This year’s honorees include a Midwest retailer and two multi-store independents, one in New York and the other in New England.
Macy’s to close up to 40 stores
The retailer said although physical stores are vital to its omnichannel strategy, it must shut down stores that are lagging in sales.
Cincinnati--Early next year, Macy’s Inc. will close 35 to 40 underperforming stores, which represents about 5 percent of the total number of Macy’s stores.
While the exact locations will be announced at a later date, Macy’s said Tuesday the stores that’ll be closing have annual sales of $300 million, excluding sales expected to be retained in nearby stores and online.
The closings are taking place as it works to optimize its omnichannel approach to customers shopping across America.
“Physical stores remain absolutely vital to our omnichannel strategy,” said Macy’s CEO and Chairman Terry Lundgren. “As new shopping centers are opened, however, many customers change their shopping habits and often the sales volume of a store gets divided among the new and nearby, existing centers. Each year, we prune some stores that are our weakest performers so that we can concentrate our resources on the best locations and maintain a strong physical presence.”
He added that Macy’s opens a small number of new stores every year to fill in gaps in market coverage or take advantage of real estate opportunities.
As part of its omnichannel strategy, Macy’s also now offers same-day delivery for purchases made online in 17 cities, and has grown its digital offering to include apps and mobile-enhanced websites. Allowing customers to shop wherever, whenever and however they choose enables the retailer to “attract new customers and grow sales profitably,” Lundgren said.
“While making the decision to close stores is difficult, we know it is necessary for us to remain competitive as customer shopping patterns continue to change,” he said.
Macy’s is far from the only major chain retailer in the country that is closing stores.
AboutMoney’s list of U.S. retail chains’ store closings and downsizing plans for 2015 included jewelry-selling stores Sears (closing 77 stores), J.C. Penney (closing 40) and Walmart (2).
Other retailers on the list were Walgreens (200), Staples (55) and Gap/Gap Kids (35 stores by 2016).
Macy’s said its upcoming store closings will be communicated directly with employees in those locations prior to a public announcement, with the retailer adding that associates displaced by closings may be offered positions in nearby stores where possible. Severance benefits will be given to all eligible full- and part-time associates who are laid off due to a closing.
The retailer currently operates 770 Macy’s stores. In the past five years, the retailer has closed 52
RELATED CONTENT: Macy’s gets into the off-price business
Overall, Macy’s Inc. operates about 885 stores in 45 states, the District of Columbia, Guam and Puerto Rico under the Macy’s, Bloomingdale’s, Bloomingdale’s Outlet and Bluemercury names, as well as macys.com, bloomingdales.com and bluemercury.com. There’s also a Bloomingdale’s in Dubai, operated by Al Tayer Group LLC under a license agreement.
The Latest

As an homage to iconic crochet blankets, the necklace features the nostalgic motif through a kaleidoscope of cabochon-cut stones.

Discover the dozen up-and-coming brands exhibiting in the Design Atelier for the first time.

When investing in your jewelry business, it's important not to overlook the most crucial element of success: the sales associates.

The “Royal Ruby” Collection is a quintet of untreated rubies curated by collector Jack Abraham.


The entrepreneur and “Shark Tank” star will share his top tips for success.

Meredith Tiderington, an electrical engineering student, was selected for the award.

More shoppers are walking out without buying. Here’s how smart jewelers can bring them back—and the tool they need to do it right.

It will quit assigning the stones specific color and clarity grades in favor of applying “new descriptive terminology.”

From design trends to sustainability, here’s a roundup of can’t-miss education sessions at JCK Las Vegas.

The Jewelers’ Security Alliance offers advice for those attending the annual trade shows.

The designer is embracing bold pieces with weight to them in “AU79,” a collection she celebrated with a creative launch party.

On an earnings call, CEO J.K. Symancyk discussed what’s working for the company and how it’s preparing for the potential impact of tariffs.

The index partially rebounded after months of decline, due in part to the U.S.-China deal to temporarily reduce import tariffs.

The actress stars in the latest campaign set in Venice, Italy, and is set to participate in other creative initiatives for the jeweler.

The company has joined other labs, including GIA and Lotus Gemology, in adopting the Chinese term for "jadeite jade."

The large stone will be offered at its June sale along with a selection of secondary-type rubies from a new area of the Montepuez mine.

Located in Bangkok, the laboratory is Gemological Science International’s 14th location worldwide.

Those born in June have a myriad of options for their birthstone jewelry.

The diamond industry veteran has been named its senior sales executive.

The company plans to raise the prices of select watches to offset the impact of tariffs.

Between tariffs and the sky-high cost of gold, designers enter this year’s Las Vegas shows with a lot of questions and few answers.

Designed by founder Renato and his daughter Serena Cipullo, it showcases a flame motif representing unity and the power of gathering.

However, the tariffs remain in effect in the short term, as an appeals court has stayed the U.S. Court of International Trade’s decision.

The pop icon is one step closer to launching her “B Tiny” jewelry collection, a collection she first began posting about last fall.

Sponsored by Stuller

It was featured in the miner’s latest sale, which brought in $24.8 million.