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Macy’s Inc. is laying off thousands of employees following a “disappointing” year that ended with a 5 percent slide in same-store holiday sales.
New York--Macy’s Inc. is laying off thousands of employees following a “disappointing” 2015 that ended with a 5 percent slide in same-store holiday sales, while competitor J.C. Penney saw comps rise.
Also on Wednesday, Macy’s released the full list of the 40 stores it announced it was closing back in September.
Four of the 40 closings took place in the final three quarters of 2015. They were at the Owings Mills Mall in Owings, Md., Bedford, N.H., the Essex Green Shopping Center in West Orange, N.J. and in downtown Pittsburgh.
Going-out-of-business sales already have started, or will start by Monday, at the remaining 36 stores; a complete list of the stores Macy’s is shuttering is available on the investor section of the company’s website.
Macy’s saw same-store sales decrease 5 percent year-over-year in November and December, due in part to the unusually warm weather in the Northeast impacting outerwear sales. Chairman and CEO Terry Lundgren said that the company also was impacted by the strong U.S. dollar, which translates to lower spending by foreign tourists.
He called the holiday selling season “challenging.”
Where Macy’s and Bloomingdale’s did do well--and where the retailer is directing its resources going forward--is online. Lundgren said the number of online orders filled at Macys.com and Bloomingdales.com reached a record 17 million and was up 25 percent year-over-year.
J.C. Penney, meanwhile, reported a 4 percent increase in same-store sales over the same period last year.
CEO Marvin Ellison, who succeeded longtime CEO Myron Ullman III in August, said the focus on private brands and omnichannel execution helped boost holiday sales.
The retailer’s online sales reached record levels in November and December. The company filled online orders using in-store inventory from a total of 250 stores, and offered an in-store pickup option at more than 1,000 locations.
“We look forward to capitalizing on this digital progress through 2016,” Ellison said.
J.C. Penney is scheduled to release its full fourth quarter and fiscal year results Feb. 26.
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