US Retail Store Macy’s Turns 150 Years Old

Friday 31st of October 2008 02:19:31 PM

US Retail Store Macy’s Turns 150 Years Old

Though retail stores and chains come and go all the time, there are still some survivors. Macy’s, a United States department store, is one of the chains which has shown it is possible to thrive through good and bad economic times. The department store is celebrating 150 years of business this year.

Terry Lundgren is the Chief Executive Officer. He was quoted as saying, "By turning 150, Macy's joins the ranks of a very exclusive club of iconic brands. The longevity of the Macy's brand, its place in American culture, and its legacy of serving customers for five generations are extraordinary. It's amazing to consider that Macy's was doing business before many great brands like General Electric, Coca Cola, and Ford Motor Company were even born"

When you put the age of the department store in context with other great companies, it is easy to see how much history the Macy’s chain has witnessed. The store has been selling a variety of products from black t-shirts to furniture to generations of Americans. The store has also sponsored the Macy’s Day Parade in New York City for 82 years this year. Held every Thanksgiving Day, the parade is an American icon in itself.

The Macy’s birthday party was a big event in New York with many fashion celebrities attending. The celebrity guests include Sean Combs, Martha Stewart, Tommy Hilfiger and Kenneth Cole to name a few. The Empire State Building was lit in red in honor of Macy’s birthday celebration. To cap the celebration, fireworks were shot off the 34th Street Macy’s building.

Macy’s is a true success story. The flagship store is on the famous Harold Square on 34th street. The chain began as a relatively upscale dry goods store and has been growing ever since. There are now 800 Macy’s stores in the United States and they also have an online site.

(c ) Image by Jyn Meyer,www.sxc.hu