History of Macy's

In 1858, a small dry goods shop opened its doors on the comer of 14th Street and 6th Avenue in New York City. Macy’s was founded in 1858 by Rowland Hussey Macy with the original name R. H. Macy & Co. Rowland Hussey Macy adopted a red star as his symbol of success, dating back to his days as a sailor. He was a crewman on a whaling ship, where he received a red star tattoo on his arm.

Macy’s first-year sales were approximately $85,000 with an advertising budget of $2,800. In the following years, Macy began to grow his fledgling business. He started by expanding into 11 nearby buildings and adding merchandise categories.

Under the close supervision of Margaret Getchell, a Macy cousin and pioneer businesswoman, the department store grew during and after the Civil War and would eventually become a chain by the end of the nineteenth century.

In 1887 Nathan and Isidor Straus agreed to a deal to purchase part interest in the company. The acquisition was made official the following year, and by 1896 they had assumed full control.

In 1902, the store was moved to Herald Square, to a nine-story store. As a result of its new location, the department store was promoted and drew both locals and tourists.

Over 150 years and 800 stores later, the company grown into "America's Department Store," bringing their customers an experience that goes beyond just everyday shopping. Macy’s, Inc. sells a wide range of merchandise, including apparel and accessories (men’s, women’s and children’s), cosmetics, home furnishings and other consumer goods.

Overwhelmed by debt, in 1994 Macy's merged with Federated Department Stores, Inc., then the largest department store company in the US.
History of Macy's