post mortem: 6 years after the loss of Marshall Field's (Chicago: shop, move)

[plates]

Originally Posted by edsg25

this is funny. my experiences are like yours: in a few times, and each one was a walk through (for the record: only because it is on the pedway and, for what it is worth, going though it is the easies way to get to Millennium Park since there is no south walkway at the intersection of Randolph and Michigan)

plates, I'm not sure if Macy's on State was a store or a morgue. You could roll a bowling bowl straight through from State to Wabash and not hit a customer. Question is, for all the gains was supposed to get from combined advertising through the conversion, didn't they really turn what could have been a profitable store (but only if Marshall Field's was on the door) into a white elephant?

Macy's would have done better if they had just kept the name Marshall Fields and if they really wanted their name out there they should have said that it was part of Macy's. Changing the name, especially in Chicago, was a horrible business move.

[Chicagoist123]

Macy's sucks. It has nothing to do either with them getting rid of Marshall Fields. The quality is less in my opinion. I dont do Macy's just Nordstroms now which IMO is the best department store chain.

[55degrees]

I wonder if the CEOs really knew anything about Marshall Field's other than the fact that it's a dept store in Chicago. It was way more than that and changing the store (esp downtown) to some generic dept store (Macy's) was an insult and and (probably inadvertent) jab at this city's history. Aside from being a nice store, the Field's family was big in funding 2 of our most important institutions--U of C and the Field Museum.

[plates]

Originally Posted by 55degrees

I wonder if the CEOs really knew anything about Marshall Field's other than the fact that it's a dept store in Chicago. It was way more than that and changing the store (esp downtown) to some generic dept store (Macy's) was an insult and and (probably inadvertent) jab at this city's history. Aside from being a nice store, the Field's family was big in funding 2 of our most important institutions--U of C and the Field Museum.

So how about we buy Macy's and rename all of the stores to Marshall Field's?

[DrJoey]

Fields? I left Chicago and haven't looked back since Speigels left. The Walnut Room around Christmas was one of the creepiest things on earth.

[edsg25]

Originally Posted by plates

Macy's would have done better if they had just kept the name Marshall Fields and if they really wanted their name out there they should have said that it was part of Macy's. Changing the name, especially in Chicago, was a horrible business move.

but don't you agree that Macy's could have had its cake and eaten it, too. What would have been wrong with converting some Field's stores to Macy's while keep State Street and those other special locations (I'd say WTP, Old Orchard, Oakbrook, Woodfield, and possibly Northbrook Court) as Field's?

Here's another question to think about: if Macy's Inc. wanted to consolidate its companies so that it didn't have separate chains in each market, couldn't it have consolidated on the basis of 3 brands rather than 2? Those three would represent different type of department stores:

Macy's: middle/upper middle market with full array of departments

Bloomingdale's: upscale, trendy, more limited in scope than Macy's or Field's, but more full service than speciality chains like Neiman's and Saks

Field's: upper middle/high end, full array of departments, service oriented (Nordstrom like), traditional

In other words, it could work not just in Chicago but throughout Macy's Inc. In the Twin Cities, it could have kept Field's in its downtown Mpls location and converted the suburban Field's into Macy's. In other cities, it could have taken some branches of Macy's and made them into Field's; even in metro NYC that could have worked. and Macy's Inc. could even have opened a WTP sized Field's in midtown Manhattan to go along with Macy's and Bloomingdale's already being there.

in other words, Macy's Inc could have gotten creative and actually made things profitable rather than using the short sighted approach that dominates business today.

[plates]

Originally Posted by edsg25

but don't you agree that Macy's could have had its cake and eaten it, too. What would have been wrong with converting some Field's stores to Macy's while keep State Street and those other special locations (I'd say WTP, Old Orchard, Oakbrook, Woodfield, and possibly Northbrook Court) as Field's?

Here's another question to think about: if Macy's Inc. wanted to consolidate its companies so that it didn't have separate chains in each market, couldn't it have consolidated on the basis of 3 brands rather than 2? Those three would represent different type of department stores:

Macy's: middle/upper middle market with full array of departments

Bloomingdale's: upscale, trendy, more limited in scope than Macy's or Field's, but more full service than speciality chains like Neiman's and Saks

Field's: upper middle/high end, full array of departments, service oriented (Nordstrom like), traditional

In other words, it could work not just in Chicago but throughout Macy's Inc. In the Twin Cities, it could have kept Field's in its downtown Mpls location and converted the suburban Field's into Macy's. In other cities, it could have taken some branches of Macy's and made them into Field's; even in metro NYC that could have worked. and Macy's Inc. could even have opened a WTP sized Field's in midtown Manhattan to go along with Macy's and Bloomingdale's already being there.

in other words, Macy's Inc could have gotten creative and actually made things profitable rather than using the short sighted approach that dominates business today.

No, I think it was a bad move to rename any of the stores.

They could have renamed some stores and not had such a fallout, but it would have been in their best interest to keep the names. Change scares people.

[Chi-town Native]

let's call a spade a spade here though - when Dayton Hudson bought Field's it immediately starting going downhill. I hadn't been in Field's for years before Macy's bought it out.

[mangomadness]

When I was young, my aunt would take me downtown to Field's to eat on the 7th flr as a part of visiting one of the museums, taking a boat ride, or just doing general shopping. She was a Field's regular and loved getting Frango mints as well. Later in life, when I needed seasonal work one year, I worked a holiday season at Field's on State St and it was the most memorable experience. Had I been interested in a career in retail, I would have wanted to work there long term. I truly enjoyed the co-workers, the shoppers, browsing the different departments, the food both downstairs and on the 7th floor.

I was heartbroken and upset when Macy's was taking over. I had not stepped foot into a Macy's prior to this year when I was on the hunt for a nice (but affordable) dress to wear to a wedding. We were going to the Apple store in Oakbrook and we parked near Macy's. So I said I would take a look to see what they had to offer. I couldn't believe the poor selection available. It was prom season, so a lot of dresses for teen were to be expected, but wedding season is practically at the same time and THAT was all they had to offer? I lamented the demise of Field's once again and headed myself straight to Von Maur as planned. I have not returned since. Mainly because the store has little to offer that can't be found at other similar stores (or even at TJ Maxx) from what I could tell.

Macy's is the equivalent of Carson's back when it used to have a larger selection of brands. Nothing will replace Field's and I am still sad that it is gone. I personally believe that it was better that Macy's did change the name since they didn't plan on upholding the traditions of Field's. No need to taint the name and reputation of the Field's brand if you were going to half-a$$ it.

I'm glad I at least have my memories.

[ToriaT]

Nothing will replace Fields for most chicagoans. It was a stupid idea for them to get rid of the fields name and trademarks. However, times have changed and most people have moved on. Still I have yet to shop at Macys. I now go to Nordstroms if I want to shop a department store.