My Deep Dive into Macy’s Milestones
Okay, so today I decided I wanted to really understand what makes Macy’s such a big deal in the shopping world. Heard people talk about it forever, figured it was time I saw what the fuss was actually about.
Started by just punching “Macy’s history important things” into my browser, you know? Honestly expected some hella boring corporate stuff. Was ready to fall asleep right there at my desk.
Sifted through pages and pages of results. Took a coffee break in the middle, gotta be honest. But then I stumbled onto this goldmine of old articles and timelines.
Here’s what totally blew my mind:
- That Giant NYC Store Opened. Seriously? 1902? That’s like, ancient history! Seeing photos of it back then versus now is crazy. People were going bonkers over this giant shopping paradise. Imagine walking in there back then!
- They Started the Thanksgiving Day Parade! Wait, what? Hold up. You’re telling me the parade started by Macy’s employees just… for fun? Like, because they missed the carnivals back home? That blew my wig clean off! And now it’s this massive national thing everyone watches. That is legit nuts.
- Went National Like a Boss. They weren’t just some NYC shop forever. Found out they gobbled up stores like Marshall Field’s in Chicago. Think about walking into a famous store one day, and bam, next day it’s got Macy’s plastered over it. Must’ve been wild for locals.
- They Basically Invented Department Store Loyalty Programs? Okay, maybe not invented, but they pushed the Envelope Program way early. Like, sign up and get deals? Sounds normal now, but back then? Pretty smart move to keep folks coming back.
Reading all this stuff seriously changed how I see that big red star logo now. Feels like they’re kinda sewn into the fabric of America in this weird way.
Thinking about all this actually reminded me of my own horrible retail stint years ago. Landed a seasonal gig unpacking boxes in this massive warehouse. Bosses were micromanaging nightmares. One dude actually used a stopwatch on us stocking shelves!
Got screamed at for grabbing water during my scheduled break. Said I was “loitering” while I was chugging it. Place was crazier than cats in a room full of rocking chairs. Quit after two weeks, obviously.
Makes you wonder what the big shots upstairs at any of these huge retailers are really like. Probably a lot like my warehouse overlords, just with bigger salaries and fancier offices. Bet they had plenty of “stopwatch moments” driving things way back when!
Anyway, digging into Macy’s history was way more interesting than I thought. That parade thing alone is just… wow. You see that giant Snoopy float now and think, “Yeah, this started because some shop workers missed the circus.” Wild.
