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90    ROCHELLE R. BRUNSON AND MARLENE M. REED


           EXHIBIT 7   Macy’s, Inc., Store Closings, 2008–2009
           Facility Location                       City                  Square Footage      No. of Employees
           Ernst & Young Plaza                 Los Angeles, CA              135,000                136
           The Citadel                         Colorado Springs, CO         195,000                105
           Westminster Mall                    Westminster, CO              190,000                 71
           Mauna Lani Bay Hotel                Island of Hawaii, HI           3,000                  3
           Lafayette Square                    Indianapolis, IN             160,000                 84
           Brookdale Center                    Brooklyn Center, MN          195,000                 72
           Crestwood Mall                      St. Louis, MO                166,000                 76
           Natrona Heights Plaza               Natrona Heights, PA           73,000                124
           Century III Furniture & Clearance   West Miffin, PA               83,000                  3
           Bellevue Center                     Nashville, TN                211,000                 76




                                      stores. While new store growth has slowed in the current economy, our long-term strategy
                                      is to continue to selectively add new stores while closing those that are underperforming.”
                                          A month later, a Wall Street Journal article on dated February 3, 2009, stated that
                                      Macy’s intends to shed 7,000 jobs or 4 percent of its workforce. Macy’s also is cutting its
                                      dividends by 62 percent, ending merit pay increases for executives, and slashing its 2009
                                      capital-spending budget by another $100 million to $150 million. The original budget was
                                      $1 billion (Dodes, 2009).
                                          Retail consultant Howard Davidowitz suggests that “Chief executives of retailers
                                      with high debt levels are especially vulnerable.” He pointed to Terry J. Lundren of Macy’s
                                      as “someone who needs to make significant progress after poor 2008 results and the ill-
                                      timed acquisition of May Company” (Bymes and McConnon, 2009).
                                          On a more positive level, Macy’s corporate vision contains the following statements:

                                        “A belief in the promise of the future with the energy and determination to get us there;
                                        A belief that our heritage mirrors the optimism, inclusion and integrity that provide for
                                        both stability and growth; and
                                        A belief that taking advantage of the right opportunities will continue to lead us to suc-
                                        cess in all that we do.”

                                          In lieu of the company’s optimistic vision statement and the serious economic down-
                                      turn in the economy of the United States, which resulted in the closing of 11 Macy’s stores,
                                      Lundgren and the rest of the company leadership were faced with determining an appropri-
                                      ate strategy to avoid more layoffs and store closings.

                                      References Cited
                                      Bymes, Nanette, and Aili McConnon. “Executives on a Tightrope.” BusinessWeek
                                        (January 19, 2009): 43.
                                      Dodes, Rachel. “Macy’s to Shed 7,000 jobs, Cut Payout by 62%.” Wall Street Journal
                                        (Februrary 3, 2009): B1.
                                      Farfun, Barbara. “Retail Recession News: Consumer Belief Makes It So.” October 29,
                                        2008. http://www.retailindustry.about.com
                                      Farfun, Barbara. “January 2009 Same Store Sales Figures: Complete U.S. Retail Industry
                                        Report.” January 29, 2009. http://www.retailindustry.about.com
                                      Farfun, Barbara. “2009. Retail Industry Job Cuts: Top U.S. Retail Employee Layoffs and
                                        Unemployment.” January 2009.  http://www.retailindustry.about.com
                                      “Macy’s, Inc. to Close 11 Stores.” Macy’s Press Release, January 8, 2009.
                                      Macy’s, Inc. Annual Report for 2008 (April 2009)
                                      Macy’s, Inc. Web site, http://www.macys.com
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