LYCOS RETRIEVER 
May Department Stores: New York
built 622 days ago
Executives at Cincinnati-based Federated and St. Louis-based May did not provide details about the closings and layoffs, but Federated said yesterday that most of May's regional department stores -- 491 in all -- will ultimately be converted to Macy's. That includes 40 Filene's in New England. Federated doesn't plan to change any names until next year, but if that happens, New England would lose a name that has been synonymous with shopping since William Filene, an immigrant from Germany, opened his first store in Boston in 1851.
Source:
The long-term forecast for department stores showed continued slow growth into 2000. This projection was based largely on the simple fact consumer spending would eventually slow or decline. According to a U.S. Department of Labor projection, retail sales adjusted for inflation should show an average annual growth rate of 2.5 percent from 1990 to 2005, compared with a 3.5 percent annual rate posted during the preceding 15 years. The key for retailers entering the next millennium would be the ability to attract new customers, regain old customers, and make existing operations more productive. Creative merchandising and keeping up with the fashion trends of the day would be a crucial component to gaining sales.
Source:
NEW YORK, Oct. 12 /PRNewswire/ -- Apparel and accessories for tween and teen girls inspired by the characters of the hit Nickelodeon show Zoey 101 will be available at all major department stores starting this week. The line takes its cue from the casual California looks of the show, which stars Jamie Lynn Spears as Zoey, a student at the newly co-ed Pacific Coast Academy boarding school.
Source:
The department store became one of the most durable creations of modern American life. Created in the heart of emerging business districts, department stores gradually became part of the landscape. The first department stores opened as early as 1846 in New York City. Although they primarily catered to the city's elite, early merchants ... wanted to make themselves accessible to women of all classes. So instead of keeping goods behind the counter, they openly displayed merchandise on the floor to encourage browsing.
Source:
MORE ABOUT
New York