Macy’s, Inc. announced a new strategy, “A Bold New Chapter,” designed to return the company to enterprise growth. The retailer’s leadership team created the plan and is reported to have the full support of Macy’s Board of Directors. The new strategy “balances the art and science of retail and is informed by comprehensive customer research.”

“A Bold New Chapter serves as a strong call to action. It challenges the status quo to create a more modern Macy’s, Inc. We are making the necessary moves to reinvigorate relationships with our customers through improved shopping experiences, relevant assortments and compelling value,” said Tony Spring, CEO of Macy’s, Inc. “Our teams are energized by the work ahead as we accelerate our path to market share gains, sustainable, profitable growth and value creation for our shareholders.”

The new strategy aligns with the Macy’s team across three strategic priorities:

  • Strengthens Macy’s Nameplate: Macy’s plans to put the customer first, prioritizing three key areas to return to top-line growth:
    1. Revitalizing the assortment to improve both relevance and value;
    2. Modernizing the shopping environment to facilitate a convenient, easy, and frictionless customer experience across channels with a continued focus on digital excellence; and
    3. Focusing resources by closing approximately 150 underproductive locations, including approximately 50 by the end of the fiscal year, and prioritizing investment in approximately 350 go-forward locations and the continued expansion of small-format stores.
  • Accelerates Luxury Growth: Macy’s, Inc. plans to take advantage of its leadership position in the luxury market, where Bloomingdale’s and Bluemercury have been outperforming within the Macy’s, Inc. portfolio and across the broader luxury landscape, by further growing its store fleet and digital presence. As part of the strategy, approximately 15 Bloomingdale’s nameplate stores and at least 30 new Bluemercury stores, along with roughly 30 Bluemercury remodels are anticipated to be opened in new and existing markets over the next three years.
  • Simplifies and Modernizes End-to-End Operations: Over the next three years, the organization plans to rationalize and monetize the supply chain asset portfolio, streamline fulfillment, improve inventory planning and allocation, and deliver a scalable technology platform. Across the organization, Macy’s, Inc. plans to align operations to anticipated future omni-demand and deliver a more efficient operating model that will allow the organization to better serve customers.

Financial Outcomes
With a strong financial foundation, Macy’s, Inc. said it is well-positioned to drive sustainable, profitable growth successfully and create shareholder value.

Beginning in 2025, Macy’s, Inc. expects:

  • Low single-digit annual comparable Owned, Licensed and Marketplace sales growth;
  • Annual SG&A dollar growth below the historic rate of inflation of 2 percent to 3 percent;
  • Annual Adjusted EBITDA dollar growth in the mid-single-digit range;
  • Capital spending to be below 2024 levels; and
  • Free cash flow to return to pre-pandemic levels.

Financial outcomes do not include any potential impact of the proposed credit card late fee ruling.

Image courtesy Macy’s/Bloomberg