There had to have been some kind of logic behind the leadership's thinking when they decided to implement this mess. Can we find it? For me, the entire thing is a complete mess but maybe I'm missing something important. Can anybody give us examples of improvements under ISM?
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I for one am baffled by this latest stunt Macy's executives try to pushed on all associates. For starters, it was a big epic fail from the start. How do you expect to train new associates and selling associates to merchandise, do markdowns and attempt to take in part with the visual aspects of merchandising? The answer is it will not happen quickly. Let me tell you about my store ( but I won't give the 3 digit store number) and what is happening so far...it is a mess and my store is going to he-l in a hand basket. For starters, my management team are just as clueless. No merchandising experience; dismal markdown results( due to a lot If callouts), and no consistency in pushing,this new system. They need to get rid of ISM because clearly it is making my store look awful. Never un my nine years working here have I seen my store in such a horrible state. they need to reinstate support team fast. ISM is not trending up, it needs to go away.
Aren't the sales associates and managers supposed to help with visual now?
Hey, all have fun hanging red ba--s and garland! That's only about a month or so away!
Let’s add more visual and get rid of visual teams wtf
At me store, things that needed to be different are still the same with ISM.
It’s a colossal failure on so many levels. I am at one of the 53 stores that rolled this out last year and we still can’t get it together. I can’t think of one positive thing other than the fact that it reduces costs. People are unhappy, Customer Service scores are in the toilet and the stores look like a dog’s breakfast. The creators of this program should be fired and the CEO too for approving this mess. I have customers taking pictures of the mess and posting them on social media. I’m wondering if this will make bigger news. Not the way to set innovative retail trends. Our customers expect more. DO BETTER Macy’s Executives!!
The whole plan for ISM is to cut costs. Macy's is following the same path as other retailers.
Though it's certainly true retail has changed but, with regard to some its most fundamental aspects, it's changed very little. I speak of the physical aspect of running a store. The merchandise still arrives on a truck. It needs to be processed by a crew (not a simple task) and then, even more challenging, merchandised by an "experienced" crew of associates who must place it on the selling floor according to plan and standards. The product is not bought per fixture nor square footage and the directions are widely open to interpretation. Thus floor moves might ensue in order to accommodate endlessly morphing business trends, as well as spaces either too large or too small. All of this, to emphasize, is accomplished by employees, not by RFID g-ns, conference calls, a walk-through, pod meetings and such. The physical aspect of running a store is much the same as it was a hundred years ago or, if not that, forty some years ago. Recovery, signing, cleaning and all the many procedural tasks require an army of workers to achieve. And I've only touched upon a piece of it.
Now, swing back 58 years to when the store in which I work was opened and one can glean a picture of what's occurred. With a little research and the assistance of a friend, I located an article in our local newspaper which stated that eight hundred and fifty people were to be hired to operate the store in 1963! I don't know what our current count is, but I would be surprised if it's even fifty. The store is the same size and the workload much the same. I might even suggest it's greater due to staffing shortages and increased assortments. Yes, some simplifications have occurred, but not nearly enough. Expectations are as high as always and "visits" still dominate. Everyone is relieved when they go well, but they don't truly represent what the store can achieve.
ISM is clearly an attempt to respond to the current situation but it's seriously flawed. For one, it does not account for skills and expertise. Everyone cannot do everything! Quality associates are not common. Customers expect better, and they should. Perhaps, it will continue for awhile but then revisited...I hope.
The only thing I got out of ISM are cr---y schedules. I feel completely screwed over by a company that I have been working in for 30+ yrs. Certain people get better shifts and don't have to deal with these stupid customers. I just give them what they ask for if something isn't on sale and they say it is I give to them. I don't open charges or try to get bronze either. I still get pulled to unload trucks so why did I get put on the floor. Its because the id--ts they hire don't show up to work. Most of them are stupid and lazy and do what they want. And if they put me in Backstage one more time. Im getting tired if waiting on the trash that permeates that he-l ho-e. God give me break.
Our store was part of the 53 stores pilot program ( ISM ) last year. I can't even think one positive thing.
Don’t worry. ISM will not last and they will go back to the drawing board for some other d-mb idea.
I may have help putting up all this orange wallpaper or at least have someone there to call 911 if I fall off the ladder in this heat
13 hours after your post and not one positive thing listed...I think that says it all right there!!
Great job Macy's for implementing one of your biggest failures yet!