If Marshall Fields becomes known as Macy's, will you shop there?

Federated-May Merger a Bet on Dept. Stores

By JOHN NOLAN
Associated Press Writer
Published February 28, 2005, 4:18 PM CST

CINCINNATI -- Federated Department Stores Inc. plans to double its size by acquiring May Department Stores Co. in what amounts to an $11 billion bet that department stores have a future even as consumers increasingly shop at discounters and specialty stores.

"We believe passionately that department stores have a very important place in the ever-forming, ever-changing retail environment," Terry J. Lundgren, Federated's chairman, president and chief executive said Monday in announcing the cash-and-stock deal.

Many of May's department stores eventually will be converted to the Macy's name as Federated accelerates its strategy of creating a nationwide brand that would give it pricing leverage with suppliers. The transaction also would bring together the operator of Bloomingdale's with May's Marshall Field's, Lord & Taylor and Hecht's chains.

Federated would not say how many jobs will be cut or what the company would do in cases where it would control multiple department stores in malls. Analysts at Smith Barney estimates that 94 malls have stores with Federated and May nameplates.

http://www.chicagotribune.com/business/sns-ap-federated-may,1,46188.story?coll=chi-business-hed

and the quality instantly plummeted. So unless those same people who don't want to lose Marshall Field's complained back when Field's took over the Hudson's and Dayton's names, I'm not going to feel abnormally bad for them.

They are trying to turn the Bon Marche into Macy's. It's been stuck at "Bon/Macy's" for about a year now.

But I can't say I shop at Fields much.

before Field's had them.

http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/localnews/2002142494_frango06m.html

Now they can't even use the name in Seattle anymore.

Don't have this store in my area. Generally, I do not like huge megastores. And even if I have to shop there, I try to buy only Made in the USA things.

Old, venerable department store.

..but my boyfriend works there!

Everything changes. No sense of tradition.

:grr::argh:

I won't do it with a smile on my face. x(

Most department stores are redundant and undifferentiated in consumers' minds. Nordstrom has taken over Field's once-unassailable position of quality, service and high-end style.

I blame Dayton for destroying Field's uniqueness. All that's left is the visual grandeur of the State Street store - the handsome architecture, the Great Clock, the Walnut Room and the Tiffany Ceiling. Will these things survive a name change? Yes. Will Chicagoans still say "Field's" when we give directions or decide where to meet downtown? Yes.