Macy’s, which earlier this month announced that it was eliminating its regional divisions, including Macy’s West, said Wednesday that its buyers for action sports and contemporary apparel will be based in California.
Jim Sluzewski, spokesman for Macy’s Inc., said in an interview with Shop-Eat-Surf that buyers for action sports will likely be based in Los Angeles; buyers for contemporary in San Francisco. All other buyers will work out of New York, he said.
Macy’s was still sorting out staffing, but Sluzewski said buyers should be in place by May.
Macy’s is the largest department store customer for many action sports brands. Macy’s West carries a large assortment of brands, especially in its young men departments.
Earlier this month, Macy’s essentially eliminated overlapping divisions in favor of one corporate entity to handle all buy orders. Jeffrey Gennette, currently chairman and CEO of Macy’s West, will become chief merchandising officer for the entire company. But Gennette will get feedback from local teams, which will be looking at what is selling in Macy’s stores as well as what the competition is selling.
The new strategy allows Macy’s to adjust its mix of brand, fabrics, colors and styles in every store.
For example, Sluzewski said that in Minneapolis, Macy’s found they had a great market for swimwear at its store in Mall of America. “In the middle of February, you usually don’t sell swimwear but here you do because across the street they have the (America’s) largest indoor water park and that draws tourists,” he said.
