Macy's

Christmas '11: The Retail Forecast, a half-day conference presented by the Retail Marketing Society on Nov. 1 in New York City, showcased Morgan Stanley analysts naming eight cross-channel retailers they're betting on for success this holiday season.

Macy's announced plans to invest in a four-year, $400 million upgrade of its flagship store in Herald Square in New York City. The upgraded store will have expanded selling space and be equipped with more technology, including interactive product directories and streaming videos as well as an app for the outlet. Work will begin in early spring 2012 and continue in phases through the fall of 2015. "The excitement, size and scale of this remodel reinforces our conviction that Macy's Herald Square is and will remain a retail store in a class by itself," says Terry J. Lundgren, CEO

New York City -- Macy’s announced that its namesake stores across the country will open at midnight on Nov. 25, the midnight of Thanksgiving night, to kick off the 2011 holiday shopping season. It is the first time that Macy’s has opened its doors chainwide at midnight. The company’s Bloomingdale’s unit will open its doors on Black Friday at 8 a.m. Last year, Macy's opened eight stores at midnight. The rest of the stores opened at 4 a.m. Target announced Friday that it was also opening its doors at midnight for the first time ever on Black Friday.

New York-based Macy’s Inc. has announced a multiyear renovation of its flagship store at Herald Square in New York. The company is investing approximately $400 million in the project over the next four years. Additional selling space will be added to allow for expanded assortments and upgraded presentations in key merchandise categories, including shoes, handbags, cosmetics and fashion brands. Work will begin in early spring 2012 and continue in phases through fall 2015. The majority of every floor, virtually every department and the exterior of the building will be improved over the course of the renovation. The store will

Macy's says it will open all of its namesake stores at midnight following Thanksgiving for the first time, becoming the latest retailer to extend hours on the traditional kickoff to the holiday season. The opening is four hours earlier than last year. The Macy's stores, which number more than 800, will stay open for 23 hours straight and close at 11 p.m. on Friday, Nov. 25.

NEW YORK — Macy's announced that this week it will debut the new Giambattista Valli collection, the fourth in the retailer's series of limited-edition, designer capsules created exclusively for its Impulse department. Valli's first-ever collaboration will bring ultra-feminine, jet-set style to the affordable fashion arena for the holiday season, Macy's said. Giambattista Valli for Impulse only at Macy's" will be sold in approximately 225 Macy's stores nationwide and on macys.com/impulse beginning Oct. 26. Priced on average from $50-$150, the line will feature cocktail dresses, flirty skirts, feminine blouses and lightweight jackets in key textures such as lace, tweed, brocade,

More than 100 people were charged in a New York-based identity theft ring in which stolen credit card numbers were used to create fake cards that were given to teams of criminal "shoppers" for spending sprees at higher-end stores including Macy's, Bloomingdale's and Apple. In total, 111 people were charged and 86 are in custody.

Macy's is partnering with fit personalization software provider True Fit to launch virtual sizing technology on its website, mobile site and in-store kiosks. Using the technology, shoppers can see which of the retailer's clothes and shoes will fit them on screen — without having to physically try on the apparel.

Macy's is looking to get its stores to start using radio frequency identification technology sooner rather than later so that the company can manage its inventories better. The technology, known as RFID, will be used to help count items that are considered "replenishment goods."

RSR Research revealed the results of a new report titled The Local Approach: The State of Localized Advertising in Retail. While retailers struggle to create relevant local experiences in digital channels, they are also challenged to maintain their stores’ relevancy.