Macy's

Excitement abounds at Macy's. The company reported total sales of $27.9 billion, comparable store sales grew 2.8 percent (which includes sales from licensed departments), earnings rose 19 percent to $3.86 billion. The stores look terrific. Renovation of the Herald Square store is about 85 percent complete and is brimming with name brand vendors, from Gucci to Vuitton, Burberry to Longchamps, Michael Kors to Coach, Hermes to Tumi and Tom Ford to Bobbi Brown. The store has a new look, with updated departments such as the new shoe floor.

When Macy's reports fourth-quarter results tomorrow, there may be some commentary about weak sales of Martha Stewart merchandise in its home department. At least that's what Macy's said last month in a court filing seeking damages from J.C. Penney in a two-year-old lawsuit. "Post-trial sales have now taken place, and the sales figures show that the effect of J.C. Penney's conduct on Macy's sale of Martha Stewart Living Omnimedia goods was substantial," Macy's lawyers said. 

No industry has been more transfigured in the past year than retail. Stores now behave like websites, tracking consumers as they browse. American malls have pretty much died (but may be on their way back to life). And in some parts of the country you can have your milk and eggs delivered to your home, along with your new iPod, on the same day. Those who lead the field strike the right balance between physical and digital, experience and affordability, and convenience and quality. 

As to be expected at events in any industry, executives at the National Retail Federation's Big Show earlier this month lapsed into lazy talk, bandying about vague notions such as "customer-centric solutions," while ticking off hot retail buzz terms like "personalization" and "omnichannel selling" without always delivering concrete examples of what those terms will mean in 2014. But along with the nebulousness came some meaty insight on what's poised to revolutionize how retailers serve shoppers: big data. IBM Chairman and CEO Ginni Rometty did a good job of demystifyng the concept. 

There's a big difference between the Christmas results of J.C. Penney and Macy's. While Macy's rejoices about solid gains, J.C. Penney is pleased with the results but will not reveal the true facts. I've given the two approaches a lot of thought. In an environment where most companies failed to reveal their sales plan, the two companies were leaders in the retail industry. 

In the same breath as it announced a "successful" holiday season, Macy's said it would lay off some 2,500 employees as it attempts to achieve $100 million in savings a year. In addition to the workers losing their jobs, some associates will be reassigned or transferred, the retailer said. Not all open positions will be filled. Among the positions targeted: district merchandise planners for Macy's soft home categories, whose responsibilities will be handed off to regional and national organizers. Macy's said it plans to trim central office, administration and back-of-house expenses. 

Department store Macy's and Martha Stewart Living reached an agreement announced Thursday to settle a legal dispute regarding product branding. "Macy's has resolved its breach-of-contract lawsuit against Martha Stewart Living Omnimedia. We are pleased to be able to put this matter behind us," Macy's said in a statement. The terms of the settlement are confidential and won't be disclosed, according to a press release.

This holiday season, Bon-Ton has come out of the woodwork to try and wrest away customers from competitor J.C. Penney. Since 2011, when the company hired Brendan L. Hoffman as its new CEO, Bon-Ton has been doing its best to draw in younger customers, cut down on excess inventory and improve its e-commerce business — quite often using strategies perfected by Macy's. So far, the company seems pretty optimistic that it's going to succeed following an improved third quarter.

The New York City Commission on Human Rights issued a subpoena to Macy's Inc. last week demanding it turn over security policies and theft data. The subpoena gives Macy's and Bloomingdale's, both owned by Macy's Inc., until Dec. 10 to comply, Commissioner Patricia Gatling said. Old Navy and Banana Republic will also get subpoenas, she said.

The African-American actor who was arrested while shopping at Macy's in New York City is taking his complaint against the retailer nationwide, the New York Daily News reports. Rob Brown, the star of "Treme," has filed a new 42-page federal class-action lawsuit that says Macy's "policies and practices have left … customers of color feeling victimized, humiliated, traumatized." The lawsuit includes 14 other minority customers who allege their race raised criminal suspicion when they were shopping at the retailer's stores. It seeks a permanent injunction against Macy's to halt its behavior and compensatory and punitive damages for the claimants.