An Unfiltered Opinion on Macy's Backstage

     It's not a secret that malls, department stores, and some inline tenants are struggling. Some of those have discovered solutions to keeping up with the present, and have saved themselves from bankruptcies, closing, and management changes. For example, Nordstrom has been doing extremely well recently, as Nordstrom Rack and their online store has been successful. Cincinnati, Ohio-based retailer Macy's has also seen the changing landscape of retail hurt their stores.
     Businesses owned by TJX (TJ Maxx, Marshalls, HomeGoods, Sierra Trading Post, HomeSense) have been raking in profits the past few years, selling brand names for less, and hurting the original-price retailers. And today we will look at my opinion on Macy's Backstage, a twist on Macy's to try to create a TJX-type store with discounted goods.
     The Backstage location we will look at today is at Stonecrest Mall (expect a post there sometime too) in Lithonia, GA. Here we are as we walk in:

     I think the area itself looked nice. It looked nothing like the rest of the store, instead being much more colorful. The organization of the area was pretty iffy. While the layout was done well, the shelves were messy sometimes. I heard of problems similar to this; commenters on Tonetoatl said some locations were organized like a Goodwill. An example of this was that in the handbags area, there was a cluttered shelf of assorted handbags. This isn't very shopping-friendly.

A view of walking into the Backstage area.

     It looked as if decent work was put into the area and it wasn't just a fenced off area. If you are wondering, the "Center Stage" area contains more seasonal type goods. The checkout area is similar to that of TJX locations, in that it contains seasonal goods and different foods.

A view left from the entrance.

Right from entrance.

And here's the entrance from the other side.

Checkout, accessories, and luggage areas.

     The success of the new prototype will probably depend on the area. There are six TJX or Bealls Outlet operations closer to me than a Macy's Backstage. I am much more likely to take a five or ten minute drive to my nearest Marshalls for clothes instead of Macy's Backstage at Gwinnett Place Mall (not like I would go to GPM for shopping anyway). But in Lithonia, the nearest TJX is in Conyers, 20 minutes away. The Stonecrest Backstage may get more business because of this. 

     I totally think that if Macy's really tries hard on Backstage and can improve their online store, they will be with us a little longer. Online shopping is the new thing, and if a business can succeed there, they will succeed normally. 

What is your opinion on Backstage? How is the operation near you? Would you regularly shop at a Backstage location?

Sears in Gwinnett Place Mall

     If one thing will stick out after Sears' demise, it will be their store in Gwinnett Place Mall. While you can expect to see a post on the mall itself sometime soon, today we will look at one of it's stores. It's Sears isn't a traditional one, as you may expect. I wouldn't post on just a normal mall store.

The Sears from afar. Looks so old-timey, but I like the change. Too bad it's in a visibly struggling mall.

     Looking at the picture, one of the first things you may notice is the logo. IMHO, it gives off vibes of historic department stores' downtown locations, which brings us to what makes it special. Sears execs decided to use the mall store as a new store design: a showroom-type feel.

And Sears from up close. I like the front, not as blocky and doesn't scream 80's mall. Gwinnett Place is from 1984.

     What came with the store design was a more modern look, better lighting, modern displays, more upscale goods, snacks at checkout, and an open floorplan. This was easily visible during my visit to the mall.

Nice atrium in the center of the store. Remember "Softer Side of Sears"?

     This Sears is, so far, completely unique. It has been one of the more successful Sears in GA from what I've heard, and I feel like more of these would help the company stay around a bit longer. I feel as if the improvements help the store sell more goods. The furniture areas are built like a Rooms To Go, as products are arranged to show what, say, a couch will look like in your living room. A "customer solution center" is located in the middle, helping customers get to sears.com and other useful advice. Expanded display areas for brands help them sell more clothing. The store itself feels more upscale, and what they sell there is more upscale (doesn't sell quad-digit dresses, but the products are more Macy's than JCP, for example). 

A quick picture of the outdoor furniture section.

     The "Duluth" model, as it's called, may finally be the solution to getting traffic to underperforming stores in struggling malls. More Sears traffic means more mall traffic, helping the other stores. I'm not saying it's the immortal mall key, but it would help. Maybe I'm just getting ahead of myself.

Shillito's of Cincinnati : Weekend Shopping E1S1

     This post may be the first of a series about little-known department stores and their deep histories. First up will be the department store of Shillito's (pronounced shil-uh-toes). Shillito's is an example of a classic 20th century department store, being more local and eventually being purchased by a larger company. That larger company (spoiler alert) Macy's, would be the buyer and turn it into their company. But, the history is much more than that.
     The John Shillito Company had pretty humble roots. "The Pioneer Merchant" came to Cincinnati in 1817 from his hometown in Pennsylvania. Though very young, being nine years at the time, he would quickly join the team at local shop Blatchley and Simpson. In 1830, he would leave his job at Blatchley's and meet with another merchant in James McLaughlin. The John Shillito - James McLaughlin partnership would only survive a year though. Despite the departure, a new Shillito, Burnett, and Pullen match was found. Land was secured for the company on the other side of Main Street, but was superseded when Shillito bought out his partners in 1837. Instead, he moved to a large store on Fourth Street.
     Only 20 years after the Fourth Street move, the company would move yet again, this time across the street into a new 5-story building. But Shillito's was still in need of more space, and in 1878 they would move again into their historic 6-story, 800,000 square feet hub designed by James McLaughlin's son. A famous landmark of the new building was its stunning octagonal light with its gothic details.
     Shortly after the opening of the new store, John Shillito would die at age 71. The business was taken over by Shillito's sons. Stewart Shillito took complete control in 1899, and discontinued the wholesale operation in 1913.
     The 1920's were no friends to the company. A fabrics price crash had the store filled with overpriced goods. The store fell in the Cincinnati department store hierarchy from first to fourth. It wasn't a concrete fact that Shillito's would see its centennial birthday.
     The Lazarus family operated a family-named department store in Columbus, OH. Many Cincinnatians believed Shillito's was a building of overpriced goods. However, that was soon to change. Lazarus took over Shillito's in 1928, introducing them to Cincinnati - based Federated Department Stores. The leader of Shillito's at the time quickly retired following the purchase. The new store opened up shop on November 11, 1928. Loaded with new merchandise and a new tea room, the new Shillito's was an instant hit.
     Interestingly, the store did great through the Depression Era. Shillito's yet again found themselves tight for space. The store would expand in 1937. Part of the expansion became a parking garage, an innovation at the time.
     Business would keep booming, and a new building was purchased kitty-corner across Elm Street. The former garage became more retail space. The old garage was expanded in 1956, and the top floor would hold offices for Shillito's parent company, Federated Department Stores. 
     For competition, other Cincy stores expanded into the suburbs as Shillito's stayed at one store. But Shillito's eventually jumped on board at the Tri-County Mall in 1960. Shillito's would continue anchor malls, including some in Kentucky.
     With the 80's came the dark ages of anchor consolidation. In 1982, Shillito's purchased Dayton - based rival Rike's, forming Shillito - Rike's. Only four years later, savior Lazarus purchased Shillito's dropping the latter's nameplate. It was instead called Lazarus - Macy's until 2005, when Macy's took over the nameplate. 

SHILLITO'S LIVES ON

     Despite the sad death and decline of Cincinnati's hometown store, you can see the remnants if you know where to look. The former downtown store has become loft apartments called "The Lofts at Shillito Place." The octagonal light still remains at the building. Behind Fayette Mall in Lexington, KY, where a former Shillito's location existed, is Shillito Park Road. John Shillito and his family were known as model Cincinnati citizens, and they showed so by embracing the African - American community by offering credit and jobs. 

FORMER BRANCH STORES

- Florence Mall, Florence, Kentucky, 1977

- Jefferson Mall, Louisville, Kentucky, 1979

- Tri-County Mall, Cincinnati, Ohio, 1960

- Fayette Mall, Lexington, Kentucky, 1971

- Oxmoor Mall, Louisville, Kentucky, 1970

- Beechmont Mall, Cincinnati, Ohio, 1969

- Kenwood Mall, Cincinnati, Ohio, 1966

- Western Woods, Cincinnati, Ohio, 1963

Early logo. The Department Store Museum

60's era logo. The Department Store Museum

Final and personal favorite logo. Sleek. The Department Store Museum