Soft Sales Push Macy’s To Lower Outlook
Pacific Business News Article Today
“Macy’s Inc. posted a 77 percent decline in its second-quarter earnings on ongoing integration costs and weakened sales, forcing the department store chain to cut its annual profit outlook.”
Have you shopped at Macy’s lately? How was it?
With the exception of the Kailua store (where I hear fabulous comments), finding a salesperson is like finding the proverbial needle in a haystack. It seems like the bigger the store the worse it gets, with Ala Moana topping the list of empty register stations.
As excited as the Honolulu community was to see Macy’s arrive, the chorus I hear today is, “Bring back Liberty House”.
August 15th, 2007 at 9:38 pm
I shop from time to time at Macy’s downtown, Ala Moano, and Kahala Mall. I agree that it’s hard to find a salesperson, but when I find them, they are friendly and helpful. They even “walk my package” around the counter. I think they are well-trained, but under-staffed.
August 16th, 2007 at 9:16 am
I echo the liberty house choir. They were in touch with what people wanted and actually provided those things and excellent service. Macy’s is out of touch, a giant beurocracy IMHO. Too impersonal and disconnected. The sales people are generally nice, but not enough of them.
August 16th, 2007 at 10:16 am
The constant “on sale” signs make me feel like I would be stupid to buy anything not “on sale”. I wonder how much real business they miss with this approach. There are so many signs, I don’t believe them anyway.
August 16th, 2007 at 10:38 am
I tend to agree with all of the comments here;
Yes, they are nice people, BUT I don’t feel that I should have to work so hard to find one of them.
I used to sometimes complain about the service at Liberty House, but Macy’s makes them look superior.
I also agree that things are different in Kailua, which unfortunately is not convenient for me. I shop a lot at Ala Moana, but will only go to Macy’s as a last resort.
Yes; BRING BACK LIBERTY HOUSE!!!
August 16th, 2007 at 5:27 pm
Don’t get me going!
I went into the Ala Moana Macy’s store recently to buy a pair (or more) of jeans. It was about 7:00 PM and the men’s department looked like a morgue, especially when it came to salespeople.
I scrambled through all of the choices without any assistance, tried on a few pair, found one I liked and then began looking for a salesperson. I didn’t see one, so I put the jeans on an empty sales counter and went to look for belts. When I finally found the belts I saw a sales counter with a line of people patiently awaiting what appeared to be the only cashier on the floor, or at least in that area.
I calculated how long I had been in the store (about an hour) and added that to how long I might have to wait in that line, and then just left.
I went to Lucky Jeans where I got some super service as well as three pairs of jeans and a belt in less than 30 minutes.
Yes; Liberty House was better, but I fear they are gone for ever. At least we are lucky enough to have a few stores like Lucky Jeans in the mall.
Bigger is not better!
August 17th, 2007 at 12:20 pm
How about this one?
ATLANTA, Aug 15 (Reuters) - Retailer Macy’s Inc. said on Wednesday it may consider buying some apparel brands.
“We do believe that having brands and having exclusive merchandise is important,” Macy’s Chief Financial Officer Karen Hoguet said in response to a question during an earnings conference call. “So as you would expect, we might consider some of those.”
Many apparel brands are up for sale. For example, Liz Claiborne Inc. (LIZ.N: Quote, Profile, Research) is exploring options for Dana Buchman, Ellen Tracy and Sigrid Olsen and others.
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It seems to me that with “sales problems” (”…77 percent decline in its second-quarter earnings on ongoing integration costs and weakened sales…”) that learning how to sell would be more important than finding more stuff to buy.
August 18th, 2007 at 2:31 am
My husband wanted a new outfit and we went to Macy’s Ala Moana. My EXPECTATION was I would have to find everything myself and there would
be NO SERVICE. My husband, Eddie, however had the EXPECTATION that
someone would be there to help us. In the vast department we spotted
a young man. We called him over, explained what we specifically were looking for and despite his obvious inexperience made a valiant effort to help us.
He walked us over to the designer department where he found another
associate to assist us. By then I got into the spirit of EXPECTING good
service and by golly that is what we got. We walked out with two outfits
and my lesson that we create what we get. I agree with other shoppers this chain is very understaffed.