Doris:
Posted by: Clint
I obtained this photo(see link) when the boycott started last September. I think it's a reminder that we must continue with our boycott of Federated until Field's is brought back in name and quality.
http://www.flickr.com/photos/37826850@N00/226819817/
Posted by: Mitch
One thing that I forgot to mention in my memories of Field's the other day was the covered walk that went from the china department on the second floor, Wabash directly to the Wabash and Randolph "L" station. This brought to mind many conversations I had with my passengers on the train I worked from Milwaukee to Chicago years ago.
Posted by: Gayle
Hi all,
Posted by: Jim McKay
In Boston for the day for an event. Decided to stop by Downtown Crossing to check out the former Filene's and the Macy's that was Jordan Marsh's flaghip.
Posted by: Philip Eichler
Let's read between the lines concerning Macy's new divisional management changes: Macy's Florida divisional president has left "to pursue other opportunities", i.e. perhaps asked by FDS to go pursue other opportunities because the former Burdine's unit is in the tank. AND his replacement is merely taking on that title in addition to other duties....sounds like a mini Terry Lundgren!
Posted by: Doris Ray
Hello Fans,
Posted by: LiMack
After reading still more examples of "Macyspin" such as the letter from a Macy's executive to Doris, (hey, is Macyspin maybe a new word for Wikipedia!?) I noticed a great piece in Tuesday's Tribune by Leonard Pitts, titled "Today's Spin Doctors Need Rehab". The piece was written primarily about politicians and sports figures who make stupid remarks--on tape--and then rely on spin doctors to get them out of it. But Pitt's observations are universal.
Posted by: BusinessMan
Ladies and Gentlemen,
http://www.allbusiness.com/retail-trade/3878128-1.html
Posted by: Jim McKay
Yesterday's Sunday Chicago Sun-Times actually quoted the Bloomberg Column from last week:
http://www.suntimes.com/business/roeder/402141,CST-FIN-curious27.article
Posted by: Mitch
There have been some posts here of late addressing the issue of Field's not having been what it was in the past.
Posted by: James in Minneapolis
Hi All----
Posted by: Doris Ray
Again thanks to my sister. She recently came across a letter I received from Federated while I was in the hospital. I wrote the FDS Board of Directors; here's one response word for word, with my sidebars added in for good measure:
Vice President
Corporate Communications
& External Affairs
Federated Department Stores, Inc.
7 West Seventh Street
Cincinnati, Ohio 45202
513-579-7764
cc: Tracy Fletcher
Posted by: Jeff S
Excitment at the Orland Square Store!! Three broken escalators! So, the excitment is; you get to meander your way through the store, follow the exciting signs to the hidden fire stairwell, then climb up or down inside the dark recesses of the store until you reach the desired floor! Children love it! You don't know where you're at! Will you end up in the basement? How about handbags? OOOh!
Posted by: jimmygimbels
Oh boy, oh boy...Macy's is having a sale AND with a "All Day Savings Pass" for an extra 15% off regular and sales purchases. WAIT! What's this in the small print? Sale excludes:
Posted by: Jim McKay
Thanks to all who helped make our early evening leafleting session on State Street a success.
Posted by: Chris
Regarding Carson's closing having an impact on the State Street store, I have to say that I have my doubts about that. I went to school in the Loop and I've worked there for well over ten years and in that entire time, State Street has never been as busy as it is now. Even with Carson's closed, there's still more retail in the surrounding area than there was just a few years ago. And the stores that have opened replaced some very low caliber retail - wig stores, dollar shops, etc. - that used to be on State Street. There are also far more people living in the Loop than ever before, including the tower that recently opened on Wabash across the street from the store and the student dorms kitty-corner from the store on Randolph. With Millenium Park just two blocks away, the number of tourists in the area is also much higher. And the majority of those tourists probably have to walk by the store on their way either to or from the park. Two weekends ago I was in the area and the sidewalk in front of the State Street store was thronged with people and yet when I poked my head inside, the store was fairly quiet in comparison. There are a ton of people in the area, Macy's just hasn't given them a good reason to go shopping in their store.
Posted by: Private
Macy's has made a wise investment in promoting Norm Yustin into their Red Star marketing program.....
Posted by: Paul F.
I am truly ashamed of the Sun Times, with its running this puff piece by Sandry Guy. Especially right before the sales were to start. This is news or just another adver
t for Macy's? I'm sorry, but although it dovetails in with her last article blaming Federated's report of decreased earnings with shoppers "hav[ing] rebelled against Fed
erated's use of fewer coupon sales," its underlying premise is still totally flawed. A store having a sale or offering a lame discount pass is NOT newsworthy unless ther
e is some odd or controversial reason for its doing so. The problem is that Sandi again buries and muddles the underlying reasons Macy's is now hosting these desperate f
ire sales. I would again posit it's not because Chicagoans are, as she said, "still scouring the newspapers for Marshall Field's coupons." Rather, Chicagoans simply hat
e the store, its products, its parent company, and its chairman, amongst other things. Thousands still boycott! And what the hell does that even mean, people are "still
scouring the newspapers for Marshall Field's coupons?" Are people still "scouring" the Sun-Times looking for Kup's column? Are Chicagoans re, er, stupid Sandi? Sheesh
this is a sad excuse for an article. If a corporation's sales are down then report it. If they are down because an INDUSTRY EXPERT says its because of X, then report h
is views. If Macy's reps. say it's because of Y, then give their side too. Its a poor reporter that only spoon feeds his readers the Y of the story. Bloomberg and the
Trib. gave both sides, but not the Times, apparently.
Posted by: m.g.
Just drove by the Macy's at Northbrook Court. Rock star parking spaces aplenty! That store is a ghost town!!!!! I would guess it's doing far worse than State Street.
Posted by: Sue from Wisconsin
About 100 years ago, my grandmother's family took an annual shopping trip to Marshall Field's in Chicago from their isolated home on the prairies of Alberta, Canada (a train trip of over 1500 miles!). Marshall Field's offered a vast selection of goods that were the height of sophistication and quality, creating an international reputation that remained in place through the next century, until Macy's thoughtlessly obliterated it.
Posted by: Mrs. W
All,
Posted by: Jon C.
Posted by: Peter
Jon C...
Posted by: Doris Ray
Hi Field's Fans:
Posted by: Maura
http://www.wwd.com/issue/article/115961
Posted by: Clint
Today I read the first quarter results for the Bon-Ton stores, including the Carson's group and it is interesting to compare the press releases of Federated and Bon-Ton. Bon-Ton is very forthcoming in why sales are off and that the lower sales are not acceptable. Federated on the other hand is always shady regarding sales and also seems to keep dodging the real reason as to why sales are off. Just my two cents.
http://www.bonton.com/investor_relations/pr0524071.asp
Posted by: Maura
What I didn't like about the Bloomberg article was there excitement over the more diverse and younger crowd who are opening credit cards. They still don't get it! We didn't need to be reeducated on how to shop. I'm sorry I am a white woman over 35. I guess that my shopping habits aren't worth anything. I like good quality, at reasonable prices, good customer service, an elegant atmosphere to shop, and some nod to cultural and historical significance. Marshall Field's was special and I appreciated it. National value brands are not special and are only appreciated by the flighty who shop on price alone.
Posted by: gw
All,
Posted by: LiMack
At the noon newscast on Friday Fox News Chicago had a "news" segment on Macy's trying to lure customers to their stores by making it "fun" to shop over the Memorial Day weekend. No coupons, but a ALL DAY SAVINGS PASS good in all Macy's departments.!!!!!!!! Spend as little or as much as you want!!!!!! The blurb was complete with pictures of Macy's funereal black awnings on the State Street store formerly known as Field's.
Posted by: Brad
Sandra Guy and the Sun-Times have gone over the top on this latest article in which they once again promote Macy's. Since when is it considered newsworthy that a store is having a sale?
Posted by: Drew
The negative media reports about Lungreed's rapidly unraveling plot to macy*ize the nation are becoming widespread. Dropping stock prices, questionable accounting practices, "disappointing" sales month after month have been frequently analyzed and published. The experts who took a wait-and-see attitude now admit this one-size-fits-all strategy has been a colossal failure.
Posted by: Jim McKay
Article in today's Sun-Times by Sandra Guy:
"Field's coupon gives way to Macy's pass: Department store steps up effort to placate customers"
http://www.suntimes.com/business/400831,CST-FIN-macys25.article
Posted by: Jeff W.
As a point of information, the common stock of Federated (FD) has been on a steady decline over the past two weeks. At one point it was as high as $46, and now it is slightly more than $38. Looks like Wall Street is starting to realize that everything is not coming up roses in the land of the Big Red Star.
Posted by: PDX Tim
Greetings again from the Pacific Northwest!
http://www.oregonlive.com/business/oregonian/index.ssf?/base/business/1179971708143190.xml&coll=7
Posted by: a1peopleguy
Truth be known, word is going around the Miami area that they are going to pull a dress rehearsal in Florida with rumors of a closure of the Burdine's main store in center city Miami. Haven't heard any word about that store being considered a regional flagship have you ?
Posted by: Doris Ray
Questionable acounting...isn't that what got Enron into trouble?
Posted by: Zelda
I am THRILLED with the Bloomberg News article about the "Shoppers' revolt at Chicago Macy's."
http://www.newsday.com/business/ny-bzmacy5227457may24,0,4204516.story
Posted by: Steven
Today's Newsday has a repeat of the Bloomberg News piece, but with the headline being "Shoppers' revolt at Chicago Macy's". The most interesting thing is not part of the article, however. Newsday, a newspaper based on Long Island, New York, is owned by -- ta da -- the Chicago Tribune.
http://www.newsday.com/business/ny-bzmacy5227457may24,0,4204516.story?coll=ny-business-print
Posted by: James Miller
That Bloomberg story is just what is needed. The FDS types don't want to get embarrassed on the golf course, and this is just the kind of thing to make that happen.
Posted by: gle
I too don't understand why some people think Field's "wasn't what it used to be." From the viewpoint of a customer (a child in the 60's and a downtown office worker from the 1980's-on), the quality seemed fine to me until about a year before the name change. I didn't realize right away the store had been sold, but about that time noticed it becoming trendy and plastic, like all emphasis was shifting toward the younger generation. And what about the line in the Walnut Room the last Christmas it was Field's? When the tree first went up that November (when you used to be able to get a seat), it was as crowded as Christmas Eve.
Posted by: Connie Cashin
I agreee completely! Federated has made a big mistake by taking away all of the regional, beloved department stores and replacing them with Macy's. I live in Los Angeles, and we are still lamenting the closure of Bullock's, Bullock's Wilshire, I. Magnin, the Broadway, Robinson's and May Co. Now we have just Macy's (which I hear a lot of complaints about!) and Bloomingdale's, which has finally almost figured out the Los Angeles markert after almost 10 years! If the women of Los Angeles had any alternative Department stores to shop in, believe me, they would be shopping there instead!
Posted by: Jon C.
By reading the steadily increasing numbers of articles in major mainstream business magazines and newspapers which deeply question macy's business plan, I am amazed...but then, I really should not be...that Lundgren and his CFO, Karen Hoguet keep mouthing the phrase "We do not break out individual numbers for each store."
Posted by: Evelyn A.
I surely do miss Field's. I had hoped I wouldn't be able to see a difference when Macy's moved in, but not true. I miss Field's and the quality items I could depend on
Posted by: RG74
Terry Lundgren...I don't know how he can sleep at night...after slapping the Lazarus guests,family and Mr.Lazarus himself, then moving to destroy the first quality department store as we know it, he must be quite a night owl !
Posted by: Daniel W. Harcourt II
Hey Fields Fans! I know it's been a while since I've posted, but believe me I've been busy. I have bought absolutely NOTHING from any Macy's-not just the once that have taken over our beloved Marshall Fields. Thanks to the awesome shirts, pins and even the bumper sticker I got from Pat C., there are very few people who know me that don't know how I feel about the Macy's invasion-and judging from recent articles and FD's recent stock price,I'm not the only one making my feelings well known. We are definitely winning the battle-and we shall win the war!
Schaumburg, IL
Posted by: E TULLOCH
Shopping is no longer a pleasure. I was shopping at the Coral Square Mall(Coral Springs,Florida)and it is a disaster! The Macys was a former Burdines which is known as "The Florida Store" one can see that it is a totally mismatch! The macys name going on a flamingo pink building with palm trees(Burdines interior and exterior is world known for its tropical atmosphere,great designer selections and friendly service and cleansiness!) Macys is dumpy, cluttered,bad attitude reps wearing funeral black and horrible loud ass music coming from the speakers is not going to cut it oh yeah i-pod vending machines! and why the hell must there be two Macys in one mall! what choice is that? I commend the citizens of Chicago for their BELIEF IN MARSHALL FIELDS. I shopped there a few times during my visits in Chicago and it reminded me of a Harrods or Selfridges in London and they chose to destroy that crown jewel!The educated fools from Ohio! EVEN DOLLAR GENERAL LOOKS GOOD RIGHT ABOUT NOW, AT LEAST THEY KNOW WHO THEY ARE!
Posted by: Steven
I too did a double take when Macy's announced that Glamorama 2007 would be headlined by the country Muzik Mafia, which includes Big & Rich, Gretchen Wilson (you know her, the red-necked woman) and Cowboy Troy. I suppose Macy's deserves credit for thinking outside the box, but... what? Neither Chicago nor Minneapolis is a hotbed of country music support and it doesn't seem like these acts will appeal to Glamorama's core audience.
Victoria's Secret, well their stuff's real nice
But I can buy the same damn thing on a Wal-Mart shelf half price
And still look sexy, just as sexy as those models on TV
No, I don't need no designer tag to make my man want me
Well, you might think I'm trashy, a little too hardcore
But in my neck of the woods I'm just the girl next door
Posted by: GW
Look at the news story in Bloomberg under articles published about FD. Very interesting...
http://www.bloomberg.com/apps/news?pid=conewsstory&refer=conews&tkr=FD:US&sid=aWYOhgmlZhfA
Posted by: Jim McKay
Do read the BusinessWeek article Drew first noted. Here is the link again.
http://www.businessweek.com/magazine/content/07_22/b4036079.htm?campaign_id=yhoo
Posted by: Susan M. F.
I have to wonder why the marketing guru's didn't think to keep, at least in Chicago, the Field's name, e.g., MACY's Marshall Field's. They may have been able to retain some of Field's customers. What sunk them is completely disregarding Chicago shoppers - obviously, as others have stated, "NOT giving the lady what she wants."
Posted by: Erick
Hi everyone.
Posted by: Gayle
To James in CA: I too have heard it said that "Fields wasn't what it used to be." I really don't get it! Like Jim, my adult shopping experience at Fields began in the early 80's. I do have memories of going to the State Street store at Christmas time as a child, but by the time I was an adult shopping with my own money, it was usually at the Oak Brook or Woodfield stores. I was in outside sales for several years during the late 80's through the mid 90's, so during that time I frequently visited most of the other suburban stores, even the far-flung locations.
Posted by: Philip Eichler
I just looked at the Women's Wear Daily article that had been posted about Lundgren. It is interesting to note that Lundgren repeatedly singled out Field's in conjunction with May. He made no mention of the other May doors. Reading between the lines, it is as close to an admission that he flopped and the beginning to admit there is a real problem with former Field's locations.
Posted by: gle
One of my employers just asked me to post what he witnessed in front of Messy's yesterday. He had to walk past the store on Washington on his way to work. There was a great big rat on the sidewalk looking in the window. He thought that was very fitting considering what they have inside the store, and if the place had been open that early he would have opened the door and pushed it right in!
Posted by: Drew
Business Week identifies the "questionable" reporting of macy*mart's financial picture. The observations and conclusions by people on this board have now been quantified--and it's not a pretty picture for Terry and the Pirates.
http://www.businessweek.com/magazine/content/07_22/b4036079.htm?campaign_id=yhoo
Posted by: Jim McKay
In response to JamesfromCA's post about Field's supposedly being "not what used to be," I've heard that one as well. One STNG columnist accused me of living in the past and wanting to return Field's I remembered from the 1940s or 1950s. In fact I wasn't even alive then--how could I want to return to something I never have experienced?
I'm too young to remember the years you remember of Field's. As an adult, my Field's glory days are from about 1985 to 2005. No other store offered all the variety of Field's while offering quality, value and service. Sure, for example, Nordstrom competed with Field's in terms of quality and service in menswear, but Nordstrom sure didn't offer Field's variety, not to mention the sense it was a Chicago institution. To hear legends that Field's was even more superlative is facinating to contemplate since to me, it didn't get better than Field's. Even to the very end.
Posted by two different people: Private & JC
Another blog writing on Field's.
http://www.allbusiness.com/retail-trade/4113058-1.html
Posted by: JamesfromCA
Ok perhaps someone ANYONE can help me out here. I have heard on more than one occasion on this board, on Ellen "the shopping gal" blogs and now on Chicagoist that "Field's wasn't the store it was" or "it was a crappy store in the last few years" etc etc.
Posted by: Drew
In response to Bob in DC: You must be reading T. Lungreed's twisted little mind. His grand plans to turn the State Street building into a clearance center will be the beginning of the end unless he is stopped.
Posted by: Brad
Please write to David Moin, author of the story in yesterday's issue of the premier fashion retailing magazine Women's Wear Daily. It seems that Mr. Lundgren has spoon-fed Moin lot's of disinformation and Moin obviously needs to be re-educated!
http://www.wwd.com/issue/article/115961?page=0
Posted by: Lauren
Thought you might get a kick out of knowing that all of the unique designer brands that made Field's so fun to shop (Dana Buchman, Catherine Malandrino, Lida Biday, Costume National) are now on sale at TJ Maxx!! In fact it's the EXACT merchandise that used to be for sale at Field's--actual Field's tags and all. I was in the Lincoln Park store last weekend and happened across the goods under the "Runway at the Maxx" section.
Posted by: Mike M
Just to give you an idea of the prominence of the Macy's/Marshall Field's issue, here is an observation.
http://www.chicagoist.com/2007/05/21/marshall_fields.php
Posted by: Patricia W C
I missed Fields sooo much when I moved to Miami in the late 1960's. But eventually bonded with Burdines (The Florida Store) when they had salespeople, a complete line of merchandise, could walk between the racks of clothes and great spots for lunch in their stores.
Posted by: b
Macy's claims to have had fewer coupons and sales days than did Marshall Field's and cites this as one of the causes of lagging sales. Is this true?
Posted by: Gail
[ The following was submitted about 36 hours ago to this Blog; however, it was just posted in the past hour or so. Here it is again in case you missed it due to posting delays at this blog. --Jim ]
Posted by: Mike M
There is a great article at www.chicagoist.com today entitled "Marshall Field's Boycott Working?"
http://www.chicagoist.com/2007/05/21/marshall_fields.php
Posted by: Steven
Oo-eee! Denial! Denial! Denial! So Macy's imperious leader TL recognizes that sales are down at State Street. But of course, it isn't because Macy's sells inferior quality merchandise at inflated prices. Oh no, it's because there isn't a lot of surrounding retail and foot traffic! PLEASE! How many people a day pass by the State Street store? A million? Million and a half? And then he says Macy's wasn't helped by the closing of Carson Pirie Scott's flagship store!?! PLEASE! Carson's made it easier to boycott Macy's because it offered a better alternative. Carson's did Macy's a favor by closing its store. Now TL thinks turning State Street into a Macy's discount bin will solve his problems. Let's see. Shop at Nordstrom Rack, Filene's Basement and TJ Maxx for marked-down name-brand clothing, OR shop at Macy's for marked-down Alfani (which at 50% off, STILL isn't a bargain)... Is there any doubt which stores Chicagoans will still prefer? How did someone so utterly clueless get to be where he is. He has one the most incredibly beautiful retail buildings in the world and the best he can do is turn it into a gargantuan bargain basement? The people at Target who masterminded the $110 million renovation in the late 1990s and the store-in-a-store boutique concept must be absolutely appalled that all their hard work has been flushed down the toilet so thoroughly.
Posted by: Pat C.
From Colorado Springs Business Journal 5/11/07
Federated Department Stores Inc., the parent company of Macy's and Bloomingdale's, took over The May Department Stores Co. on Aug. 30, 2005.
Full story at:
http://www.csbj.com/story.cfm?ID=10595
Posted by: jimmy gimbels
The buzz flying around the real estate world is that Messy's will close 80 stores! Mall management companies are pissed.
Posted by: Mitch
We've read messages that concern the legacy of Mr. Lazarus, and Mr Marshall Field and their contributions to the establishment of long running, successful stores.
Posted by: Drew
Here's a great promotional suggestion for Terry Lugnut and his followers to help macy*mart win their coveted shoppers:
http://www.detnews.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20070521/BIZ/705210303
Posted by: Robert
The article in the Trib quoted a Federated exec who indicated that the State Street store was doing poorly, but the other former Fields stores were doing "no better or no worse" than they had before the changeover. Am I reading this correctly? Also, are the former Fields' suburban stores really as profitable as they were a year ago...or is this a lie?
[ Response from Jim:
Actually the Tribune wrote, "At a press conference after its annual meeting here Friday, Federated's chief financial officer, Karen Hoguet, said former Field's stores are performing no worse or better than the roughly 400 regional department stores Federated acquired from St. Louis-based May Department Stores Co. in 2005 and converted to Macy's."
Posted by: gle
Today is my mother's birthday. She doesn't want anyone to know her age and doesn't even want to know herself. Ladies from her generation had their standards. I will say that she took me on my first trip to Marshall Field's at Christmastime way back in 1959. Our family had certain milestones where you went to Field's. One was when a kid started school and could sit still on the bus. When you needed something ordinary, like ugly school shoes, you got them at a neighborhood store. When I needed my first pair of heels for eighth grade graduation, mother and I made a special trip downtown to Field's. It's those milestone trips I remember, and still have my 1959 Marshall Field's toy catalog. There are many opinions, especially over weekend news coverage, that I feel like expressing, but today I simply honor the milestone of my mother's birthday, and the age that lady doesn't want anyone to know.
Posted by: Bob in DC
For those of you who saw the article or excerpts below about Lundgren's plans to "revitalize" the State Street flagship store by filling it with deeply discount merchanidse, I would like to give you a glimpse into a crystal ball, courtesy of Lazarus in downtown Columbus, Macy's (nee Davison's) in downtown Atlanta, Macy's (nee Burdine's) in downtown Miami, and so many more former crown jewels in the Federated crown long-destroyed. The following is how Macy's "revitalizations" come across to me:
Posted by: A. Perkins
Many newspapers and media outlets covered the report about Macy's poor sales, especially in Chicago, however I love the headline and caption from the Lansing State Journal. It used "sickly" and "ailing" to describe Macy's sales!
Federated turning to cure-all for its sickly sales - promotions
Posted by: A. Perkins
It seems like the national business writers are starting to turn on Macy's. Here's another article about Penny's that takes a jab at Macy's.
J.C. Penney 1Q profit increases By DAVID KOENIG, AP Business Writer
Posted by: Econ Geek
Well, I was at Old Orchard last night and decided to take the survey. The survey tables were the busiest part of the store, I had to wait in line for a kisok. They asked me a lot of questions about shoes. I kept checking "fit" as a problem with the macy's selection. Finally, they asked what size I wore, when I indicated a narrow width, the questions stopped. The answer set for where I shop now was interesting, lot's of discount and shoe warehouse options but nothing for custom made shoes or italian shoes (which are my only options since I am aparently the only person left in the world who wears a narrow width)
Posted by: Gail
ATTENTION MEMBERS OF THE MEDIA:
Posted by: David
Keep the faith...
http://www.daviddalka.com/createvalue/2007/05/20/marshall-fields
Posted by: Al
Sad to hear about Charles Lazarus' passing.
Posted by: David K.
check this out!
http://www.chicagotribune.com/business/chi-0705180861may19,1,3208670.sto
ry?coll=chi-news-hed
Posted by: Jim McKay
Thanks to all who somehow helped make the early evening leafleting session on State Street a success in reaching people. Support for bringing back Field's was overwhelming.
Posted by: Jon C.
Two weeks ago, I happened to be an airline seat mate of a lady whom I discovered was from Chicago.
Posted by: Jon C.
Jim McKay implied a connection on some level behind Mr. Charles Lazarus' death at age 93 occurring the very same week that the name Federated Department Stores, Inc. was dropped to be replaced by Macy's Inc. As Jim mentioned, Mr. Charles Lazarus was one of the founding members of Federated Department Stores in the 1930s. It was also painful to note that Mr. Lazarus was deeply saddened when the macy's name replaced the Lazarus name two years ago by Federated Chairman, President and CEO Lundgren. What an insult to his memory and life that both events had to take place at all.
http://www.columbusdispatch.com/dispatch/content/business/stories/2007/05/15/Chas_Lazarus_obit.ART_ART_05-15-07_A1_2K6NIKD.html
Posted by: Bob Washam
From the latest Tribune on March 19, 2007
Posted by: Paul F
Unbelieveable! A retired LA Times reporter is now railing against the integrity of the Times due to the paper's omission of specific FDS sales declines recently reported to be affecting the company. He alleges in the blog that the CHICAGO TRIBUNE is affecting the Times' reporters' newswriting integrity along with the overabundance of Macy's advertisements. He calls for a nationwide boycott!
http://takebackthetimes.blogspot.com/2007/05/macys-ads-may-be-affecting-lat-news.html
Posted by: Chris
So Federated finally admits what everybody has known all along - that the State Street store is "doing badly." Well, duh.
Office of the Mayor
City Hall - 121 N. LaSalle, Room 507
Chicago, IL 60602
Room 300
Chicago, IL 60602
Posted by: LiMack
A big part of Field's attraction and what people in Chicago miss and hold with such affection and respect, (and what so many journalists OVERLOOK), is that Marshall Field's State Street was never a niche store........Marshall Field's always had something for EVERYONE.
Posted by: JamesfromCA
Claire Osada in regards to the French Room I did a little googling and got the impression from a few articles that the French Room was a high end department in Field's that sold hats at one time.
Posted by: A. Perkins
Where have all the customers gone?
Posted by: Mrs. W
All,
Posted by: Brad
Why all the fuss over whether or not Macy's brand of Frangos is produced in Chicago? It doesn't matter where they're produced... if they're sold by Macy's, we won't buy them! It demonstrate how disconnect the local newsmedia is from their audience that they think moving Frango production to Chicago make any difference in how we feel about Macy's.
Posted by: Dorothy G.
This is no "miracle on 34th St" This is a travesty on State Street.
Posted by: Drew
Interesting strategy to re-invigorate sales at the State Street store mentioned in the Chicago Tribune article:
Posted by: Mike Monroe
Posted by: Alan
Finally, an admission that State Street is "performing badly."
Posted by: Jim McKay
As always, you are encouraged to write in response to articles like today's.
Here are some suggestions.
* If submitting by the internet, send your "Letter to the Editor" in a standard email message. Do not use web page forms or blog sites for the newspapers, unless you abs
olutely have to. If you submit via email, you have the opportunity to cc: or bcc: a copy to yourself--submitting via other methods on the internet mean you probably won't have a dated copy of
your response, if you get a copy at all. It is very important that you keep a copy for your records.
Thank you for making a difference!
Posted by: Hillary
New York Times Did that Power Get Dad,Get His Hands Dirty ?
http://www.nytimes.com/2007/05/13/business/yourmoney/13suits.html?_r=1&oref=slogin
Posted by: Pat C
Macy's attempt to "Lift up the rug, and sweep the dirt under it" to hide the Truth from the Public and Shareholders.
http://www.chicagotribune.com/business/chi-0705180861may19,1,3208670.story?coll=chi-news-hed
Posted by: Mike M
"Macy's State Street Store doing badly."
http://www.chicagotribune.com/business/chi-0705180861may19,1,3208670.story?coll=chi-news-hed
Posted by: Jim McKay
Today's Saturday Tribune will likely have the same story about Frangos as the one linked here:
http://www.chicagotribune.com/business/chi-070518federated,0,4716293.story?coll=chi-bizfront-hed
Posted by: Joe
It's unfortunate that TL didn't see the opportunity in owning Marshall Field's. I have long been a Dayton's and then Field's fan (I moved to Chicago from Minneapolis right when the stores in MN changed to Field's, actually) and have grown up with both stores. I now, of course, boycott the M store. In Minneapolis, we have had Macy's since the Mall of America opened in 1992- did anyone care? Hell no. Dayton's and Field's always trumped "way to sh*t" or whatever they are calling themselves now.
Posted by: Alfred in Washington
Hi, All. To follow up on the Motley Fool story--thanks, Steven!--before the M--- Borg debacle began, the Motley Fool prophesied: "A great deal of [Field's brand] power seems to be connected to Field's history, which is itself embodied in the flagship State Street store. ... The building ... has long been a symbol of Chicago. Now Federated risks diminishing the attraction of the distinctive Chicago landmark by homogenizing it into just another Macy's." And of course that was only the beginning of the corporate misjudgment--as you said, Steven, if someone connects the dots from this earlier observation about brand power to the retail analyst Mr. Flickinger's statement quoted below by Paul F (Thu, May 17, 2007, 2:48 pm CT)--"They made a disastrous decision to throw the Marshall Field's name into Lake Michigan, one of the best brand names in the business"--we begin to get a picture of how incredibly New Coke-like this all is! Marshall Field's forever!
Posted by: Claire Osada
Does anyone know anything about The French Room at Marshall Field's? I found a big French Room hat box at a garage sale today and I can't find anything on the Internet about this.
Posted by: JamesfromCA
I read an article today in the paper that said JCPenny and Kohl's are doing really well. Nordstrom also is doing well. JCPenny and Kohl's are making money with their private labels. I don't shop at either of those stores and frankly I find Kohl's to be bland but the private labels at both stores are moderate in price unlike Macy's. I doudt that a men's shirt with a private label costs 67.50 at either stores like it does in a Macy's. Therein lies the diference in terms of success between a Pennys/Kohl's and a Macy's.
Posted by: Steven
Hey Patti in Indiana, I laughed over the "excitement" surrounding Jordache jeans too. I did some digging at Wikipedia and found the following excerpts:
Posted by: Darrid
Let's not fool ourselves. The media is no better than Wall Street. They are all sheeple and are being led by each others comments and findings.
Posted by: Drew
Wow! JC Penney and Kohl's have _somehow_ managed to increase business as macy*mart continues to falter. They are providing what the customer wants and they are attracting many shoppers who have abandoned macy*mart. Obviously Penney's and Kohl's have capitalized on Lunkhead's arrogance and stupidity and are upgrading their offerings and their stores to capture the middle to upscale shopper. (Saks, Nordstrom and Nieman Marcus have sealed their hold on the high-end consumer.)
http://biz.yahoo.com/ap/070518/earns_retailers.html?.v=6
Posted by: Steven
Article at Motley Fool: Will "M" Be a Moneymaker for Federated?
http://www.fool.com/investing/general/2007/05/18/will-m-be-a-money-maker-for-federated.aspx
C,Federated Department Stores (NYSE: FD) partially blamed a softening consumer environment for its weak first quarter. But is that the whole story? If we look around at some of the competition, we find a much different story. Kohl's saw an 11.8% increase in revenues in its latest quarterly; even its comparable same-store sales looked good at 3.9%. Nordstrom comps were outstanding, coming in at 9.5% for the period, while net sales came in slightly lower at 9.3%. And J.C. Penney saw its total department sales move higher by 4.4%, with comps contributing with 2.2% growth.C.
Posted by: Patti in Indiana
Wait a minute - I was looking at the Sun-Times article (Thanks, Robert C!), and they are excited about Jordache jeans in young mens?
Posted by: Jim McKay
I pretty much agree with Gayle; I see the story as largely reporting comments made by Macy execs. I also have a print edition of the S-T and the second half of the Macy's story is juxtaposed with a story about how great JCPenney, Kohl's and Nordstrom are doing. Contrast all that with, for instance, the full-color story that was spread across the centerfold of a weekday edition of the S-T in mid Januaary. I don't have the date handy but it featured a photo of a Macy's exec in red looking very happy and a family holding Macy's bags under the Field's clock. I definitely would have liked for there to be more info on the mockup Martha Stewart house being cancelled. As was mentioned, is State Street the only store being cancelled?
Posted by: B
Here's an interesting quote from today's Sun-Times article with possible SEC implications:
Posted by: Gayle
To Robert C:
Posted by: gle
I went to State Street Messy's to try the survey last night. It was the first time I could force myself into the store since the name change. The survey seemed to anticipate that some people don't like Messy's. In addition to the important question of have you shopped more or less here since the name change, there were multiple choice questions like where did you buy your last suit, why, would you consider buying a suit at Macy's, why or why not? The only personal questions were gender and age. Participants also had to climb onto very high, very hard metal stools.
Posted by: Drew
This article from the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review attempts to give a balanced view of macy*mart's problems, but the fact remains that other retailers are capturing the former Kaufmann's customer. Of course, the article had to include comments from people who like macy*mart so the newspaper wouldn't lose advertising revenue.
http://www.pittsburghlive.com/x/pittsburghtrib/business/s_508290.html
Posted by: Nathan
So I walked inside of Macy's to fill out their survey telling them that I wouldn't shop there. I got two boxes of Frango mints for free, but here is the best part. On the back of both boxes of chocolates the picture of the clock is upside down. Shows how much they care about Frango mints not checking their box design. Way to Flop!
Posted by: Barbara Kipnis
I moved to Florida from Chicago three years ago. Returning to Chicago quarterly to visit family, I will NOT shop at Macy's. I won't shop at Macy's in Florida, either (the former Burdines stores). Marshall Fields IS Chicago, and has been for me since I dressed in white gloves and patent leather Mary Janes to ride the "L" with my mother and shop at the State Street store in 1950. My loyalty solidified in 1963, when Field's "College Board" helped new freshmen figure out the right clothes to pack for college. Target did a number on the stores, with poor decisions like moving Frango manufacturing out of state and eliminating cash returns for bridal registery gifts (even with the proper receipt). But at least they had the sense to keep the Field's name. Any company dumb enough to toss out the Field's name doesn't DESERVE my business!
Posted by: Robert C.
Sun-Times Article today on Macy's.
http://www.suntimes.com/business/391213,CST-FIN-macys18.article
Seems to me that the Sun-Times is trying a little too hard to go easy on Macy's. I wonder if the cancellation of the Martha Stewart mock home is just on State Street or at Union and Herald Squares too. It made me bristle when I read that Macy's basically dismisses loyal Field's customers.
Posted by: Probably the kind of orders a Macy's Manager gets
Well I'm sure you have all read that us old "May" store managers don't know how to run a Macy's store.
Posted by: Alan
Thanks for the "inside" insight, MFFan. Your analysis is right on. Lundgren's plan to integrate the lower-end May, the middle-end legacy Macy's, and the high-end Field's was to gravitate to what he thought was the middle. However, it doesn't seem to be working, and they are finding themselves trapped in the very cycle of promotions that they were hoping to avoid.
Posted by: Darrid
Opportunity...
Posted by: Randi C.
Hi Everyone,
Posted by: Roberta S.
If Macy's is pronounced "messy's" then if Federated changes its name to Macy's Inc, today, its new name will be pronounced "messystink".
Posted by: Rich (B)
Renaming the stores Marshall Field's NOW would be an absolute insult
Posted by: James in Minneapolis
Hi All---
Posted by: Jeff W
Bravo! Bravo! The financial analysts are starting to see the light that Federated screwed up big time when they destroyed Marshall Field's! Couldn't happen to a nice group! Way to go, Terry Lundgro!
Posted by: Michael in Baltimore
I was in the former Hecht's at Security Square Mall today. Security Square is one of Baltimore's let's say less upscale malls. I had to go into the mall so I decided to walk through Macy's. Even as Hecht's it was a lesser store. It reminded me of the former Hecht's Cloverleaf store in Richmond. I'll start by saying the inside was surprisingly orderly. That said what is with the mold growing on the outside of the building? The store had some people in it but very few with bags, and I doubt they ran out. When I was upstairs looking at the home department (yes to someone who asked, no real Waterford) a kind employee asked me for help. (He must of been one of those Baltimore/Washington nasty Hecht's clerk.) I asked him point blank how sales have been since the changeover to Macy's. He seemed surprised and gave a so-so sign with his hand. I said is there any change? He said "on certain days there better". Then I pressed "how about overall are sales better or worse than with Hecht's?" He just shook his head and said "worse". I said that I missed Hecht's. He said he did too and "things are different now. Maybe they'll improve."
Posted by: MFFan
i have been following this blog for a while but have not written in yet. Please allow me to add some context to the discussion
Posted by: Steven
I'd say the comments on Ellen Warren's blog are running over 25 to 1 in favor of dumping Macy's. The Tribune has printed more complaints about Macy's ever. I wonder if the editors have decided that Anne MacDonald's holier-than-thou rant against newspapers was the last straw. Certainly one way of boosting circulation is to jump on a bandwagon and find a common enemy with your readers. The Tribune would be wise to pull no punches against Macy's now.
Posted by: gle
"Tribune's" Voice of the People Letters to the Editor has a not-so-nice suggestion that Federated dump Terry Lundgren--"Macy's is Swimming with the Fishes." And it's not even Saturday!
Posted by: Drew
Interesting that JC Penney is upgrading its offerings and increasing its profits while macy*mart is making excuses and searching for gimmicks. How much of the improved business at JC Penney results from lost business at macy*mart? How can Lunkhead and Company even think that increased advertising will bring customers back to macy*mart? Sure, some curious souls _might_ come in and look around, but what happens after they enjoy the ambiance and examine the "exciting" merchandise?
http://www.marketwatch.com/news/story/exclusive-fashions-help-drive-penneys/story.aspx?guid=%7BC36EAD8C%2DF513%2D4092%2DA700%2D2CB6B48D7C11%7D
Posted by: Paul F
I'm really wondering about Sandra Guy's (Sun Times) news writing: "Shoppers at the new Macy's stores, including the converted Marshall Field's chain, have rebelled against Federated's use of fewer coupon sales, though more of them have signed up for Macy's credit cards, said Karen Hoguet, Federated's chief financial officer. Federated will spend more money on TV and newspaper ads by diverting dollars from mailing promotions to the best-spending shoppers."
Posted by: Paul F
Excellent article and great quote from Jim.
http://www.chicagotribune.com/business/chi-thu_federated0517may17,0,2676799.story?coll=chi-bizfront-hed
Posted by: Joe D
Well, JCPenney's total sales increased 4.4% while FDS's total sales decreased 0.2%.
Posted by: Joh
My God. This man simply cannot admit he scrwed up. For years of studying the U.S. business world, I have never seen anyone so adamant for NOT taking the blame for anything...Enron aside. What's more is the fact all these analysts, etc. keep swallowing the intense amounts of BS he and his little robots like this CFO broad and Jennifer "Moron' McNamara keep dishing out.
Posted by:
ACK! I'm not sure who Ruthie Ackerman is, but here is the article she wrote for Forbes.com:
http://www.forbes.com/2007/05/17/walmart-federated-retail-markets-equity-cx_ra_0517markets03.html?partner=yahootix
Posted by: Gayle
Hi Folks,
Posted by: Jim McKay
Here's a recap of three items of note in Chicago newspapers--Field's Fans need to take a look at these:
http://www.chicagotribune.com/business/chi-
thu_federated0517may17,1,5071770.story?ctrack=3&cset=true
http://featuresblogs.chicagotribune.com/shopping_elle
n_warren/2007/05/what_a_shocker_.html
http://www.suntimes.com/business/389665,CST-FIN-macys17.article
As always, you are encouraged to write in response to articles like these. In the case of Ellen Warren's blog, you will have to reply there; howerver, please EMAIL your letters to the editor in response to the othe articles. Here are some suggestions.
* If submitting by the internet, send your "Letter to the Editor" in a standard email message. Do not use web page forms or blog sites for the newspapers, unless you abs
olutely have to. If you submit via email, you have the opportunity to cc: or bcc: a copy to yourself--submitting via other methods on the internet mean you probably won't have a dated copy of your response, if you get a copy at all. It is very important that you keep a copy for your records.
Thank you for making a difference!
Posted by: Clint
Macy's Cut's Coupons
http://www.bloomberg.com/apps/news?pid=20601109&sid=aJBh8DpFkD.Y&refer=home
Posted by: Drew
All of the "exciting" links posted on Wednesday quantify the anecdotal comments that have been made on this blog: macy*ization isn't working and now the numbers prove it! Case closed! The downgrading of Federated's stock parallels the downgrading of its stores, as investors and economists see the weaknesses that the customers have seen since the Red Star Store defiled the nation.
Posted by: gle
The truth is out.
www.chicagotribune.com/business/chi-thu_federated0517may17,0,2676799.story?coll=chi-bizfront-hed
Posted by: Pat C
THIS BOYCOTT IS COAST TO COAST !
http://www.chicagotribune.com/business/chi-thu_federated0517may17,1,5071770.story?ctrack=3&cset=true
Posted by: Patti in Indiana
Came across this article on MarketWatch:
http://www.marketwatch.com/news/story/federated-launch-macys-promotional-push/story.aspx?guid=%7BD6AAAC42%2D1E84%2D435E%2DA258%2D5A3CFDBBC8BA%7D&siteid=yhoof
"Customers who until September shopped at Marshall Field's, Hecht's and Burdines seem to like some of the different merchandise Macy's stores offer, like private-label brands, status brands and exclusive lines. But they're apparently not sold on other items, including home furnishings, or kitchen and bath accessories."
Posted by: B Chevalier
I was confused as to why we would be having a protest in early May a couple of weeks ago. Now after reading this morning's Tribune I see that it was timed perfectly.
Way to go fellow Field's loyalists!
Posted by: Matt
As a former Chicagoan living in San Francisco, I'm proud to see the solid boycott of not only the former Marshall Field locations, but other May divisions as well. (Kaufmann's, Foley's etc.)
Posted by: Darrid
This past week I went to Columbus City Center, once a thriving center for shopping. When it opened it housed Lazarus, Jacobsons and Marshall Field's.
Posted by: Mark in Phila
Hello Fields Fans,
Posted by: bob warsham
My comments to the Tribune blog follow. It has been posted.
The remerchandising was bad enough. Cheap knockoffs at inflated prices. But in the Detroit area former Fields stores, shopping carts have just been added! How upscale, and to quote FDS so"fashion forward". A clerk explained the carts replace package pickup!
Posted by: LiMack
When I sit back and contemplate "l'affaire Lundgren" I am just amazed at how easy he made it to boycott Macy's. For many of us who vowed we would never spend a dime at Macy's once the nameplate changed it could have been so much more difficult than it has been. Had the converted stores been full of excitement, innovation and great unique items to purchase, and had real people (not shills) been prancing all over town in their classy new clothes singing the praises of Macy's ammenities and customer service, then the boycott would have been much smaller. But, helpfully, Macy's screwed up everything possible!
Posted by: Chris
I don't understand why Terry Lundgren still has a job.
"That means shoppers will see more TV promotional advertising and sale events in the months ahead as the company attempts to "create more urgency" to get shoppers into the newly converted stores, Federated CFO Karen Hoguet told Wall Street analysts during a first-quarter earnings conference call Wednesday."
Posted by: M
I just wanted to say how impressed I was that Chicago actually put up a fight. Detroit just let Macy's take over. No one here was willing to fight or protest. Not even the Teamsters put up a fight! Everyone just accepted the bullshit severance they were given and went away.
Posted by: Zelda
In the words of the great Churchill:
"This is not the beginning of the end, but it is the end of the beginning."
Posted by: Mrs. W
All,
Posted by: George Miller
This past Friday I was downtown Chicago for Looptopia. I walked through the State Street Store and was amazed at how unprepared Macy's was for the crowds that always show up for one of the wonderful "fests" we have in Chicago. Sadly, however, I was not surprised. . .
Posted by: Jim McKay
Here's another interesting article from a senior writer at thestreet.com. It's titled: Federated Faces More Trouble Ahead.
http://www.thestreet.com/_tsccom/newsanalysis/retail/10357248.html
Posted by: Peter
Look at the Chicago Trib today. The tagline of "Now it's official: Macy's is a flop" for Ellen Warren's column caught my attention.
http://featuresblogs.chicagotribune.com/shopping_ellen_warren/2007/05/what_a_shocker_.html
Posted by: David
To All Field's fans:
http://featuresblogs.chicagotribune.com/shopping_ellen_warren/2007/05/what_a_shocker_.html
Posted by: Robert
I took "the survey" today at the beloved State Street location...I agree with an earlier post that the questions are skewered because they link "Marshall Field's/Macy's;" however, the the question about whether you're shopping more/less since the changeover is THE telling one, and I encourage EVERYONE on this board to go in and complete the survey. Also, it was my first venture into the store since Field's was replaced with Macy's. I am unimpressed. The glamour and taste are gone. It looks like a dying urban department store, like the old Bullock's on Wilshire in LA before it closed after the Rodney King riots. There was no life or energy - nothing that projected its status as "an important place." Also, the free box of Frangos were disappointing. They ARE waxy and taste like cheap chocolate; the mint is less pronounced.
Posted by: Gayle
Hi All,
Posted by: Drew
So the "sluggish" sales at macy*mart resulted from their advertising methods. That's as good a excuse as any to explain away the problem without addressing the real issues. Note that the article doesn't single out the former May Company stores for slow sales; perhaps the legacy stores are also "disappointing." Not to worry, the new advertising strategies will surely "drive" cutomers into their stores.
http://www.marketwatch.com/News/Story/Story.aspx?guid=%7b64BBD7AB-3F2F-4E35-B9A9-597E72862858%7d&siteid=yhoo&dist=yhoo
Posted by: gle
And there is yet more. Lunkead admits "...sales in the new Macy's locations were disappointing in the quarter." then continues to defend himself, "...we remain optimistic that our trends will improve particularly in the back half of the year as we reach the first anniversary of the Macy's brand conversion."
www.forbes.com/businesswire/feeds/businesswire/2007/05/16/businesswire20070516005587rl.html
Posted by: gle
And the results are--"Macy's a drag on Federated profit." Are we shocked?
www.money.cnn.com/2007/05/16/news/companies/federated.reut/index.htm?postversion=2007051609
Posted by: Private
Most companies learn from feedback and information gathered from their best guests (customers) and adjust their business accordingly. Yet,Macy's strategy does not include any customer/guest input. That's where the Macy's re-education comes into play.
Posted by: Steven
Is someone jumping ship?
Posted by: Mrs. W
Hi All,
Posted by: Hillary
I found this on Ebay. This gentlemen is selling his work shirts ...
Posted by: William
The posted letter from a Macy's employee is both enlightening and very disturbing because it reveals and (confirms from a discussion I previously posted) what Macy's exit strategy is:
Posted by: Drew
Economic analysists now realize what those on this board have known all along: Federated Department Stores/macy*mart is a "loser" in each and every aspect!
http://www.forbes.com/2007/05/15/walmart-retail-stocks-markets-cx_ms_0515leaders.html?partner=yahootix
Posted by: John
Northbrook Court, Oakbrook, Old Orchard, and Lake Forest, were all literally appalled at the idea of a Macy's (still leaves a bad taste in your mouth) coming in and taking space in the iconic and matchless and beloved Marshall Field & Co.
Posted by: Bob Garrett
OK, this I find funny. When I complained to Macys.com I got a responce from an employee that told me that our Boycott is effecting jobs and he is happy to be employed. So I go out of my way to try to help a Macys employee find some work. Read below its funny to me:
Dear Mr. John Bourgeois:
>From
Dear Mr. Garrett:
Assistant Store Manager,
Macy's State Street
Last Name:
Address:
City:
State: IL
Zip: 6
Country: USA
Phone:
Email:
Division: mno
Location: 640055
Source: Macys.com
Overall: Disappointing
Store Env: Disappointing
Assoc Behav: Disappointing
Comments:
I just wanted to let you know that the Boycott of your store continues. I really Really miss my Field's. When is Mr. Terry Lundgren going to realize that he made a mistake? Please look at your stores sales there down, please give me my
Field's
Name: Marshall Field
Description: Owner
Assc. Number: Un known
Comments:
This person cared about Chicago. It was not some NY instuiton that Insisted they were better!
Posted by: Justin A.
I stopped at our Mayfair (Milwaukee, WI) Messy's this past Sunday to make my monthly visit to see how bad things continue to get. One associate I saw working in the men's Ralph Lauren department was very creative in choosing his "black uniform" for the day -- he was sporting a black leather vest over a neon blue shirt. Sales, as usual, throughout the store, were very slow. While passing through the men's furnishings department I witnessed an associate who was already helping a customer, drop everything to help a second at the checkout (there were already two other employees at the checkout who were just standing around talking). When the first associate starting ringing up the second customer, one of the two idle associates said, "I can ring that up for him. You were helping that other customer." The first associate responded "I was, but thatC-s okay" (guess he was short on his sales quota). Finally, I wandered over to the "survey" area at the mall entrance. I found it interesting that they had it on the side with all of the women's departments. I guess that don't care about the opinions of men. The two computer terminals were unoccupied, so I sat down at one of them. The survey did take about 10 minutes. As I worked on the survey it was interesting to note that the person manning the area was not actively stopping customers to ask them if the wanted to complete a survey. The survey concentrated mostly on men's clothes (what have you bought during the past 6 months, what type of clothing, how much paid). I was presented with two pictures of models in office casual work apparel (one trendy and one traditional/classic (field gear type/Ralph Lauren)). The survey asked which picture I preferred, as well as which one characterized the style found at Messy's. Obviously, I chose the traditional/classic style as my favorite, and the trendy as what I thought Messy's carries. Each time when asked if I would purchase a particular clothing item from Messy's, I responded with an emphatic "no." The survey wou
ld then ask "why" I would not shop "Messy's." I selected only the "correct" answers, "quality" and "selection." After answering questions about men's clothing, I was thrown for a loop when I was presented with a question about "expensive gift items" (e.g., have you bought an expensive gift item in the past six months, how much did you pay, where did you purchase, and did you purchase at Messy's, etc). As I had made such a purchase in the past six months, I was more than eager to give my opinions. Again, when responding "no" to the question, "would you purchase an expensive gift item in the future from Messy's, I was asked why. My response was that I would rather shop Boston Store (Carson's) or Nordstrom. After finishing the survey, the attendant said to me "You looked as though you were providing some very "thoughtful" answers. I then responded with a curt "yes" and then asked for my free box of Frango's. It will be interesting to see if anything comes of their survey.
Posted by: Paul in Baltimore
To Richard on 05/14/07...
Posted by: RG74
Exciting news, more stores are insituting cafes...yes full-service restaurants with waiter/waitress service ! In-store restaurants provide a large benefit to shoppers and the stores alike.
Posted by: Steven
I think everyone who can, should fill out a survey at Macy's. First, although it's doubtful TL et. al. will do anything with the results except support their same tired old story, at least it gives us another opportunity to say in no uncertain terms to Macy's YOU SUCK.
Posted by: Gail
Here's something for Federated's directors and shareholders to think about before the upcoming shareholders' meeting:
Posted by: Paul F.
The surveys are conducted on computerized touch screen terminals and only take a few minutes to complete. The questions actually changed slightly, from one survey to another. -- But they all had one question in common, however, basically asking if you shop more or less at Macy's after they changed the name, from much more, all the way down the scale to much less. Then it asked why. All the rest was commentary dealing with what types of clothes you prefer and what type of things you notice at Macy's. Some questions were somewhat skewed and confusing (some state "Macy's/Marshall Field's" as an answer, when the two clearly should be split), but with careful, deliberate reading it was not that difficult to complete the questions. Some questions left no "best" answer, so one must answer "no reason" or "I don't know." I have urged my family and friends to take the survey (they do not ask personal details) becase this may be the last chance to directly do so. FDS needs to know that we shop much much less at their stores since they changed the name. If we do nothing then the sheeple meandering in the stores win, and the survey will reflect nothing but their warm contented thoughts towards Macy's.
Posted by: Randi C., New Yorker
Hey Field Fans,
Posted by: Jim
Page 15 of today's Sun-Times also has a Field's allusion. They have a color photo of the Field's Great Clock and have a quick blurb as how the State Street Mall caused a drop in sales at Field's and other retailers nearby.
Posted by: john f
This is a comment for Nathan's recent posting that someone from store will contact him. Nathan, if so, will you please post for us?
Posted by: Richard
I emailed Macy's 2 weeks ago regarding the demise of Marshall Field's and other regional stores:
I absolutely despise Macy's. Give us Foley's back. Macy's is nothing
compared to Foley's, Marshall Field's or Filene's. You were not happy
with the demise of I Magnin, Bullocks, Bullocks Wilshire, Jordan Marsh,
Maas Brothers, Rich's, Burdines, Lazarus, Goldsmith's, A&S and the many
other regional stores that defined their communities and were
institutions in their cities. Lungren will not listen to the customers
until the demise of Federated. He is just full of his ego. It is my
prediction half of the old Foley's stores will be closed within 2 years
(as well as the other May divisions). More people feel the way I do
about Macy's than not. We are showing it with our wallets. It is
interesting how Federated is not breaking down the regions by sales
volume. The arrogance of Federated's board and Lungren is appalling.
Thank you for taking the time to share your views with us and for giving
us the opportunity to respond. Nothing is more important to our business
than knowing what our customers think and being responsive to their
needs and concerns. Let me first assure you that no one understands or
appreciates better than we the long heritage of our regional brands, as
well as the history they encompass.
Judy Messer
Internet Customer Service
Posted by: gle
The "Tribune" has a good pro Field's letter inviting reader comments in Voice of the People Letters to the Editor today, "Consumer Protests."
Posted by: denise rule
http://newsblogs.chicagotribune.com/news_opinion_letters/2007/05/14/index.html#entry-33916144
Posted by: Richard
I just found a video link for an old Foley's commercial. You will see how we treasured this name since 1900 in Houston just like you treasured Marshall Fields:
Posted by: Siamak (Chicagoan living in NY)
Can someone remind us who owns the building 111 N. State Street? Is it FD? Hopefully not because when Messy's fails there, it would be a shame if they sell the building and make a lot of money.
Posted by: John M
One way we can get our point across to Federated Dept. Store, On the demise of Marshall Fields, is to purchase shares of stock of Federated. Since sales are down at Frderated share holders can request or demand the CEO be removed from his position because of his major mistake of removeing the Marshall Fields name from the Chicago landscape. Remember corporate executives are requires to keep the share holders happy and show a return on their investment. At this point Federated has angered the customers to not want to shop at the former Fields stores. This is not a good business practice. Sooner ar later share holders will take action on this matter.
Posted by: Paul in Baltimore
This is in response to the Wall Street Journal article.
Posted by: Marc-Boston
Steven noted "But then again, Oakbrook might want to boot Macy's to make room for Saks."
Posted by: Marc- Boston
JP asked "I must say I was surprised to see Armani, Chanel and Prada at the Sears in Vancouver.....can anyone explain that"
Posted by: Drew
The alleged "survey" being conducted at the macy*mart north stores is probably more of Lunkhead's arrogant refusal to admit that his stategy has failed miserably.
Posted by: James Z K
Hello Field's Faithful-
Posted by: Private
Very interesting comments from the conference call from Terry Lundgren. It simply appears that he does not get the Field's customer...he readily admits that Marshall Field's has a higher brand status than Macy's ! I think that the loyal longtime guests should be aware of this and ask why he would not leverage the opportunity to give us back the upscale store that we have patronized this year. 60,000 people can't be wrong ! It's very important that the media is aware of this ! Don't you think ?
Posted by: Glenview/Northbrooker
I have an acquaintance who works at Northbrook Court Messy's. She's stated that the shoppers at the store have changed since the conversion. There are fewer shoppers and few are that are are rarely the same that used to shop at field's. Sales have also fallen significantly. After Lake Forest, I would suspect that former Field's shopppers of Oak Brook, Old Orchard, and Northbrook are the most discerning customers -- they simply aren't buying it (messy's that is!).
Posted by: Drew
This evening I parked in the lot outside a suburban Pittsburgh macy*mart. The store was pretty much deserted as I overheard one clerk in the Home Store say to another, "I rang up $400 today--that's much better than the $200 all day Friday." She said that she actually approached OTHER CLERKS and asked them to stop by her department to buy something! The other clerk replied, "Wait until we start carrying Martha Stewart. That will really bring 'em in." They both had a hearty laugh on that one!
Posted by: Jim McKay
Thanks to all who helped make late afternoon/early evening leafleting a success today--both on the street as well as behind the scenes making leaflets possible.
Posted by: Paul P.
Dear Field's Fans:
Posted by: Bob Warsham
Walked through one of the Malls today and noted that the survey was going on inside the entrance to Macy's. A chair was open so I offered my opinions.
Posted by: LiMack
With Mother's day this weekend I've been thinking a lot about my Mom. I remember her having and playing an old record of the Ral Donner love song, "You don't know what you've got (Until you lose it)" probably from the 1950s. Similarly, as much as we all appreciated Marshall Fields, I suspect many of us honestly didn't realize how MUCH she meant to us until she was "lost".
Posted by: Doris Ray
Why don't the newspaper articles which write about FDS low sales give the whole truth? There is a boycott in the works.
Posted by: Philip Eichler
Two observations:
Posted by: Nathan
First off I would just like to thank everyone for all your efforts put into this cause so far. My primary course of action is to not shop at Macy's.
Dear Nathan :
Vice President of Selling Services
Macy's North
Posted by: Ralph
I want to thank you for this site. I truly think it's a shame that Marshall Field's is no more. I used to shop there quite a few years ago when I would cover our company's Chicago office on a fill-in basis.
Posted by: Jim McKay
The arrangement with The Bay to sell Federated's private labels is not unheard of. In fact, Bon-Ton, before it acquired Carson's, also sold quite a bit of Macy's privatee label items. Analysts applauded Bon-Ton's acquisition of Carson's because it gave them their own stable of private label merchandise. Of course, Federated and Bon-Ton mutually agreed to terminate their arrangement to seel Macy's brands of clothing when the deal to buy Carson's went through.
Posted by: jimmygimbels
OK troops...head to your local Messy's outlet (force yourself!) and take the survey--and of course boycott the rest of the store. I did!
Posted by: jp
After visiting Toronto myself, I would have to say the Bay is better than Macy's. The Bay has better store layouts, friendly service, and an identity related to Canada with the Hudson's Bay Company....similar to Marshall Field's in Chicago.
Posted by: Rich (B)
Hi All
Posted by: Simpsonite
One will recall that in Canada "The Bay" department store took over and eventually decimated our version of Marshall Field's called Simpsons a number of years ago. My wife and I were coming out of The Bay at Sherway Gardens (formerly Simpsons) in Toronto today after sharing a good laugh looking at Alfani's latest offerings. The Bay's new owner has been bragging about how he wants to make his store offer "selection and service like Macy's." As we were leaving, a group of American tourists were walking in front of the Bay mall enterence with a Canadian friend who was showing them around. The ladies were eagerly approaching the enterence when I managed to observe the following conversation:
Posted by: Leana`
I passed THRU Macy's while shopping at Old Orchard today. I saw people taking a survey and was not going to participate but I couldn't resist the opportunity to tell them how much they suck.
Posted by: John Smith
I have found that Macy's is actually doing one thing right. They provide us ample parking at various malls while we shop at other stores! I take great pride in cutting through Macy's to spend money elsewhere!
Posted by: Jim
I agree Jane. I'm sure they have something up their sleeve and I certainly don't take this at face value.
Posted by: Jane
This is very interesting. I was passing through Field's on the way to the mall today. Macy's is having customers perform surveys on merchandise, shopping habits, etc. The gift for performing the survey was a free one pound box of Frangos. I did not have the time to take the survey, but I read several of the questions over the shoulders of those who were participating. FDS would not be conducting a survey and handing out big boxes of Frangos if something wasn't up. I would encourage all readers to check out their local Field's store this weekend and participate! (I do have to go back to the mall tomorrow and will do my part to let FDS know exactly how horrible its changes have been.)
Posted by: Linda S.
Maybe the financial analysts are finally getting it. Today's Wall St. Journal quotes Eli Portnoy, of Portnoy Group Inc., saying that Macy's faces a chain-wide identity crisis. "Shoppers who had been loyal to Marshall Field's in Chicago see Macy's as down-market. Meanwhile, to former customers of...Filene's, Foley's and Burdine's, Macy's has still got a reputation for being an expensive store from New York."
Posted by: Martin Gorski
Please take the time to listen to the Macy's 2/27/2007 conference call (available on its web page). About 20 minutes into the conversation the CFO notes that Macy's must "teach" its new clients at Ma
rshall Fields (e.g., the "former May department Store doors).
Posted by: Missing Field's In Appleton
I am appalled that Marshall Field's is gone from our local mall store in Appleton, WI
Posted by: Brad
If only we had Marshall Field's in Chicago to share in the continued strong sales reported by Field's peers Nordstom, Saks and Neimans.
Posted by: Clint
I recently came back from vacationing in Victoria, BC and noticed that The Bay (Canada's largest dept. store) was very Macy's private label heavy. Front and center was always INC, Alfani, Charter Club. I now realize why The Bay's sales aren't doing that well if there peddling that crap.
Posted by: Richard
As a native New Yorker who lived in Chicago before, and has returned again, I have always despised the Macy's homogeneous, coldly corporate approach to merchandising. They did the same thing in NY, wiping out beloved companies such as A&S and Stern's. I worked for both Macy's and A&S, and A&S beat Macy's hands down. It's a shame that the beautiful downtown Brooklyn A&S is now a Macy's! How about other companies that were destroyed by Macy's as they decided to roll their name across the land- Jordan Marsh? Filenes? Maas Brothers? I Magnin? Robinson-May? I also worked for a division of Target when they owned Field's, and at the very least, Field's still had it's own merchants and designers in Minneapolis and they did fund a major makeover of the State Street Store.
I will NEVER shop at these stores now that they are Macy's. If we don't stop this Macy (I do love the term "messy")machine, soon we will have less and less choices all over the country to shop. It's time to vote for differentiation and uniqueness. And class. None of which seem present at the Macy's of 2007. The arrogance of the Macy's team also disgusts me. They seem very upfront about their plan to just wait it out until we all succumb and shop Macy's. The consumer has all the power here, so use those purse strings and send Macy's a clear and loud message: GO HOME
Posted by: RG
Ladies & Gentlemen,
Posted by: Bob Warsham
Update from Detroit:
Posted by: Zelda
Federated is down 2.2% and Saks is up 12.8%. Whatever can it mean? Maybe those Saks shoppers just don't get the Macy's concept.
Posted by: S
Link to article about Federated Same Sales dropping, which they blame on a failed promotion. At some point, they'll have to recognize that doing away with the Marshall Fields name was NOT a smart business move!!
http://today.reuters.com/news/articlenews.aspx?type=businessNews&storyid=2007-05-10T123459Z_01_WEN7966_RTRUKOC_0_US-FEDERATED-SALES.xml&src=nl_usbusinessearly
Posted by: Doris Ray
Hello Fans!
Posted by: SS in Wisconsin
Link to article about Federated Same Sales dropping, which they blame on a failed promotion. Macy's destroyed much of the value of the price paid for Marshall Fields by changing the name - hardly a smart business move! I would think Federated shareholders would protest.
http://today.reuters.com/news/articlenews.aspx?type=businessNews&storyid=2007-05-10T123459Z_01_WEN7966_RTRUKOC_0_US-FEDERATED-SALES.xml&src=nl_usbusinessearly
Posted by: John
What a crude and arrogant snot this Anne MacDonald is. I swear, they are becoming more Fascist.
Posted by: Doris Ray
Hello Field's Fans,
Posted by: Drew
Now Lungreed blames the shifting of a "major promotional event" for macy*mart's poor April sales. Federated is either getting more creative or just plain running out of excuses. Wonder if the return of the 17 year locusts (cicadas) will cause a further drop in macy*mart sales this summer?
http://money.cnn.com/news/newsfeeds/articles/newstex/AFX-0013-16616578.htm
Posted by: Alan
Federated appears to lead a disappointing month for retail with sales down 2.2 despite pushing a promotion forward to April. They are already talking down May sales:
http://phx.corporate-ir.net/phoenix.zhtml?c=84477&p=irol-newsArticle&ID=998583&highlight=
http://phx.corporate-ir.net/phoenix.zhtml?c=93295&p=irol-newsArticle&t=Regular&id=998561&
Posted by: Brian
In response to Jimmy Gimbel.
Posted by: Steven
The more I read quotes from Macy's executives, the more I wonder if any one of them is playing with a full deck.
Posted by: LiMack
If I were a Federated shareholder or director, about now I would be wondering how Terry Lundgren ever got so off-track and off-key with his "National Department Store chain". I
feel there may indeed be some questions asked during their annual meeting about surveys, preparation, business plans, and execution. I so wish I could be there in person if onl
y to see if Terry is attired head to toe in Alfani.
Posted by: RG74
Dear Fellow Fields Fans,
Posted by: Mary Anne
Why aren't the shareholders damanding that Terry Lunkhead step down or that the board dismiss him?
Posted by: John F
I laud your efforts. We used to have Marshall Fields in the Dallas Galleria and always enjoyed shopping at your very special store.
Posted by: gle
here is "Tribune" coverage of Macy's Reform School's attempt to re-educate newspapers to revolve around their ridiculous self-centeredness. Macy's chief marketing officer Anne MacDonald says, "Like us, you must change the way you think." I don't know exactly who they think they are, but in this country we still have free speech, free thought and freedom to elect our leaders. Even if we don't always like our elected leaders, nobody elected Terry Lunkhead at all. We need to keep letting the media know what WE think, and it's not the way Messy's dictates.
www.chicagotribune.com/business/sns-ap-newspapers-conference,0,3793517.story?coll=chi-bizfront-hed
Posted by: Alan
Check out this Letter to the Editor:
http://www.ft.com/cms/s/7717c02e-fdca-11db-8d62-000b5df10621.html
Posted by: Jackson
The boycott is working. Some experts have projected sales are down in the double digits % at the former Field's stores.
Posted by: perpugilliam
Responding to Patti in Indiana's comments:
Posted by: Doris Ray
Drew makes an excellent point; the driving force behind TL & FDS strategic sales medocrity is that they see these as properties.
Posted by: Drew
Here's your laugh for today. An exec for macy*mart says that newspapers must become more attuned to their audiences to improve circulation. Is this the same company that is so responsive to THEIR audiences?
http://biz.yahoo.com/ap/070508/newspapers_conference.html?.v=1
Posted by: P.D.
This news paper convention has a Macy's exec saying the newspapers have to pay attention to their audience. Ironic that the majority of Chicago wants Field's back but the papers won't print a story about this past Sunday's protest. This convention must be where Macy's says with a wink and a nudge that they won't advertise in newspapers unless they repress stories about how people don't like Macy's and want Kaufmann's, Lazarus, Filene's and Field's back.
http://biz.yahoo.com/ap/070508/newspapers_conference.html?.v=1
Posted by: Drew
Further evidence that Lunkhead and Sycophants know nothing about marketing and merchandising. The inside flap of macy*mart's latest exciting One Day Sale catalogue announces: "WE'VE MOVED TO WEDNESDAY! We've moved our One Day Sale to the middle of the week with a preview day on Tuesday!" Pictured are different exciting "specials" for Tuesday and for Wednesday from 8 AM until 1 PM.
Posted by: Andrew
Met a former colleague of Macy's who was responsible for the rebranding the acquired stores (MF and other) across the country to the Macy's look.
Posted by: Mary Anne
Macy's Exec to Newspapers: 'Change the Way You Think'
http://newsmax.com/scripts/printer_friendly.pl?page=http://newsmax.com/archives/articles/2007/5/8/141150.shtml?s=us
Posted by: David K.
Check this out:
Posted by: Kate
Field's Fans, I just posted a message on topix.net, and I hope you are all checking this blog out regularly and putting your two cents in. Here's the address:
Posted by: Patti in Indiana
Steven... your comment on Northbrook Court is a good one. Macy's just doesn't belong there. I remember when that store was a J.C. Penney (and the theater was an I.Magnum... boy, do I feel old!), and Marshall Field's really seemed to work in the mall better than J.C. Penney did. Of course, these days, the Gap looks out of place.
Posted by: Drew
The comments made by jimmy gimbels further strengthen my opinion that Federated and Lundgren are DELIBERATELY trying to destroy their alleged "department stores." By not maintaining the buildings, by cutting services and staff, by offering low-quality, overpriced junk, they are trying to make the stores fail. Think about it--macy*mart is doing ABSOLUTELY nothing to develop a loyal customer base. Their meager efforts are nothing more than the bare minimum to run a retail business. When the sales drop, Terry and the Pirates will have an excellent reason to shutter stores. I think Terry Lundgren sees the value in the properties rather than in the ongoing businesses.
Posted by: Pat C
I'd like to thank our Wisconsin Delegate,Laurie,who came all the way from Milwaukee on the Bus. I believe she deserves a "High Five". A real Field's Fan !
Posted by: sharon
http://pictures.aol.com/ap/myAlbums.do?albumId=9141.1492.1178588360071.1
Posted by: Steven Roelofs
One of the next Macy's to go HAS to be Northbrook Court. Macy's doesn't belong in the same mall as Neiman-Marcus and Lord & Taylor, especially one as beautiful as Northbrook.
Posted by: Jim McKay
Thanks to all who helped make yesterday's protest a huge success! No, Macy's, we haven't gone away since last fall's protest. Thanks, of course, to the dozens of you who protested, all those who gave speeches and comments--including the eloquent catterwalling--and all those who helped but lived thousands of miles away. Thanks to Mike M. for funding the new signs, Zelda's attention getting balloon bouquet, and, of course, J. for funding the leaflets so generously.
Posted by: Mark in Elmwood Park
There was radio coverage of the protest rally.
Posted by: PC
WOW ! The channel 9 news showed a little longer version of their Sunday evening report on the Field's Fans protest rally. At the end of the segment, they showed the lady holding the sign with Terry Lundgren as a dictator and they zoomed in on it long enough to read the whole thing.
Posted by: Doris Ray
Hello Fans,
Posted by: fmorlan
I am not from Chicago but am a Frango mint fan. But in my opinon only Marshall Fields should have that pleasure because they are part of fields not Macy's. I support your action because being from Philadelphia, losing your downtown stores and the mall stores to a new name is like losing part of your history as wells as what makes the City Great.
Posted by: Robert
I was at the protest rally for awhile...the news reports were a bit short, I believe. Any word from Macy's corporate on this??
Posted by: gle
I was glad to be able to get to the protest Sunday, May 6, and even match a few faces with names. There seemed to be more of us than any other category of people on the street. I noticed a few passers-by joined us and asked for buttons. The "honk for Field's" response from the vehicles on State Street was spectacular.
Posted by: H
Any business in the world knows the value of a brand name - only the total incompetents at Federated would throw such a name away.
they are stupid and arrogant and certainly NOT merchandizers.
Posted by: Carol Ryba
I am a former Chicagoan who now lives in Florida. I wrote the CEO several months ago that I would boycott Macys and never step foot Macys. So far I have kept my promise. Yea for the organizers of this protest.
Posted by: Jules
Just saw the protest on WGN! So thankful that you guys are doing this!
Posted by: Michael J S
My home is nowhere near a Marshall Fields store. I live over 1700 miles and 33 long years away from the great Chicago State Street building and I seethe with vile anger at the contemptible notion of my beloved city of my birth existing yet another month (or day)without the company name "Marshall Fields" standing tall on the grand facade known to all Chicagoans by that famous title. Those clueless, brain dead, shortsighted, corporate imbeciles at Federated Department Stores Inc. haven't a clue what they've set in motion and are still very far from grasping the horrifying repercussions of their incredibly stupid, misguided, heavy-handed decision to remove the great Chicago nameplate to the pages of our common history. If I ever get started on the subject of "dumb corporate culture" I shall write for hours and hours. Therefore, let it be known from this time forward, this is one dauntless shopper to never ever set foot in, or ever purchase from, or ever utter that four lettered word M-A-C-Y so long as I shall live. The largest consumer boycott of the early 21st has yet to take hold. May the devil have mercy upon their souls for God shall never forgive them, nor any true son or daughter of Chicago. Go BEARS!!!
Posted by: Bob Ch
While searching for anti-Macy's Web sites I found your site. I just wanted to leave a message and say thanks to all of you for fighting corporate America. I'm from Pittsburgh and am missing our beloved Kaufmann's department stores.
Posted by: James in Minneapolis
Hi All--
Posted by: Kathy Davis
Marshall Field's is synonymous with Chicago. Progress is one thing, this was just change for the sake of change and ego. For many of us, losing Field's was like losing an old friend. I, for one,want it back! I will never!!! shop Macy's and will support any effort toward the return of Marshall Field's.
Posted by: jimmy gimbels
To all the folks - including several Macy employees - who disagreed with my blog entry reporting the closing the Lake Forest store, all is I can say is "I told you so."
Posted by: Claire Osada
There is a really nice display of Marshall Field's memorabilia currently at the warehouse store on Diversey and Pulaski. It's mostly just old pictures of warehouse employees working, old Frango boxes, gift boxes, and store catalogs/flyers. I went there yesterday, just out of sheer curiosity and also because I wanted to go check it out when the name was still Marshall Field's...life just stood in the way and I never got the chance to go.
Posted by: David Hupp
http://www.godhatesmacys.comis now live! Please tell me what you think.
Posted by: Alfred in Washinghton
Dear Marshall Field's Fans,
Posted by: Brian
This is in response to A. Perkins. Your post about Milwaukee being shorted on a smaller tree to me is very touching.
Posted by: Beth W.
Here's to the success of tomorrow's rally. Let's hope the press coverage is not macyized.
Posted by: Drew
Best wishes and grateful appreciation to all who participate in the protest on Sunday. Please remember that folks in other cities are also upset with the loss of their home town stores and that we applaud the organized stand that Chicagoans have taken.
Posted by: RG74@aol.com
Celebration time in Germany - KaDeWe (Kaufhaus des Westens) in Berlin is celebrating their 100th Anniversary this year ! Their selection and service offerings are endless.
Posted by: richard
I have been with the company for a few years and have been shocked by the way this company treats there employees things were nice and you were treated like family when you came to work it was a great feeling to work for such a great company this is not the feeling now . I have heard people who have shopped our store and they all say the same thing it looks like a bargain basement stores not recovered dirty bathrooms not enough help . I was proud to say i worked there but now i just say i work for a big department stoe chain and leave it @ that . I know my work load has incresed and more and more duties are expected out of us everyday then we get our hours cut and then they they want more out of you in less time we no longer work as a team its every man for himself thats not the fields way @ least everyone in my store says the same thing what happened to us ?
Posted by: RG74
Dear Field's Fans,
Posted by: RG74
As we plan for the relaunch of Marshall Field's, we can take comfort in the fact that it is possible for a return to mid-west quality and excellence will once again be re-cast in the one day soon former Macy's North stores.
Posted by: Mike M
IT'S CRUNCH TIME!
Posted by: Mark Milano
I'm a former Chicagoan who now lives in New York City. I used to be a regular Macy's customer, but since the conversion from Field's, I have boycotted Macy's here in NYC. I will never shop there again until they change the name back!
Posted by: Brad
Regardless of where Frangos were actually produced when sold by Marshall Field's, they were special because they were FROM Marshall Field's. A unique Marshall Field's tradition, these mints were more than a generic candy brand one might find at a national discount chain of stores. Frangos were special because they were MARSHALL FIELD's Frangos, from Chicago's own Marshall Field's!
Posted by: A. Perkins
One thing about the Milwaukee store, it was well-loved but people still wanted to travel to State Street as well!. Some shoppers here loved State Street so much that they would rather travel to Chicago first to make a purchase at Marshall Fields than buy it locally. Things eventually changed. I was also told that supposedly before the Federated massacre of Fields, the Milwaukee Mayfair store was one of Field's top sellers in regards to dollars per square foot.
Posted by: Jim McKay
There is all this talk from Federated and the Tribune, Sun-Times, even WBEZ about how wonderful it might be IF Macy's returns Frango production to Chicago.
The Sun-Times broke the news to its readers about the possible return of Frangos production in an editorial in today's paper.
http://www.suntimes.com/news/commentary/371017,CST-EDT-edits04b.article
www.chicagotribune.com/business/chi-0705021012may03,0,6751071.story?coll=chi-business-hed
* The Letters to the Sun-Times should be sent to: letters@suntimes.com
* The Letters to the Tribune should be sent to: ctc-TribLetter@tribune.com
* Please remember to include a daytime phone number for verification purposes.
* Be certain to indicate in your letter that it is "for publication."
* Remember, items submitted to the "letters to the editor" section should not be cross-posted to other forums like the fieldsfanschicago.org blog. The publications request exclusivity.
* Be succinct as possible. Longer items don't have as much of a chance of being published. While there are many facets to the loss of Field's, consider focusing on just one or two facets to
help the larger cause.
* Even if your letter does not get published in print or web media, remember that the media takes note. Every letter reminds editors and producers that this is still indeed a very important
issue.
Posted by: Sean C
I miss my trips to Chicago to shop at Field's specifically. I miss the feeling of Field's, the service of Field's, and just the overall unique experience of Field's, from the Marketplace to the Walnut Room and everything in between (and not a shopping cart or neon strip in sight!).
Posted by: JP
Hi everyone, I had the pleasure of visiting Mayfair Mall last Sunday afternoon after taking a drive around SE Wisconsin for a nice Sunday drive.
Posted by: Field's Employee
I have been reading all the blog comments from fieldsfans.org and still have many more to go.
Posted by: Gail
I used to post an offer to give away "FREE MARSHALL FIELD'S LAPEL STICKERS & BUMPER STICKERS" on Chicago's Craig's List, but I hadn't done so in a few months. (I've been working two jobs lately, and haven't had the time.) I wondered if I would still get takers if I re-posted today. After all, lots of time has passed.
Posted by: gle
If anyone can get ahold of it, I recommend the book "City of the Century" by Donald L. Miller. It's a companion book to the "American Experience" presentation on PBS (WTTW Channel 11), and has a wealth of information on several founding fathers of Chicago--including Marshall Field I.
Posted by: Doris Ray
To P.,
Posted by: Gail
Good luck at the protest on Sunday! I'm stuck in California this weekend, but I'll be with you in spirit. And I plan to be out there leafletting sometime in the next month or so. Don't forget that if you want FREE bumper stickers or lapel stickers, all you have to do is send me your mailing address.
Posted by: Mark in Phila
Hello Fields Fans,
Posted by: Jim McKay
Please help make a difference for our cause! Please write and submit comments on the stories in today's Chicago Tribune and Sun-Times about the closure of the Diversey/Pulaski Field's warehouse, the likely closure of Lake Forest, and the possible return of Frango manufacture to Chicago.
www.chicagotribune.com/business/chi-0705021012may03,0,6751071.story?coll=chi-business-hed
Posted by: Pat C
Dear Alderman Suarez,
Posted by: P
Hello Everyone,
Posted by: Linda Simons
Here in Southern California I continue to boycott Federated, even though Bloomingdale's is offering me $25 off on a $100 purchase. I didn't bother to read the fine print to see what was excluded. Good luck on Sunday!
Posted by: John
Regarding today's articles in the Chicago Tribune and Sun Times:
I WISH TO GOD THEY WOULD FIRE LUNDGREN! IF THEY CLOSE THAT STORE THEY WOULD EASILY DO THE SAME TO STATE STREET!!! Throw him out of the company!!
Posted by: Doris Ray
THANKS TO MY SIS FOR TYPING THIS--ANOTHER FIELD'S FAN!!
Posted by: gle
Here are "Tribune" and "Sun-Times" articles for today about a possible return of Frango Mints to Chicago, closing by Federated of a northside Chicago warehouse, and non-renewal of Macy's lease for Lake Forest.
www.chicagotribune.com/business/chi-0705021012may03,0,6751071.story?coll=chi-business-hed
Posted by: Drew
Interesting article. No doubt Martha Stewart's fortunes will change when macy*mart begins carrying her "exciting" merchandise later this year. Lunkhead's big challenge will be to "re-educate" the many "confused" consumers who will soon crowd the stores that macy*mart does not sell dog food or Craftsman tools, just the "exciting" Martha Stewart home goods.
Posted by: Alan
So now Federated will try to "hide" more bad news behind the "good" news that they will return at least some Frango production here.
http://www.chicagotribune.com/business/chi-thu_frango_0503may03,0,2474371.story?coll=chi-bizfront-hed
Posted by: Steven
Despite the Lake Forest Macy's manager's claim that the store isn't closing, Crain's Chicago Business has an article about Macy's possibly closing in Lake Forest. The link to the article is here:
http://www.chicagobusiness.com/cgi-bin/news.pl?id=24826
This has the opportunity to be a flagship-type location for a fashion tenant," Ms. Seversen says. "I've gotten quite a few calls."
Posted by: Philip Eichler
Just saw a report in Crain's Chicago Business that the Lake Forest Macy's may close next year. Surprise!
Posted by: Siamak (Chicagoan living in NY)
Macy's most likely gone. They're probably trying to get the rent down but hopefully they won't be successful!
http://www.chicagobusiness.com/cgi-bin/news.pl?id=24826
Posted by: Melody
it would be great if you guys have a "put your money" day in June! I'll be home to Chicago June 8 - 10th... and was planning on going downtown anyways on the 9th!!! Let me know if you guys do anything then!!
Posted by: Jane Rehmke
I have been mad at Macy's since they destroyed the great NJ department store "Bamberger's" years ago. The service and products at Macy's are
terrible here in NJ -- why would I set foot in stores with that name
anywhere else? Carry on the good fight -- I'll be sure to check out "Marshall Fields" when I have occasion to visit Chicago! Otherwise, IC-ll just have to seek out independent retailers, just as I try to do at home, although that is getting harder to do everywhere.
Posted by: Beth Walsh
I was very disappointed to read the description of a tour given by the Chicago Architecture Foundation (of all places!). It is for the annual Great Chicago Places & Spaces Tours.
http://www.greatchicagoplaces.us/
Posted by: Claire Osada
There are certain stores I think are a good representation of traditional Field's built stores. Hawthorn and Woodfield come to my mind...and definitely Old Orchard and Oakbrook.
Posted by: laurie
I'm coming in from Milwaukee for the protest. Look forward to reconnecting with everyone I met from the previous two protests.
Posted by: jimmy gimbels
Hi everyone..here I am in Boston. Or, I think I am in Boston. Hard to tell by Macy's...same stuff as Chicago area. And as you know,I am easy confused and in need of re-education.
Posted by: Jim McKay
I've received a lot of comments asking how Mr. Lundgren can say he doesn't see the economy of running a separate 60-store chain like Marshall Field's but then he can run Bloomingdale's which has less than 40 outlets. Personally, I wouldn't be surprised if he is just saying that to deflect the criticism for the massive mistake of getting rid of Field's. But another possibility is that he really doesn't "get" that Marshall Field's is not the same kind of store as Macy's!
Posted by: Sara
Funny tidbits from two Macy's employees last night at dinner:
Posted by: nateb
Comments on the Promenade and the Bolingbrook store.
Posted by: Darrid
Well, it's been almost 2 months and almost 1000 hits on Darrid.Com! I have been really busy and haven't had a chance to post in a while.
Posted by: denise rule
i recommend when sending an e-mail to someone on this blog, or at least to me, please include something in the "subject" to indicate you are from this site or have to do with Marshall Field's. it's unlikely i would open an unknown person or address, as i'm sure it is with many of you.
Posted by: James in MInneapolis
Hi All---
Posted by: Steven
I think Doris' suggestion about a "put your money where your mouth is" shopping day is an excellent one. Imagine groups of green-clad shoppers descending upon Oakbrook, Old Orchard, and Michigan Avenue en masse and spending their money at Macy's competitors. Then to make our point, walking through Macy's on our way to the parking lot / subway.
Posted by: Brian
I will be joining you may 6th. An Employee holding a sign up also. Still thinking of something catchy, if the guy with "God hate's macy's" sign shows up, I'll stand next to him with "And so does Satan!
Posted by: Mike M
"....re: sunday, may 6th. everyone who had a city of Chicago flag,large or small, from 9/9, please bring it. whomever brought those huge (incorrectly made, but still...) city of Chicago flags, please bring them...." denise rule
Posted by: Steven
Eleven City Diner should have held its ground regarding the Marshall Field's Special. Marshall Field & Company may be a trademarked name, but Marshall Field is a historical figure, just like Montgomery Ward, Richard Sears, William A. Wieboldt and others. No one has a copyright on naming a sandwich after Marshall Field any more than they have a copyright on naming one after Richard J. Daley.
Posted by: Lee
Please bring back May Company! At least we still had Marshall Field's, Famous Barr, Foley's, L&T, Kaufmanns, Filene's, Rob-May, Hecht's, Strawbridge's, Meier & Frank, L.S. Ayers and The Jones Stores. We were all stupid according to Lundgren---but we were happy!
Posted by: Gayle
Hi All,
Posted by: Siamak (Chicagoan living in NY)
Remember there are a lot of choice for Mother's Day!
Posted by: William
I spoke to a State St (Field's) employee today and they relayed the Macy's party line:
Posted by: Joyce Marie Rose-Harris
I am very glad to see that the fight continues. I currently live in Columbia, SC and still can't believe that my beloved Marshall Field's has been filled with below standard merchandise. I bravely walked through the store the last time I was home in July; prior to it fulling being changed to Macy's.
Posted by: Dianne Shanley
I was in Chicago, a few weeks ago and decided to just browse at the Bloomingdale's Home Store to get some ideas for a new apartment I am furnishing. I never saw such hungry sales personnel -- they virtually jumped on me as I walked into each department. I wonder if it is because so many people are boycotting all Federated stores. The boycott must be working. I have not been inside the Macy's stores recently. I plan to go check out the shopping traffic when I am in Chicago later this month. Oh and I have gotten emails offering me a Macy's card. I try to send them to sites designed to stop spammers or phishing.
Posted by: Jim McKay
I caught ABC 7's "190 North" last night. They had a segment where the intro was about State Street. The reporter referred to the Chicago Theatre and "the old Marshall Field's." Note, he didn't say "Macy's." Thanks, especially to Denise and everyone else who wrote in to ABC7 a few weeks ago.
Posted by: S
I live in Indy, but I am with you- I do not shop Macy's here in town and will not until they bring back Fields.
Posted by: Brad
Some may remember that the popular little South Loop restaurant Eleven City Diner once offered on its menu the "Marshall Field's Special" sandwich, a delicious open-faced turkey sandwich topped with a wedge of iceberg lettuce, tomato swiss cheese, bacon and a thin layer of Thousand Island dressing. Back in August of 2006, the restaurant received a letter from Federated Department Stores, parent company of Macy's, saying that the sandwich infringed on the company newly acquired Marshall Field's trademark. The letter read, "To protect our property, we must request that you terminate the use of this name as soon as possible and remove it from all menus, advertising and promotional materials."
Posted by: denise rule
re: sunday, may 6th. everyone who had a city of Chicago flag,large or small, from 9/9, please bring it. whomever brought those huge (incorrectly made, but still...) city of Chicago flags, please bring them
Posted by: Kurt
Think about this quote from Lundgren- "Lundgren repeated his original argument that continuing to operate 60 Field's stores as high-end stores somewhere between Nordstrom and Neiman Marcus would have been unworkable in today's retail environment."
Posted by: Jim McKay
Thanks to all who helped make today's leafleting a success, especially to those who funded the leaflets.
Posted by: Rich
I wouldn't be surprised that when Field Gear merchandise is available -- that if you travel between macy divisions -- you will be able to find the exact same poor quality but expensive merchandise in macy's north with a Field Gear label and with the other afore mentioned brands in other divisions. I DO travel between divisions and intend on checking it out, too confirm my belief.
Posted by: Jeff S.
Regarding our great Marshall Field's clocks; In 1997 we celebrated the 100th anniversary of the Great Clock. That was on the north side of the store. This year, 10 years later, we celebrate the 100th Anniversary of the 2nd clock on the south side. Remember, the State Street Store was built in sections. The first Great Clock was put up on the north side first, then 10 years later the 2nd Great Clock was installed on the south end of the store.
Posted by: Doris
Hello!
Posted by: Zelda
Through my Yahoo news alert for Federated Department Stores, I learned today that business is falling for Federated and also that Olsen Europe will be opening its own stores at Old Orchard, Oak Brook and Michigan Avenue. I am thrilled, because I used to love to buy Olsen Europe clothes at Marshall Field's but stopped when the store changed to Macy's. I couldn't get them anywhere else, but that was okay, because boycotting Macy's is a higher priority for me. Our boycott must be effective because I imagine Olsen Europe sales dropped along with Macy's sales in the former Marshall Field's location, and the Olsen Europe people probably figured (correctly) that Macy's was a drag on their sales. I'll be the first in line when they open their doors, and I will continue to boycott Macy's.
Posted by: sue briggs
GOOD LUCK I live in Michigan so am boycotting Macy's here. I am sometimes in Chicago, I loved Marshall Fields from the first time I was there and saw the Christmas tree and, I was convinced, the REAL sata claus
Posted by: jimmygimbels
WOW! Lord and Taylor is coming on strong with advertising messages aimed right at the people who love Field's and stakes pot shots at Macy's recent promotions.
Posted by: Casserine Willis
In response to the quote below....
Posted by: James in Mnneapolis
Hi All--- LiMack, that was a fabulous Top Ten List for Why macy's Sales Are Down. Here are mine for Minneapolis:
Posted by: Paul Reichart
Okay, ABC7 Chicago just ran 2 consecutive commercials that really put the M*ification of America into perspective.
Posted by: Doris
GO GREEN!
Posted by: Doris
Hi Field's Fans,
Posted by: Mike M
Posted by: A.H.
Word of our protest is already spreading.
http://www.allbusiness.com/retail-trade/4057748-1.html
Posted by: Michael Trenteseau
I think everyone should read the following article, "Trying to Break the Jinx of Chicago's Block 37" from April 25:
http://www.nytimes.com/2007/04/25/realestate/commercial/25Real.html?pagewanted=2&_r=1
"I think Block 37 will be the epicenter of State Street," said Bruce Kaplan, president of Northern Realty Group, a major downtown retail leasing firm whose offices overlook the site. "In the not too distant past, State Street was pretty downmarket. But now you're seeing better merchants like Borders and Urban Outfitters take space there. I think State will continue to notch up."
Posted by: LiMack
As several others have mentioned here, it will soon be time for Mr. Lundgren to publicly announce Macy's April year-over-year sales results. These will, of course, once again be in the tank. I imagine Terry is already scurrying to come with some new excuses to use this time since so many of the past excuses are really getting old and stale and boring. It is even possible that a few stock analyists and business reporters are beginning to be leery of the excuses. Hence fresh new ones are definitely necessary.
10. It was exceptionally cloudy so potential customers were depressed and stayed home.
Posted by: Drew
Interesting that macy*mart announced the re-introduction (or is it re-education) of Field Gear merchandise. A question immediately comes to mind: will macy*mart's "exciting" Field Gear lines be of the same or better quality than the previous lines? Perhaps Lunky thinks putting a Field Gear label on their typical low-quality, over-priced will help bring "confused" shoppers back to macy*mart.
Posted by: Paul in Baltimore
Another interesting aspect about TL's statement regarding Field's being somewhere between Nordstrom and Nieman Marcus...why wouldn't he have said somewhere "...between Bloomingdales and ..."?
Posted by: James in Minneapolis
Hi All----
Posted by: Steven
I am stunned by the deafening silence -- aside from this forum -- that has greeted Lundgren's last absurd statement: "Macy's confused shoppers by introducing new merchandise, a new discount strategy and a new promotional calendar." In other words, we in Chicago are all STUPID. We are so STUPID that because a suit has a label from Alfani instead of Marshall Field's, we don't recognize it as a suit. We are so STUPID that because a sale is called a One Day Sale on Wednesday, instead of a 13 Hour Sale on Saturday, we don't know when to go to the store.
Posted by: Jeff W.
In 1997, Field's promoted the 100th anniversary of the Great Clock with several memorabilia items. One was a replica of the Great Clock in porceline that was filled with frango candies. I have been looking for one of these porceline candy containers, but have never seen any posted on EBay. Do any FieldsFans know where one might acquire such a GreatClock Candy container, and if so, what its fair market value might be at this time? Since I have never seen any posted on EBay, I do not have a feel for their fair market value. Thanks you.
Posted by: JP
Hi everyone,
Posted by: PatC
Re: Mike M
Posted by: mds
What is truely sad about the return of Field Gear, is that more than likely it will be the same quality of their other house brands vs. the quality that it was.
Posted by: Peter
Chris...
Posted by: Mike M
To all of you who feel strongly about this issue, please be aware that the boycott is crushing the Macy's on State. Sales are way down, according to information provided by insiders to me and to members of FieldsFansChicago.org. There are also marked decreases in sales at some suburban locations according to our sources.
Posted by: Chris
Interesting news about Field Gear. I just wanted to address two things in the Sun Times article:
"Lundgren said Macy's confused shoppers by introducing new merchandise, a new discount strategy and a new promotional calendar."
I don't understand his use of the word "confused" here. What's confusing about seeing new merchandise? Someone sees a pair of pants by a designer they haven't seen before and a fog of confusion comes over them to the point where . . . what? They find they are unable to make a simple purchase? Like they really wanted to buy pants but it's all just become so vexing because *gasp* new merchandise! Or does he mean that people see merchandise of lower caliber in a place that used to carry high quality merchandise and then make a decision to shop elsewhere? Because, Terry, that's not "confusing" customers so much as it's "driving them away".
"Lundgren repeated his original argument that continuing to operate 60 Field's stores as high-end stores somewhere between Nordstrom and Neiman Marcus would have been unworkable in today's retail environment."
Posted by: JamesfromCA
The article in the Sun Times about Field Gear states "Lundgren repeated his original argument that continuing to operate 60 Field's stores as high-end stores somewhere between Nordstrom and Neiman Marcus would have been unworkable in today's retail environment." How so??? Everything I have read in the last three to five years states mid to very high end is where the most profits are in the department store industry. Nordstrom, Saks, Von Maur etc are making money in record profits, Field's was doing well also.
Posted by: Jim McKay
Someone just brought a post to my attention: The Sunday at 10:25 PM post was for some inadvertent technical reason attributed to me when it should have been attributed to Jimmy Gimbels. Despite the slightly similar email address and first name, he and I are not the same.
Posted by: Chuck
I see that the Field's brand of men's sportswear is to return.
Posted by: Jeff S.
The Joliet store is saving money by turning off the escalators!! While mall-crawling last night at the Joliet Mall, I wandered into our former Marhsall Field's. Both escalators were "off". When I said something to the only saleswoman on the 2nd floor she said that there are no customers, and Macy's is saving money by turning the escalators "off"!! I don't know if she was serious or just joking, but it was a hoot!!
Posted by: Jim McKay
Today's Sun-Times has an article about Royal Bank of Scotland's counter offer for LaSalle Bank. Reporter Sandra Guy writes,
"The LaSalle nameplate probably would survive if Royal Bank of Scotland were to win the bidding war, one expert said.
http://www.suntimes.com/business/358696,CST-FIN-LaSalle26.article
Posted by: Steven
April is almost over. Anyone taking bets on what excuse Macy's will use to explain away what is sure to be another month of sales below expectations? Other than the fact that we all in the Midwest are confused, that is.
Posted by: Beth Walsh
The Sun-Times article had a quote from mr. lundgren that cleared everything up - apparently I'm just 'confused'. Now I see the light!! Imagine that. Now that that's all cleared up I'm sure I'll run right into macy's and buy all kinds of deeply discounted merchandise. Not!!
Posted by: A. Perkins
Michael T,
Posted by: Joe D
Returning Field Gear is a step in the right direction, but the "Marshall Field's" Green Label clothing was even better than Field Gear, and it was upscale and unique. I want new "green label sheets"! The Marshall Field's For Men bedding was the best!
Posted by: John in Memphis
My gut feeling is Macy's will slap the Field Gear name on their usual poor quality merchandise. I'm concerned it will further damage the Marshall Field's name the way 75% off Frangos have.
Posted by: Gayle
Hi all,
Posted by: Jon C.
Attention Field's Fans! Here's further proof that we are not alone in our feelings about macy's. Mr. Steven Swain has developed a blogsite, which which concentrates heavily on the following subject:
Posted by: Marianne
For some reason I think the return of Field Gear has something to do with Linda Piepho. She's probably telling Headquarters how bad business is in Chicago, and I would bet the farm she is reading this blog daily. So Linda, this is for you.
Posted by: Eric Ellis
I could write several paragraphs describing my feelings on this issue. For the sake of time I will use the summary approach:
Posted by: Steven
Here's my response to Sandra Guy regarding her Sun-Times article:
Dear Sandra,
Posted by: Jon C.
Thanks, Pat C. and Drew for your comments on Frangos.
Posted by: Bert
I found the comments about Caster Knott in Nashville interesting. Having shopped there years ago I would hardly compare it to Marshall Field's even though it was a very nice store.
Posted by: Alan
Here's more on Field Gear.
http://www.suntimes.com/business/356179,CST-FIN-macy25.article
Posted by: Steven
I had written Macy's suggesting that they contact Von Maur when they close the Lake Forest store. Here's the second response from the LF manager:
We have no plans to close the Lake Forest store. I sincerely hope our store will provide a shopping experience that exceeds your expectations and will make Macy's your favorite store!
You've got to wonder how she and all the other employees wake up every day to go to work. Poor thing. They should all take a tip from the French and just sit down on their jobs until Lunkhead comes to his senses. But then, if he's stupid enough to get rid of Marshall Field's, he's stupid enough to fire all his Chicago employees.
Store Manager,
Macy's Lake Forest
Posted by: Jim McKay
Sharon from leafleting called me as well about the same NBC 5 Chicago report on the 10:00 pm news that Mrs J notes (THANKS Sharon and Mrs J!). I caught part of it and did some digging.
Posted by: Mrs J
My hubby just came into the room & said her saw a piece on Channel 5 news....Macys is bringing BACK Field GEAR?????????? HUH?????
Posted by: Drew
Thanks to Pat C, others...
Posted by: Steven
There was an article in the Cincinnati Enquirer about Macy's bring "upscale" restaurants to its stores.
Posted by: Erick
I will be at the May 6 protest and will have the giant postcard at for everyone to sign. It will be sent to Lundgren the following week.
Posted by: Erick
Lake Forest is doing horrible! I was there two weeks in a row and the place was empty with one or two people on both visits. In speaking with three of the Sales Clerks, they openly agreed that the change was a terrible mistake, citing comments and complaints from a large majority of their upscale clientele in Lake Forest.
Posted by: gle
Field's Fans, we are not a few disgruntled caterwaulers! Just read this opening paragraph in the "Chicago Tribune" on the purchase of LaSalle Bank by Bank of America:
http://www.chicagotribune.com/business/chi-0704230533apr24,0,2355566.story?coll=chi-business-hed
Posted by:
Keep up the fight. I am doing what I can here to battle macy's. I shopped at Dillard's over the weekend. Not surprising but the sales associate told me that quite a few people have switched from shopping at Goldsmith's (now macy's) to Dillard's because macy's merchandise no longer reflects the local style.
Posted by: Alan
So it looks like another Chicago nameplate will bite the dust after Bank of America buys LaSalle and announces inevitable layoffs. All the more reason for Field's to return. ABN Amro was a good corporate citizen during its ownership of LaSalle, but succumbed to pressure back home. Will B of A follow the ABN model or the Federated model? They need to look only to Dominick's, Chase, and yes, Field's to see what will happen if they treat Chicago as just another market.
Posted by: Michael Trenteseau
For Mother's Day my mother wanted a set of monogrammed sheets. Until September 9th, 2006, I would have called my regular salesperson at Field's on State Street, told her what I wanted, and knew that with her good taste and Field's uncompromising quality, what she sent me would be perfect. And since monogrammed items are non-returnable, they would HAVE to be acceptable, sight unseen.
Posted by: jimmygimbels
On April 19, Drew made a comment about Frango Mints tasted "waxy".
Posted by: RG74
Dear Fellow Fields Fans,
Posted by: Dave
I just took my first trip to Chicagoland last week, since last June.
Posted by: Patti In Indiana
Greetings from Southern Indiana!
Posted by: A. Perkins
Steven,
Posted by: Pat C
OMG ! ! ! !
Posted by: Jim McKay
In followup to LiMack's comments on the WSJ interview with the head of Saks, one quote that stuck with me when I read the article was in reference
to Macy's changing the stores, "...in one fell swoop, change the brand and throw it in to 800 stores."
Posted by: Eric B
Howdy, fellow Field's fans! I have a customer service horror story for you!
Posted by: Pat C
Lot 37 News
Posted by: Pat C.
In response to Drew's inqiry;
Posted by: LiMack
In Friday's print edition of the Wall Street Journal there was a fascinating article about the CEO of Saks Fifth Avenue, Steve Sadove. The thrust of the article is that Mr. Sadove is currently working to tailor the merchandise selection on a store-by-store basis in his 54 store chain. Sak's research has apparently shown that the core customer differs significantly in style and need at Saks stores around the country. " A Saks Fifth Anenue store in New York is different than a Saks in Tulsa, or Indianapolis, or Richmond or Birmingham." He mentions that even closely situated stores have different customer bases and uses Greenwich Conn. and Stamford, Conn. located geographically only five miles apart as examples. (Stamford has more career women than Greenwich.)
Posted by: D. Ray
Have any of Federated's leaders lost their jobs or moved on because they see the writing on the wall?
Posted by: Steven
Interesting article about Bon-Ton entering Fortune magazine's list of the top 1000 corporations and its view of branding.
http://www.yorkdispatch.com/business/ci_5713137
While having such a large name might influence vendors, Bergren said he's not sure there will be a national branding of the Bon-Ton name along the lines of a Wal-Mart or Macy's. When Bon-Ton purchased the 142 stores of Northern Department Store Group from Saks Inc. last year, it made a calculated decision not to change the nameplates on those stores to Bon-Ton.
Posted by: Bob C
Today's Wall Street Journal has an interview with an exec of Saks. The exec points out a lot of great things they've learned, using it to turn around Sak's. At one point, he pokes at Federated for quickly and sloppily slapping Macy's on all 800 stores with a lot of bad planning. Not sure if this is on line but I read this in the print edition.
Viva la Boycott!
Posted by: Zelda
I'm coming to the rally on May 6th and have already recruited 3 others. I'm hoping Denise shows up with a big sign that says CATERWAULING TILL THE COWS COME HOME! I also hope the guy from the first rally shows up with his fabulous GOD HATES MACY'S sign. And Doris with her HELL NO, NOT MY DOUGH sign. Let this be our greatest show of force yet!! WE ARE NOT GOING AWAY. WE WILL BRING BACK FIELD'S.
Posted by: James in Minneapolis
Posted by: Drew
A friend who knows that I enjoyed Frango Mints bought me a box at one of macy*mart's frequent exciting "lowest prices of the season" events. I previously ordered these mints on-line from Fields and also received them as gifts.
Posted by: A. Perkins
Hey Jimmy G.,
Posted by: Jeff S.
Yesterday afternoon I had some time to kill and was in the vicinity of the Bolingbrook Promenade, so ............ Yes, I ventured inside. Believe me, there is nothing to worry about. The store is a big "box" with no space. It is wall-to-wall shelves. One department "melds" into the other. There is no atmosphere. The music was TOO LOUD. The famed Taste Bar was pitiful. A very small "food booth". The employees could hardly turn around. The food did look pretty good though -- it's all pre-made, however.
Posted by: SJK
Hello Field's Fans,
Posted by: James in Minneapolis
Hi All-------
Dear Mr Peltier:
Posted by: Dean Doyle
Macys had taken over a original Boston store (Jordan Marsh)way before they bought Mays chain. After a year or so they booted out a Christmas tradition that people had visited for decades at Christmas called the Enchanted Village. Not just Bostonians but several New England states patronized Jordan Marsh. Adding insult to injury they now own our other Boston store (founded here) Filenes! Macys does not give a damn about tradition or customer service so keep up the boycott, Macys might understand the revenue losses.
Posted by: jimmygimbels
WOW! Macy's is having another One Day Sale "with the lowest prices of the season!" Hey guys, Alfarni suits (regularly $475) are on sale! That should pull them in!
Posted by: flyboyhouston
If Macy-mart did close the downtown Columbus, Ohio store, it would actually be for the second time. Federated had previously shut down the larger former Lazarus flagship store. This store was never branded a macys, but was branded as "Lazarus-Macys" by the time it was closed in 2004.
Posted by: Joe D
Hello Everyone!
Posted by: Gayle
Hi All,
Posted by: Zelda
You're going to love this one! Go to
http://www.thestreet.com/_tscrss/markets/activetraderupdate/10350998.html
Posted by: Jim McKay
It's official: JCPenney will move into the Manhattan Mall, in the space that used to be Gimbels New York flagship.
Posted by: Steven
Unhappy with the rumors that Macy's would close the historic Lake Forest store, I used the Tell Us What You Think feature at macys.com to remind Macy's that Von Maur should take it's place. Von Maur is scouting around for new sites in the Chicago area.
Vice President of Selling Services
Macy's North
Posted by: gle
My Field's button drew more comments on the elevator today. A couple of older gentlemen were apparently discussing the day's plans. One of them said "My wife's going to stop off at..." then he paused and said, "Marshall Field's to look around a while." When they got off, a woman in the elevator asked me (as if I were an expert or something) if they are going to keep the name Marshall Field's now. I said Macy's doesn't want to, but the protest group is gaining momentum. I think we are embarrassing them. She gave me a great big smile and said "I think so! I think they should keep the name, at least the one on State Street." She wished us well.
Posted by: Clint
Macy's is adding more restaurants to some stores. Really though, just bring back Marshall Field's, the pioneer of in-store restuarants of highest quality.
http://www.sun-sentinel.com/business/local/sfl-417macys,0,1738495.story?coll=sfla-business-headlines
Posted by: Jim McKay
Thanks for writing to both Bert and Bob C. I'm going to have to side with Bob C. on this one because I keep hearing from Macy-ites that they've already spent too much money changing decor, fixtures, signage, etc. to Macy's from Marshall Field's (in name as well as quality). Changing all those old AT&T wireless stores to Cingular and now to the new AT&T in such a short time shows it can happen, that all these changes can go back and forth, regardless of the reason. Even after SBC/New AT&T and BellSouth merged they could have left all those stores under the Cingular name. Yet, they recognized how important the AT&T name is and what it has meant for consumers. It shows it can happen!
Posted by: Bert
To Bob C.
Posted by: Patti in Indiana
A trip to Chicago last weekend for DH's convention left me with ample free time in the Northern suburbs... so I ventured up to Hawthorn last Saturday.
Posted by: denise rule
to J.Joseph re: posting on the Tribune blog:; you said you had written and waited 16hrs and had not been posted yet on their blog. It has been my experience that once they start posting...as you can see by whether they have posted any comments or not to that letter, they post fairly rapidly and then end it. Sometimes it takes 2 days for them to start posting.... but once they do, if you're not posted already, then i'd say you're not in. Also, in my experience, you cannot respond 2 or 3 days later to a letter, pretty much needs to be within 24-36hrs, unless they haven't posted anyone at all yet. I hope this helps. And I don't know why they wouldn't post you, they're pretty....open...with the blog. So, maybe it was a matter of timing? too late? I encourage you to write a letter to the Voice....for print....as opposed to the blog. it's just time now for us to be in on Saturday, as usual. I know Jim has the address below. but do not give up and write write write, everyone.
Posted by: Drew
Jimmygimbels commented about the probable closings of several macy*mart stores that were formerly profitable Marshall Fields. Perhaps this is just the first wave of additional closings.
http://www.dispatch.com/dispatch/content/business/stories/2007/04/14/Macys.ART_ART_04-14-07_C1_GO6CME0.html
Posted by: Bob Warsham aka Detroit BOB
Just returned from Chicago -- a 1 day trip and had time to stroll through State Street...some observations:
Posted by: James in Minneapolis
Hi All----
Posted by: Charles
I have a report for you from day one at Bolingbrook.
Posted by: Private@Privateemail.com
Sad to say I would never pass judgement like this, but it was announced that Donald Trump made the #1 spot for the least sexy man in America according to the Boston entertainment and arts newspaper The Phoenix, which irreverently named the top 10 "unsexiest" men and summed up the list by saying, "These guys couldn't turn on a radio."
Posted by: Brad
If Macy's stores like the one in Lake Forest do in fact close, we will, of course, make sure that Macy's is held accountable to their investors and communities served for their decision to destroy Marshall Field's profitable and thriving business.
Posted by: J. Joseph
About 16 hours ago, I submitted a reply to the Tribune's blog that was succinct, civil and pointed. It was never posted. Any ideas of how long should I wait before resubmitting the letter here or to another publication?
Posted by: jimmygimbels
Rumor among Macy employees is the former Field's location in Lake Forest, IL will soon close. This store catered to a very upper income client - something Macy's does not do. And it focused on designer goods for women...another thing Macy's does not do. And it was all about service...ANOTHER THING MACY'S DOES NOT DO. This is the first of several stores that will close...others locations are in Ohio and some east coast locations.
Posted by: gle
When I was coming back from lunch today, a guy on the elevator said, "Hey, I really like your button--it's great!" I told him we're winning. He said, "Ya, I know. I read all those editorials in the 'Tribune.'"
Posted by: flyboyhouston
I went to Chicago for the second time since the changeover from Field's to Macy's. As Macy's, the State Street store is no better than my previous visit. The merchandise is even more boring. The Field's branded merchandise (like coffee cups, stuffed animals), other stuff with the Field's name is almost entirely gone. Even some of the Frango mints don't have the field's script anymore.
Posted by: Jeff W.
To those who may worry about the State Street Store still being a Messy's by the time of 2016, I would suggest that their fears are unfounded. At the rate that sales are declining, and the store is being shunned by the Chicago public, Field's will be back by 2009. Federated will not sustain double digit losses until 2016 just to keep their Red Star moniker on State Street.
Posted by: denise rule
re: Bob Basofin and "Accept Macy's". Maybe the Tribune continues to print those "Macy-bashing" letters because it's called 'VOICE OF THE PEOPLE'? And maybe for every one or two of the 'distraught' pro-Field's letters you see printed, there are actually hundreds that are never printed. You, lucky fellow, were printed on a Monday. It has been a trend with the Tribune to print any pro-Field's letters on a Saturday, the least read day of the week. Macy's does, as you said, butter their bread. In any case, get used to it. We are not a 'few'. We are not giving up. We are not going away. We will caterwaul 'til the cows come home. Accept that. Denise Rule Mt.Prospect
Posted by: Bob C.
AT&T Wireless became Cingular in just the past couple of years; now Cingular is becoming AT&T wireless. Yes! Brands can change back!
Posted by: Nathan
Clicking around the Macy's website, they have an ad for their flower shows. They list Herald Square first, Union Square second, State Street third and Minneapolis fourth.
Posted by: Michael in Baltimore
Yes, the loss of Field's, in name, quality, service and history, is an extreme loss. However, as you have read, other cities like Philadelphia, Boston, Pittsburgh and WASHINGTON, are suffering from this change as well. History has been erased in favor of cheap faux designers and embarassing celebrity collaborations (may I stress Donald Trump).
Posted by: Jim McKay
Thanks to those who made this past Saturday's leafleting a success! With Easter and Passover behind us it was a little quieter on State Street than the previous two Saturdays, but the minions were reached during the late afternoon and early evening session.
Posted by: Denise Rule
re: Tribune VOICE OF....... MONDAY 4/16, please please please, if you have not been PRINTED yet in the TRIBUNE, send an e-mail as a letter to the editor for print in response to today's letter in VOICE by Bob....from Palatine. ('Accept Macy's) for all the rest of us, comment on the blog, they are already posting comments, (trib. blog in VOICE OF.....) according to this bob guy, we are a "few, distraught" people who are "caterwauling"! (screaming like cats) !!!!!!!! take note: there are 2 pro-macy's letters PRINTED in the paper today, MONDAY. that gives just enough time for anything anyone writes to make it into print on SATURDAY SATURDAY SATURDAY! just a hunch. please respond, for PRINT.
Posted by: gle
I clicked around on the link from Brad's April 12 post (phx.corporate) and was rather shocked to find this April 27, 2006 press release with Lunkhead's original plans to improve the State Street store. From what I have seen since and read on this website, those promises haven't been kept very well.
Posted by: Ben Williams
When Macy's announced that they were taking over Kaufmann's, there was a buzz around Akron (in a city of 215,000, word travels pretty quick) because people were excited, new store, new look, new clothes-and maybe, just maybe, a little NYC to the A-KRowdy? (yes, its what people call Akron here)
Posted by: Alan
Does anyone know if any of the 2016 merchandise will eventually be sold elsewhere other than at Macy's? Maybe we could write to Patrick Ryan. He seems to be a pretty level-headed person, and as one who helped create a Chicago success story in Aon might also be willing to accommodate those who support the bid, but don't support Federated for destroying one of our icons.
Posted by: Paul F
Here is a link to a page on the BBC with a link to a video clip filmed at Marshall Field's. They discuss the history of Gordon Selfridge and his work at Marshall Field's. A "Marshall Field's Archivist" is also interviewed. Although they show the store post-destruction by Macy's, not once do they mention the word Macy, and, in fact, only show the building's brass name plaques, avoiding any clear shot of Macy's moniker. Thank you BBC for sparing Chicago the embarrassment! Now if only we can figure out a similar cloaking technique before the Olympics come....
http://www.bbc.co.uk/bbcfour/documentaries/features/shopping-england.shtml
Posted by: A. Perkins
If the world is coming to Chicago to see the Olympics in 2016, then Chicago needs a world-class department store for all those visitors to see: Marshall Fields.
Posted by: Mark in Phila
Regarding the Macy's in DC, inclduing the men's department it's the same reduction in size ranges, same mediocrity of style, same missing essential wardrobe items, same atmosphere of a ratty airport, same cheap tailoring with same deceptive price tags, and same bad taste as the mesys that's come to every town like the placeless useless new mini-dump they rubber stamped out here in downtown Philadelphia when they closed the last two good department stores here.
Posted by: LiMack
I so much wish Macy's would stop filling up the Sunday newspaper with unwanted ads, catalogs and inserts hawking their "merchandise". It absolutely kills me to think how many trees are destroyed and wasted just to produce the paper stock on which they print this garbage week after week.
Posted by: Doris Ray
Hello Field's Fans,
Posted by: Todd Anthony
Im new to this site as I wondered what happened to all the brands I used to find at Fields. I sure don't take my business to places like Target for shirts and furniture. JCPenny's? The Nordstrom Rack??? I dont think that says much. I think a more comparative place would be like Nordstrom's. Fields shoppers were of higher caliber then Target, Kohl's, and Penny's.
Lets show support for HIGH END merchandise if we're going to make a difference!! Show them we want the bar raised not that we shop cheap discounters!
Posted by: Pat C
http://www.chicagotribune.com/business/chi-0704130421apr14,1,1509312.story
Posted by: Bob Washam
Here is a link to another chest pounding TL story about how he reinvented the department store in part by listening and listening to the customer.
http://www.azstarnet.com/allheadlines/178366
Posted by: James in CA
Another field report from southern CA. I've discovered a new alternative to Macy's. H&M opened a store at South Coast Plaza in Costa Mesa, CA just on Thursday of this week, and I've discovered it's great for basics and casual wear. I'd seen the Michigan Ave H&M when I was in Chicago, but didn't shop there. Now I know what I've been missing.
Posted by: James in Minneapolis
ooo---Some good news for guys who shop Downtown Minneapolis. This morning's Star Tribune had an article outlining the new developments for us:
Posted by: Richard
I was at The Woodlands Mall last night north of Houston. Noticed very few Macy's bags in the mall. While I was shopping in Dillards I asked a long time associate if their sales had increased since the demise of Foley's. She gave a resounding yes. She asked me what I didn't like about Macy's out of curiosity. I told her their fake designer brands that are even alluded to on the TJ Maxx commercials; KMart atmosphere and merchandise and on and on.
Posted by: Pat C.
This quote is from the Naperville Sun Regarding the Opening of the Bolingbrook Store this Tuesday !
Macy's wants to make a big impression with its new store, which offers an opportunity for the Retailer to "show what it can do after disappointing many Chicago natives" when it took away the Marshall Field's name.
Shop Elsewhere 'Til Macy's FLOPS !
Posted by: A. Perkins
I just got an email from the m* store. 20% off online sales. The ad featured a woman dressed almost all in black with black stockings and shoes too, carrying a m* store bag. Obviously that wasn't a customer, but an employee of m* store as she is wearing the company uniform. Once again m* store has employees as mock customers!
Posted by: William
I walked by Fields on State last night and one of the mannequins in the window display was knocked over. I had never seen that before when it was Fields.
Posted by: Gayle
Hi all,
Company % change
- Nordstrom +15.0%
- Pacific Sunwear +14.1
- Target +12.0
- Wet Seal +10.9
- J.C. Penney +10.6
- Neiman Marcus +10.2
- Saks +10.1
- Carson's +2.8
- Limited Brands +8.0
- Gap +6.0
- Ross +6.0
- Wal-Mart +4.0
- Hot Topic +3.4
- Federated +2.3
- Bebe +0.1
- Bon-Ton -3.8
- Sharper Image -29.0
Posted by: A. Perkins
Poor Home Goods Sales....
Posted by: jimmygimbels
Nordstrom, with a 15 percent same-store sales increase
Posted by: Jim McKay
http://www.wwd.com/retail/article/114857?page=0
Posted by: gle
Here are a couple of links I found in today's papers. I don't think we are surprised. At least our Chicago papers seem to be taking more notice. And they blame things like weather, gas prices and weak housing market a/k/a lack of need for home decor. I don't have either a car or a house, but that's not why I don't shop Messy's.
http://www.chicagotribune.com/business/chi-0704120732apr13,0,1438059.story?coll=chi-business-hed
Posted by: JP
Bring back the days of Field Day's, Daisy Sale, Dayton's, Hudson's, Marshall Field's, green bags, jazz music in the stores, oval green name tags, being able to use your Field's card at Target or vice versa, beautiful classy displays, Thomas O Brien, Marshall Field's Hotel, Field Gear, 111 North State, Field's Ultimate Shirt, Large video monitors on exterior State Street, beautifully remodeled stores, Limestone escalator banks with a signature clock, Marshall Field's Gourmet, chimes on the overhead speakers.....there are so many things I just can't name them now.
Posted by: Joseph From CA
I was supposed to have been in Chicago this weekend, but couldn't get time off from work. That being said, I think it's better that I didn't go. After reading the descriptions of what has happened to 111 N. State, I think I've saved myself a lot of heartache. It would be way too difficult seeing it now, in contrast to just a year ago, when I was there during the March Field Days sale and was simply in awe of Field's.
Posted by: Drew
When are the Wall Street analysts going to question Terry Lunkhead's continued blame on the weather for Federated's weak sales? Seems like the other retailers have experienced impressive growth, while Federated's performance has been miniscule. Also, how much of the alleged increase is due to cutbacks in maintenance, promotion and staffing? Have the sales increased or have the expenses decreased?
Posted by: Steven
So Terry Lundgren says unseasonably cold weather just as new spring merchandise flowed into Macy's in the pre-Easter period contributed to disappointing sales in March. That's funny, I thought it was unfashionable merchandise. Or was it unsatisfactory quality? Never mind.
Posted by: James in Minneapolis
Hi All---
Posted by: John in Memphis
Hi Fellow Field's Fans,
Posted by: RG74
All I can say right now is...I MISS MARSHALL FIELD'S ! I WANT MY MARSHALL FIELD'S !
Posted by: LiMack
I, too, have been noticing that we haven't heard a "Peep" out of Linda Piepho. She's probably sitting in her office crying.
Posted by: Philip Eichler
Reuters: "A miss at Federated", Gap up 6%, Kohls 5%, JC Penny 10.6%, Nordstrom 15%, Saks 10.3% Federated: 2.3%! against forecasts of 2.5 to 3.6%. According to Mr. Lungren, continued bad weather and weak sales of home related goods were the culprit. I guess there's a different weather pattern around Federated stores, it's called a BLACK CLOUD!
Posted by: FYI
Carson's was up 2.8% although Bon-Ton, its parent, was down, 3.8%.
Posted by: Melody
All I have to say is HA! HA! HA!!!! Neener, neener, neener! :)
Posted by: Bob in DC
Regarding recent comments about former Foley and Kaufmann flagship stores, to chime in for Hecht Company in downtown DC, I would still vote in the positive column for the change to Mesy's. This month we had a very, very small version of the Spring Flower Show on the main floor and some cooking demonstrations in the kitchenware department, I don't think we've had this type of special event in a downtown department store in 15-20 years. That being said, I will never forgive them for murdering MF&Co so needlessly and then trashing 111 N. State Street.
Posted by: Patti in Indiana
WHOA...
Posted by: Brad
There are two critical indicators of Federated's performance missing from their disclosure of ame-store sales - both essential in order for analysts and investors to assess the impact of market variables and management decisions on Macy's performance:
http://phx.corporate-ir.net/phoenix.zhtml?c=84477&p=irol-newsArticle&ID=984062&highlight=
Posted by: A. Perkins
This article states a claim for Chicago for the 2016 Olympics. They give many reasons why people would want to come to Chicago, with so many things to do there.
http://sports.yahoo.com/olympics/news?slug=ap-2016olympics-whychicago&prov=ap&type=lgns
Posted by: Jim McKay
Today's Sun-Times has an article on Federated execs and how they get an extra 20% discount beyond what lower ranked employees get. If I am reading this correctly, execs like Terry Lungren get 40% off pruchases as well as reimbursement for related taxes. They claim it is necessary to attract and retain execs. Is it any wonder the workers on the floor are less than enthusiastic?
Posted by: Alan
Federated's March sales fell below their own expectations. The weather's another convenient excuse.
http://phx.corporate-ir.net/phoenix.zhtml?c=84477&p=irol-newsArticle_Print&ID=984062&highlight=
Posted by: Jeff W.
Referring to Zelda's comments about the eerie emptyness of the State Street Store, I was wondering what wonderful gimmicks Linda Poopko has been working on to stimulate State Street Store sales? We haven't heard a word from her Godfather Ralph Hughes as to what she is doing to bring us all back into the fold?
Posted by: gregw
Hi All,
Posted by: Brad
Does anyone know if any analyst or reporter has ASKED Terry Lundgren to provide same-store sales figures for former Marshall Field's stores?
Posted by: SJK
My predictions for Federated's excuses for disappointing sales in the first quarter of 2007:
A) Rising gas prices negatively impacted consumer spending
Posted by: Steven
Today at my bus stop (Thorndale & Sheridan) I noticed a new ad. At the top of a picture of a male model it says Calvin Klein in large letters. But in the bottom right corner, in much smaller print it says Macy's, without the star for the apostrophe. No star, no red. I'm assuming Macy's paid for the ad.
Posted by: Jim McKay
Posted by: Zelda
Hi gang!
Posted by: Mark in Phila.
A correction to A. Perkins, people on the east coast are NOT into paying high prices for cheap junk. Mesys is not an "east coast store." And it's definitely not a "New York" store for over twenty years. Ask some New Yorkers and they'll tell you how they can't stand the 34th Street store and if you wander through it looking for bathrooms you will notice the people are mostly international tourists, lost and checking their maps, stepping over all the merchandise thrown on the floor, probably wondering what are they doing in this dump and why didn't they go straight to Century 21. Mesys is the red plague, and the east coast as well as the south and west have seen it devour and eliminate Sterns, Lazarus, Jordan Marsh, Rich's, Burdines, many others systematically over the last 20 years ... all great merchants and civic leaders that spent a century building trust and what's left of these stores now is mediocre expensive mass merchandise and arrogant, indifferent service that trickles down from the top levels of their spin company. Terry L. ought to visit one and look at one of the tacky Alfani shirts in between trips on his corporate jet and counting his millions.
Posted by: Jeff S.
To Paul in Baltimore:
Posted by: Jon C.
http://www.npnweb.com/uploads/opinioncolumns/2007/PersonalTouch/0307_pt.asp
Posted by: Kaitlyn
Can someone post up a picture of said trucks with the canvas rigging? Or point me to a link to it? I want to print it out as a supplement for my paper - thanks!
Posted by: Private
Chief Marketer has an article related to Federated Department Stores and says John Wanamaker was wrong.
http://chiefmarketer.com/disciplines/branding/Federated-Wanamaker-brand-04062007/
Posted by: Ward
Kudos to all of your for your continued committment towards bringing back a store that really means something, not only to Chicago, but to the nation and world.
Posted by: Brad
Last month was the first time FDS released same-store sales figures that included former May Company stores. FDS still will not release figures that break out former Marshall Field's stores from the May Company figures, but many analysts believe that former Field's stores have seen the biggest drop in sales - estimated between 10% and 40% - now that they are Macy's.
Posted by: denise rule
Thank you for taking the time to write. You are absolutely correct it
is the Marshall Field's building and it houses Macy's department store.
Sent: Tuesday, April 10, 2007 8:55 AM
To: WLS-TV News
Subject: "Macy's Bldg" is Incorrect!
Please alert your broadcasters that the bldg at 111 N State
is
actually a historical landmark and known as "The Marshall Field's
Building". Tracy Butler, in particular, has been heard referring to
this bldg as 'the macy's bldg.'. IT IS NOT, and never will be. Your
correctness in broadcasting will be appreciated.
Posted by: Mitch
You see Terry and his gang of children are surrounded by a Kryptonite walled fact-free zone. They wow themselves with their own brand of fantasy while accusing others of not seeing reality.
Posted by: Drew
The downtown Pittsburgh macy*mart (formerly Kaufmann's) is undergoing some "exciting" changes. The 7th floor china department formerly had about eight "alcoves" or display rooms on two sides of the department. Each of these rooms contained an extensive array of better quality merchandise--Waterford, Lenox, Orrefors. These areas have been blocked off, but nearby signs state that "exciting changes" are coming! The remnants of the better merchandise has been moved out into the main sales area with the rest of the blah dishware.
Posted by: Joe D
Since American Girl is moving to replace Lord & Taylor and CompUSA is closing, does anybody have any idea what is going to replace them?
Posted by: Richard
Foley's is the same way. Macy's is using their old trucks, most still with Foley's on them - tractor trailers as well as the smaller delivery trucks. Makes you wonder just how bad it is at Federated. I was downtown over the weekend and it just burns me up to have Macy's emblazoned all over the Foley's flagship downtown. They have shut the floors from 12 to 6 now that the corporate staff were all laid off. The parking lots around most of the old Foley's stores are like what ya'll describe with Marshall Field's. Many parking places. Dillard's seems to be getting Foley's old business in alot of the regional malls. I sure wish we still had Marshall Field's down here as well. We had 2 at one time - The Galleria and Town & Country. Keep up the fight. I wish Foley's shoppers were more vocal but I suspect they are showing their disgust with their wallets if the true figures would ever come out from Federated.
Posted by: jimmygimbels
The news staff at WLS Channel 7 - especially Tracy Butler - continue to refer to 111 State Street as the "Macy's Building". This is an historic structure known as "The Marshall Field's Buidling." Please drop them a line at http://abclocal.go.com/wls/front. Hopefully, we can get them to change their ways.
Posted by: Ann
I want Marshall Field's--Not Macy's! Keep up the fight!
Posted by: Brad
Check out the September 21, 2005 the Chicago Tribune. Terry Lundgren's hypocracy is astonishing. He actually said that it's too late to restore Field's because it's hard to change the opinions of those who no longer shop there!
Posted by: Paul in Baltimore
I was in town this weekend to attend a performance at COT. This was my first trip back home in 2 years and it felt so strange knowing two of the places I always visited were gone. Staying at the Palmer House, and with their State St. entrance closed during refurbishing, I always went out the Monroe St. exit and it was always a slap in the face as right across the street is the old Carson's flagship.
Posted by: B. REID
I was shopping at the Macys( former Burdines)at the Broward Mall in Plantation,Florida when I noticed a large abundance of Frango mint Chocolates priced at 50%. I overhead a young airhead girl(typical Macys customer) said "what the hell is Frangos?" to the saleswoman who had no answer and the girl walked away. I explained to the saleswoman that Frangos are orginated in Chicago from the great Marshall Fields store. She replied I dont know where they come from but I wish we could get rid of them. She continued that they wont sell just like everything else in here! She also griped that all sales personel have to wear black and it sucks/morale is low and finally she said shop at Nordstroms,Dillards, Saks even Dollar General, basically anywhere but here. Pitiful that a sales person is telling you to shop someplace else. Oh and she pointed out the tacky I-pod vending machine that dont work! Bring back Burdines and all the other stores you screwed with! Even Mercedes-Benz admitted their mistake with Chrysler and is trying to sell it! Why cant you?
Posted by: LiMack
A business friend in Atlanta always made time for a special shopping trip to Fields whenever a Chicago trip was on her schedule. I have continually kept her in the loop regarding the boycott and our utter disillusionment with Lundgren and Macy's, in every respect. Atlanta's own Rich's Department store unfortunately got "the treatment" from Macy's a couple years ago. I recently sent her the link to the Tribune's Ellen Warren column and comments section, titled "How's Macy's Doing? I informed her in my email that if any one out there thought we were not still a'roilin and a'boilin' here in the Windy City over the loss of Marshall Field's they were very misinformed.
Posted by: Claire Osada
I've seen those green Macy's trucks too, and honestly they make me sick! You can't have a dark forest green Macy's truck!! It's just beyond wrong! I get a similar feeling when I see the Market Square (Lake Forest) with the word "Macy's" on dark green window awnings too. If anything is going to be green, it should say Marshall Field's on it!
Posted by: sarah
How's this for a wonderful Marshall Field's memory... the 2003 celebration of Field's revamped State Street store that attracted 12,000 to 30,000 people on the streets for a daytime party that featured a verticle fashion show on the front walls of the building! There was also great entertainment provided by Marshall Field's free to the public across the street including entertainment by various performers and featuring Chicago's own Poi Dog Pondering. Later night time the party moved inside of the store for 9,000 invited guests.
Posted by: Siamak (Chicagoan living in NY)
Please take a moment to let tourists/shoppers know how you feel about Messy's.
Posted by: John in Memphis
Hi everyone,
Posted by: Jim McKay
A blessed Easter and Passover to all observing those holidays.
Posted by: PatC
[ Graphic of a Macy's logo peeling off to reveal the Marshall Field's Logo. ]
Posted by: Mike M
In the Chicago Tribune Sunday Magazine there is a nice item about the Marshall Field's/Macy's issue.
Posted by: A. Perkins
Yes B,
Posted by: Jim McKay
If you check out tomorrow's Sunday Tribune on page 2 of section 1, it appears that Macy's is getting even more desparate for a Field's connection. It's an ad for the Walnut Room, InField's and other restaurants on State Street. But most amazing of all is the the ad features the Field's great clock logo that graced Marshall Field's shopping bags for at least the past 15 years!
Posted by: B
Hi All
Posted by: denise rule
fyi: re: the Tribune today and their one little article in "The Voice of Macy's"........IT'S SATURDAY AGAIN!!!!!!! and even worse, a holiday weekend, so even fewer readers. saturday, saturday, saturday. i did post a response on their (trib) blog, and i urge you all to take a look and respond in any way. besides the SATURDAY!! issue, i mentioned how many letters have been written in response to the 3/26 hughes story and now it's 4/7 SATURDAY! (i don't know if they'll post me, early yet)
Posted by: Jeff S.
Well, well, well. The up escalator at the Fox Valley store is still not working. There are signs posted on the doors telling you that the store is closed on Easter Sunday. (However, the tape that holds the plastic casing to the glass blocks the words to the sign, so you have to look at several signs on the doors to understand what the signs say!) Macy*s! Way to Flop!
Posted by: FYI
Tomorrow's Saturday Tribune will have Voice of the People discussion of Ralph Hughes' letter from March 26.
Posted by: denise rule
J. Schmeltzer in the Tribune today: re 'm' in Bolingbrook: "nontraditional approach to lighting...." AND "a neo-traditional lifestyle driving its merchandising". oxyMORAN. (happy Easter everyone!)
Posted by: Joe D
Last weekend, I went to Oakbrook for the first time. It certainly is a lovely shopping center, and, IMHO, a much better experience when compared to the Mag Mile.
Posted by: Jim McKay
The insider trading could mean lots of things--too soon to say. However, that the sales appear on insider boards shows they are doing so legitimately.
Posted by: jimmygimbels
Many reports on investment boards concerning large sales of insider stock at Federated. Anyone know what is going on? Is Federated starting to crumble so the rats are jumping ship?
Posted by: Gail
I visited Macy's today--the one in downtown Washington, D.C., which used to be a Hecht's. No, I didn't buy anything; nothing could make me buy from Macy's (well, except maybe a gun to my head). I just needed to use the ladies' room and scope the place out. What could go wrong?
Posted by: Brad
Many local journalists and reporters do little more than repeat Macy's press releases of exciting enhancements and success in their articles without first fact checking the content or challenging the conclusions. Perhaps we need to do more to expose this irresponsible journalism to editors and the public.
business@tribune.com
metro@tribune.com
dmiller@suntimes.com (business editor)
psaltzman@suntimes.com (metro editor)
mcooke@suntimes.com (editor in chief)
dhayner@suntimes.com (managing editor)
cledbetter@suntimes.com (features editor)
jwisser@pioneerlocal.com (editor in chief)
cgoddard@pioneerlocal.com (senior editor - news)
jpokin@pioneerlocal.com (senior editor - business)
Posted by: Bob Briggs
It's too bad Bolingbrook has been victimized by Terry Lundgren and his henchmen. Bolingbrook lands a new location of Chicago's great Marshall Field's for its new downtown. A new dowtown with a great, high-end store. Then they are victimized
when Macy's takes over, dragging their classy promenade down to a bland and mediocre store that is everyehere. What a loss!
Posted by: gle
I saw the article on the new Bolingbrook promenade in today's chicagotribune.com business section and also on wgn.com news, "Macy's at heart of new retail center." It specifically highlights Macy's as an anchor store, as if the Macy's will create a downtown in some poor blighted area of previously nothing. Then I read Sandra Guy's "Sun-Times" coverage of the same topic. That article plugs countless other attractions of the promenade, including an IKEA across the highway. So much for balanced news.
Posted by: Jim McKay
http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/local/chi-0704050856apr06,1,1129939.story?coll=chi-news-hed
http://www.suntimes.com/business/330484,cst-fin-mall06a.article
Posted by: Lois Dean
visit Chicago once a year for a meeting. I have deen doing this for about 35 years. This year I was so dissappointed, to see the Marshall Field's changed to Macy's. Going to Marshall Fileds was always one of the highlights of my trip. In Ohio Macy's has taken over several stores. In the smaller towns, all they have is junk. Wal-Mart has some better quality items. Bring back Marshall Field's.
Posted by: Jon C.
Here's something from last May from the website of the Houston Chronicle newspaper in Houston, Texas, home of the former Foley's Department Stores, now macy's:
`
http://markets.chron.com/chron?ID=3391920&Page=NewsRead
Posted by: Jim McKay
Just a reminder that if you see something, say something or write something!
http://www.suntimes.com/business/328026,CST-FIN-macys05.article
letters@suntimes.com
Posted by: jimmygimbels
Jimmygimbels visits Macy's so you don't have to!
Posted by: Hillary
Mr "T" (Terry Lungren) Got a 2 million dollar Raise ! That means he received a 15% pay increse. Did ANY FEDERATED Employee get a 15% Raise this year ? Probably NOT ! Their Managers tell them they have to work harder to bring more Revenue into the Company,and by the way NO RAISES THIS YEAR FOR the employee's who do the REAL WORK. That's Not FAIR & That's NOT RIGHT.
http://www.bizjournals.com/cincinnati/stories/2007/04/02/daily48.html?from_rss=1
Posted by: Jim
Thanks Brad and everyone else.
Regarding the designation of Washington between State and Wabash as "Marshall Field's Way,"
the sign is still up at Wabash and Washington but has not be reinstalled at State and Washington after it was taken down as part of construction project that required a temporary light standard. Although a regular standard has been restored, the "Marshall Field's Way" sign has not been restored for months.
Posted by: Brad
In 2002, there was a huge celebration of Marshall Field's 150 years in Chicago. The Mayor proclaimed Marshall Field's Week in Chicago and a block of Washintgton Street was dedicated "Marshall Field's Way".
"Through boom and bust, celebration and the Depression, Marshall Field's
has been a mainstay in Chicago for 150 years," said State Street Regional
Director Ralph Hughes. "We have dedicated our service to the people of
Chicago, and we want to take this opportunity to thank the generations of our
guests who have made this possible."
Posted by: M
I may be a Target employee, but I am a Minnesotan first.
Posted by: gle
Here's another Federated "rosy picture" from Sandra Guy at the "Sun-Times" about Messy's thriving online service to the college population, "Lively Loop keeps Macy's Web spinning."
http://www.suntimes.com/business/328026,CST-FIN-macys05.article
Posted by: Brad
Just wanted to share an old City of Chicago / Marshall Field's press release with you... I believe the year was 2002:
CHICAGO, Sept. 13 /PRNewswire/ -- This fall marks Marshall Field's 150th
anniversary with a special celebration of the store's rich legacy of
traditions, community service and innovation in the retail industry. The
celebration officially begins on September 15 with Mayor Daley's proclamation
of Marshall Field's Week in Chicago. In conjunction with the city, a special
dedication of "Marshall Field's Way" on Washington Street (between State and
Wabash) will take place on September 20 during a news conference unveiling at
10 a.m.
Posted by: gle
Field's fans might be interested an April 4 WGN TV Video, "State Street: Great Steet?" It mentions a Chicago Loop renaissance as a community environment. As a result, students are moving into the Loop and retailers are targeting that group. A woman under a backdrop of the Field's clock argued there had to be more than that. Chicago had to be a center for tourism as well. The video then plugged a "Looptopia" event to be held May 11--an evening arts festival at several Loop locations. I looked up Looptopia on the City of Chicago website. Messy's was listed as a partner, but not a sponsor, and would have extended hours that evening. The City information also said the Carson's building would have multi-media events that night, and will be renamed Sullivan Center.
Posted by: Philip Eichler
In regard to my post about Macy's exciting online expansion, I forgot to mention something. To accommodate all this new business in the upper Midwest and South central states, guess where they're building a new facility to service all this growth? Arizona!
Posted by: Philip Eichler
Has anyone seen the headline that Federated is investing 100 million in new web dollars? According to Mr. Lundgren, we've "seen exceptional growth in online sales in new Macy's markets such as Illinois, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, Oklahoma, Texas and Utah"!
Posted by: Brad
Update on the Ellen Warren "How's Macy's Doing?" piece that seemed to be exlcuded from the search results on Tribune.com. A Tribune spokesman advised today that no "Feature Blogs" are included on the site's search directory. Other Ellen Warren's pieces were included because they were articles, not Feature Blogs. I'm not certain how or why the two categories are defined, however despite the Tribune's pro-Macy's bias in the past, it doesn't look like this particular peice was singled out for exclusion.
Posted by: Jon C.
Not only are many shoppers at macy's stores having "night-marish" problems in customer service, ethics in advertising and substitutions of merchandise, but macy's on-line and phone shoppers are likewise claiming not ever to shop at the "m" store ever again. The following link provides many cases of unsatisfactory customer service in order placement and merchandise returns, although some users of the shoppers.com website state that they did not encounter any problems.
http://www.shopping.com/xMR-store+macys+com~MRD-11314~S-1
Posted by: Pat C
Take this "Macy's or Not?" Poll.Vote and Submit to see the results
http://www.misterpoll.com/567200689.html
Posted by: Brad
Quite an impressive response to Ellen Warren's March 28 "How's Macy's Doing?" piece in the Tribune.
http://featuresblogs.chicagotribune.com/shopping_ellen_warren/2007/03/hows_macys_doin.html
Posted by: Mrs J
HEY ALL! Comment about one left by "RV".....""...like Tiffany's without a blue, red ribbon box ""....ughhhhhh THAT would be a BLUE box with a WHITE ribbon! My daughters Bridal shower was 3 weeks ago....and GUESS where Mom went shopping, Tiffany's has always had killer customer service, very very nice friendly helpful salespeople (Gee....does THAT sound familiar??) THAT was a no brainer since our Field's is gone. I will be back to help you guys very soon.
Posted by: Alan
Doris,
Posted by: James in Minneapolis
Doris---
Posted by: Doris Ray
Hello to all you wonderful Field's Fans. No I did not COMPLETELY drop off the face of the earth but I've been quite ill since Jan. I'm not up to writing too much at this time but I wanted to let you know my thoughts are with you!
Posted by: Mike
They never should have closed Marshall Fields!!!
Posted by: Jim
After the Emperor's new remarks in Spain, maybe someone over the pond should start "keepitselfridges.org.uk," "harrodsfanslondon.org.uk" and others are in order...
Posted by: "RV"
I'm Retired now @ 53 living in an RV "on the road" for the next 5 years with Habitat For Humanity . When I
pass by (won't shop, there) a Macy's just makes me sad for my Field's and those Irish, emerald green
bags with our clock on 'em!
Chicago without Field's...like Tiffany's without a blue, red ribbon box ...Rockerfeller Center without the
rink...Empire State Building without the observation deck or even Macy's withoutB the B Thanksgiving Day Parade.
Once a "FIELD'S GIRL" B forever one! B - "RV"
Posted by: James in Minneapolis
I forgot to mention that Field's in Minneapolis no longer seems to have the chocolate rabbits that we usually give to relatives on Easter at brunch when we see some of them and again later in the day when we see others. I am uncertain if your stores had these or if this was just a Minneapolis thing, as I know some of the "Marshall Field's" chocolate was made in the Nicollet Mall Store----not Frango, but "Marshall Field's" chocolate. I actualy really liked the Field's chocolate but Field's chocolate was only available for special occasions like Easter. It was rich but not sickening sweet.
Posted by: Paul Reichart
I'm sure INC and Alfani will be a huge hit in Europe!
Posted by: RG74
Dear Jim,
Posted by: Brad
It's curious that the Chicago Tribune internal website search feature excludes from the search results any mention of Ellen Warren's March 28 piece about Macy's titled "How's Macy's Doing?". This was the Tribune's Shopping Advisor piece that prompted overwhelming reader response highly critical of Macy's.
http://featuresblogs.chicagotribune.com/shopping_ellen_warren/2007/03/hows_macys_doin.html
Posted by: James in Minneapolis
This morning I had breakfast with my Mom and we took a peek at the macys-Bachmann's Spring Flower Show. I haven't been there since it opened last week. I noticed that the temperature was turned way down in the store, just as Dale Bachmann had warned, in order to keep the plants alive. You may recall from an earlier post that he had requested that, as they had always done in the 8th Floor Auditorium but now that the Show moved to 1st Floor and the flowers were thrown into Women's purses, jewelry, shoes and Style & Co Drabwear, the retail managers objected to the low temps. The flowers must have started to die off because the temperature was substantially colder in there today than last week and there is still another week to go of the show and some of the flowers are already dead.
Posted by: Linda S.
Saturday's Wall St. Journal notes five American buildings worth a special trip according to Pritzker-Prize winning architect Richard Rogers. (He has designed the Centre Pompidou in Paris and the Millennium Dome in London.) Number two on the list is the Marshall Field's Building, 1907, D. H. Burnham and Co. (The other four buildings are the Salk Institute in La Jolla, the Seagram Building in New York, the Farnsworth House in Plano, IL, and Taliesin in Spring Green, WI.)
Posted by: Jim McKay
Thanks to all who helped make leafleting possible, especially J., who made possible printing of the leaflets.
If I read the store window credits correctly at the corner of Randolph and State, the Chicago Tribune is one of the co-sponsors of the Macy's Spring Flower show.
Posted by: Heidi Wulkow
Hi,
Posted by: Halls
Oh boy! Now macy*s wants to go international! Now they can sell they same crap worldwide!
http://www.nypost.com/seven/03312007/business/federated_may_take_macys_global_business_.htm
Posted by: Michael Trenteseau
Regarding the list of brands no longer sold at former Field's locations - some of the lines they used to carry were replaced by the companies' "second lines," so they can claim to carry it but really they don't. Marquis by Waterford, Kenneth Cole Reaction, and Chaps by Polo/Ralph Lauren are some common second lines. They have the design elements of the main brand, but lower quality and lower price.
Posted by: Steven
Since Macy's apparently can't afford to (or won't bother to) properly maintain the State Street store, I wonder how long it would be before anyone noticed posters put up in the bathroom stalls providing those who still shop there with some interesting horror stories to read while they do their business.
Posted by: JamesfromCA
I posted my two cents on Ellen's blog about Macy's in the Trib. The response was overwhelming pro Field's but I always wanted to answer the pro Macy's crowd point by point. These were the objections I recall from some of the postings:
Posted by: Jim McKay
We will be leafleting tomorrow and a week from tomorrow on State Street--let's walk between raindrops. Please note: If you want to help leaflet tomorrow, please email me by 11:00 AM at jjmckay@fieldsfanschicago.org for the exact time and other details. THANKS!
http://www.chicagoist.com/archives/2007/03/30/ask_chicagoist_where_to_go_prom_shopping.php
Posted by: Pat C
GREAT NEWS !
Posted by: Jim McKay
Today's Sun-Times has an article about Chicago-based Hartmarx which makes fine suits. The Sun-Times says that they are having problems because of "Retail Consolidation."
Posted by: Mitch
Hi Kids,
Posted by: Sarah
Great article in the business section of last Friday's Dallas Morning News critical of Macy's and other generic national brands...
http://www.dallasnews.com/sharedcontent/dws/bus/columnists/sbrown/stories/DN-recol_23bus.ART.State.Edition1.37951cf.html
Posted by: Dehlia
Regarding that columnist Ellen on the Tribune Blog. At last someone in the Chicago media is getting the correct idea that this is not just a name change from Field's to Macy's. It's downgrade. Glad someone brought it up!
Posted by: Halls
Listen to your visitors
Posted by: LiMack
I, too, feel deeply that the tide is turning. As I reflect on the situation I believe that initially Macy's management, not understanding Chicagoans at all, truly believed that there were just a few loud mouthed cranks out there who were picketing and threatening to boycott. Nothing to worry about. Macy's PR apparatus worked overtime to convince many in the media and the financial community that this was the case. In the decades before the internet this spin might have worked but not any more!
Posted by: Steven
My comments to Ellen's blog weren't posted. No surprise. I questioned how she was JUST now noticing the difference between Field's and Macy's when anybody who had been to Macy's Herald Square or Union Square would have known what was going to happen to the quality and service we expect from our department stores in Chicago. And that THAT makes me think that she doesn't know all that much about shopping. Advisor indeed.
Posted by: Jim McKay
It's great to see some of you regulars had your items posted as feedback to Ellen Warren's blog today, where she asked, "How's Macy's doing?"
http://featuresblogs.chicagotribune.com/shopping_ellen_warren/marshall_fields_name_change/index.html
Posted by: Jeff S.
Last week was on a trip to southern Indiana from Chicago. I made my usual stop at Honey Creek Mall in Terre Haute. The former L.S.Ayres store (before that it was called The Root Store) is now you know what! The store is a dump!! What made me sooo sad is that on the 2nd floor there was 1 table with Godiva chocolates and Frango. There were 2 flavors that had the words Marshall Field still above the word, Frango.
Posted by: David
How's Macy's doing?
http://featuresblogs.chicagotribune.com/shopping_ellen_warren/2007/03/hows_macys_doin.html
Posted by: Sarah
I just came across this old 1994 article in the Washington Post about a Macy's Black History Month exhibit found to be so offensive by customers that it had to be hurriedly removed and hidden away. It should come as no surprise to anyone that Macy's blamed the negative response on customers for not understanding what the artifacts and memorabilia were doing in the cases!
Posted by: Peter
I read this and I thought that it was so appropriate. BusinessWeek had an article about Saks reintroduction of their original script style logo and how that logo embodied Saks heritage.
Posted by: Sarah
There are still several active forum discussions from contrbutors around the counttry in support of the Macy's boycott and Marshall Field's.
Posted by: LiMack
have come to think of the Macy's PR department as PRAVDA. For those of you who remember the cold war and the unreliability and unreality of the information disseminated by the old Soviet Union you know exactly what I mean!
Posted by: Halls
This would be a great buyer for Field's.
Posted by: Al
Nobody can be so amusingly arrogant as a young man who has just discovered an old idea and thinks it is his own. -Sydney J. Harris
Posted by: Comment
For those of you who don't know, Cheggs have been sold by Field's and are bascially a single Frango Chocolate Easter Egg. In past years, you could have them personalized with a message in icing.
Posted by: Drew missing part of the macy*mart equation is stockholder reaction to falling sales. Surely the stockholders realize that Terry Lungreed's plans to sell overpriced, nondescript merchandise in ill-managed and uninspired environments isn't working now--and won't work in the future. Despite his grandiose delusions to "re-educate" the dwindling number of customers and his desperate grasping for "reasons" for diminished sales, how can the stockholders be so totally mesmerized by Lunkhead's propaganda?
Posted by: Mike M
While the Field's issue has no doubt made an impression on the minds of Chicago's columnists, it is interesting that none of them will write about it. That is especially about columnists at the Sun-Times, where they are loving that Macy's ad revenue.
Posted by: Darrid
Does anyone have a picture of the Green Elevator button for the 7th floor on Field's elevator?
Posted by: Steven
Now Macy's is involved in a recall of Frangos!
Posted by: Mike M.
Check out this paragraph, listing the subject in in Chicagoist.com's history that drew the MOST COMMENTS EVER.
Posted by: War Shopper
Napoleon Bonaparte - "Never interrupt your enemy when he is making a mistake."
Posted by: Chuck, N. Side
That letter from Macy's in yesterday's Trib is really backfiring for Macy's.
First, it makes them look really desparate for customers. Secondly, the response at tribune.com trounces Hughes and Macy's.
Posted by: Philip Eichler
In regard to Mr. Hughes letter to the Tribune, why is it that everyone of these Federated people has to use some variation of the word "exciting" in every published blurb concerning their destruction of Field's? I also found it interesting that Mr. Hughes soley focused on designer names ONLY in the 28 shop! What about the rest of the store? For example,Tricia Guild is long gone out of the linen department and you could go through that store and find examples all over. Mr. Hughes should have his title changed to "Minister of Propaganda" to more accurately reflect his real position in the exciting company that he represents.
Posted by: Tom
Hello. I was in Northern Virginia (Washington DC area) last weekend on a trip and just happened to stop by the "legacy" Macy's store located at Tysons Galleria. I was stunned at how vocal some of the store employees in the men's department were about how "sales are terribly low" and at how "dead" the store was without customers. They were correct! The store was empty on Friday and not much better on Saturday. I don't think this Macy's take over of the world is working out the way Lundergreed thought it would.
Posted by: Gayle
Hi All,
Posted by: Mike M
That letter from Ralph Hughes was one of the goofiest things I've seen since this fight started. What was he thinking? They really are in trouble and it's their own fault.
Posted by: Private
The Field's stores were the top tier stores of Mayco, most were in good shape, and were the best of the May Company chains with the exception of some Lord & Taylor locations. It is good to see Lord & Taylor alive, howver they hardly advertise in midwest media venues anymore. They are a good store and it is a shame to go into the Chicago area stores and see them not as well shopped as they should be on weekends. I hope they don't retreat totally to the northern East coast.
Posted by: Field Fan- "Branded"
This is in follow-up to the comprehensive and accurate list that was compiled and submitted to the media last November by you loyal Field's fans. It would be curious to update a list of those Marshall Field's designer clothing collections, shoes, accessories and furniture no longer sold at Macy's so we could inventory what has been lost even since November. Some left of their own volition so as not to be associated with Macy's and others found that there was no longer space among the many Macy's private label knock offs.
Posted by: LiMack
In my opinion Ralph Hughes' letter to the Tribune was meant as a "shot across the bow" to reporter Sandra Jones for daring to tell the truth about the Macy's debacle. Her recent article, you may remember, described how so many of the good designers were bailing out of Macy's and she pointed out how well other Chicago area stores did sales-wise during the same time frame that Macy's sales tanked. The Hughes letter was merely another in a series of "poor misunderstood me" whines by Macy's. I'm sure Sandra was unimpressed as were we all. Methinks Ralph did not convert anyone to shop at Macy's today.
Posted by: Hillary
Posted by: Alex
Astute observations about the Hughe's letter.
Posted by: Jim McKay
Thanks to "gle" and many others who wrote in about Ralph Hughes of Macy's letter in today's "Voice of the People" Letters to the Editor section of the Chicago Tribune editorial page.
Posted by: Darrid
Posted by: B.
When we were were in California, we talked with some Macy's employees. They knew about the problems that Chicago was having with Macy's. Chicago customers would come in to complain to the clerks about what was happening back home in Chicago. They didn't want to lose Field's. So, when I went in to ask the service desk what they knew about Field's, they told us. This was before the takeover occurrd. I don't know if this happened in other cities, but it was known by Federated that Chicago did not want the takeover. What the California people said was that it was all about money. Everything under one name was all Federated wanted. They didn't care about Chicago -- or quality. Only the bottom line. The people actually seemed to feel sorry for us, but they knew that Macy's would still get rid of Field's.
I hope we can change that bottom line for them. Make them want to get out of here for good and bring back Field's.
Posted by: Ashley
Hi, I have two things to share with everyone:
Posted by: Erick
That was very well written blog by the person with the "private identity" I especially appreciate the point similar to Bergdoff's that says, Macy's serves the country, Marshall Fields serves Chicago.
Posted by: gle
NEWS ALERT: Ralph Hughes has a letter published in the March 26 Tribune's "Voice of the People," "Designing the future." He tries to defend Messy's strategies and emphasizes charitable giving in order to create a "strong presence in the community for Messy's."
http://newsblogs.chicagotribune.com/news_opinion_letters/2007/03/designing_the_f.html
Posted by: Don
I find the comments about the Bergdorf-Goodman articile interesting since the article doesn't mention Bergdorf's hard times. From the late 60s through the 70s the store faultered. In 1972 a branch was opened in Westchester County, NY. Others had been planned. The store apparently struggled and was eventually rebranded a Neiman-Marcus. There isn't enough business to support more than one ultra-high end store like Bergdorf's. It wasn't until the 90s that the store really hit its stride again.
Posted by: Anonymous
So wish Marshall Field's would come back. Marshall Field's was the last really great department store in Chicago. May God Help us.
Posted by: Michael Trenteseau
A friend bought conforter and sheet set at M on State Street and he just put it on his guest room bed. The sheets and the shams are cheap. Tissue-thin half-polyester dreck. NOT Field's quality at all.
Posted by: Jim McKay
Pat Craven (of T-shirt and Sweatshirt fame, among other things) deftly represents our views in the following financial website interview and article.
http://www.thestreet.com/newsanalysis/retail/10343526.html
Posted by: RG74
The future of Macy's is bleak from a guest perspective in my opinion. Especially if you look at the sad state of the once great Macy's Herald Square !
Posted by:
The News-Record from Greensboro North Carolina has printed an article from Lisa Cornell of the Associated Press
Posted by: Mark in Phila
May I respond, Bob in DC, I am in Philadelphia, not Baltimore, you are crossing me with Michael in Baltimore. The renovations to the Metro Center Washington store that you think is an improvement over Hechts were all planned and begun under May company before the Red Scare moved in its Trasho Elba, All-phony and other lines of junk clothing. May was planning major improvements to the merchandise lines there at Metro Center as well as the physical renovations.
Posted by: Beth Walsh
I haven't posted in a while, nor read the blog in a few weeks, but am glad to see that there is still just as much fervor, and growing, in our quest to get back our Marshall Field's.
Posted by: Michael (not Mark) in Baltimore
To Bill (Bob) in DC-
Posted by: Private
http://www.dallasnews.com/sharedcontent/dws/bus/stories/031807dnbusbergdorf.3794ab0.html
Posted by: private
Even TJ Maxx is now taking shots at Macy's.
Posted by: bob warsham
Report from the Detroit area:
Posted by: Dean Doyle
We here in Massachusetts can sympathize with Chicagoans!
Posted by: Alan
No big surprise here, but this is the last "Spring Sale" that will make any reference to the old "Field Day's." Perhaps the bigger story here is that someone paid $10 for a Field Day's advertisement.
http://www.chicagotribune.com/business/chi-0703230522mar24,0,717160.story?coll=chi-business-hed
Posted by: JP
Hey Everyone,
Posted by: Ron
Chicagoist.com has a bit about the Macy's African floral show on State Street but it just goes to show you that Chicago isn't buying into it.
Posted by: S.Seldon
This letter comes from Minneapolis, a long time supporter of both Daytons and Fields. It is so depressing to enter a Macys and visually see the difference. The house brands are so cheap looking and the merchandise just looks inferior. They have cut back employees in so many sections, you have to really look for someone to help. At the petite dept. at Southdale, they always had at least two sales associates-now they are down to one. I talked to the single employee and she said I hope they send someone to help me soon, I have to use the restroom. This is unconscionable.
Posted by: Kathy Briskol
A woman came up to me while grocery shopping and said, "I agree!"
Posted by: RG74
If Macy's wanted to really make a new start, they would start by putting the class back into 34th street. It is hard to believe that Macy's is the home of McDonald's and a pizza place. So sad...no formal linen service dining room !
Posted by: L
Posted by: Private
Perhaps some of you would care to write to CNNMoney.com senior writer Parija B. Kavilanz or branding consultant Mr. Kelly O'Keefe about an artilce published on March 19 titled "Corporate branding oops".
Parija B. Kavilanz
Jarija.bhatnagar@turner.com
Kelly O'Keefe
O'Keefe Brands
104 Shockoe Slip
Richmond, Virginia 23219
1-804-644-2240
http://money.cnn.com/2007/03/19/news/companies/branding_blunders/?postversion=2007031914
Posted by: Lee
I just wanted to say that here in St Louis we miss our Famous Barr too. macy's is junk. Whatever happen to history and tradition? I never got to see the Field's in Chicago but I know how you must feel about it being turned into another crappy macy's. Keep up the fight! macy's considered me a platinum customer when the name change occurred--------I no longer have my account! TAKE THAT macy's! The longer we hurt their bottom line the better!!
Posted by: Al
History can repeat itself.
Posted by: Darrid
Hi all!
Posted by: gle
If anyone thinks the name Marshall Field's doesn't mean anything, I cite a story my grandmother used to tell: One of her brothers managed to scrimp and save enough money from his paper route to get a toy fire engine. It came with miniature horses and firefighters that he generously doled out to his brothers and sisters. Grandma got the fire chief, and named him MARSHALL FIELD! How Grandma knew Marshall Field was an important name she never said. Her immigrant parents obviously didn't have time for fancy department stores. Being able to shop at Field's, however, was part of the immigrant dream in Chicago. It meant one had arrived; you were just as good as anybody else.
Posted by: Bob in DC
Mark in Baltimore: It's nice you felt so positively toward Hecht Company, I only knew the downtown DC store, perhaps yours in suburban Baltimore were better staffed and stocked. I don't feel any local connection to them as I don't recall from my childhood (1960's onward) their doing any of the special things that Woodward & Lothrop or Garfinkle's did here as far as civic sponsorships, parades, Santaland, restaurants, animated windows, etc. I still feel Hecht's was a mercy kill and cheer their demise, as I do May Company. They ruined department store retailing.
Posted by: Martin Balogh
Any update on the hideous sign planned at the top of the State Street store? I keep thinking if that does not go up there is hope of a change back to Marshall Field's.
Posted by: James in Minneapolis
Hi All---
Posted by: RG74
Macy's even after Bamberger's used to be a store that I was proud to shop at. I enjoyed a full compliment of shopping, lunch at the Louise B's (later the Cellar Grill) in Paramus NJ and felt very satisfied.
Posted by: Dianne Shanley
Happy to hear that the boycott is going well. I was in Chicago this past weekend and found it necessary to do some clothes shopping. I was surprised to see that Lord and Taylor's was closing (I guess I knew that it got sold off when Federated bought May but didn't realize that their Water Tower store was closing.
Posted by: Brian
http://money.cnn.com/2007/03/19/news/companies/branding_blunders/?postversion=2007031914
Posted by: gle
The Pittsburgh Post-Gazette March 20 Letters to the business editor printed this Field's Fan's sound-off on Messy's re-education.
www.post-gazette.com/pg/07079/770838-28.stm
Posted by: Erick
That incredible article on Bergdoff Goodman Steven is totally totally accurate. That store is flat-out, jaw-dropping awesome, from its customer service to its top of the line merchandise.
Posted by: Brian
Steven,
Posted by: jimmy gimbels
From Crain's Chicago Business, March 19 edition.
Posted by: James in Minneapolis
HI All---
Posted by: John in Memphis
Hi Everyone,
Posted by: Steven
Neiman-Marcus has got its head screwed on straight, unlike a certain CEO we know. In an article about Bergdorf Goodman is the following quote:
Posted by: jimmy gimbels
Well, well - macy;s is going to re-educate us. What they will most likely do is try to make a connection between Field's and Macy's. For example: Field's Days is now Macy's Spring Sale. Or the recent two-page ad for their African flower show tried to tie it to similar events at Fields. This is very similiar to their original marketing blitz of "See, we are just like Marshall Field's, nothing has changed but the name.
Posted by: Michael in Baltimore
Mark in Phila-
Posted by: gle
There was a rather interesting article in the March 12 "Chicago Tribune" about what a Duluth, GA Sears store is trying to do. I kind of wonder where they got the idea. The article is titled, "Sears steps back in time to go forward."
www.chicagotribune.com/business/chi-0703120225mar12,0,6685532.story?coll=chi-bizfrot-hed
Posted by: gle
Did anyone happen to see an ad for Fox 32 news in the morning that said a bunch of stuff about change and included a Messy's sign in the background scenes? It went something like, "Some change is bad, some change is good, some things never change." I wasn't paying much attention until I saw the sign, so didn't get exactly what they said or which category of change they put Messy's under. Apparently, however, the controversy is still newsworthy enough for an ad. Perhaps someone else got a better look and can say whether it seemed like a pro or con Messy's approach.
Posted by: Siamak (Chicagoan living in NY)
The Tribune article about Michigan Ave losing its local retailers, really hit home. As a Chicagoan, who move to NY a year ago, each time I come back I see some of the city that I love disappear. CarsonC-s State Street, Garrett's Popcorn, Hanig's Shoes, the coming of Trump Tower and of course the loss of Marshall Field's. Everything that made Chicago (and other cities across the US) unique is disappearing.
Posted by: Brian Sanchez
I currently work for a leased company within Macy's. I must admit, that it gets very irritating working there. There aren't enough employees to help customers, and traffic is down. It seems like people have been using the store as a short-cut to get to where they want to go to avoid the cold weather (its in an open-air mall).
Posted by: Jim McKay
Thanks to all who helped make leafleting a success yesterday, especially Erick who brought special favors, the giant postcard and, what he didn't mention, a wonderful collection of Field's photos which delighted the thousands of Field's Fans. The St Patrick's Day parade made for a great opportunity to connect with the Field's Fans which is pretty much everyone. If every one is a little Irish on St Pat's Day, it seemed like pretty much everyone is a Field's Fan every day! We passed out thousands of our updated leaflets which double as mini protest signs and bookmarks. Whew! What a busy day. We were actually out there from 10:30 am to 5:30 pm. If you missed yesterday, please look forward to other many upcoming opportunities where you can put your words into action in support of Field's!
Posted by: Erick, aka Enrique
Nice results yesterday leafletting. I received many many signatures on a giant postcard I made that will be sent to Mr. Lundgren. There is still some room available Field Fans, so I will wait until the next leafleting event before Easter to complete it and send it.
Posted by: Kaitlyn
Hello all! I'm a transplanted Chicagoan living in Idaho but I'm doing my duty to educate the idahoans (who had Macy's take over their Bon Marche stores as well but nothing as dramatic as the Marshall Field's takeover)
Posted by: denise rule
re: saturday Chicago Tribune (3/17), note: another SATURDAY!!! but, what a great article on the front page by Sandra Jones, "Mag Mile losing last bit of local character".....saying exactly what we've been saying for months and months! AND, to top it off, one lonely letter to the editor in the "voice of the people" about "Field's Fanatic's" and why do they keep printing us and what about global warming and the war and bashing-Bush, or something similar. in any case, great opportunity for anyone and everyone to respond!!! to the front page article and/or to the letter to the editor guy about "Field's Fanatic's". i personally am unlikely to be printed, at least until more time passes, but i did respond by comment on the "voice of the people" blog, to this particular guy from saturday. i strongly urge anyone, especially if they have not printed you recently, to send off a letter to the editor on this one, what a great opportunity since they printed that story on the front page!!! e-mail to (as jim as posted before): ctc-TribLetter@tribune.com and SPEAK YOUR MIND!
Posted by: A. Perkins
THE MACY'S SONG
Posted by: Alan
Casserine,
Posted by: Mark in Phila
Hi Fields Fans,
Posted by: A. Perkins
Well maybe Terry Lundgren can "re-educate" his wife, before they were married, into believing....
Posted by: Elaine Miller Truitt
Macy's is just a store and common but Marshall Field and Co was a wonder for many things.
Posted by: Enrique
VERYONE! COME TO THE OUTSIDE OF THE FORMER MARSHALL FIELDS ON STATE STREET TOMORROW AT STATE & WASHINGTON, SATURDAY, MARCH 17 AND SIGN THE SPECIAL OVERSIZED GREETING CARD THAT WILL BE SENT TO MR. AND THE FOLKS AT FEDERATED.
Posted by: James in Minneapolis
Hi All---
Posted by: john
It blows my mind how these people continually blame everyone else but themselves.
Posted by: Jeff S.
Is the candy kitchen open again?? According to the latest flyer for next week's Field Days the Easter egg Frangos are "handmade in our candy kitchen". Isn't that being dishonest?? I mean, where is the candy kitchen they are talking about? I don't believe the 13th floor of the State Street Store has openend its candy kitchen.
Posted by: Michael in Baltimore
To Bob in DC-
Posted by: Casserine Willis
Good morning everyone,
Posted by: Drew
The Reuters article should have included the great analogy posted by SciFiShopper. The comment that macy*mart must "train, re-train, and re-re-train" former May Company managers sounds strangely familiar to the Star Trek scenario. Retrain, re-educate, reindoctrinate--you will love the Red Star Store, you will praise the Red Star Store, you will gladly shop at the Red Star Store.
Posted by: Bob in DC
Mark in Phila: It's twuuuu, it's twuuuu, at least in the downtown Hecht Company/Mesy's store we have seen the rebirth of real show windows. The past several years Hecht's had been given to hanging big cosmetics posters in them or maybe one mannequin against a white ground. Mesy's has three mannequins in each window, decorative things hanging about, lots of color, and keeps them lit at night when the store is closed. They have also reopened some small alcove type windows that Hecht's had painted over. As much as I hate the loss of Marshall Field's, for downtown DC this store is an improvement in every way except the hateful clerks are still in full force. If our store had been a Lord & Taylor, nee Wanamakers, I would feel differently. The Home Store also carries better lines than Hecht's did, nicer china, bedding, etc. Maybe Hecht's treated this location as a ghetto store, who knows.
Posted by: PDX Tim
http://www.reuters.com/article/hotStocksNews/idUSN1433960420070314?rpc=77
Posted by: James in Minneapolis
Hi All----
Posted by: Sci Fi Shopper
Sounds like Macy's re-eduaction isn't the first. Does this sound familiar Star Trek Fans?
Posted by: James in Minneapolis
Hi All---
Posted by: Mark in Phila
Hello Fields Fans,
Posted by: jimmygimbels
This is fashion?
Posted by: denise rule
re: Oprah, yes, the show was of course when Field's was Field's and Oprah used Field's almost exclusively, occasionally Nordstrom's. I wrote on this blog sometime last....when?..... when there was a show (re-run) and i quoted Oprah exactly as saying "and thanx to Marshall Field's, Marshall Field's, the greatest store in the world". and, I've heard her say, on the show, "love that store". Now, she uses Nordstrom's, mostly, it seems and Neiman's and once in a while Saks. More Nordstrom's it seems. As far as 'reaching her', I know that has been tried and I'm sure she is aware of all this, but I would not expect her to take a position, publicly, on Macy's. I just don't think she can. She's not a politician. I think the best she can do is not use Macy's, and she hasn't, and I feel pretty sure we can count on that. Probably no one in the world is hit-up for more causes than this woman. I understand her position and I think she's doing all she can. That's my guess.
Posted by: David Thomas
I have never been to Marshall Field's in Chicago - but I have heard how wonderful the store was. I applaud your effort to bring back the historic name, service and quality that defines Marshall Field's.Here in New Jersey we have a Macy's everywhere, some within just a few short miles of one another. Abraham and Straus, Stern Brothers, Filene's and Jordan Marsh, just to name a few, have all become Macy's.
Posted by: Philip Eichler
Did you see the latest on Reuters? FDS is now blaming their weak sales on managers and staff at former May stores stating that the May managers don't know how to run a Macy's. One comment was to the effect that they "trained managers and re-trained and re-trained".
Posted by: A. Perkins
Dayton/Hudson was pressured for years by Wall Street and their investors to sell off their department store division because the department stores were lowering Target's sales figures. That's why Dayton/Hudson changed their name to Target, so that they could sell off their department stores, which at this time were all named Marshall Field's. Although Field's sales figures were NOT negative, unlike Lundgren's claims, and were respectable among department stores, they were lower than Target's over all figures and were bringing them down.
[In short, both Field's and Target were profitable -- it's just that Target's profits were rising much faster. ]
Posted by: RG74
Dear Fellow Fields Fans,
Posted by: Darrid
Help!
Posted by: John in Memphis
Hi fellow Fields Fans,
Posted by: denise rule
re: Oprah, yes, the show was of course when Field's was Field's and Oprah used Field's almost exclusively, occasionally Nordstrom's. I wrote on this blog sometime last....when?..... when there was a show (re-run) and i quoted Oprah exactly as saying "and thanx to Marshall Field's, Marshall Field's, the greatest store in the world". and, I've heard her say, on the show, "love that store". Now, she uses Nordstrom's, mostly, it seems and Neiman's and once in a while Saks. More Nordstrom's it seems. As far as 'reaching her', I know that has been tried and I'm sure she is aware of all this, but I would not expect her to take a position, publicly, on Macy's. I just don't think she can. She's not a politician. I think the best she can do is not use Macy's, and she hasn't, and I feel pretty sure we can count on that. Probably no one in the world is hit-up for more causes than this woman. I understand her position and I think she's doing all she can. That's my guess.
Posted by: David Thomas
I have never been to Marshall Field's in Chicago - but I have heard how wonderful the store was. I applaud your effort to bring back the historic name, service and quality that defines Marshall Field's.Here in New Jersey we have a Macy's everywhere, some within just a few short miles of one another. Abraham and Straus, Stern Brothers, Filene's and Jordan Marsh, just to name a few, have all become Macy's.
Posted by: Philip Eichler
Did you see the latest on Reuters? FDS is now blaming their weak sales on managers and staff at former May stores stating that the May managers don't know how to run a Macy's. One comment was to the effect that they "trained managers and re-trained and re-trained".
Posted by: A. Perkins
Dayton/Hudson was pressured for years by Wall Street and their investors to sell off their department store division because the department stores were lowering Target's sales figures. That's why Dayton/Hudson changed their name to Target, so that they could sell off their department stores, which at this time were all named Marshall Field's. Although Field's sales figures were NOT negative, unlike Lundgren's claims, and were respectable among department stores, they were lower than Target's over all figures and were bringing them down. [ In other words, Field's was holding its own and doing well, just Target was growing like crazy by comparison. ]
Posted by: RG74
Dear Fellow Fields Fans,
Posted by: Drew
It would be most awesome if Scary Lunkhead was forced to write a public letter like this:
Posted by: Clint
Posted by: Jim
I have never heard Oprah's opinion of Macy's replacing Field's, although I have heard via many of you that she was very fond of Field's. I didn't see yesterday's show but would be curious to get my mitts on a transcript (which can be ordered) and also learn when the show originally aired--I'm presuming before September 9, 2006. But given Oprah has a residence adjacent to Water Tower Place, it's obvious that she is not only aware of the switch but she sees that Macy's sign every day.
Posted by: Bob in DC
For Alfred in Washington: I think Field's will come back as an arm of Selfridge's in London. Mesy's will have to admit their failure as 111 N. State spirals into the red, and will unload it with some assistance/encouragement from the city. Selfridge's will maintain the name but will essentially run the building like a mall with virtually everything outsourced. They will respect the name and the traditions but will focus on young customers.
Posted by: Brad
When speaking or writing to the media, it is important for Fields Fans to emphasize Marshall Field's value to Chicago as a thriving, world-renowned department store, rather than to focus on our strong personal attachments and memories.
Posted by: Judy
Has anyone contacted Oprah? Just yesterday on her show she featured women shopping at Fields.
Posted by: James In Minneapolis
Hi All---
Posted by: W
I live on State St. and will keep walking past "Macys".
Posted by: rys
Did anyone notice Oprah's show today? It was the usual make over theme, but when it was time to acknowledge the sponsor, it went like this, clothes provided by, then a shot of the Marshall Field's brass plaque. No verbal mention of Messys. I think you guys are being heard!
Posted by: A. Perkins
Alfred in Washington,
Posted by: P.
I was so happy to get the new Field's Fans Chicago newsletter! YESSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSS!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Keep on!
Posted by: Drew
Jim: Thanks for your devoted work on the latest newsletter as well as your unselfish efforts to stop the destruction of America's sense of place. Although some readers and posters on this blog might not have a direct connection with Marshall Fields, all are concerned with the preservation of what has made American communities unique.
Posted by: gle
Channel 11 WTTW public TV gave Field's a nice mention in a recent documentary, "Remembering Chicago: The Boomer Years." A woman emphasized what we all know, that Field's was Chicago at Christmas. The program will be rebroadcast Wednesday March 14, at 7:30 p.m.
Posted by: A. Perkins
Marshall Field: "Give the lady what she wants!"
Posted by: James in Minneapolis
Hi All---
Posted by: Jim McKay
-------------------------------------------------------
Posted by: Alfred in Washington
INVITATION
TO ALL YOU BELOVED FIELD'S FANS
IN CHICAGO AND AROUND THE WORLD!
the answers to these questions.
Posted by: LiMack
In recognition of March Madness here is a cheer for all you Field's Fans who are also college basketball fans......
Posted by: A. Perkins
Let's see...
Posted by: Chris
Haven't posted in awhile but I do keep up with all the posts. Was so glad to see the letters in the Tribune this morning. I'm sure that Federated thought that this issue would fade away as time went on and that people would just forget and eventually "come around." Thing is, we've gotten nothing but constant reminders lately as to how inferior Macy's is to Field's. It wouldn't so much be "coming around" as much as it would be giving in and submitting. Somehow whenever Federated talks about "educating" consumers I end up thinking of A Clockwork Orange - consumers strapped down with their eyes held open while forced to watch their lame commercials and learn all about edv.
Posted by: denise rule
re: today's (saturday, 3/10) Tribune, and the 'voice of the people' letters that made it in, take note: once again, it is a SATURDAY, THE LEAST READ DAY OF THE PAPER. don't get me wrong, i think it's always great we get in at all....we are at their mercy. but it is a pattern, for sure. they love to give us a saturday!
Posted by: Mark in Phila
Hi Fields Fans,
Posted by: Kurt Gerhardt
Growing up in Chicago, Marshall Field's was an incredible group of stores. Surpassing Paris' Galleries Lafayette, London's Selfridge's and being an equal to the world's other great department stores. Macy's purchase of Seattle's Bon Marche (briefly named Bon Macy's to mollify the natives) now has the Macy's tradition of poor quality merchandise, dirty restrooms, lousy service, poor signing. Why would anyone go out of their way to visit the State Street "Macy's" when every town across the country has a duplicate (along with the ubiquitous Wal-Mart)? This is why anti-trust and monopoly laws were conceived. This is what an "unfetterd marketplace" produces. Standardization.
Posted by: Mike M
There are two great Letters to the Editor in Chicago Tribune today, Saturday about the problems being experienced by Macy's. Both letters stress the cultural importance of Marshall Field's.
Posted by: Jim McKay
I've been informed that tomorrow's "Voice of the People" in the Chicago Tribune will feature a letter from a Field's Fan; not sure what else.
Posted by: Michael Rose
Thanks for this site and all of you that keep the boycott going! I am a Columbus resident that worked for Field's for 10 years. A frequent visitor to Chicago, I used to spend thousnds of dollars in Marshall Field's every year. My husband and I have not shopped at Macy*s since they announced they were changing the name of the Chicago stores.
Posted by: Darrid
Wow, even a Green Star in this one!
Posted by: Darrid
Who was Macy's trying to be in 2000? Colors look familiar? Looks like they were GREEN with envy!
Posted by: Kathleen Cotugno
Feeling very nostalgic, looking for a recipe for the delicious chocolate date loaf sold at out beloved Marshall Field's on State Street.
Posted by: Clint
Alan,
Posted by: Jim McKay
Regarding the Crain's story that Macy's has sold most of the 2,016 numbered, limited edition shirts for 2016 Olympics in Chicago, keep in mind that a capacity rock concert at All-State Arena or another similar venue would sell many more than that at one show. One has to wonder how many were purchased by those involved with the Chicago Olympics planning. I know if I was part of the planning process, I would buy several (rightfully so!). Regardless of Macy's involvement, these shirts should be available at as many stores as possible so Chicagoans can show their spirit and support.
Posted by: Alan
I see according to Crain's that most of the Chicago 2016 shirts have sold out. Federated will likely put out some sort of "feel good" release on that. Maybe they gave away one of their Santa Bears from 2006 with each one. :-)
Posted by: Alan
Clint,
Posted by: Linda Simons
Jim, maybe you have this link already, but the NPR story is linked here:
Posted by: Bill
On a Yahoo discussion forum about Federated and it stock I found a very interesting position by someone who goes by Camsteele:
Posted by: Zelda
I went to a convention today at the Swissotel and a friend asked about Field's vs. Macy's. This is far from a lost cause. Our boycott is growing in momentum, and it is easy easy easy to resist being "re-educated" to become Macy customers.
Posted by: Jim McKay
Once again, as Field's Fan, you can help bring back Marshall Field's. You can do this from the comfort of your keyboard. Just remember that when there are news stories that gloss over the reports that sales tax revenues are down dramatically at Field's stores while hyping sales are up at Macy's stores, you need to say something...and the best way is to write. We must keep the fact these former Field's stores
are not doing well--even if supposedly other former May stores are getting a little less bad.
letters@suntimes.com
ctc-TribLetter@tribune.com
letters@chicagobusiness.com.
Please remember to include a daytime phone number for verification purposes.
Posted by: Clint
I thought federated's stock would drop with the release of Feb. figures, but it is doing quite well. Can anyone explain what is going on? I don't get it.
Posted by: Brad
In today's press release,, Federated explains that overall same store sales (that now include former Marshall Field's and other May Company stores) rose only a sluggish (and encouraging) 1.2% due to adverse weather.
Posted by: Brad
Despite overwhelming evidence to the contrary, most Chicago reporters simply repeat Federated press release claims that sales at former Marshall Field's stores are somewhat lower than expected due to adverse weather. Federated and local journalists continue to ignore or deny the significant negative impact on sales caused by their decision to eliminate Chicago's landmark Marshall Field's.
Posted by: gle
I didn't notice any up-front coverage of Federated's sales figures in the "Chicago Tribune" or "Sun-Times" today. Perhaps I just didn't look hard enough. My computer might need re-education to find an article dressed in black!
Posted by: K
Some random thoughts:
Posted by: Drew
Is anyone surprised that Terry Lungreed would blame the flat sales at macy*mart on the weather? Although customers managed to visit other retailers, somehow the snow storms only impacted the potential macy*mart shoppers:
Posted by: Alan
Bon-Ton didn't have any weather issues, either. Sales up 14.6%, and Wall Street is loving it (stock is up 14.7% as of 9AM).
Posted by: Alan
Funny. The weather didn't seem to affect Nordstrom. 9.1% increase...
Posted by: Alan
Somewhat terse press release. They fell below expectations, but conveniently got to blame the weather (as did a lot of retailers) for slow sales in the upper Midwest. Other than that, they are "pleased" with sales in both the legacy and new stores. Interesting. 2.5-4% for next month. More attention will be paid there. We'll see how the Street reacts. Not much color in this report, so my guess is it will be ho hum.
Posted by: Alan
I wouldn't make too much of the stock sales. Note that they just released their earnings for the year last week, and thus couldn't sell their shares beforehand. If they knew there was "bad news" coming tomorrow that would affect the market, they couldn't sell. The SEC monitors these things, particularly at high-profile companies. My guess is that they are right around or perhaps slightly up on their already modest projections. Based on their standard line the last few months, I can pretty much predict the press release. "Sales were strong at legacy locations, and continue to 'improve' at the former May locations, which are now included in the sales figures." Terry Lundgren will have some feel-good quote about how they had a strong start to 2007, and the devil, as usual will be in the details. We'll see tomorrow. February same-store sales aren't the most meaningful. The sales tax reports from Crain's do seem to tell a tale that all is not well here.
Posted by: Brad
Perhaps an industrious journalist will do more than simply compare Marshall Field's State Street same-store sales figures to Macy's performance in the Chicago landmark. While sales may be down, this is but one of the many comparisons that should be reviewed to fully understand the breadth and scope of Macy's misguided and irresponsible actions.
Posted by: A. Perkins
Darrid,
Posted by: Drew
According to this article, part of Home Depot's declining sales is a result of cuts in staffing:
Posted by: B
Hi All
Posted by: Erick
Thanks Darrid for a great website dedicated to Marshall Fields!
Posted by: Zelda
Darrid! You are wonderful!
Posted by: Jim McKay
Although I have not heard it first hand, I've had two separate reports of a public radio segment that aired today which juxtaposed one commentator's case for bringing the 2016 Olympics to Chicago versus another commentator's case
for bringing the Olympics to L.A.
Posted by: Darrid
If you were wondering, according to the Macy's North website it's still Christmas!
Posted by: Steven
Insiders selling stock can mean several things. On one hand, they may be cashing in on profits realized from an increase in the price of the stock over the price they acquired it for. On the other hand, they may be cashing out because they expect the price to drop and they don't want to lose any value. Since we know bad news is coming, I would suspect the latter.
Posted by: Jeff W.
Tuesday's Chicago Tribune had an article that messy's on state and water tower place are the exclusive outlets for the sale of Chicago's Olympic 2016 t-shirts at $30 each. One has to question whether Da Mayor Richie has any sense of awareness of what is going on out on the street? If he did, he would have sought to distribute the Olympic t-shirts through Walgreens - a true Chicago store. I wonder how many t-shirts will remain unsold after the Olympic Committee makes its decision on April 14th? Seems to me that messy's is not the place to sell the shirts simply because they don't have many visitors anymore.
Posted by: Peter
J...
Posted by: Erick
I agree with Kara. Let's take advantage of St. Patrick's Day and wear Marshall Fields green shirts with buttons, etc. We should pass out some flyers like we had done during the holidays.
Posted by: A. Perkins
J,
Posted by: A. Perkins
At Marshall Fields, a sales associate would greet a guest as they entered their department and say, "May I help you?" That was their job.
Posted by: Michael Trenteseau
Regarding J's question about the stock sales...
Posted by: Annie B
It's been a while since I've visited this site.
Posted by: LiMack
Seeing the Macy's star logo in the background of so many of the publicity shots related to the 2016 Olympic bid is indeed sad and seems so "faux". How much more appropriate it would be to have Field's script up there instead, representing the "real" Chicago. BUT, there may be a bright spot here: Despite the boycott of Macy's and the subsequent failure of their stores in the Chicago area I have become slowly convinced that Terry Lundgren is personally incapable of ever admitting he made a mistake. Yet, such an admission, first in private and then public always seemed to be an essential step toward bringing back our Marshall Field's to us. Maybe, though, if the Olympic bid is accepted it would give him an "out" to allow him to be magnanimous and return Field's as a "civic gift". What great publicity. He (and Linda Piepho) could be instant heroes if they announced that in honor of the Olympic spirit and Chicago's spirit and traditions the historic State Street store will be returned to Marshall Field's name, quality and service. (I, for one, would be more than willing to go along with the charade and pretend that Macy's wasn't going down the tubes.) And hopefully it would be much more than just State Street that would return as Fields.
Posted by: J
I don't know much about insider trading but I came across this page which I was hoping someone experienced could interpret.
It shows four Federated execs listed and they seem to be selling a lot of Federated stock right before Thursday's report which is the first to include May stores and Field's locations. Is this significant??
So if you actually know something about insider trading, please check out this link and give us your perceptions. Thank you.
http://www.secform4.com/insider-trading/794367.htm
Posted by: Darrid
Help!
I have been working on my new tribute site for Marshall Fields ( http://darrid.com/) and have gotten about all the pictures I can find on Google. If you have pictures you would like to share, let me know! I am also open to ideas!
Posted by: James in Minneapolis
Hi All---
Posted by: Al
Fed-macymart must really have it in for the Chicago-Minneapolis market. Your stores are in miserable thrift-store conditions
...
Chicago is getting totally disgraced by macy's. Shunned it seems. just because we want quality products and good service and a recognized name from a company, we are being punished.
Posted by: Maura
I walked through Macy's today. My first in a couple of months. It has only gotten worse. I have never recalled Marshall Field's ever having window displays down for days let alone weeks let alone a full month. The entry at the Washington and State street corner is an offense to the sniffer. That Lush product is overwhelming and sickly sweet. And it is so cheaply displayed it looks like a grocery store produce aisle. I was not surprised to see little or no activity on the first floor even though it was a bitter cold day and 11:30 or the start of the lunch hour. But the most egregious effrontary is what I saw in the special display area. Once there most have been an oriental rug display now there where stacks of crates with workers removing them with motoroized dollies. NEVER would this have been the case at Field's they did all the dirty work after hours and left the shopper with a clean, jazzy music filled, elegant shopping experience not a dismantled construction site feel.
Posted by: Drew
Think that there is any irony between the Martha Stewart--macy*mart affiliation?
Posted by: gle
I don't know whether to laugh or throw up at some of the antics of Macy's Reform School. A March 5 "Dallas Morning News" article reports that Macy's will now require store employees in several states to wear black, "to make it easier for customers to find a sales associate." I really prefer a sales associate to:
Posted by: denise rule
great job darrid, on the web page!!! and as far as the olympic's and the m place, just more (not surprising) bad, sad news. on an up-note, i feel we're gaining momentum, i am being approached on almost a daily basis re: my "i want my Marshall Field's button, and then the stories pour out, and i hand out a couple bumper stickers and gail's labels and also pat's cards for t/sweatshirts. there's an upswing again, on the streets. i think we should capitalize on the green in march, especially in Chicago, a BIG St. Patrick's Day town... (who else dyes their river green???) whatever we can do, we should do. green green green. just my thoughts.
Posted by: Brad
FIelds Fans should enjoy a current episode of GREAT HOTELS on the Discovery Network's Travel Channel. The 1/2 hour program features Chicago's Hotel Monaco. While hostess Samantha Brown expresses her excitement over the prospect of shopping in one of America's largest cities, MARSHALL FIELD'S is the only store featured on the program.
Posted by: Bob Garrett
Well I found something funny I thought you guys would enjoy. On the messy's website link http://www.visitmacyschicago.com/visitors/services.cfm
Posted by: Kara
I have a question for everyone:
Posted by: Michael Smith
Just wanted to send a special THANK YOU to the creator of darrid.com. What an amazing site filled with great pics and memories of MF & co. It just makes me sick that Macy's didn't realize what they had with Field's. Just by looking at this site and the web archive, you can see the amount of detail that MF went to in their daily operations. There was no other full line dept store left in the US that did that. You just had this different feel when you shopped at MF-- like you were somewhere special and unique... Thank you Darrid for sharing this with us! Viva la boycott!
Posted by: Eric Fuentes
There have been several comments about my post regarding the standard 12 month delay in posting same-store sales results after a merger within the retail industry. So, I did some research online to figure out what rational Federated is using to delay announcing these figures until this month.
Posted by: James in Minneapolis
Hi All---
Posted by: jimmygimbels
Messy's appears to be having a hard time filling their stores with merchandise. For example, the Vernon Hills store has lots of empty shelves or small amount of merchandise spread over a lot of shelf space. Where is the exciting merchandise we've been promised? Do we really need a whole wall of Fiesta ware?
Posted by: MJA
I was saddended to see the Macy's backdrop during the Chicago Olympic news stories today. A city like Chicago should be able to find local supporter without lending credibility to someone like Macy's who is destroying one of our finest legacies.
Posted by: Mike M
Here's another observation about Mr. Fuentes, who claims that Federated's reluctance, for this length of time, to release sales results for the converted stores is normal after mergers.
Posted by: Pat C
Hey Fans,
Posted by: Darrid
My madness for Field's finally prompted me to start my own Fan Page with lots of pictures and ways to remember the great store.
http://www.darrid.com/
Posted by: B
Hi All
Posted by: Zelda
Hi Field's Fans!
Posted by: Brad
Not long ago, many Chicago journalists and politicians (including former Alderman Natarus and Mayor Daley) touted the enhancements and benefits Macy's would bring to Marshall Field's State Street landmark and to Chicago. Federated optimistic and sensational press releases about exciting store enhancements and merchandise upgrades were published by newspapers - and on politicians' websites - as though they were researched fact. Of course, even the casual observer now knows the sad truth about Macy's discount national branding strategy.
http://www.visitmacyschicago.com/visitors/history.cfm
Posted by: Jim McKay
My apologies but this is a page out to Brad Jordan and Michelle B to conact me about their items. Thanks for emailing me -- I've attempted 4 emails Brad's case and I have no email for Michelle. Thanks!
Posted by: Erick
Mr. Fuentes, I bet Federated would have by now, reported or made some press statement if sales from former May stores were high and exceeding all expectations, regardless of the time frame.
Posted by: Alan
In reply to Eric, the May acquisition closed in August 2005, meaning that September 2006 should have been the first month that combined sales were reported. I don't know whether a rebranding is sufficient reason to delay releasing combined statistics.
Posted by: Drew
Wonder how much of Kohl's increased profit is a result of customers "defecting" from macy*mart:
http://hosted.ap.org/dynamic/stories/E/EARNS_KOHLS?SITE=MIDTN&SECTION=DJSP_COMPLETE&TEMPLATE=DEFAULT
Posted by: Fields in Milwaukee
While Chicago natives hold Marshall Field's close to their heart, there are a number of individuals a little further north, in and around Milwaukee that miss Fields, and are stuck with Macy's (for now...).
Posted by: Erick
Marco Bautista,
Posted by: James in Minneapolis
Hi All----
Posted by: Jim McKay
Mr. Fuentes;
Posted by: Eric Fuentes
I've been reading this blog off and on for many months but have never commented, until now. I work in retail (not with Federated) and am always observing the performance of the nation's retailers and watching how mergers are reshaping the retail environment. It is no secret on Wall Street that the former May stores same-store sales are down. Many people have posted the general thought that Federated is being sneeky by concealing this fact. Please understand that it is common industry practice NOT to report same-store sales for a recently acquired chain for the first 12 months after the merger. For example, when CVS purchased half of the Eckerd drug store chain, they ommitted same-store sales for the first year. They are doing this again with last years Sav-On/Osco purchase. The reason for this is because newly acquired stores almost always struggle during the first year of a merger for a variety of reasons. These range from remodeling distractions to retraining consumers to accept the new brand and related advertising changes. Following this standard, Federated will begin reporting full chain same store sales next month...a full year after the merger. The Sepember 2006 nationwide name change is not the actual merger date; it is merely the date of the name change. While I understand there is strong anti-Federated sentiment on this blog, I thought I needed to set the record straight on this issue.
Posted by: LiMack
Here is a practical household hint for all you proud owners of canaries, parakeets, cockatiels, mynahs, lovebirds and parrots:
Posted by: Mrs. W
Hi all,
Posted by: Jon C.
It is now approaching the one-half year observance of the temporary loss (albeit "temporary" loss) of the Marshall Field's in Chicago and the Midwest. Hmmm. Wasn't it Terry Lundgren, CEO of Federated and Frank Guzzetta, President of Macy's North, who claimed that people would shortly forget about the changes, and rush back into Macy's by Thanksgiving to shop the "new sensation" in huge numbers?! Well, Thanksgiving was more than three months ago, Field's Fans. Thanks for your efforts, dedication and resolve in attempting to bring back not only the Marshall Field's name, but along with it, the distinctive customer service, the quality merchandise selection including the exclusive designer lines, the Field Gear lines, the special MF logo merchandise items, the furniture and home accessory departments, the comprehensive food, gourmet and wine selections and the classy, extra touches that made shopping at Field's a fun adventure each and every time.
Posted by: Mike M
There is an article in today's (Saturday, March 3rd) issue of the Chicago Tribune about the Von Maur department store chain's plan to expand its number of stores in the Chicago area. The article includes a quote from Jim von Maur, president of the Von Maur company.
"The flap in Chicago over Macy's takeover of Marshall Field's has been a boon for Von Maur.
Posted by: A. Perkins
Lloyd,
Posted by: Becky
Gosh I miss Fields.
Posted by: LiMack
To add on to earlier comments about our cause gaining momentum.... it is so true!!!! There is now a TWO-PRONGED boycott effort against Macy's. It started with the thousands of us who knew from the moment the change was announced that, on principle, we would never spend a dime at Macy's and have been good to our word. But now jumping on the bandwagon are so many others who were initially tempted by the coupons and/or perhaps felt that Macy's should be given a chance to prove themselves. These folks went to shop there a time or two and are now ranting and complaining and spreading the word about everything from Macy's lackadaisical service to their boring and unsatisfactory merchandise. All of these "been there-done that-but I'm never going back to Macy's" shoppers are great advocates who bring current, real world examples of how Macy's doesn't stack up to Marshall Field's. As Macy's continues to alienate, our numbers will only continue to grow.
Posted by:
Will History repeat itself?
Posted by: Marco Bautista
Good Evening All.....
Posted by: Steven
Last summer when I got an Italian Greyhound puppy, I used the baby register at Target to register for gifts for my new bundle of joy, Spugi di Savoia. Yesterday, a promotion piece highlighting its baby products (with discount card) arrived in the mail from Target. I work in graphic design and let me tell you, the mailer ROCKS. The paper is quality heavy stock, the design and colors eye-popping and the entire piece has a very high-end feel to it from beginning to end, like something I would expect from a store like Luminaire or the MoMA store in New York or, of course, Field's. There is just no comparison to the sad mailers I've gotten from Macy's. Those remind me of a cheap Montgomery Ward's catalog.
Posted by: James in Minneapolis
Hi All---
Posted by: Lloyd
I came across a review of a book entitled, "The Rain on Macy's Parade: How Greed, Ambition, and Folly Ruined America's Greatest Store" By Jeffrey A. Trachtenberg
Posted by: Alan
Jim,
Posted by: James in Minneapolis
Hi All---
Posted by: Zelda
If the increasing numbers of people from all over the country writing in to our site tells the real story, it's that we are gaining, not losing, momentum in our cause. Yet, Federated still doesn't have a clue. The media are just beginning to come around. But the people! The people have eyes, and it's only gotten clearer in the last 6 months what Macy's is and, by contrast, what Field's was. United we stand! I love him, but Jim McKay is too nice. I WILL CHEER WHEN THEY ARE DEFEATED.
Posted by: Jim McKay
Yesterday's Tribune had an article that many here and in private email said finally acknowledged the loss of designers and quality products now that Field's has been replaced by Macy's in quality, service and name. We've been trying to get more coverage of that in the media. So please help bring back Field's by acknowledging the Tribune for doing the right thing by sending a letter to the editor at the Tribune.
letters@chicagobusiness.com.
Please remember to include a daytime phone number for verification purposes.
letters@suntimes.com
ctc-TribLetter@tribune.com
Posted by: Jim McKay
I cheered out loud over a little business brief in today's Sun-Times. The story is about how Fitch Ratings on Wednesday downgraded Federated Department Stores' default rating and the ratings of its operating subsidiary, Federated Retail Holdings, and issued a "negative" outlook. That's not why I cheered as I am deeply saddened to see some execs make bad business decisions and make a business crumble. I cannot take any joy in that, except I can hope that this is part of the bottoming out before the owners of Field's are forced to come to their senses.
Posted by: mmcgovern
I'm a former Marshall Field's Regards card holder for almost (yikes) 25 years. Anyway, this month I decided to buy a $398 dollar Coach purse at Old Orchard. I had to cut thru Macy's to get to Nordstrom's, my new destination store since the rude and senseless obliteration of Field's.
Posted by: Erick
Nathan Wood, YOU DA MAN! I absolutely loved your blog!
Posted by: Drew
The "exciting" developments at macy*mart continue. Wonder if they will take pre-orders for the "exciting" Martha Stewart home goods line? All the "exciting" changes designed to win back former Fields' customers to macy*mart get more "exciting" as both Federated and Martha's ratings fall. Exciting!
Posted by: Jim
Alan--
Posted by: Alan
Something else that doesn't get enough attention is how Field's is lumped into the "former May" stores category, in which the slow integration is blamed on the "perception of higher prices" and "lack of coupons" when, in truth, that wasn't the case with Field's. Marshall Field's was part of May for only one year. Federated was bidding for it at the same time May did. In fact, arguably, May bought Field's precisely because it offered Federated something that NEITHER May nor Federated had. May had long courted Federated, and had long been rebuffed. All that changed after May acquired Field's. Coincidence? I think not.
Posted by: Mark in Phila
Hi Fields Fans,
Posted by: LiMack
Most of you probably remember the wonderful iconic Norman Rockwell painting titled "THE CLOCK MENDER" which depicts a male worker up on a ladder working on the legendary Marshall Field's clock. The painting was given by Rockwell to Marshall Field's and was on display in the State Street Store for many years. I believe it was initially produced for a Saturday Evening Post Cover in Nov. 1945.
Posted by: Gayle
Hi All,
Posted by: Darrid
Another Rant!
Posted by: Peter
Actually the "& Company" disappeared after BATUS took over. MF&Co was what they were when they were an independent company and owned other nameplates.
Posted by: Darrid
Where do these people get this information? I am constantly bombarded with coupons and Macy's is sale after sale!
Posted by: Erick
Things are really unfolding for the denizens at Federated, uh the Macy's Group. That article in today's Chicago Tribune does not help Macy's cause at all. Finally, the truth is being told.
Posted by: Nathan Wood
I figure it's time to stop lurking and add one more voice to support Marshall Field's. And I'll probably get a little windy, but oh well. I warned you.
Posted by: C.C. Chicago
I know that Lord & Taylor was sold by Federated to the owner of Linens and Things back in November . So I have been shopping a lot at L & T.
Posted by: mds
& Company was dropped after Dayton/Hudson (Target) bought the company. They felt it implied that Field's owned them and not the other way around. One of many mistakes Target made managing the brand--granted not as dumb as renaming the stores.
Posted by: A. Perkins
Federated's summart of their conference call:
Posted by: Drew
Thanks for sharing the link to the Chicago Tribune article. Does this mean that the experts finally realize that the macy*mart model isn't working and the lost customers aren't coming back.
Posted by: Drew
A phrase in this article really unnerved me: "reeducation of the customer."
Posted by: LiMack
The "Field Days for Rivals" article in Wednesday's Tribune along with other recent news reports have left me with a multitude of feelings which I am sure many of us share:
Posted by: Sabrina
Last night on the PBS show Nightly Business Report, I saw the CEO of Macys speaking, and although they don't mention this group by name, they mentioned the efforts of people trying to keep the name Marshall Fields rather than Macys. Last year, I signed the "Keep It Fields" petition even though I've not lived in Chicago since 1984. I truly think it is a shame that a behemoth such as Macys would wantonly destroy a piece of Chicago history like that. Some might say "it's just a name" but that name makes a big difference! Great to see folks out there who feel strongly enough to take it to the streets.
Posted by: JamesfromCA
After reading today's news I don't understand this messianic belief that Lundgren's version of Macy's is going to save the department store industry singlehandedly. It borders on mental illness, groupthink runamuck. From what I gather this coast to coast expansion is a bust. State Street is a flop yet embracing a mediocre and bland retail concept is what America's is going to get AND YOU WILL LIKE IT DAMMIT! Why can't they turn State Street back to Field's? Leave Water Tower a Macy's if they must. London has Harrod's. New York has Bergdorf Goodman, Paris has Galleries Lafayette, Chicago has Field's. Make it the very best. Compete with Neiman's/Saks/Nordstrom/Barneys and blow them away. You can't be just as good you have to be better!
Posted by: Melissa Kinast
I believe the day the Marshall Field's employees were asked to conform to Macy's dress code-BLACK-was the day the first shovel full of dirt was thrown about.
McHenry County, Illinois
Posted by: Helen in Glenview
In today's Chicago Tribune..... some VERY negative PR.
http://www.chicagotribune.com/business/chi-0702280213feb28,1,7215531.story?coll=chi-news-hed
Posted by: Marc- Boston
I recall that "& Company" was dropped in the early 80's - my first MF card was a "Field's" (1987) but I remember my Mom's had the "& Company" on it in the early 80s.
Posted by: Alan
Great article in the Tribune today about how so many designers that were exclusive to Field's have gone over to other high-end stores, leaving Macy's without a clear niche in Chicago:
http://www.chicagotribune.com/business/chi-0702280213feb28,1,7215531.story?coll=chi-news-hed
Posted by: RG74
Folks, SOMETHING SMELLS ! According to Crain's Chicago, under the State Street headline and text, at the bottom of the article I noticed one telling subject.
Posted by: Joseph From CA
To me, this seems like a feeble attempt to recreate a time when Macy's actually was its own company. The R.H. Macy family of stores encompassed Macy's, Bullock's, and I.Magnin here in the west, and may have included some stores in the east. The difference was, THEY ALL WERE UNDER DIFFERENT NAMEPLATES. When Macy's acquired Bullock's in 1988 many longtime Bullock's shoppers were worried that the stores would become Macy's, but that was not the case. Even though the merchandise was essentially the same at either a Bullock's in Los Angeles, or a Macy's in San Francisco, the company still respected our regional shopping heritage. Of course that all changed when Federated got its hands on Macy's in 1994. That same year, they shut I. Magnin down, and two years later converted all southern California Bullock's stores to Macy's. Simply put, it has not been the same since. Federated has tarnished a once prestigious name like Macy's, while shamelessly destroying our nation's regional retail identities.
Posted by: Steven
Finally, a fairly decent article in the Tribune: Field Days for Macy's Rivals.
Posted by: Joe D
I find all of the comments about Bergdorf Goodman very interesting. Since Chicago is supposed to be a shopping mecca, it would be great if we could once again have a luxury shopping icon. The Neiman's on the Mag Mile is somewhat of a dump. Excellent merchandise and service, but the store is desperate for some sprucing up. Where would a new luxury emporium go in this city? Let's give owners of Neiman's some ideas! I am sure they are savvy enough to be reading this site.
Posted by: LiMack
I know I am beginning to sound like a broken record....but WHEN is someone from the Chicago media going to do a REAL, investigative news story about the MACY's fiasco? I simply can't believe it has not been done by now. It seems like they're all just tip-toeing around the issue with blinders on. Does anyone (including Lundgren) really believe it is possible for Macy's to miraculously turn things around and reclaim the disaffected former Field's shoppers at this late date? Of course not. Field's shoppers will NEVER shop at Macy's.
Posted by: Zelda
Dear Fervent Field Fans,
Posted by: Michael Trenteseau
Erick,
Posted by: Claire Osada
I'm in semi-dire need of some Field's information. When was the "& Company" part of the store name dropped? Over the weekend, I was "bargain hunting" and found a very old box from a set of MF knifes (possibly steak knifes?). It's a dark green leather-like material covered box with silk lining on the top and then a felt like material where the knifes would have gone. On the silk fabric part it says "Marshall Field & Company" embossed in gold lettering.
Posted by: A. Perkins
Interesting Article....
http://retail.seekingalpha.com/article/23950
Posted by: Jim McKay
It's sad but it's truth. The stores like State Street will continue to struggle until Macy's returns the unique Chicago institution named Marshall Field's in name, quality, service and spirit. People--from Chicago, Illinois, the Midwest, the nation (including New York City) and the rest of the world came and shopped State Street and the other Field's stores because it was Field's. As someone pointed out, the profits would flow back in beyond wildest dreams if Field's is brought back. Otherwise, we will continue on.
Posted by: Sophie
http://chicagobusiness.com/cgi-bin/news.pl?id=24025
It doesn't have to be this way, Federated. Give Chicago the Marshall Field's it wants, the store that is synonymous with Chicago. The Store that used to be the number 3 destination.
Posted by: Peter
I love the headline on this one. State St. Macy's appears to be struggling.
http://chicagobusiness.com/cgi-bin/news.pl?id=24025
Posted by: Bob in DC
For Walnut Room fans, The Higbee Company's famed Silver Grille has reopened as a catering venue:
http://www.clevelandbook.com/books/silvergrille.aspx
Posted by: Erick
Thanks kara for the tip, but I shop at both stores and have notice that Bergdoff Goodman's selection is wider and just a little more unique than Neiman Marcus. For example I puchased a Dolce and Gabbana shearling coat from Bergdoff and an exlcusive pair of Double RL Jeans from Ralph Lauren. At Neiman Marcus on Michigan, Northbrook and Oakbrook, I was unable to find these two items in the men's department, which are much smaller to Bergdoff's, whose has an entire men's store/building with fuller selections from high-end designers.
Posted by: Steve
I'm reminded of Steve Martin and his skit in the 70s where he talked about his new book titled something like, "How I turned $1 Million in real estate in to $25 Cash".
Posted by: Gina
Posted by: Mike M
On WBBM's Newsradio 780, i.e., CBS radio here in Chicago, there was another segment on today's "Noon Business Hour" about Federated.
Posted by: Jim McKay
Bloomberg's report on this morning's Q4 Conference call by Terry Lungren and Federated has served as the basis for reports from over 150 news web sites, including the one at chicagotribune.com --
http://www.chicagotribune.com/business/chi-070226federated-story,1,2078969.story?coll=chi-bizfront-hed.
Posted by: Darrid
I added some more pictures to the Marshall Field MySpace page of the Swarovski "Crystal Palace" that was at Watertower in 2005.
http://www.myspace.com/marshallfields
Posted by: Tom B.
I was in Washington DC several weeks ago and happened to stop by the Messy's store at Montgomery Mall in Bethesda, Maryland. First, this is not one of those so-called "Legacy Messy's" as it was Hecht's just last summer. The store hardly looked like Christmas even came and went. The men's department was full of unsold merchandise all on clearance. They must have had 200 pairs of cordaroy pants which they obviously could not sell even at $14.99 a pair on sale. I was not really shocked because the name change is still keeping shoppers away. Last weekend, I was in Columbus visiting Nordstrom at Easton Town Center. Passed through Messy's and they had those Ohio State football team t-shirts celebrating a win the team did not achieve on sale for $4.99 at an extra 50% off. There must have been at least 300 to 400 shirts piled in the middle of jewerly and men's accessories. My Kaufmann's store turned Messy's is not any better. I stopped by last Monday for the very first time since October 2006. The store is bad. I mean really bad. I would rather shop at Wally World than at this place. For some reason, Messy's did not bring all of there private label men's clothing into this store. At least Kaufmann's had name labels and a huge selection of great clothing to choose from. I still say the name change is hurting . . . badly. Oh, and I read this morning where Lundergreed says Martha Stewart's new home accessories will bring the former May stores back to life. Please. Like I said, I would rather shop at Wal-Mart. Well, K-Mart might be a 1/2 step up. What a joke!
Posted by: Alan
So Federated wants to rub it in by changing their name to Macy's Group, Inc. How much longer before the Bloomingdale's name is gone, too? Imagine all the money Terry Lundgren can save on shopping bags. The whole industry is being hammered, as both Nordstrom and Federated issued worse-than-expected forecasts. We'll see. Nordstrom's stock benefited from high expectations in Q4, so what's happening is that it is giving some of it back. Their forecast is still better than Federated's, and much closer to what analysts had thought. They priced at a higher multiple, hence their stock took a bigger dive than Federated's, but both fell in early trading today.
Posted by: Jim McKay
Another point about
Roundy's is that it is run by an exec who was at the helm of Dominick's during one of the most successful periods in its history, right after it had been spun off by Yucapai. During this great period, before it was acquired by Safeway, Dominick's implemented store concepts (such as "Fresh Store"--not "The Fresh Store" as Safeway calls it) that were ground breaking. Safeway ditched these to disasterous results in the Chicago area. Now Safeway is going back to these concepts company wide, although they still have not brought Dominick's back to where it was before they acquired it.
Posted by: James in Minneapolis
Hi All---
Posted by: James in Minneapolis
Hi All---
Posted by: Brian
(In sarcastic tone) For those of you who enjoy shopping at the new Macy's Home Store's and having your furniture delivered from there. Take this following story to advice. PS. Every click on this page sends another e-mail to FDS!!
Posted by: Kara
Erick --
Posted by: David Hupp
It would be interesting if Target (Dayton/Hudson) were to open in 1 South State.
p>
http://chicagobusiness.com/cgi-bin/news.pl?post_date=2007-02-12&id=23849
Posted by: jimmygimbels
Are times tough for Macy's in Chicago? One only has to look at store traffic on Saturday, February 24. Even though Macy's was having a One Day Sale that was heavily promoted on television, in newspapers and via direct mail, the State Street store was a ghost town. I stopped in (around 1:00 pm) on my way to the theater to see "Wicked". (Great show!) The first floor was busy with people mostly trying to warm up. No Macy's bags in sight! Other floors were dead but for sales people and a few customers.
Posted by: Joan
I was headed to Merz' store. I couldn't bring my self to go to the shop in the Field's store building like I used to. I went to the one in Lincoln Park instead.
Posted by: James in Minneapolis
Hi All----
Posted by: Beth Walsh
I haven't posted in ages, but have kept up with the comments and am always referring people to this website.
Posted by: B
Hi All
Posted by: B
Hi All
Posted by: Jeff S.
Marshall Field's is still making the news! In yesterday's Joliet newspaper there was a social article on Chicago no longer being the "fatest" city in America. It is now number 3. Then, there is a list of how Chicago has gotten thinner.
Posted by: Jim McKay
If it is Target, I wonder if they will take the Wabash side.
Posted by: Ty
I'm hearing from good sources that two of the new retailers in the old Carson's building will include Whole Foods and Target. It should be announced in the next two weeks.
Posted by: Wendy
Twin Cities.com story about how people are not thrilled about Macy's moving the Nicollet Mall store's annual flower show to the first floor.
http://www.twincities.com/mld/twincities/news/16762484.htm
"The flower show was something you could go to and feel like it was in Neverland. It was another place, set aside for the thought and the idea of spring and plants and beauty and the fragrance of all those wonderful growing things gathered together," he said. "When I heard they were moving it, I guess I feel like now it's a setting for selling stuff, as opposed to just a flower show."
Posted by: Alan
Has anyone noticed Bon-Ton's stock price? They are up nearly 10% in two days. It appears that analysts believe that the acquisition of the Carson's group from Saks has injected a lot of talent into the organization, and that the multi-brand strategy is a good differentiator from JC Penney, Kohl's, and Federated. IOW, don't give up on Carson's now. They may not be on State Street, but they are still worthy of our business.
Posted by: Erick
Hi Everyone! It' been a while. I am ready for the moment of truth, that is Federated's sales report that includes former Marshall Fields and May stores. This should be very interesting.
Posted by: Z'via
A report from last night at MarketWatch.com which says Federated admits the switch from Field's to Macy's is not going well in Chicago and Minneapolis.
Federated has admitted that it is having trouble with the store changes in certain markets -- such as Chicago and Minneapolis -- but has stayed upbeat on the transitions.
The story has the headline, "Macy's 'legacy doors' to pad Federated profit" and can be viewed in its entirety at:
http://www.marketwatch.com/news/stor...F3C924D0486%7D
Posted by: Jim McKay
Federated will webcast their "Q4 2006 Earnings Conference Call Live" this Tuesday, Feb 27 at 10 AM Chicago time. The link can be accessed from http://www.fds.com or directly, as of this writing, at http://phx.corporate-ir.net/phoenix.zhtml?c=84477&p=irol-webcasts
Posted by: Anon
Here's an article from the Seattle Post Intelligencer that
criticizes corporate mergers like the one witrh Virgin Mobile and XM
radio and mergers in general, especially the fact that the customer
usually doesn't benefit. This is Field's case right here :
http://seattlepi.nwsource.com/virgin/304656_virgin22.html
Posted by: J
I don't know if this is mentioned here already...but I saw this today and stopped dead in my tracks. Actually, the irony of it made me laugh...maybe they are taunting Chicago now(?) LOL. I walked past the State Street store and saw the windows (still covered, um, since Christmas) and the border of a window advertising a future Vera Wang display says something like...."Turn Over a New Leaf.... GO GREEN." Um, what? If only this were an omen....
Posted by: Jim McKay
To be sure, I'm saddened to see Carson's leaving 1 S. State, but somehow I prefer it to Macy's taking over Field's and claiming that they were better in the first place.
Posted by: Alan
NateB, Bon-Ton is a small company, and couldn't have afforded the tens of millions it would have cost to remodel the State Street store. With L&T vacating Water Tower, and Block 37 finally being developed, there will be plenty of other opportunities to locate a store downtown. I think they will open a store somewhere. There are just too many people moving downtown to leave that market open.
Posted by: Karen Deering
I have yet to walk in to a Macy's store. I just cannot bring myself to do it. I used to do the majority of my clothes shopping there, bought our furniture at MF, had our bridal registry etc. My family and I didn't even go to see the Christmas windows this past winter. I feel that Macy's could care less what the store meant to all of us that grew up with the traditions (from as far back as my grandparents who grew up in the city). I will continue to boycott Macy's for the rest of my life!
Posted by: NateB
Today is the last day for Carsons. What a shame it is to see them close. I have so many memories growing up as a kid of that store and when I worked downtown especially at Field's. Bon -Ton should be ashamed of themselves. They had a opportunity to remodel and have a shwocase store in area that is seeing a growing residential and strong business environment. However Bon-ton's history is to shutter downtown stores. They took over a large majority of the Hess stores and shuttered the downtown Allentown store. I think the only downtown store they operate currently is the small Boston Store in Milwaukee which is a far cry of a store of what it used to be when FDS operarted it until 1985.
Posted by: Paula
I agree with the person who posted that the Ebert Contest ads in the Sun-Times reminds me of when Field's had ads. Bring back the green ads! Bring back Maarshall Field's!
Posted by: Darrid
Thought everyone would enjoy my tribute to Marshall Field's. It may take a second to load so be patient!
http://www.myspace.com/marshallfields
Posted by: Darrid
It will be interesting to see how the next few weeks play out. Federated will be announcing sales at the former May Stores in the early part of March. It will be interesting to see if that's the time Icahn makes his move.
Posted by: Gayle
Hi all,
Posted by: Jim McKay
* Regarding Sandra Guy's report in today's Sun-Times, please respond to the Sun-Times elaborating on how you feel about customer satisfaction with Macy's.
letters@suntimes.com
Posted by: Zelda
Hi everyone,
" study that charts shoppers' attitudes toward retailers reveals that CVS has captured more hearts than Walgreens, and that Federated Department Stores, owner of Macy's, has fallen to a three-year-low."
http://www.suntimes.com/business/263589,CST-FIN-retail20
Posted by: C. C. Chicago
To Michael Trenteseau:
Posted by: C. C. Chicago
To Peter, 2/19 -
Posted by: gle
I am disappointed cbs.com didn't show a video of the Sunday Morning program featuring Field's Fans protesting and speaking up for Field's. I only have web access at work, so didn't know it was on until I read our posts on Monday. Anyway, thank to everyone for all your hard work. The issue is still in the media. T.L. will just have to put up with us.
Posted by: Drew
Here is an interesting article about consumer spending and satisfaction:
http://www.post-gazette.com/pg/07051/763389-28.stm
Posted by: Claire Osada
I have a question regarding Frangos...why is it that when you see a Macy's flier in the newspaper on the back is often a sale for Frangos that bear the Marshall Fields name. But when you go in the store, those same advertised boxes do not have the MF name on them. I've noticed that this is very common with the limited edition flavor. Anyone know why this is?
Posted by: Alan
Interesting news. Federated dropped below Sears and well below JC Penney and Kohl's in a recent University of Michigan survey of customer satisfaction.
http://www.suntimes.com/business/263589,CST-FIN-retail20
Posted by: Joseph From CA
I was in Atlanta this weekend, so I decided to check out Macy's there to see if there was any difference with the Macy's here in California. I went to Lenox Square and Perimeter Mall, and both Macy's stores were sadly, essentially the same as here. There was nothing to distinguish their regional flavor. The only positive was that both stores are bigger than most Macy's out here. I was far more impressed with Nordstrom (Phipps Plaza and Perimeter Mall), and Dillard's (Atlantic Station and Perimeter Mall).
Posted by: Steven
Does anyone know what other stores sell Signoria di Firenze sheets? I've only ever seen them at Field's State Street and while Macy's still has them (for 30% off -- probably getting ready to drop the line in favor of its own crummy sheets), I'm not buying.
Posted by: Jim McKay
It looks as if I am mistaken--it doesn't appear that you can re-watch yesterday's CBS Sunday Morning segment on department stores (featuring us Field's Fans) at CBS.com. Someone please correct me if I am wrong. They do, however, sell tapes of each broadcast.
Posted by: Wendy
Thank you for all you do in standing up for Field's. Macy's is not the same in merchandise, help or name. It never will be as good as Field's!
Posted by: Melody
I came across this site after reading about the loss of Field's and replacement with Macy's. Good job.
Posted by: Peter
I was recently at State Street over the weekend. This was the first time I have been in the store since 2000. I was a little surprised since I could still see the remnants of what Target was trying to accomplish and it was impressive. However, I could also see how those steps went backwards with the macyization of the store.
Posted by: RG74
Good Afternoon,
Posted by: A, Perkins
I was at a concert of the Milwaukee Symphony the other night. Before the beginning of the performance I overheard a woman a couple of rows back loudly explain to the people around her that the m store at Mayfair Mall, is a mess and that she will never shop there again! She will go to Chicago now and shop at Lord and Taylor and others but never m store. I wanted to go back to talk to her in person about it but the lights dimmed and the performance began.
Posted by: Jim McKay
Thanks for the impressions of the CBS Sunday Morning segment.
I wasn't able to tape it and only caught it the one time it aired. Eagerly awaiting the posting of the clips at cbs.com to view it again. Based on that quick view, these are my impressions.
Posted by: Justin Anderson
Notes from the Field: Just came home from a visit to the Mayfair Mall (Wauwatosa, WI) Messy's (the same mall where police have been called during the past week to investigate a physical assault and a hate crime; to arrest a peeping Tom found taking pictures of women in the food court women's restroom; and to apprehend a thug with a loaded concealed weapon). Anyway, it's been two months or so since I visited this Messy's. During today's visit it was apparent that Messy's has lived up to its name: in a word, it was a "mess." While passing through the women's department to get to the men's, clothes were literally strewn on the floor beneath the racks. People were walking all over them! Customers were doing a lot "picking through the racks" but most weren't buying (even at 60% off). I've seen other posts on this site saying that the quality of clothing has gone down since the takeover, but I couldn't believe how bad is was until I saw it. All of the men's clothing was well below par even to Kohl's "house" brands. I really miss the "Field Gear" brand for men -- it was quality at a good price. Messy's IS NOT the same as Marshall Field's.
Posted by: Michael Trenteseau
I didn't get up early enough to watch "CBS Sunday Morning," so I'm going to eagerly wait for tomorrow when they put the videos up from today's show. The promos indicated that department stores were making a resurgence - I wonder if it's going to make it clear that Macy's is NOT at the forefront of this?
Posted by: Drew
The CBS Sunday Morning segment on department stores was rather interesting. Seems like JC Penney received a positive spine while the comments on macy*mart were rather blah--just like their stores.
Posted by: jimmy gimbels
My my my, Messy's sure has a lot of small type in it advertising. No other store seems to run soooooooo many disclaimers. Question is: When Messy's has a sale, what is actually included?
Posted by: James In Minneapolis
Hi All----
Posted by: A, Perkins
To James in Minneapolis,
Posted by: A. Perkins
To Jeff S.
Posted by: Paul
XCELLENT piece on CBS! Great Job Jim! The shots of MF and our protest marches were fantastic. Great they showed us chanting "Field's is Chicago, Boycott Macy's!" I'm proud that Chicago was shown as the bullwark in the protests against FDS. HOWEVER, I think that Plasticman's subsequent comments were very slick and wholly dismissive of it all -- i.e. they're keeping the Frangos and the traditions etc., blah blah blah. Same BS, as if it would ever change. Too bad they didn't siscuss how they're tanking here in Chicago. I'm gearing up for our next protest in April. We all know where that's going to be!
Posted by: Alan
Nice appearance today, Jim. I figured the piece would be more of a shill about how Federated was "revitalizing" the industry, since the gist of the story was the resurgence of the department store. However, it really wasn't. They just showed Lundgren parroting the standard line about "emotional attachment" and "preserving tradition." Interestingly, they showed multiple shots of the Field's flagship, but only one of Macy's Herald Square. Probably because the latter is more appealing.
Posted by: Brian
Anyone else hear this? I have learned that all Commission based sales people in the men's tailored department, as well as any men's clothing department will be eliminated and given a flat $8.00 a hour. Yea That will encourage the employees to really give service.
Posted by: Siamak (Chicagoan living in NY)
It is almost six months since the C,name changeC. and people are still going strong! That's great. Boycotts are sometimes tough, but weC-re going to win this one.
Posted by: Jim McKay
That is correct. CBS Sunday Morning did a brief interview as part of a story (or series of stories) they will air tomorrow about Department stores. Man! Was it cold out there, not to mention the cold. It's always interesting to see what gets used from these interviews.
Posted by: Ted
I read an article on JCPenney's wanting to compete more directly with Macy's.
Posted by: Sara
Word has it that tomorrow's CBS Sunday Morning will focus on Department stores including a minor segment on Field's and Macy's. It airs 8-9:30 am here in Chicago.
Posted by: h
I was discussing with some other people earlier today.
Posted by: Brenda
Yesterday's Sun-Times had an article about the new Dior exhibit at the Chicago History Museum. Key to this exhibit is the very special role Marshall Field's played in Dior's availability in the U.S. The 28 Shop is part of this.
http://www.suntimes.com/entertainment/galleries/258797,WKP-News-muse16.article
Posted by: gle
NEWS ALERT: A Friday, February 16 "Sun-Times" article by Sandra Guy states, "The fate of Macy's exclusive Beyonce Knowles and Jennifer Lopez boutiques at the flagship State Street store hangs in the balance." It adds, "Macy's is reviewing its contemporary women's department and has yet to decide the fate of the celebrity merchandise for the spring season." While there isn't a lot of detail, it looks like efforts to reach Messy's Gen-X,Y market may not be taking off with such a bang. Interesting. The article also makes a short mention about hiring for the new Bolingbrook location.
http://www.suntimes.com/business/259581,CST-FIN-macys16.article
Posted by: Steven
Great article about fashion in the Twin Cities Pioneer Press online. Here's the link:
http://www.twincities.com/mld/twincities/news/columnists/16706405.htm
Trend analyst Robyn Waters, a former Target executive and author of "The Hummer and the Mini: Navigating the Contradictions of the New Trend Landscape" ($24.95; Portfolio), does a great job of summing up the difference between the Nordstrom approach and Macy's.
Posted by: Clint
Macy's reaches out to designers, but will its efforts show?
http://www.twincities.com/mld/twincities/news/columnists/16706405.htm
Posted by: Jeff S.
Regarding GregB's Tuesday post about the great sale of Godiva chocolates for Valentine's Day. Seems like BAIT AND SWITCH!! I happened to pass through the Fox Valley candy department at Macy's. Cheap Godiva's. NOT!
Posted by: FYI
Today's Chicago Tribune notes in its Business section that Macy's will hire 225 people for its new Bolingbrook store. It also notes that about 200 jobs will be eliminated in warehouse and furniture jobs in the Chicago area.
http://www.chicagotribune.com/business/chi-0702160137feb16,0,5112658.story?coll=chi-business-hed
Posted by: G.H.
Regarding Icahn increasing his stake in Federated three fold, I predict in a year, Federated will not exist as we know it today. First of all, know that Icahn is loyal to only himself and his interests. Obvious, yes, but then consider this in the context of Federated. It means nothing is sacred. His aim is simply to maximize value.
Posted by: Drew
Wonder what this is all about?
Posted by: Lynette
Hi Field's Fans.
Posted by: Laurie
Re Gayle's post on Roundy's entering the Chicago market. It operates in Milwaukee under the name 'Pick 'N Save'. The funny thing is that Jewel tried to enter the Milwaukee (and Kenosha/Racine) markets twice and the people here were very resistant to it, I think partially becasue it was seen as a 'Chicago' store. They're closing all the Jewel's here in the next few weeks, which means there's virtually no grocery competition. There were some freestanding Oscos here that have been bought by CVS.
Posted by: Holly Hamilton
I grew up an hour outside of Chicago. As a child, receiving the Field' Christmas catalog was indescribable. I wore it out looking over the pages.
Posted by: IJ
Posted by: Steven
Billionaire investor Carl Icahn raised his stake in Federated Department Stores Inc., the parent of Macy's and Bloomingdale's, to 6.8 million shares in the last three months of 2006 from 2 million shares. Unfortunately, he has stated his support for Macy's national department store strategy. On the plus side, though, he obviously is no fool and perhaps he may see the positives to Federated in selling a grossly underperforming State Street store and the Marshall Field's brand names and trademarks to someone else. It's all about maximizing shareholder value and right now, Federated is not doing that. Federated has destroyed a lot of market share and equity and Icahn may realize that selling off some of the Chicago assets would be the best way to maximize value for Federated. BTW, Federated has 525 million shares outstanding, 95.7% of which are held by institutional investors. Insiders (management) own only 1% of the shares outstanding. See more here: http://moneycentral.msn.com/ownership?Symbol=FD
Posted by: Craig
Just an FYI- From some inside information, of all of the Nordstrom stores in the country, for 2006 (their year ended Jan 31st) the number one store in sales increases for 2006 vs. 2005 is....
Posted by: SJK
A Valentine's Day haiku poem for all Field's Fans:
Posted by: Gayle
Hi All,
Posted by: NateB
In response to Sean from CA on the new Bolingbrook store. The new Bolingbrook store was announced in early 2005 by the May Company. May Design and Construction worked on designing that store. FDS allowed May Design and Construction to have the Bolingbrook store as their last project. Marshall Field's aka Target did not design that store. It is going to be interesting to see if it looks like a May Company store or a FDS store. FDS after taking over Macy's built and remodeled all Macy stores as a FDS stores.
Posted by: Jane
Another high end line discontinued at Macy's is David Yurman. That hasn't received much attention, but walk into any high end department store, and you'll find Yurman. Of course, who would want designer jewelery from Macy's? If I'm going to make a purchase like that, I'll go to a retailer that has the appropriate store setting...one that doesn't place the Yurman next to the 80% off clearance rack.
Posted by: Brian
I should point out, The Burdines stores were legacy Federated stores. They were Macy's without the name. This is the reason why all stores in Florida are the Macy's Florida division, because they had so many stores prior to the conversion. Since they were killing off all the May stores, they killed off a lot of their own stores. You can read the history of each brand (and update it as you see fit) on Wikipedia.org
Posted by: Michael Trenteseau
I just looked at Federated's January sales figures.
Posted by: Michael Trenteseau
A friend of mine who is a teacher (and a loyal Field's fan) related a story to me...
Posted by: Steven
There's an article in the Akron Beacon Journal online @ http://www.ohio.com/mld/beaconjournal/business/16669390.htm titled "Macy's lands quietly in Akron -- Ohioans take conversion in stride; changes here are subtle, not dramatic".
Posted by: Jim McKay
Regarding "Desperate Housewives," Federated paid to have Macy's featured. In the scene, one "housewife" goes shopping at Macy's with a teenage billionaire who wants her as his girl. As each actor gives their lines, the Macy's logo can be seen behind their heads and in the background of other shots. Clearly there were a few more Macy's logos displayed than in the typical Macy's bedding department. The housewife rebuffs the romantic overtures wealthy teen suitor by declining his offer of a jewelry purchase, but she sarcastically suggests that he buy her a toilet seat cover. [ I'm sure Field's fans can find some humor in that line that the writers didn't intend. ] Then a Macy's commercial was shown after the scene.
"Chicago is a city based on neighborhoods, so you have wonderful, upscale ethnic restaurants, but because they are neighborhood based, they are not expensive. I have to say that's true of Chicago in general. It's kept its local flavor and it seems like Chicagoans are so fiercely into things that are Chicagoan. There is a wonderful department store called Marshall Field's, and it is quintessentially Chicago. Marsall Field's was sold to Macy's, and everyone said, "Okay, fine," until they were going to change the name to Macy's, and then people boycotted. [Macy's] didn't understand the psychology of the people of Chicago. They won't put up with someone taking their individuality away. They pride themselves in it."
Posted by: Steven
Here's an idea how bad sales are at former Field's and other department stores ruined by Macy's.
Posted by: Gary Benson
Keep up the good work people. Some people don't understand all the fuss about Fields turning into Macy's. But this situation is just the ultimate slap in the face in the homogenization of this country, and the disrespect and loss of tradition. And this time, we just aren't going to take it any more. Keep up the boycott and keep up the communicating. We will win this thing....!!!
Posted by: jimmy gimbels
Comments:
Story in the Sunday Chicago Tribune:
Posted by: denise rule
i was just about to post what 'Darrell' wrote: the very apparent 'macy's' signs in the episode of "Desperate Housewive's" on sunday. i don't recall seeing the name/s of stores in tv shows. there was the occasional reference in "Will & Grace", but even then , i don't remember seeing the signs with the name of the store. on a positive note, Oprah used Marshall Field's frequently in the past,for her shows, and always acknowledged them, one time calling them: "Marshall Field's, the best store in the world." recently she had a show involving fashion and acknowledged 'thanx to Neiman Marcus.' she would never lower herself and have anything to do with macy's. i feel sure of that.
Posted by: Greg B.
Hi all,
Posted by: Sean in CA
EVERYONE!!!
Posted by: Darrell
Did anyone catch last Sunday's episode of "Desparate Housewives"? There was a scene where two of the regular characters were shopping in a department store, and several "macy*s" signs were placed throughout the store (or stage set), and in clear shot of the camera while the scene was being shot.
Posted by: William
A long time salesperson (over 15 years of service) at the Field's State Street Store left three weeks ago and has set up shop at Neiman Marcus on Michigan Avenue. His name is Anthony Hall and he is a great guy. He is looking to pick up Field's customers who miss the Armani, etc..
Posted by: James in Minneapolis
Hi All---
Posted by: john
A few things to note:
Posted by: Clint
Whatch Out Macy's...Penney's is breathing down your neck.
Posted by: Jeff S.
Went shopping yesterday (Sunday) at the Orland Square Mall. Yes, there too, I found they have done away with the Home Decor Department. No Marshall Field wine in sight in what is left of the gourmet food department. The "cafeteria" is mostly a Smoothie department now.
Posted by: James in Minneapolis
Hi All----
Posted by: Paul Reichart
Speaking of FDS's wannabe upscale Bloomie's, has anyone else noticed in the December 2006 Chicago magazine that they're hawking the same "INC International Concepts" bland, cheaply made, yet curiously overpriced clothing that their sister outlet M*cy*s is trying to market as designer clothing?
Posted by: Anonymous
This valentine's day go somewhere new. We have plenty of choices. We don't need to go to Macy's :) Visit the downtown L&T one last time before it closes, or try one of the Carson's stores in the suburbs, have you been to the Nordstrom on Michigan Ave yet?, how about Von Maur at the Glen in the northern suburb of Glenview?
Posted by: Drew
Just finished talking with a friend who visited the macy*mart (formerly Kaufmann's) in Washington (PA) Crown Center today. Her mom hadn't been in the store since the changeover. Her mom was almost in tears as she walked through the women's department and exclaimed, "Now where am I going to shop? There is nothing here but cheap looking, overpriced pre-teen junk." My friend has a professional position and was appalled that macy*mart no longer carries her classic women's suits; she said the suits they had were poorly made and didn't fit well. She said that she and her mom wanted to "treat themselves" but there was absolutely nothing in the store that interested them. They also commented the home store had much less an assortment than Kaufmann's and wondered where they would buy shower and wedding gifts. Incidentally, she said the store was deserted on this Sunday afternoon, but the rest of the mall was busy. The Bon Ton at this mall is decent, but it isn't one of their A stores; mostly mid range merchandise.
Posted by: Clint
Steve Swain wrote a commentary on the integration of Hecht's into Macy's. Interesting.
http://stevenswain.blogspot.com/2007/01/way-to-flop.html
Posted by: Jim
The Tribune and Sun-Times both alluded to Macy's in their business sections today.
Posted by: Robert P
I had the misfortune to stop in the Mayfair Mall location in Wauwatosa yesterday. The old idea of customer service was gone. I had to hunt for the one sales person in the whole department (she was doing paperwork). The whole ordeal made me sad.
Posted by: Jim
As always, Fields Fans are encouraged to make a difference in bringing back Field's by responding to newspaper and television reports. It's important to remind the media and it's readers or viewers that FD's rosy stats still don't include former Marshall Field's and former May locations--about half of the stores they operate!
letters@suntimes.com
ctc-TribLetter@tribune.com
Posted by: denise rule
Dear denise,
memberservice@costco.com
Posted by: Mark in Phila
Hello fellow boycotters,
Posted by: a1peopleguy
Have you turned on your television lately ? If so, chances are you may have experienced Macy's latest commercials. As you might have guessed, they feature that blood colored background complete with the red star, amateur voiceover talent and poor production quality.
Posted by: B
Hi All
Posted by: Maura
This does not sound to rosy and the stock is going down on Macy's rosy legacy store reporting. What does this mean? The boycott is working and hopefully Mr. Lundgren will be shown the door soon and a new CEO will be a bit more enlightened regarding the importance of customer loyalty and market uniqueness. "negative double-digits" now that is bad real bad!
Morgan Stanley (nyse: MS - news - people ) analyst Gregory Melich said Federated was the only department store he covers to raise its profit forecast, but he remains concerned about performance at the former May stores, estimating that those locations continue to have same-store sales "in the negative low double-digit range. While a slight improvement to past months, we believe much of January's traffic at the converted May Co. doors was spurred by aggressive clearance activity."
Posted by: Steven
It's not really hard to see where the bulk of Field's shoppers went:
Posted by: NateB
Just saw a rumor in Crains that a grocery store is going to take over part of the CARSONS Building. What a travasity for that to happen. That wonderful beautiful Louis Sullivan excellence in design being turned into a grocery store could even be a Costco why not make it a Wal-Mart. The building designed for a department store with the ornanate grillwork floor to ceiling windows etc, reminds me of when Hillman's used to be on Washington Street.
Posted by: Zelda
Hi Field's Fans!
http://www.suntimes.com/business/249920,CST-FIN-retail09.article
Posted by: kara
I wonder if Macy's also loves the Colts in Indiana? Since they're all over this country, they apparently have no team loyalty either!
Posted by: Mike M
For once, the Sun-Times story today, though flawed, was better than the Tribune's story about retail sales.
Posted by: Mike M
In the first sentence of Sandra Guy's article, she says that Marshall Field's sales have improved. That is impossible for her to know. In fact, the lack of ability to know those sales figures is the main point of the rest of her story.
Chicago Sun-Times
Posted by: Mike M
The "Noon Business Hour" show today, Feb. 8th, on CBS radio here in Chicago (i.e., WBBM Newsradio 780) featured a segment about the potential stock performance of Federated Department Stores. The hosts of the show, Sherman Kaplan and Chris Crydell, discussed the performance of Federated's stores.
Posted by: HI
One of the last pieces of good news for FD shareholders was today. Soon FDE will have to include the terrible sales figures at the converted May stores.
Posted by: Linda Zimmer
Macy's is not user friendly is the right statement. The Sales clerks and lower managment are the same friendly people at my old FAmous Barr store that was taken over by Macey's in Cape Girardeau, but their billing and record keeping is a mess.
I was a loyal Famous Barr Customer for 25 years with never a hint of a problem with billing, and now Macy's has ruined it all. I have been struggling for over two months to try to understand what is goingon but they are of no help.
Posted by: Jim
The Sun-Times reports that in a few days it will be announced that 1 N State St Carson's store will become a food emporium, with gourmet supermarket items and food to eat.
Posted by: gle
I was reading comments on the topix thread, "The Macy's Boycott Continues." This guy named Andy who claims to be a Federated employee says, "Field's will NEVER be back. It's time to accept things as they are." Who accepts a store as is is? A store shouldn't be something you have to tolerate. What kind of customer service is that? This Macy's Reform School attitude really turns me off!
Posted by: Peter
Steve
Posted by: John
I was absolutely insulted when I saw that ridiculous homage to my beloved CHICAGO Bears on the State Street windows.
Posted by: Peter
David K...
Posted by: Alan
Notice how Federated's recent press release has a "told you so" tone to it? The Street also seems to like what it saw in the press release, although Bon-Ton was also up big at the opening. My point here is that we'll likely need to wait for the sector to experience another cyclical downturn, and for another, more thoughtful CEO to realize the value of the Field's name and real regional positioning. The unfortunate thing here is that Lundgren will get credit for an increase that is largely cyclical, and say it is because of his homogeneization strategy. In reality, even if Target had not gotten good enough offers for Field's and had held on to it, they likely would have seen similar increases. In the meantime, I'll still be buying elsewhere.
Posted by: ajkuska@comcast.nospam.net
Federated sales in "legacy" stores exceeded expectations at an 8.6% gain for January.
Posted by: Michael Trenteseau
I just got a Neiman's catalogue with a full-page ad for Juicy Couture's fragrance.
Posted by: James in Minneapolis
Hi All----
Posted by: Marco Bautista
Hello again and Happy 2007 to all. It's been awhile. Hopefully everyone had a pleasant holiday with your families and friends. I know it's not the same without the one and only original, genuine, elegant Marshall Field's State Street store.
Posted by: Jon C.
One person has written me, telling me that she has been purchasing FRANGO mints at the COSTCO Membership Warehouses in the U.S. I couldn't believe this at first, thinking that it was tragic enough that our beloved, exclusive Marshall Field's FRANGO mints have been relegated to being sold in macy's stores all over creation. Have any of you Field's Fans seen Frangos in a Costco store? Is Terry Lundgren trying to dilute the venerable history and uniqueness of the Frangos even more by mass merchandising them even more to Costco? Is he working on an arrangement with Wal-Mart next? (I was just thinking---isn't it ironic that Marshall Field's Frangos would be sold in Costco, which has a store located next door to the store we knew as the Marshall Field's Home Store in Oakbrook?)
Posted by: Steven
I've really got to wonder what on earth is possessing these Macy's people. They can't entice Chicagoans into their stores with 75% off Frangos, but they think a "gourmet" food department will? They can't pull people into the stores with their Alfani, Charter Club and (ST)INC merchandise, so they'll expand the number of sizes they offer? They can't bring people in with some of the largest stores in the region, so they think smaller ones will be better? What are those people smoking?
Posted by: Steve, Mt Prospect
Here's an article showing how those who lose jobs because of Macy's huge mistake of dumping the quality and name "Marshall Field's" are getting new jobs at new employers who are of the caliber of Field's and much better employers than Macy's.
http://www.suburbanchicagonews.com/newssun/business/245904,5_3_WA07_STITCH_S1.article
Posted by: Anon.
Just today overheard this:
Posted by: Simba
"Think of how much time and attention and money it takes to establish a brand."
http://www.chron.com/disp/story.mpl/ap/fn/4533360.html
Posted by: Bob in DC
Off-topic, as usual, but if anyone would like to read about a documentary film covering Canada's version of the Walnut Room, the link is:
http://www.galafilm.com/galafilm/e/tv/ladies.php
Posted by: David K.
Here is more information about Macy's trying to expand, and in the process calling us Midwesterners fat.
http://www.suntimes.com/business/246470,CST-FIN-retail07.article
Posted by: gle
NEWS ALERT: An article in today's "Sun-Times" by Sandra Guy states that Messy's has plans to build smaller stores in the suburbs. Have they learned that taking over large stores wasn't such a good idea? The article also quotes a Messy's executive, Ertugrul Tuzcu, as saying the State Street store wants to "position ourselves as a destination for food," with an expanded selection of gourmet take-out. There goes my appetite.
Posted by: Jon C.
Today's RETAIL WIRE retail e-magazine features macys attempts at trying to figure out what its merchandise lines should be, what to eliminate, and to whom the stores should appeal. macy's is planning smaller stores in the future...(with less selection, of course.) According to the article, Oak Brook will be macys "test store" in Chicagoland for "new ideas". Mention is also made that macys wants to feature take-out gourmet food at its State Street store. (By the way, has anyone noticed any changes...negative or positive...at State Street since Linda Piepho took over as manager?) Also, how is the Lake Forest store doing? I cannot imagine that Lake Forest residents are liking the Charter Club, INC, and Alfani brands, when they were accustomed to the "best of the best" that Marshall Field featured at Lake Forest.
http://www.retailwire.com/Discussions/Sngl_Discussion.cfm/11970
Posted by: jp
Ford is bringing back the Taurus and Sable names because of name recognition. Think Terry Lundgren can follow this?
http://www.chicagotribune.com/classified/automotive/autoshow/chi-070206ford,0,6294050.story?coll=chi-bizfront-hed
Posted by: Shawn
If you saw the Macy's circular in last Sunday's Tribune, you no doubt noticed it's become more Macyized. That means no staples to hold the pages together, bigger pages, more cramped ads, and a look somewhere between Target and Sears.
This is one of the first ads in the Macy's North area that look like the ones long associated with legacy" Macy's in other parts of the country. "Get used to it" -- so Federated wants. But Chicagoans know better. We won't get used to Macy's when we know our Marshall Field's was better.
Posted by: erin
Hello everyone! I am a student at Fordham University and I am doing a project on department stores and private labels. It would be VERY helpful if you could email me your opinons about The Lord & Taylor brands such as Kate Hill, Grant Thomas, and Context. Please feel free to comment on other Department Stores private label brands such as Macys, Sacks, Nordstroms, Target, etc. Thank you so much for any opinions you can provide me with! Please send your opinions to cruella317@aol.com
Posted by: Bob in DC
A bit off-topic, but some news in Womens Wear Daily today that Lord & Taylor's new owner is pouring a quarter billion dollars into store upgrades, with the first six completed this fall to include Oakbrook. Or Northbrook. Some "brook" out there in Chicagoland.
Posted by: Michael in Baltimore
I am going to disagree with rdante's opinion of the latest Strawbridge's stores. Yes, Strawbridge & Clothier died to some degree in 1996. The family left, the restaurants closed in the suburbs and out went the yellow bags. What remained was the name, solid merchandise and a special, yes smaller, downtown Center City store. May kept the Corinthian Room, the Food Hall, Beauty Salon, the boar and many of the artifacts that made the store special. I grew up in S&C and so did my 86 year old mother, who had her first job there in gift wrap. May didn't rip the "& Clothier" off the buildings and didn't plaster over the Seal of Confidence. And in respect to the city they still maintained the "Clover Day" sales. And if you think the quality went down with May, well the decline happened well before 1996. (I have store sales brochures to prove it.) The store, always traditional, really tried to make the best of it at the end but the pressure to remain independent was too strong and quality suffered. But I still was just as loyal to S&C and S&C was to the city
Posted by: Zelda
A Field's Fan in Washington wrote to tell me I'd given a slightly incorrect web address for the Federated vs.Field's blog on topix.net. Here is the correct address:
http://www.topix.net/forum/com/fd/
Posted by: Casserine Willis
To the poster who wondered why and how Lord and Taylor closed their locations at Hawthorn Center and Fox Valley Mall, both locations were low volume and not as busy as their other Chicagoland stores. The Hatwhorn store was smaller than Northbrook Court or Old Orchard, but it was beautiful and elegant. You can see remnants of Lord and Taylor when you shop Carson's, pay attention to the marble floors. My mom worked at Lord & Taylor Hawthorn and told me that there would be days where no one would wander the Petites or Women's Studio area. It got worse once May Department Stores took it over, they made the store downmarket and closed locations left and right. Marshall Field's pretty much "owned" Hawthorn Center, at one time it was the hardest store in the mall to get a job at and the busiest store in the mall. Christmas was insane at that store back then, they were busy! The total opposite of what Macy's is today.
Posted by: jamesfromCA
What DavidK mentioned about having a protest at Bolingbrook is a great idea.
Posted by: James in Minneapolis
Hi All---
Posted by: denise rule
just another piece of history: a day or two before the game, (Super Bowl), i think it was on saturday....one of the chicago news stations was showing clips of how things were in chicago in january of '86, getting ready for the game. and of course, thee it was: a picture and the mention of how "Marshall Field's closed early that day", for the game. you can't look very far without seeing its presence. we no longer see it, but we feel it forever.
Posted by: Jane
If Macy's really wanted to impress Bear's fans, they would have forgone the dumb " Macy's Loves the Bears" ads in the Chicago Tribune today. Instead, they should have said, "Macy's Loves Marshall Field's and the Bear's. Here's to two big winning comebacks next Season! Go Chicago!"
Posted by: T
Ridiculous full page ads in both the Tribune and Sun-Times today from Macy's. Shows a star and says, "Macy's loves the Chicago Bears."
Smaller print says, "Chicago's Super Stars."
Posted by: John
Saw some Frangos that were prewrapped for the holidays discounted dramatically at Macy's out here in our 50th State. They didn't sell. Perhaps what contributed to the lack of sales was the really cheap and dowdy holly wrapping paper that looked like it was from a discount store. Field's used to pre-wrap the Frangos in really elegant paper. My favorite Frangos pre-wrap paper was last years which tastefully featured the scrolly Marshall Field's logo from the 30s or 40s that was revived for the last year.
Posted by: James in Minneapolis
Hi All---The Annual Spring Flower Show is coming up in March. Started by Dayton's & Bachmann's Floral back in the 60s and continued by Field's, it was always held in the huge 8th floor auditorium. macy*mart has announced that the annual Spring Flower will have an exciting change this year. To increase the excitement, they are going to move it out of the auditorium, where for more than 40 years they have had capacity crowds with lines of people waiting to get in, and move it to the exciting 1st floor women's budget leisure wear area, and just put the flowers among the exciting merchandise to increase the excitement of visiting the exciting store. To increase the excitement further, they will no longer have award winning themes and sets constructed, such as a Viennese Garden with music playing, but simply use the beautiful exciting merchandise as the exciting backdrop for the flowers. The normal shoppers combined with the overflow crowds trying to view the flowers ---or find the flowers ---could create some real excitement.
Posted by: zs
We have had Macy's in North County San Diego for years. I never liked it and still don't. I didn't even bother to walk into the place this Christmas shopping season. Our store is still messy. Clothes on the floor. The women's shoe department carries 1/5 of the selection I was accustomed to. It is not a good substitute for our old favorite Robinson's May, which they put out of business, let alone a Marshall Fields. Good luck restoring Fields to its old glory. I remember shopping at the State Street store with my Grandmother when I was a child. As a teen it was a destinationB on a school holiday.
Posted by: PatC
Men's Warehouse(Clothing Store) Acquisition Faces Regulatory Delay !
Posted by: Claire Osada
I've noticed that some many of you have posted about those Juicy Couture perfume displays and the bright neon "Smell Me" signs. I'm not trying to defend a department store that we all despise, but I really doubt that Macy's has any control or influence on how Juicy Couture chooses to market their fragrance. Sure, it's pretty loud, bold, bright, and borderline obnoxious...but that's what appeals to those who like Juicy Couture. Those bright displays are in all other stores that sell Juicy Couture too, [ including Carson's and Nordstrom's. ]
Posted by: B
Hi All
Posted by: Jon C.
I had to laugh out loud when I read a quote from a macy's sales associate as quoted in the Northwest Indiana Times. At long last are we seeing macys admitting that sales are slow at State Street?
Posted by: Jane
Had lunch with a friend at Northbrook Court today. After lunch, we spent about 2.5 hours shopping, and as a last resort (and probably because we didn't want to brave the cold), we ventured into the Northbrook Macy's. What a joke.
Posted by: LiMack
POEM FOR TERRY LUNDGREN
Posted by: rdante
I disagree with RG74's claim that May Company did the right thing in Philadlephia. They may have kept the name (most of it) and the Corinthian Room open, but they ruined the chain as a whole. The restaurants in all the branches were closed. They closed-off 3 or 4 selling floors of the Center City store and turned them into office space along with the upper floors.
Posted by: Jeff S.
February 4th is supposed to be the offical "all Federated" for Macy's. That means the insurance for employees, etc., is all switched over finally on the 4th.
Posted by: kara
Michael/ Paul
Posted by: Kyle
Well, at least this ensures that Lord and Taylor will remain in Chicago. I thought that perhaps it could take over the old Carson's space, but a friend told me that the owner of that building does not want to give it up.
Posted by: Maureen
Glad to see that the blog is going strong. I have not been to 111 State for one solid month now. I feel lost.
Posted by: Zelda
Hi everyone,
Posted by: David K.
There is a new Macy's opening at the Promenade Bolingbrook on April 26, 2007. It was originally planned to be Marshall Field's. This would be an excellent opportunity to have another protest and distubiute materials. We cannot let Macy's remain, let alone expand.
Posted by: RG74
Why is it so hard for Macy's executives to admit that they MADE A BIG MISTAKE ? We are all human, and to me, that means that no one is perfect.
Posted by: laurie
Does anyone know anyone going to the Super Bowl -- even just hanging around outside or at one of the bars? It would be great to have someone hold a big 'Field's is Chicago' sign for the whole country to see.
Posted by: Mark in Phila
Hello Fields Fans,
Posted by: molly
i now live in new york and miss marshall fields too!
Posted by: Kevin
Sharon,
Posted by: Michael Trenteseau
Paul,
Posted by: jimmy gimbels
Paul is right about those neon "SMELL ME" window displays. The same display is also at the Vernon Hills stores on the second floor. It been in place for nearly three months.
Posted by: Jon C.
The loss of Marshall Field's is hurting even more now, since THIS Super Bowl game of the Chicago Bears will be without what is truly Chicago---Marshall Field's!
Posted by: Wendy
I was talking with one of your people on State St last month right before Christmas. And I have to agree with him. I hear about a golden age of Field's in the 20th Centruy. I'm too young to remember that one. I'm 30.
Posted by: FYI
Today's Sun-Times has a story about Chicago-based high-end clothing manufacturer, Hart Marx.
It seems Hart Marx has been hurt by the loss of Field's as client since Macy's has dropped them. Another strike against Chicago, if you ask me.
Posted by: Denise
http://www.webwaymonsters.com/song.shtml...... volume is good! (we love what we love!)
Posted by: Erin
Well it is going....painfully.
Posted by: Paul Reichart
I was at Oak Brook tonight getting a few dress shirts for work and a couple other things (which I probably would have bought at Field's if it was still Field's, but went to Lord & Taylor, no longer FDS, instead.) Out of morbid curiousity, I decided to walk around the Field's building and see what M*cy*s had done to the display windows. I saw several cheap-looking cosmetics displays (reminiscent of a discount store) and some bad furniture that looked like Euro knockoff stuff.
Posted by: William B.
For what it's worth, I walk through the State Street Macy's almost every day on my way to places downtown (using their heat doesn't cost a thing). I've been taking my own personal random poll, counting the Macy's bags as I cover one length of the first floor, sometimes on the State Street side, sometimes on the Wabash side. I started several weeks ago. Some days it has been as high as six, other days as low as ZERO BAGS. The average number of bags I see (on different days, at various times of the day) comes to 3 bags. I think the sales figures at this store are way lower than people imagine. It costs plenty just to keep the lights and heat on and pay the employees, not to mention stock the merchandise. They can't be making it on this few sales. The relatively unpublicized boycott seems stronger than before, even without rallies and TV coverage. You could roll a bowling ball down the Wabash side today and not hit anyone.
Posted by: jimmy gimbels
The January/February edition of BUSINESS 2.0 has an article "The 7th Annual Dumbest Moments In Business.
Posted by: Carol Lazarski
Well, I just cancelled two Macy's cards. I didn't even know I had two! What is all that about? I was sent one with the words "Marshall Field's will become Macy's this September." I put it aside and though I would be open-minded and at some time in the future check Macy's out, but was not eager to. Then Christmas came and to my surprise I received a couple of Macy's Gift cards for Christmas. Well, I finally got the nerve up to check out Macy's and oh how disappointed I was. I will not be returning until Marshall Fields is back! Keep up the good work.
Posted by: Jacob
Oh how sad to be able to do this. See where the link below takes you.
Posted by: Matt Schumacher
I have a question for Federated, but they don't seem to want to answear it when I wrote about by disappointing experience visiting my former favorite department store on State Street. I wonder if anyone else could answear it. Why a would a company take a great brand like Marshall Fields and downgrade it, while at the same time making more compition for itself in most of Marshall Fields locations. The closest former Fields to my home was in Cherry Vale Mall outside Rockford, IL. Like most malls in the midwest that had a Marshall Fields, it was the premier store. now that the stores have turned into Macy's, they have all been downgraded to were they now have greater compition. How is this a good buisness strategy?
Posted by: sharon
Checking out the Indystar.com website--the Indianapolis Star Newspaper's website--I saw a banner advertisement that had a countdown to the super bowl.
Posted by: Erick
B, I totally agree with you about Burdines in Florida. I grew up in Miami and experience the warm tropical style and class of Burdines before Macy's got a hold it. I worked at the downtown flagship store on Flager Street. The giant palm columns and the ceilings that looked like the sky painted in baby blue with white clouds was so wonderful and refreshing. The clothes were simply top of the line with a Florida style. Burdines was 107 years old when Mqcy's took over. The stores are mostly disorganized and sorely lacking in quality merchandise and service. Federated is considering closing flagship store downtown saying the building is too old. I find this reason had to believe. The Marshall Fields flagship building on State Street and Strawbridge's flagship store in Phildephia are much older!
Posted by: Darrid
Hum, Federated may get bought out. [ Icahn mentioned again on an LBO. ] Maybe someone has an idea of how to take care of its customers.
Posted by: Alfred in Washington
Chris,
Posted by: jimmygimbels
What? You don't like the service (or lack of) service at Messy's. Those fine folks at Federated are looking into self-check out kiosks!
Posted by: FYI
This week's Hot Type column in the Chicago Reader has another story about the Sun-Times' problems. Facinating to consider this writing along side the Sun-Times running the front page ads and contest with Macy's during the holidays.
Posted by: Michael Trenteseau
I've been reading Stanley Marcus' "Minding The Store." I really need to post some great quotes from this book (published in the mid-70s) that are VERY appropriate to what Macy's is doing now.
Posted by: B
My travels for work continue -- at least I was sent to beautiful Florida for a couple of days-- While I was there one evening I checked out the old Burdines store on Miami Beach -- the palm tree pillars are still there but the store is as macy as possible otherwise. they had Frango mints --upstairs-- sign said reduced 50%- but they were reduced 75% and there was quite a selection -- regular mints, candy cane, dark chocolate, liqueur, Frango cookies, gift baskets-large and small, etc etc -- ALL 75% off !!!! I was tempted ( the ONLY thing in the store that was tempting) but upon picking up a box and seeing no Marshall Field's script - which I didn't expect anyway-- and seeing the "distributed by Macy's New York" on the side, I promptly dropped it like a hot iron. I agree that non-midwesterner's do not know what these are and macy's has them poorly placed and does NOTHING to explain them or try to market them -- I am beginning to think that it IS a plan to say " gee-- these just don't sell so we're doing away with them", I asked the young sales associate if the large boxes of regular mints were 50% off also and that is when she said --" No - everything there is all 75% off -- They are supposed to be pretty good". Sad.
Posted by: Gary
The difference between Macy's and Field's can be exemplified
by their grand opening day on State Street. In 1907, for the grand opening of the new store on State, lines wrapped around the building and shoppers couldn't all be allowed in at once. For Macy's "grand" opening in 2006, the most obvious line was the protesters! Macy's had people in Macy's T-shirts passing out donut holes and coffee. Shame! Field's would have at least had staff in Marshall Field's sport coats with a unique Frango-inspired confection!
Or even had the servers in Tuxes!
Posted by: Nate
I won't even step in a Macy's store until they bring back Field's. Same for Bloomingdale's. Both Macy's and Bloomingdale's have bad karma. Really bad karma.
Posted by: Michael
I just read a Voice of the People letter about how the Bears mean everything to someone because of what they brought to his life. He didn't care if the Bears win on Feb. 4. He was thankful that the Bears had brought his father and him closer together. He was grateful that the Bears led him to a career in sports radio. He cherished all the Bears had brought him through both win and loss.
Posted by: Simba
Chris, I agree with you one hundred per cent! Macy's seems to aspire to discount store status, but they'll never beat Target at that game. Target's advertising and commercials are much more distinctive, and their designer clothes are far more fashion forward, and very reasonably priced. They don't pretend to be top quality goods. Their household goods are just as good, or better, than what macy's has to offer. And they have appliances and electronics that macy's doesn't carry at all. With Target in the South Loop, there's no need to shop at macy's at all.
Posted by: Chris
Macy's advertising - particularly in Chicago - has been rather schizophrenic. Trying to launch a new brand by telling everyone it's just like(!) the local icon you just kicked to the curb is, well, kind of dumb. I mean, I kind of get why they think they have to do this but I also can't see how it could possibly work for them. It's NOT the same and the comparison constantly brings up what people are missing.
Posted by: Rose
I was a Dayton's shopper since birth. I liked Marshall Field's too because it was classy. While I missed Dayton's, I accepted it because it was based in Minnesota and it offered great service, selection and quality. Macy's is a complete downgrade. I can get many of the same things at Target or Kohls or Bed Bath and Beyond for less. Everyone talks about the clothes, but I think
the quality and value of the home merchandise is what's gone down.
Posted by: Sara
As a Chicago native who was brought up on Field's, I am disgusted by the take-over! I have been an east coast resident for the better part of my life, and have shopped at our local Macy's in the past, but have boycotted since the announcement to change Field's to Macy's was first made. Macy's isn't Field's!!!
Posted by: Steve C
http://www.retailwire.com/Discussions/Sngl_Discussion.cfm/11863
Posted by: JamesinMinneapolis
Hi All----
Posted by: Erick
Can we hire that advertising agency that Macy's fired? I'm sure they have plenty ideas and creativity to inject in our campaign! Can you imagine the blazing passion they must have after being dumped by that store?
Posted by: David K.
Hello Everyone,
Posted by: Phil
I'm glad I found this. I refuse to shop at Macy's here in the Washington DC area. I visited the flagship fields store just before the name change. Field's was a "must visit" stop on every trip to Chicago. With Macy's everywhere, what's the point? I'll go back to their stores when they bring back Field's quality and name.
hr>
Posted by: Jim
I suspect a variance was added to allow the star because Carson's has
a similar hex/asterisk logo. Which is another reason Macy's looks like a Carson's wannabe in the upper midwest. Even Macy's logo looks the same.
Posted by: Ryan
I drove by the Hawthorne store today on the way to work. As if to add insult to injury, they added their big red star next to their outside signs. Correct me if I'm wrong but I thought Vernon Hills had an ordinance against eyesores like that. The Target has no bullseye logo, the Circuit City had to be built from brick instead of having their old maroon tower out front, and the Best Buy couldn't put up their text-in-a-price-tag sign. How did Macy's get this? And why did they wait until now to do it?
Posted by: Credit Guy
Regardless of your opinion of Macy's, the policy is actually industry standard. All credit card companies require the account holder to call to get any info or to issue cards on the account. The spouse must be an authorized user....not a joint account holder..... meaning s/he can use the account but the other partner is 100% responsible for payment. This is done to protect against fraud. I just want to set the record straight.
Posted by: LiMack
I just returned from a brisk, long walk with my dog. I was wearing my shearling coat and matching mittens from Marshall Field's, my plaid scarf from Marshall Field's, my lined Regence boots from.....you guessed it ....Marshall Field's, and was toasty warm the whole time. I am so grateful for the high quality and durability of this apparel. I was confident at the time of purchase that it was money well spent because I knew the items would be fashionable and serviceable for a long time. But I never dreamed that Marshall Field's would not be there the next time I needed to buy a coat. I figure I'll want a new winter coat in about two years so I'm really counting on everyone to keep this boycott going so that hopefully Marshall Field's will be back in all its glory by then! Thank you.
Posted by: gle
Another Field's letter showed up in the "Tribune's" "Voice of the People" January 23--"Disastrous decisions."
Posted by: Alan
SJK, I assume that you realize that $4.25 for a 1 lb. box of Frangos is a 75% discount, not a 50% discount. They go for $17/lb normally, and were almost NEVER on sale at Field's (except for the seasonal varieties). It doesn't make sense that they would deliberately kill off the brand equity. More likely, what's happening is that they are just expecting the items to sell, and aren't giving it the presentation a $17 box of mints deserves. Even removing the name Marshall Field's from the was a mistake (notwithstanding the decision to rename the stores), since, as others have pointed out, it's clear that a lot of customers and sales associates in other markets don't know what they are. Having said that, it would not surprise me if this is later spun as more "evidence" that the Field's name had no brand equity.
Posted by: Drew
Evidently a new advertising agency is supposed to improve the sad plight of macy*mart. Talk about "Mission Impossible"! Whatever this new outfit does will be too little, too late. So many people I've spoken with have given up on macy*mart and have found other shopping venues. The anecdotal evidence on this blog as well as other comments prove that Terry and the Pirates misjudged everyone's love for macy*s. As we all realize, Terry Lunkhead is NOT a merchant by any stretch of the imagination and his plan to reinvent the department store was ill-conceived and cheaply executed.
Posted by: JamesfromCA
In response to AR you might want to try Ebay and type in Marshall Field's, or Marshall Fields without the apostrophe I have bought and sold alot of Field's merchandise. I have quite a few of their xmas ornaments still in their original boxes but not that particular one. I want the red glass heart with the logo, with "love to shop" on the reverse but it's kinda rare.
Posted by: Jim McKay
Just a reminder of a great way to help bring back Field's: if you see an item in the media about the loss of Field's, be sure to write!
ctc-TribLetter@tribune.com
letters@nytimes.com
Posted by: Erick
"Customers response to the relaunch of the Macy's brand in (September'06)was positive, officials say".
Posted by: jimmygimbels
Messy's continues to reduce the size of the "marketplace cafes" at Vernon Hills and Northbrook.
Posted by: SJK
Greetings from sunny warm Honolulu, Hawaii (please don't hate me):
Posted by: Drew
TO J. KUNSCH: You should be absolutely livid at the treatment you received. How dare they ask you for you husband's permission to have a charge card!!! The last time I looked, women are equal citizens under the law not second-class citizens subservient to their husband. It doesn't matter WHO makes the purchases or WHO pays the bills--if you had an active MF account, you should have gotten a credit card and lots of "valuable" coupons from macy*mart. PERIOD.
Posted by: JamesinMinneapolis
I received a great email from my friend Connie today where she was commenting on the messy appearance and disappointing merchandise at the Southdale Store, after reading my posting of Wedmesday on same topic about the Nicollet Mall Store. She stated she wondered what members of the Dayton Family, and there are many members still living here in the Minneapolis area, think about when they see their formerly elegant stores looking so trashed now.
Posted by: Ad Agency Guy
Macy's fires last Chicago advertising agency.
Posted by: AR
Does anyone know where I can get the older version of a Uncle Mistletoe ornament? It's the one that doesn't have wings and is a little silver..
Posted by: LiMAck
Every so often (like in the recent Chicago Tribune Editorial) the infamous 2005 Terry Lundgren "survey" gets trotted out. You know, the one where he claims 2/3 of people that Federated surveyed were in favor of, or at least neutral to a "name change" to Macy's. To anyone who even remotely has knowledge of Chicago, or retail, or customer loyalty, the survey sounded fishy to say the least. So, from day one many of us have been highly skeptical of this survey; We questioned the manner in which it was conducted, wondered how many people were polled and in what locations, how they were selected, what they were asked and whether the specific name "Marshall Field's" was ever even mentioned to the survey subjects. For instance, were these a variety of long time May Co. department store customers, multi-state Field's customers, exclusively Chicago area shoppers, or random "man on the street" interviews?
Posted by: Private
Things are really bad at Macymart and I told Jim S. from P.R.and other employees at Federated that I have never seen things so bad at local Macy's stores. The "leading" Federated management team is out of touch and soon we will all realize that Lundgren's Macymart America plan will be remembered as one of the worst in history. Here is a quote from an employee as noted on the site topix.com I found it to be very telling...and I think you will too.
Posted by: Erick
Marshall Fields Fans! Let me hear you! Let's step it up to keep our cause in the media! Keep writing the Tribune and the dreadful Sun-Times!
Posted by: J. Kunsch
I called Macy's to get an updated card because they had failed to send me one. I had a Field's charge since 1976 and was told I needed a Macy's card to continue shopping there. I called them and asked for them to send me a card and they wanted to talk to my husband and would not send me a card without talking to him. I had all of my husband's info, SS#, we're married so it would be sent to the same address where the bills have gone for 30 some years. They refused to send me a card until they talked to my husband. I told the woman on the other end of the phone that she did not know who paid the bills for all these years or who was the predominant user on the card, and that she should send me the damn card. I still have not received one and am now going to have my husband call, because they won't listen to me, the person who opened the account, and have him CLOSE the account. Can you imagine any other store on Michigan Avenue refusing to send a customer a charge card to the existing address on the account. I will NEVER shop there again. I would rather go somewhere else and pay double the amount than give Macy's a dime of my money and mark my words I WILL!!!!!
Posted by: B
Hi All
Posted by: Carolyn (not my real name)
I am a former Marshall Field's sales associate, now a Macy's associate. At first I thought the name change wouldn't make that much of a difference, but it has. Many of my longtime customers have stopped shopping, even when I call them to tell them about special offers. Morale is very low among sales staff. We read this blog a lot, and some of us regret that this ever happened. We wish things could go back the way they were, but it doesn't look like the people at the top are getting the message. We want our Marshall Field's back too. We are all victims of this changeover.
Posted by: James McKay
Field's supporters are so very lucky to have people like "gle" who respond to letters. It's very important to respond.
ctc-TribLetter@tribune.com
Posted by: gle
I saw the pro-Macy's letter in the "Tribune" January 18. I try to respond promptly to Field's-related comments on the "Tribune" letters to the editor blogs, especially the ones that want us to "move on," "get over it," or "accept change." It's important that papers know we are still interested in the topic. The comments show up in a few hours. I am able to print out the screen just before sending in order to have a file copy.
Posted by: denise rule
irst, good job DARRID, from 1/18. i liked that! and then there's the New York Times.....it was amazing to be in such a huge publication, regardless of their leaning.....and it was great to see everyone quoted and the pictures at the bottom. but, pretty much a bummer when they chose to end quoting someone saying: 'she knows she speaks for all Chicagoans that we are all heartbroken'....'but, we're still shopping', as she holds up a macy's bag. BOOOOO! and also kind of not so favorable, or truthful ? when she writes of people who ran into Jim leafleting outside 111 State. she writes that they either sidestepped him OR took the handout and then walked into the store. was that it??? no. so, grand as it was to be recognized by this big-deal NYT, look how it sounded in the end. really sorry if i offended anyone. i'm writing about the article.
Posted by: R C
I am a transplanted Chicagoan who spent well over $100 each year at Field's when I visited my relatives in the summer. I am currently boycotting the Macy's in Akron in protest of Marshall Field's .
Posted by: nancy mcgovern
Now when someone compliments me and asks me where I got something, if it's from Field's, I no longer shrug it off, like "Oh, it's from Field's." (All those years, I took it for granted!)
Posted by: Drew
I will have to give the macy*mart employees in the Pittsburgh area some credit. In a way it's rather pathetic how the employees have tried to display the crummy merchandise in the most attractive way possible.
Posted by: A. Perkins
Thu Jan 18, 2:00 PM ET
Posted by: Jim McKay
Today's "Voice of the People" in the Chicago Tribune has an extended item from a Macy's fan. Please remember to write to the Tribune in response. The best way is as follows:
ctc-TribLetter@tribune.com
Posted by: SJK
Field's Fans:
Posted by: Steven
I for one was very disappointed in the NY Times article, yet another fluffy piece that makes it seem like this whole disaster results from nostalgia for the Marshall Field's of the past. I would like a columnist to come out and ask Terry Lundgren what planet he is living on if he thinks he has IMPROVED upon the State Street store. Please. Macy's has undone all the good things Target finally had done to make it an exciting place to shop again. Top level brands, shops within the store, weekly events. Macy's was, is and always will be the inferior brand to Marshall Field's.
Posted by: Darrid
Well after reading many of the other websites with comments about Marshall Field's and other missing stores, I could stand it no longer. I saw several comments such as "Well don't you have anything better to do or write about?" "Its just a store" or "Get over it."
Posted by: Erick
Happy New Year Marshall Fields Fans! I will send copies of my holiday shopping receipts to Mr. Lundgren today!
Posted by: Mike S
I have NOT cooled down since Macy's incredibly stupid mistake of trashing Field's. In fact, I remain furious and wish to join with you all to get our Marshall Field's back!
Posted by: David
Like all of you, I am a loyal Field's shopper, and I'm outraged at what Macy's has done. I want Marshall Field's to return to Chicago and be what it was to the city. I was one of the many that called Macy's personally to cancel my card and write letters to FDS. Now all we can do is hope. We are obviously making an impact, judging by what I'm reading about their desperation to gain customers. We can't give up no matter how long it takes, and I want you to know that I'm on your side and won't settle until Field's is back.
Posted by: Karole M
i am a native chicagoan and i instantly tore up my macy's charge card once i heard they were changing field's to macy's. furthermore, i am irate that we shoppers have no choice for department stores any longer. i live in california and when macy's took over "the world" they did away with robinson-may. i keep reading about what a wonderful change macy's is bringing to the retail world - let me tell you - their buyers are clueless. no one i know in this area can find anything they like in the new macy's. i wish we had a carson pirie scott or a dillard's here. at least chicago has some choice and hopefully carson's is benefitting from your boycott. kudos to you for your proactivity. keep up the good work.
Posted by: Ed
I guess it's a good thing if the media in New York is talking about what their icon is doing to our icon. Yet, I was dismayed that these articles continue to omit the URL for pro-Field's sites like this one. Clearly, the bias is towards NYC because it is an NYC paper, but would it kill them to mention how they can find more about us??????
Posted by: Alan
The NYT article was reasonably OK, given the source. If that were the Tribune publishing it, we'd think differently about it, but it's amazing that the NYT would mention it at all.
Posted by: Mike M
Yes, between the Reader article and The New York Times article, it has been a great week for press attention on the Macy's debacle in Chicago and the love of Chicagoans for Marshall Field's.
Posted by: JamesinMinneapolis
Hi All------
Posted by: O R
As a native (and former) Chicagoan, I was heartsick when the unimaginable occurred. I now live in the Boston area and refuse to even set foot in a Macy's anywhere but in New York. The flagship of any retailer should always be respected.
Thanks.
Posted by: Laura
I was reading a women's magazine I got in the mail today, and in the fashion credits it said that the clothing purchased could be found at Marshall Fields. Other items in the same article could be found at Macy's. An editing oversight, or do you think it might be a sign?
Posted by: gle
CONGRATULATIONS FIELD'S FANS ON THE "NEW YORK TIMES" ARTICLE!
Posted by: Alex Garcia
What has irked me most is not so much the condition of the State Street store itself. Since the conversion from MF to Macy's, that store looks fine IMO and the employees there are as nice as pie. That's likely because: 1) Macy's has not really had an opportunity yet to completely screw up the store (give them time); and 2) they know that State Street is a magnet for the wrath of Chicagoans should Macy's really screw up (and they will).
Posted by: Zelda
pIt is just so great that we made the NY Times! Even though the article seems to minimize the effects, the fact that our protest (begun in SEPTEMBER) is still a story in JANUARY says it all! And in the great NY newspaper at that!!! I smell victory, people!
Posted by: Jim McKay
Just breezin' through on break but about the New York Times article, there were many others here and elsewhere who made contributions (and as always, in other situations) in service to this cause. Among them, Gail, Doris, Erick, Denise, Marianne, of course Mike, and others... Gotta run for now. You all have my admiration and respect.
Posted by: Joe D
Congratulations Jim, Pat, and one of the Gayle's mentioned in the article!!!!
Posted by: JamesfromCA
Here is a link below to an article in today's New York Times. It's a bit biased towards Macy's IMO.
http://www.nytimes.com/2007/01/17/us/17chicago.html?ex=1169614800&en=d31bc7dc6205d193&ei=5099&partner=TOPIXNEWS
Posted by: Darrid
Well, I just got back from Chicago and my trip to Marshall Field's on State. It was the first time I had been back since the conversion in September.
Posted by: Steven
LOL. That was me with the comment to one of the letters at the Tribune online--it's what I say when people ask me if I don't have "more important" things to worry about.
Posted by: JP
Well if anyone wants to observe the right way to acquire a company and not tick off the consumers, observe what Supervalu did when they bought Jewel Osco. It's been almost a year since Jewel has switched ownership from Albertson's to Supervalu, but I have seen no HUGE difference inside the Jewel stores....the products are the same, the quality of produce is the same, the customer service is the same, the cash registers are the same, the phone systems are the same, the lighting is the same.....I think you get my point.....Supervalu understands the value of keeping a store the same or making it even better without making a huge tussle like Macy's did with Field's.
Posted by: Jim McKay
To "lucy" and others with similar interests: You can contact Terry Lungren and Frank Guzzetta (the two people you wish to write) through the macys.com website; however, in advance the response will be a spin about how much Macy's is better than Field's with some sort of coupon included -- they have been known to give vague statistics about Fields and some polls without specific details. In other words, they will attempt to convince you to be a Macy's customer. If you really want to make a difference and bring back Field's, save your writing for when you see articles in the media and write letters to the editor or board of directors.
Posted by: lucy
Anyone know if there's an e-mail address for Terry Lundgren or that guy who's in charge of Macy's North? I'd sure like to give 'em another piece of my mind. I already sent a letter, but I'd like to keep the message coming their way....
Posted by: News
It is likely that tomorrow's New York Times will have an article about the switch from Field's to Macy's.
Posted by: Jeanette Accomando
I feel that overall with most everything in life, tradition should be respected. And that Chicago tradition and originality have been in this case has been totally discounted. The venues of historical significance, and excellence in this case, are so lost for future Chicagoans.
Posted by: Jf
I have been shopping at Field's since 1950. I have a Marshall Field's credit card which I would like to use again. The clock on the corner is the Field's time. Macy's time is in New York.
Posted by: PatC
Check out Federated Dept Stores Forum
http://www.topix.net/forum/com/fd
Posted by: gle
While some newspapers may not seem overly interested in opinions of Field's customers, Wikipedia on the Internet goes into much detail about customer outrage over the name change in its entry on history of Marshall Field's. They even mention our protest of September 9, 2006, give the name or our website and offer several other links describing Field's customer reactions throughout the country. Good reading.
Posted by: Lody
Hi Everyone,
Posted by: Drew
Here's an interesting article about a management shake up at wally*world (another one of my "favorite" retailers):
Posted by: RG74
Dear Department Store Lovers,
Posted by:
FIELD REPORT
Posted by: P J J
I just received the ridiculous letter from Macy's offering me changes to my canceled account and giving me a $10 coupon! How dumb do they think we are?
Posted by: wiker park guy
Hey! What happened to us may be happening in Milwaukee to Midwest Airlines - the airline famous for their chocloate chip cookies.
Posted by: Michael Smith
So this past holiday season, Macy's took the Dicken's Village out of our now shuddered Strawbridge's flagship store in Philly. Although I feel like they made a great effort in that store for the holidays, I just couldn't seem to get Field's out of my mind, as i held onto my charge and shopped elsewhere... So a new twist for the Dicken's Village was that you could get your picture taken with the Spirit of Christmas present. I declined, but the Spirit asked me what I wanted to Christmas and I told him that I wanted Macy's to bring back Marshall Field's. He was kinda dumbstruck (as I was also had my Chicago Shops @ MF shirt on). Some of the people that were taking the pictures said that they were still in shock over losing the last of the grand dept. stores. So sad.....
Posted by: Jeff
What I think is ironic is that Macys has the buying power of 800 ish stores but the stores of the past that are the most loved revered and remembered were only 10 or 25 branches large. Nobody LOVES KMart or Wal Mart sure they shop there but people LOVE Marshall Fields, Burdines, Bullock's, Bullocks Wilshre, I Magnin, Kaufmanns, Bambergers, Daytons, Hudson's )etc...
Posted by: Jim McKay
Thanks again to all who helped leaflet today, be it on State Street or near your home. You are making a difference!
Chicago Reader Hot Type column by Michael Miner, "Don't Mention It: The 'Sun-Times' went east on Macy's over the holidays"
http://www.chicagoreader.com/features/stories/hottype/070112/
http://blogs.chicagoreader.com/news-bites/
http://rightcoast.typepad.com/rightcoast/2007/01/the_chicago_sun.html
Posted by: Jack Sullivan
I can't remember a time when my family didn't shop at Field's. If there was a wedding, birthday, Christmas, confirmation, baptismal gift or any other kind of gift to be bought, we went to Field's. We shopped at Field's because we trusted the quality of the products that the store sold. We felt like part of a family. We were cared for by the sales associates.
Posted by: B. REID
Macys is a horrible and unprofessional business. I shopped at Macys last week for two sean john polo shirts. mind you the display rack said 25% markdown from the original price. As i went up to the counter to pay for the shirts the saleswoman rang it up at full price. I told her the items are on sale see the rack. She shouted at me and said "well it was on sale yesterday and not today, they just didnt remove the sales signs!" The sales woman was the most unprofessional and ghetto she was so busy talking to some guy she just met that she blew me off and shouted at me saying YOU WANT DIS? I Demanded to see the manager and he arrived. The gentleman was so embarassed that it was her job to remove these signs before opening. so I got the shirts at the sales price. I started a commotion though because many other people checked their receipts and realised that they didnt get merchandise on sale. Macys will never get my business ever again. I will walk across the way to Dillards. At least their salespeople are professionals and make you feel like a customer instead of a parasite.
Posted by: anti-Macy's
Federated is destroying every store I ever loved, Burdines in South Florida, Famous Barr in the Midwest, but Marshall Fields is the last straw for me. My grandmother used to work there. My mother would buy me the most amazing presents, all wrapped up in the green and white box. They are messing with my childhood memories and what is worse Macys has terrible merchandise and service. I don't think they consider us better than sheep when it comes to quality or choice.
Posted by: Drew
I just received this letter from macy*mart:
Posted by: Doris in Chicago
Did you read what a Sun-Times editor said in the Chicago Reader? We [Macy's Boycotters] are upset because we're not getting enough attention. Silly me I thought the news media was to simply report the news--good, bad or indifferent. Is this Sun-Times official saying his paper opted to give Macy's more attention? Isn't this called one-sided reporting? Why would they choose to do such a thing? Aren't we just as important as Macy's?
Posted by: Michael in Baltimore
Here's something I found on a Philadelphia blog. If this change to Macy's is so damn great why is there trouble here on the East Coast where we just LOVE Macy's! Maybe they needed more room to either display the Donald Trump lines or else they needed a place to store the Frangos that nobody understands.
Posted by: Clint
After reviewing the Tribune's Voice of the People on 1/10 one response to one of the opinion pieces stood out. I personally think it's a great response to those who question the importance of the Field's cause. (See below for original piece)
Posted by: Carlos Lopez-Islas
January 12, 2007.
Posted by: Doris in Chicago
Jeremy and Max,
Posted by: James Miller
I think they will restore the Marshall Field's name. They won't like it, but they want to make money, and realize that State Street "Macy's" is becoming a symbol of generic decline in current culture as seen by Chicagoans.
Posted by: Doris in Chicago
Hello Field's Fans,
Posted by: Nancy Brix
I just found this blog today. I live in Connecticut and have not been a Macy's shopper for years. The 2 Macy's close to me are junk stores in appearance and in quality of merchandise. I was very upset when I heard that Macy's had bought Filenes, Marshall Field's and Lord and Taylor. [Lord and Taylor has since been sold by Federated and is not a part of Macy's or Field Fans' boycott.] They have created a monopoly which I will not be apart of. I now shop at Lord & Taylors or Nordstroms. My sister lives in Illinois and I have always enjoyed shopping at Marshall Fields when I visit a few times a year. I hope it returns! I certainly have joined your boycott of Macy's. Keep up the good work!
Posted by: Rex Wickland
Here's the text of an email I sent to Sandra Guy of the Sun Times re: her article on the Macy's "survey."
Posted by: Al
It's good to hear that the paint is starting to get chipped away from Federated's plaster smile. I just hope that in my lifetime Field's and many more stores will gain their dignity and local prominence (Bon Marche + Meier & Frank please!) back. I miss being able to tell shopping malls apart. This is the world we're living in now; A golden arches-starbucks-wal K-macy's-rite aid world.
Posted by: Bob Warsham
Posted by: Chris
Preston, you wrote:
Posted by: Jim McKay
Be sure to check out the Friday, January 12, 2007 issue of the "Chicago Reader." The "Hot Type" column by Mike Miner on page 4 of section 1 is especially about the Sun-Times and its Macy's connected content in the past months.
Posted by: Jeremy and Max
We are the grown children of lifelong Field's fans, and we feel cheated that this great store of worldwide renown has been taken from us just as we are starting to earn big bucks! Saks and Nordstrom are great stores but lack the great Chicago traditions we grew up on. Jeremy bought all his suits at Field's, and Max loved the high end designers, many of whom departed along with the revered Field's name. We have been boycotting since October and will continue to boycott until the day the great Marshall Field's re-opens.
Posted by: Jim McKay
As mentioned below, there has been some media activity related to our cause in the past day.
http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/opinion/chi-0701080156jan08,1,4328635.story
letters@suntimes.com
ctc-TribLetter@tribune.com
Posted by: LiMack
Boycott. B*O*Y*C*O*T*T
Posted by: Bob in DC
I am just back from Cleveland, where the three major downtown stores are all shuttered. One thing that was nice to see, at Field's former Cleveland subsidiary, Halle Bros., the annex is now called "The Marshall Field Building." Halle's was a great store, and in their last years (1970's) presented their name in the wonderful Marshall Field's script, as some of you will know did Frederick & Nelson and Ivey's.
Posted by: Doris in Chicago
Hello Fields Fans,
Posted by: Jim
Thanks for writing Carolynne. You bring up a lot of good points which otherwise get streamlined over in the media and other places. But if you look again below, you will see most people here are of your opinion. It's not about bringing back a name but everything it stands for as well--service, quality, uniqueness and a Chicago experience--and that is just for starters. A Macy's the name "Marshall Field's" placed on the door or tacked in front of the Macy's name just won't do for so many of us. A new owner seems to be the much more likeliest of parties who could do that.
Posted by: carolynne
everyone is listing such nice, flowery ideas about how to make Federated bring Marshall Field's good name back to State Street and elsewhere. These ideas are great, but there is just one problem. Does anyone really want the Macy junk like Style & Co and Alfani sold under the Marshall Field's name? Wouldnt that defeat the whole purpose? We'd bring back this great name and great store only to have it be sullied by poor quality merchandise, ineffective management and badly trained (and therefore rude) salespeople. This is what we'd most assuredly get since Federated would not want Marshall Field's to be as good or better than its crown jewel, Bloomingdales. And I know they wouldnt go through the trouble of creating an entirely different line of merchandise than Macy's (due to the whole cash-flow problem they always whine about).
Posted by: Native Chicagoan Lisa
During Christmas dinner my aunt, who had shopped at Field's for over 30 years, said she tried Macy's makeup counter and regretted it. She told the sales lady that she didn't appreciate Macy's "cheap shopping bags" with its "communist red star".
Posted by: Shannon Coyle
I grew up in Chicago and was naturally upset this Christmas to find myself not going to Fields for lunch under the tree for the first time in my memory. I live in Boston now, but come to Chicago to visit my mother and sisters for Christmas every year. This year, as usual my clutzy side came out and I broke an ornament, only this year it was a tragedy: I broke the Mrs. Holly Christopher Radko ornament and my mother was just devastated. Mr. Mistletoe is still alive, but a widower so we placed him facing into the tree this year. I'm telling my story here to see if maybe someone could help me to find a replacement? I've tried ebay to no avail. Please HELP!
Posted by: Preston
I recently had the oportunity to visit several of the "new" Macy's locations around Chicago. I in fact have visited new Macy's locations in Chicago, St. Louis, Dallas, Seatle, Portland, Boston, & Houston. As I do work for a competitor to Macy's it is my job to look for strengths that I can implement in our stores, but as a former resident of Chicago I understand that conection to Field's was not tangible and can translate that emotion to every market I visit. I must say that outside of New York, and San Francisco Federated stores remain inconsitant and unimpressive.
Posted by: Carlos C., Mexico City
I have just found out about the dreadful news. How come Macy's erased the great tradition and Invaluable Heritage of Marshall Field's?
This is a terrible thing! I just can't believe how does the current administration of Macy's do this awful devastation.
There is no excuse at all, for changing, erasing and destroying a landmark!
It has nothing to do with money or corporative acquisition. It has to do with History!
If Macy's is now the new owner of Marshall Field's (for whatever reason). They just can't take erase the name of America's most important and greatest store. They just can't.
It is like when The Coca Cola Company tried to change the formula of Coca Cola, for New Coke. It is Just Impossible!
Marshal Field's belongs to the people. It is not Macy's decision to do it.
How on earth can we stop this?
I would do anything to help. Please let me know.
I believe that together, there must be a way to preserve the heritage of "The World's Greatest Store."
Posted by: ANONYMOUS
Not only Chicago upset with Macy's---get a load of this story about a customer at a Hecht's converted to Macy's in NY---
http://retail.seekingalpha.com/article/23950
Posted by: tom zahnen
AS A FORMER ASSOCIATE OF MARSHALL FIELD'S/TARGET IT IS SAD TO SEE WHAT THEY HAVE DONE WITH A 150 YEAR OLD INSTITUTION. THE RED ADS ARE A DISGRACE, AS IS THE POOR QUALITY MERCHANDISE. AND THE IDEA THAT IF YOU GO INTO THE STORE TO ORDER STOCK MERCHANDISE SUCH AS WATERFORD WHICH THEY ARE OUT OF STOCK THEY HAVE THE NERVE TO CHARGE YOU 10.95 TO SHIP IT TO YOUR HOME. THAT IS IF YOU CAN FIND A SALESPERSON TO ASSIST YOU. AND THAT IS IN ONE OF THEIR "LEGACY MACY'S STORES (BURDINES) IN FLORIDA. LUNDRGEN'S NEXT STOP WILL PROBABLY BE KMART AFTER HE PUTS FEDERATED INTO BANKRUPTCY FOR THE SECOND TIME SAME FOR MACY'S. EVERYONE OWNING FDS STOCK SHOULD BE SURE TO VOTE NEGATIVE ON BOARD NOMINAIONS THIS YEAR.
Posted by: Jim
It seems pretty obvious to me that Federated nixed Marshall Field's also to build up Bloomingdale's. They didn't want two high-end name plates. That's why I think it's equally important to boycott Bloomingdale's as well as Macy's.
Posted by: darrid
The death knell ringeth!
Posted by: Jeff Melton
No analogy is ever perfect, but here's one I have been mulling about in my mind the past few days. Those of you familiar with these pharmacies feel free to say whether or not you agree or disagree...
Posted by: Chris
It was good to see some pro-Field's letters in the Trib this morning, though I'm sure they'll feel compelled to run some pro-Macy's ones as well. But at least some people out there get it.
Posted by: Doris in Chicago
Hello Fields Fans!
Posted by: LiMack
FIELD REPORT!!!!!
Posted by: Mark in Phila
Hello Fields Fans,
Posted by: Erick
In the winter of 2000, Carolyn Cippoletti headed to a Tiffany's to buy a silver necklace for her 12-year-old daughter. She was surprised by jostling crowds. "There was nobody in the diamond section -- everyone was in the silver jewelry," says the New City, N.Y., resident. "I felt like I was in Macy's."
Posted by: Alan
It seems the Sun-Times and Tribune are lining up on the opposite sides of the Marshall Field's/Macy's issue, if today's papers are any guides. The Trib posted more pro-Field's letters in response to its pro-Field's editorial. The Sun-Times published another thinly-veiled PR piece from Federated. Both are dependent on ad revenue. I wonder what the difference is.
Posted by: Billy Husbands
I went into my local Macys and I could not find many of the clothes I used to buy at Fields. It was all different clothes from what I am used to. Exactlty which clothing lines did Macys expire to make way for the Macys private labels? What happened to these brands? Are they all extinct?
Posted by: Erick
Holy Cow! Read these great Anti-Macy's letters to the editor in Today's Tribune!
http://newsblogs.chicagotribune.com/news_opinion_letters/
Posted by: Tom from Charleston, WV
Just read the pro-Mesy's article in the Sun-Times today. It never ceases to amaze me how far the local media in Chicago will go to advance Mesy's. One thing I have been doing is going to yahoo.com and putting Macy's in the search engine. Once you press enter you will see recent nationwide Mesy's articles. The biggest laugh of course just occured in Columbus Ohio where Mesy's spent $$$$$$$ on
Posted by: Marco Bautista
Patti in Indiana...You're absolutely right, Carson Pirie Scott is coming to Indianapolis. It's taking over the flagship Parisian store in downtown. It will start remodeling the store coming this March. The soon to be Carson's at the Circle Center will be the new Flagship Store and it will be the most Upscale than any other Carson's chain. The new Carson's at Circle Center will carry high end merchandise . It will be a good competition head to head with both Nordstrom and Macy's in your area.
Posted by: Joe D
This might have been mentioned before, but I guess it deserves another mention. Today I was sitting in a waiting room reading CHICAGO magazine. There were several full page macy's ads. In super tiny font on the top of the page, it said "Macy's North".
Posted by: Patti in Indiana
There was a dig at Macy's on tonight's Indianapolis news.
Posted by: Zelda
Hi Field's Fans,
Posted by: Doris in Chicago
HELLO FIELDS FANS,
Posted by: BJM
Word has it that Macy's is closing here in Lancaster, Ohio. It used to be Lazaras. Macy's has had lower quality merchandise and we would like to see something like Marshall Fields come here.
Posted by: Natalie Thompson
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