I think that Macy’s is a very segmented company that has great potential in its higher performing stores, while the lower performing stores really should be focused on discounts.
The growth stores especially are actually really great department stores that offer nice merchandise and a nice environment. I have noticed that out of all of the departments in Macy’s store is across the board, the home section minus Furniture seems to be the weakest. There simply isn’t the market for a lot of home items anymore because of the competition from other big box retailers. You can just go buy a bed and bath set in target or online. The cosmetics/jewelry/accessories department is ALWAYS busy! Men’s is also surprisingly good. Kids and the toys section could be a lot bigger in places as they are normally fairly trafficked as well. In my opinion I think that in the stores that have the ample room especially, Toys R Us could expand greatly. Make a dedicated counter for the store within a store and make it more visually appealing/ kept up. I don’t think that there is really any reason why a larger store like 3 flours or something shouldn’t have an e tire floor dedicated to toys r us and kids. It’s a brilliant strategy really and I think they should definitely expand upon the potential. Macy’s backstage is also extremely popular and is normally very busy when I go. I think that the lower reforming stores should definitely bank on possibly having an entire floor dedicated to that concept as well to help drive in more traffic and money to the store.
My point to all this is that I think that there are two types of Macy’s stores, higher end and discount. The company simply has too many full-line stores and bringing them up to standards where people actually want to go into them is a challenge. Maybe scaling back the home section and expanding upon the Toys R Us partnership and Macy’s backstage into certain locations based on the metrics of it will help?
4 replies (most recent on top)
I would hate to see your home if you think that Macy’s has a quality home store. It use to be quality but in the past five years it has gone down hill.
The Hotel Collection used to be mostly made in Portugal which meant quality. Now it is all made in India which is about the lowest quality textiles you can find. Wash it and it fades and shrinks a ridiculous amount. Charter Club and all of the unbranded sheet sets are total junk. The bed in a bags for 29.99 and so on are worse than Walmart.
The comp prices that are on the flannel
Sheets is laughable. Poor quality, poor design, lightweight and they put an unrealistic price on them and then say 70% off. I bought heavyweight German made flannel sheets at TJ Maxx for a lower price than Macys 70% off.
I purchased Martha Stewart towels and they faded and shrank so badly that I returned them.
The trim a tree department is on par with the dollar store. What happened to the quality Holiday Lane from the past where you could find beautiful unusual items that are worthy of becoming family heirlooms??? JG and his band of id--ts destroyed it.
There is no quality merchandise left in Macy’s home store.
Furniture is now total garbage. I wouldn’t buy a living room there even with my discount. It was embarrassing what they had to offer.
Housewares is now mostly unbranded. Brooklyn Steele cookware really? Gadgets and cutlery are that of a mass merchant big box.
Whoever is responsible for the home store needs to get the boot.
No clue what you are talking about. If it wasn’t for the home selection I wouldn’t shop at Macy’s. Thank god real people who actually know something about anything, are in charge. You are clearly clueless.
Great post! Where we can do better in smaller communities.........for example, I live in Wenatchee Washington where there is not much competition in home goods or clothing, except of course, on line. The Macy's store here is a great little store, but we are a booming community. Expand with a Furniture / home goods store. Thanks
I agree completely. Macy’s doesn’t know how to get Home right. The assortment is terrible and we don’t stand for anything. Value is fine, but it’s more convenient and appealing to shop at Williams Sonoma/Sur la table or other Big Box for housewares. Big stores in certain markets like Miami have amazing Home Stores…everywhere else it’s underwhelming.