netrashetty
Netra Shetty
Macy’s Inc. (NYSE:M) is a clothing retailer selling men's, women's and children's clothes and accessories through 850 stores nationwide. Macy's Inc is divided into mid-tier Macy's and Bloomingdale's, an upper-tier store that sells more exclusive items. Macy's posted a net loss of over $4 million in fiscal 2009[1], a symptom of a challenging retail industry caused by the 2007 credit crunch as well as the subprime lending crisis.
The credit crunch has led to a decrease in consumer confidence, causing decreases in store sales and profits for this fiscal year. Bloomingdale's, as the higher-end chain, was hit especially hard during the third and fourth quarters of the fiscal year. Private label brands constituted 19% of total 2008 sales. Private brands have been receiving increased attention from retailers due to the increased control they have over the production and distribution of their own line. Also, they tend to have a higher profit margin than third-party goods. The credit crunch has also led to an increase in credit card balances and subsequently delinquent accounts. Macy's, as one of many retailers that extend a line of credit to their consumers, is thus susceptible to the risks inherent in a higher percentage of delinquent credit card balances. However, in October 2005 Macy's sold its credit business to Citigroup (C). As part of their agreement, Macy's shares any profits and losses related to the credit business. Therefore, Macy's exposure to increased credit card debt is mitigated through its partnership.
Contents
1 Business Overview
1.1 Business Financials
1.1.1 Q1 FY 2010 (ended May 1st, 2010)
1.1.2 Q2 FY 2010 (ended July 31st, 2010)
1.1.3 Q3 FY 2010 (ended October 31st, 2010)
1.2 Business Segments
1.2.1 Macy's
1.2.2 Bloomingdales
1.2.3 Online
1.2.4 Private Labels
2 Trends and Forces
2.1 Macy's Weathers Decrease in Consumer Spending
2.2 Private Label Brands Benefits Both Consumers and Retailers
2.3 Credit Card Losses Mitigated Through Partnership With Citigroup
2.4 Increases in Commodity Prices Will Raise Clothing Retailer Prices
3 Competition
4 References
Business Overview
Macy's and upscale Bloomingdale's sell men's, women's and children's apparel and accessories, cosmetics and home furnishings. Aside from its brick-and-mortar stores Macy's also operates macys.com, bloomingdales.com and Bloomingdale's by Mail in addition to an online bridal registry.[2] Macy's mostly sells products from third-party manufacturers, however the company also produces a number of private brands, such as Alfani and Club Room.[2] These private brands were responsible for 19% of sales in 2009.[3]
Business Financials
In 2009, Macy's had stores in evenly-distributed regions of the United States.[4]
Macy's reported net sales of $23.5 billion for fiscal 2009 (ended January 31, 2010), down 5.6% from 2008. [5]Since 2008 the tough retail environment brought about by the recession in the American economy has led to decreased consumer spending affecting retailers. Macy's had tried to influence more foot traffic through markdowns, however those markdowns have also eroded its profits. It has even begun to consider the possibility of starting outlet stores in order to get rid of some of its inventory and bolster sales.[6] Comparable stores sales decreased by 4.6% in 2008 and online sales at macys.com and bloomingdales.com increased.[7] The holiday season of 2008 was slower than usual for retailers as consumers cut back on their spending. In 2009 comparable store sales decreased 5.3% and online sales increased 19.6% from 2008. 2009 was a better year than 2008 due to the decrease in cost of goods sold by 7% to $13.9 million. Net income was $350 million for 2009, and improvement from the huge income loss of $4.8 billion in 2008. [8]
Financial Metric[9] Q1 2009 Q2 2009 Q3 2009 Q4 2009 FY 2009
Sales $5.200 B $5.164 B $5.277 B $7.85 B $20.49 B
Sales compared to 2008 Time Period (9.5%) (9.7%) (3.6%) (1.1%) (5.4%)
EPS ($0.16) $0.02 ($0.08) $1.10 $0.83
EPS compared to 2008 Time Period -$0.07 -$0.15 +$0.20 +12.25 +$12.23
Q1 FY 2010 (ended May 1st, 2010)
For the quarter, Macy's posted net sales $5.574 billion -- an increase of 7.2% compared to Q1 fiscal 2009.[10]
The sales growth was driven by a 34% increase in Macy's e-commerce sales.[10]
Macy's had a net income gain of $23 million -- compared to an $88 million loss in Q1 FY 2009.[10]
For fiscal 2010, Macy's expects comparable store sales growth to be in the range of 3 to 3.5% and earnings per diluted share to be in the range of $1.75 to $1.80.[10]
Q2 FY 2010 (ended July 31st, 2010)
Macy's reported EPS of 35 cents per share up from 2 cents per share year over year.
Net sales totaled $5.54 billion, up 7.2% year over year. Online sales rose 28.1%. Operating income was $288 million compared to $420 million in Q2 2009. [11]
Net income was $147 million compared to a loss of $81 million in Q2 2009. [12]
Q3 FY 2010 (ended October 31st, 2010)
Third quarter sales were $5.6 billion, which is a 6.6% increase from the same period last year. Same-store sales also increased 3.9% from last year. This was due to strong performance in online sales which increased 24% from last quarter.[13]
The company opened 2 Macy's stores and 3 Bloomingdale's Outlet stores.[13]
The company expects same-store sales in the fourth quarter to be up 3-4%.[13]
Macy's Inc's back to school clothes designed by Madonna and the American Rag Co. performed favorably. This led to an increase in same-store sales of 4.3% compared to August 2009. Total sales were $1.6 billion, which was 6.2% higher than August 2009.[14]
For September, comparable store sales increased by 4.8% and net store sales increased by 6.9% compared to August to $2.183 billion.[15]
Business Segments
Macy's
Macy's is one of the oldest department stores in the United States and an iconic retailing brand. It operates 810 stores nationwide and offers a huge array of top brands in all retailing categories. Events like the Macy's Thanksgiving Day parade, 4th of July Fireworks, holiday traditions, and celebrity appearances all contribute to the nationwide recognition of the Macy's name.
Macy's started the My Macy's initiative in 2008. This initiative is geared towards increasing sales through specifically altering the merchandise in individual stores to best suit the demographics of the surrounding areas. Macy's is in the process of expanding the My Macy's program throughout the entire country. In the fourth quarter of fiscal 2008, My Macy's stores performed 1.5% better than stores that did not have the program, and in the first quarter of fiscal 2009, that discrepancy increased to 2.1%.[16]
Bloomingdales
Bloomingdales is a nationwide upscale department store with 40 stores across the U.S. Bloomingdales will launch 4 outlet stores on the east coast in 2010 along with its first international stores in Dubai. Bloomingdales positions itself as an upscale contemporary division of Macy's Inc. carrying labels such as Louis Vuitton, Armani, and Burberry. It has personal shoppers, lounges, and top fitting rooms for the most discerning customers.
Online
Online sales are conducted through macys.com and bloomingdales.com. Online sales increased 20% in 2009 through these two websites. [17] Online sales shot up 38% in June and 22% in July 2010 year over year. [18] [19]
Private Labels
Macy's portfolio of 15 private labels include Alfani, Charter Club, Hotel Collection and Club Room. These brands are only available at Macy's. In 2009 private labels outperformed market brands and made up 19% of sales at Macy's. [20]
Trends and Forces
Macy's Weathers Decrease in Consumer Spending
The 2007 Credit Crunch and the stock market plunge have had an adverse effect on consumer confidence.[21] In 2008, consumers curbed spending on any item considered to be a luxury, and clothing is often one of the first to go. This decrease in spending hit hardest during the 2008 holiday season, which is a major revenue driver for retail companies. In the holiday season specifically comp store sales decreased by 7%. In 2008, Macy's had a net income loss of $4 billion. [22] In 2009 sales decreased 5.6% from 2008, but Macy's was better prepared for the tough economics climate. Macy's improved inventory management and the My Macy's localization program saved the firm $500 million in 2008 and 2009. Cost of sales decreased $1.1 million compared to 2009 resulting in improved net income of $320 million. [23] In Q1 2010 consumer spending has risen slightly and Macy's posted a strong quarter. This possible rebound of consumer confidence provides Macy's with an opportunity to continue to improve its financial performance since 2008.
Private Label Brands Benefits Both Consumers and Retailers
Private label brands are clothing lines whose design, production and distribution are controlled by the retailer itself. They are especially popular in department stores such as Macy's, J.C. Penney (JCP) and Saks (SKS). Private brands are an attractive choice for the retailer because they can produce exactly the pieces they want instead of looking for them among their suppliers. In addition, they have control over the quality and fabrication of garments under those lines so they are more able to control the costs of the goods. In addition, since they are produced and sold directly to the consumer, private brands are usually less expensive than brands from third-party companies. The lower price point makes private brands more attractive to low-income consumers as well as those hoping to curb their spending due to poor economic conditions. According to The Nielsen Co., private label sales have been increasing since the recession began and captured a high share of many departments of retail stores studied. In 2008, private label sales represented 16.3% of total retail sales in the U.S., up 5% from the previous year. [24] Private label sales represented 19% of Macy's 2009 sales, with the rest of sales coming from market brands. [25]
Credit Card Losses Mitigated Through Partnership With Citigroup
The 2007 Credit Crunch has made it increasingly difficult for people to secure financing through methods such as borrowing against their homes. Therefore, many consumers have resorted to credit cards to make purchases. As of the third quarter of 2007, credit card balances rose by 7%, compared to an average of 2% a year for the previous six years.[26] In addition, delinquency rates for the same period were 4.47%, compared to 4.24% during the same period the previous year.[26] As credit card balances rise, so do the proportion of delinquent balances. This is bad news for retailers that extend lines of credit to their consumers. Macy's, however, has an advantage in the sense that it shares profits and losses with Citibank, meaning it does not suffer the full blow from an unpaid credit balance. In addition, Macy's benefits from letting Citibank--which has more experience in handling credit--extend credit to Macy's customers. This allows Macy's to focus more energy on its retail business.
Increases in Commodity Prices Will Raise Clothing Retailer Prices
In 2010, cotton consumption exceeded cotton production for the fifth year in the row, making cotton prices increase by 80.5% from last year.[27] [28] In 2009, natural disasters also severely damaged crops in many large cotton producer countries, such as China, India, and Pakistan. This led to decreases in cotton exports from these countries and increases in cotton imports as these countries sought to supplement their supply of cotton. [29][30] With limited cotton supplies and rising prices, retailers will either have to absorb these higher material costs, restructure the composition of their clothing to have less cotton, or pass these higher costs to its consumers. Higher clothing prices or lower quality clothing could discourage consumer spending, resulting in decreased net sales. However, adult or teen clothing retailers may not be too adversely affected as their clothing (which is usually 30-40% cotton based) has more flexibility in their composition and thus, costs.
In addition, raising commodity prices in other areas will also raise costs for retailers. The price of shipping a 40-foot dry container from China to the US has increased by 90% since 2009. Lumber and coal prices increased 36.3% and 23.7% from last year, respectively, while oil prices increased by 40% in early 2010 but has now decreased back to a steady single digit increase for the year.[27] While premium price and established brands may be able to pass their higher costs to their consumers, value based companies may not fare as well and may suffer from lower profit margins.[27]
Competition
Macy’s faces strong competition in the retail industry from other retailers in their geographic areas, including other traditional, moderate or luxury department stores, specialty stores, general merchandise stores, off-price and discount stores and other forms of shopping including the Internet, mail order catalogs and television. Retailers competing with Macy’s include:
Other traditional department stores such as Bon-Ton Stores (BONT), Belk, Dillard's (DDS), and Sak’s Department Store Group[31]
Moderately priced department stores that have lower gross margins than traditional stores like Macy’s. These include J.C. Penney (JCP), Kohl's (KSS), and Sears Holdings (SHLD)[31]
Luxury department stores such as Neiman Marcus, Nordstrom (JWN) and Saks (SKS)[31]
Discount stores such as Target (TGT) and Wal-Mart Stores (WMT)[31]
Warehouse stores such as BJ's Wholesale Club (BJ), Costco Wholesale (COST) and Wal-Mart's Sam's Club.[31]
Off-Price stores such as Ross Stores (ROST) and TJX Companies (TJX).[31]
In terms of price point, Macy's faces stiffest competition from J.C. Penney (JCP) and Sears Holdings (SHLD):
J.C. Penney sells goods at a slightly lower price point than Macy's does. Since more than half its 2009 sales came from private labels, J.C. Penney places considerable effort in developing its own brands, which though they have a higher profit margin than third-party brands, they do not have the same name recognition that would come from a national or international line. In addition, private brands are usually produced to appeal to the greatest number of customers, meaning their designs tend to be more conservative than third-party brands. These safer, more tried-and-true designs can present a problem when they do not excite or interest consumers enough to compel them to spend money. As of fiscal 2009, Macy's had 850[32] stores in the United States whereas J.C. Penney had 1,008.[33]
Sears Holdings is composed of Sears, Kmart and Land's End. Sears sells home appliances, garden and fitness equipment and electronics. Kmart sells similar goods, along with home furnishings and clothing. Land's End sells clothes and accessories, primarily online and through catalogs. As a discount store, Kmart's price point is lower than that of Macy's, attracting a lower-income consumer. Sears Holdings is more focused on appliances and electronics, whereas Macy's is more focused on apparel and accessories. Sears Holdings had 3,900 stores as of the end of fiscal year 2009. [34], providing access to a much larger base of consumers than Macy's. The lower price point of Kmart stores also makes the chain more attractive to consumers looking to cut back on their spending considering the flagging American economy.
Luxury department stores such as Saks (SKS) operate at a higher price point, attracting a clientele with more disposable income. Discount stores operate at a much lower price point, attracting less affluent consumers. Macy's is distinct from warehouse stores in that it does not sell goods in bulk and operates at a higher price point. Below are charts comparing Macy's to the different retailers it competes with through the operational metrics of net or total sales and net income for fiscal year 2009(a loss is written in parenthesis).
Macy’s Comparison to other Department Stores
Macy’s Bon-Ton Stores JC Penney Kohl’s Nordstrom Dillard's Saks Sears
Net Sales ($ millions) 23,489[35] 3,034[36] 17,556[37] 17,178[38] 8,627[39] 6,226[40] 2,631[41] 44,043[42]
Net Income ($ millions) 350[43] (4)[44] 251[45] 991[46] 441[47] 68[48] (58)[49] 235[50]
Macy’s Comparison to Specialty Stores
Macy’s Aeropostale AnnTaylor Stores (ANN) Gap Limited Brands
Net Sales ($ millions) 23,489[51] 2,230[52] 1,828[53] 14,197[54] 8,632[55]
Net Income ($ millions) 350[56] 229[57] (18)[58] 1,102[59] 448[60]
Macy’s Comparison to Mass Merchandisers
Macy’s Walmart Target
Net Sales ($ millions) 23,489[61] 408,214[62] 65,357[63]
Net Income ($ millions) 350[64] 14,848[65] 2,488[66]
The credit crunch has led to a decrease in consumer confidence, causing decreases in store sales and profits for this fiscal year. Bloomingdale's, as the higher-end chain, was hit especially hard during the third and fourth quarters of the fiscal year. Private label brands constituted 19% of total 2008 sales. Private brands have been receiving increased attention from retailers due to the increased control they have over the production and distribution of their own line. Also, they tend to have a higher profit margin than third-party goods. The credit crunch has also led to an increase in credit card balances and subsequently delinquent accounts. Macy's, as one of many retailers that extend a line of credit to their consumers, is thus susceptible to the risks inherent in a higher percentage of delinquent credit card balances. However, in October 2005 Macy's sold its credit business to Citigroup (C). As part of their agreement, Macy's shares any profits and losses related to the credit business. Therefore, Macy's exposure to increased credit card debt is mitigated through its partnership.
Contents
1 Business Overview
1.1 Business Financials
1.1.1 Q1 FY 2010 (ended May 1st, 2010)
1.1.2 Q2 FY 2010 (ended July 31st, 2010)
1.1.3 Q3 FY 2010 (ended October 31st, 2010)
1.2 Business Segments
1.2.1 Macy's
1.2.2 Bloomingdales
1.2.3 Online
1.2.4 Private Labels
2 Trends and Forces
2.1 Macy's Weathers Decrease in Consumer Spending
2.2 Private Label Brands Benefits Both Consumers and Retailers
2.3 Credit Card Losses Mitigated Through Partnership With Citigroup
2.4 Increases in Commodity Prices Will Raise Clothing Retailer Prices
3 Competition
4 References
Business Overview
Macy's and upscale Bloomingdale's sell men's, women's and children's apparel and accessories, cosmetics and home furnishings. Aside from its brick-and-mortar stores Macy's also operates macys.com, bloomingdales.com and Bloomingdale's by Mail in addition to an online bridal registry.[2] Macy's mostly sells products from third-party manufacturers, however the company also produces a number of private brands, such as Alfani and Club Room.[2] These private brands were responsible for 19% of sales in 2009.[3]
Business Financials
In 2009, Macy's had stores in evenly-distributed regions of the United States.[4]
Macy's reported net sales of $23.5 billion for fiscal 2009 (ended January 31, 2010), down 5.6% from 2008. [5]Since 2008 the tough retail environment brought about by the recession in the American economy has led to decreased consumer spending affecting retailers. Macy's had tried to influence more foot traffic through markdowns, however those markdowns have also eroded its profits. It has even begun to consider the possibility of starting outlet stores in order to get rid of some of its inventory and bolster sales.[6] Comparable stores sales decreased by 4.6% in 2008 and online sales at macys.com and bloomingdales.com increased.[7] The holiday season of 2008 was slower than usual for retailers as consumers cut back on their spending. In 2009 comparable store sales decreased 5.3% and online sales increased 19.6% from 2008. 2009 was a better year than 2008 due to the decrease in cost of goods sold by 7% to $13.9 million. Net income was $350 million for 2009, and improvement from the huge income loss of $4.8 billion in 2008. [8]
Financial Metric[9] Q1 2009 Q2 2009 Q3 2009 Q4 2009 FY 2009
Sales $5.200 B $5.164 B $5.277 B $7.85 B $20.49 B
Sales compared to 2008 Time Period (9.5%) (9.7%) (3.6%) (1.1%) (5.4%)
EPS ($0.16) $0.02 ($0.08) $1.10 $0.83
EPS compared to 2008 Time Period -$0.07 -$0.15 +$0.20 +12.25 +$12.23
Q1 FY 2010 (ended May 1st, 2010)
For the quarter, Macy's posted net sales $5.574 billion -- an increase of 7.2% compared to Q1 fiscal 2009.[10]
The sales growth was driven by a 34% increase in Macy's e-commerce sales.[10]
Macy's had a net income gain of $23 million -- compared to an $88 million loss in Q1 FY 2009.[10]
For fiscal 2010, Macy's expects comparable store sales growth to be in the range of 3 to 3.5% and earnings per diluted share to be in the range of $1.75 to $1.80.[10]
Q2 FY 2010 (ended July 31st, 2010)
Macy's reported EPS of 35 cents per share up from 2 cents per share year over year.
Net sales totaled $5.54 billion, up 7.2% year over year. Online sales rose 28.1%. Operating income was $288 million compared to $420 million in Q2 2009. [11]
Net income was $147 million compared to a loss of $81 million in Q2 2009. [12]
Q3 FY 2010 (ended October 31st, 2010)
Third quarter sales were $5.6 billion, which is a 6.6% increase from the same period last year. Same-store sales also increased 3.9% from last year. This was due to strong performance in online sales which increased 24% from last quarter.[13]
The company opened 2 Macy's stores and 3 Bloomingdale's Outlet stores.[13]
The company expects same-store sales in the fourth quarter to be up 3-4%.[13]
Macy's Inc's back to school clothes designed by Madonna and the American Rag Co. performed favorably. This led to an increase in same-store sales of 4.3% compared to August 2009. Total sales were $1.6 billion, which was 6.2% higher than August 2009.[14]
For September, comparable store sales increased by 4.8% and net store sales increased by 6.9% compared to August to $2.183 billion.[15]
Business Segments
Macy's
Macy's is one of the oldest department stores in the United States and an iconic retailing brand. It operates 810 stores nationwide and offers a huge array of top brands in all retailing categories. Events like the Macy's Thanksgiving Day parade, 4th of July Fireworks, holiday traditions, and celebrity appearances all contribute to the nationwide recognition of the Macy's name.
Macy's started the My Macy's initiative in 2008. This initiative is geared towards increasing sales through specifically altering the merchandise in individual stores to best suit the demographics of the surrounding areas. Macy's is in the process of expanding the My Macy's program throughout the entire country. In the fourth quarter of fiscal 2008, My Macy's stores performed 1.5% better than stores that did not have the program, and in the first quarter of fiscal 2009, that discrepancy increased to 2.1%.[16]
Bloomingdales
Bloomingdales is a nationwide upscale department store with 40 stores across the U.S. Bloomingdales will launch 4 outlet stores on the east coast in 2010 along with its first international stores in Dubai. Bloomingdales positions itself as an upscale contemporary division of Macy's Inc. carrying labels such as Louis Vuitton, Armani, and Burberry. It has personal shoppers, lounges, and top fitting rooms for the most discerning customers.
Online
Online sales are conducted through macys.com and bloomingdales.com. Online sales increased 20% in 2009 through these two websites. [17] Online sales shot up 38% in June and 22% in July 2010 year over year. [18] [19]
Private Labels
Macy's portfolio of 15 private labels include Alfani, Charter Club, Hotel Collection and Club Room. These brands are only available at Macy's. In 2009 private labels outperformed market brands and made up 19% of sales at Macy's. [20]
Trends and Forces
Macy's Weathers Decrease in Consumer Spending
The 2007 Credit Crunch and the stock market plunge have had an adverse effect on consumer confidence.[21] In 2008, consumers curbed spending on any item considered to be a luxury, and clothing is often one of the first to go. This decrease in spending hit hardest during the 2008 holiday season, which is a major revenue driver for retail companies. In the holiday season specifically comp store sales decreased by 7%. In 2008, Macy's had a net income loss of $4 billion. [22] In 2009 sales decreased 5.6% from 2008, but Macy's was better prepared for the tough economics climate. Macy's improved inventory management and the My Macy's localization program saved the firm $500 million in 2008 and 2009. Cost of sales decreased $1.1 million compared to 2009 resulting in improved net income of $320 million. [23] In Q1 2010 consumer spending has risen slightly and Macy's posted a strong quarter. This possible rebound of consumer confidence provides Macy's with an opportunity to continue to improve its financial performance since 2008.
Private Label Brands Benefits Both Consumers and Retailers
Private label brands are clothing lines whose design, production and distribution are controlled by the retailer itself. They are especially popular in department stores such as Macy's, J.C. Penney (JCP) and Saks (SKS). Private brands are an attractive choice for the retailer because they can produce exactly the pieces they want instead of looking for them among their suppliers. In addition, they have control over the quality and fabrication of garments under those lines so they are more able to control the costs of the goods. In addition, since they are produced and sold directly to the consumer, private brands are usually less expensive than brands from third-party companies. The lower price point makes private brands more attractive to low-income consumers as well as those hoping to curb their spending due to poor economic conditions. According to The Nielsen Co., private label sales have been increasing since the recession began and captured a high share of many departments of retail stores studied. In 2008, private label sales represented 16.3% of total retail sales in the U.S., up 5% from the previous year. [24] Private label sales represented 19% of Macy's 2009 sales, with the rest of sales coming from market brands. [25]
Credit Card Losses Mitigated Through Partnership With Citigroup
The 2007 Credit Crunch has made it increasingly difficult for people to secure financing through methods such as borrowing against their homes. Therefore, many consumers have resorted to credit cards to make purchases. As of the third quarter of 2007, credit card balances rose by 7%, compared to an average of 2% a year for the previous six years.[26] In addition, delinquency rates for the same period were 4.47%, compared to 4.24% during the same period the previous year.[26] As credit card balances rise, so do the proportion of delinquent balances. This is bad news for retailers that extend lines of credit to their consumers. Macy's, however, has an advantage in the sense that it shares profits and losses with Citibank, meaning it does not suffer the full blow from an unpaid credit balance. In addition, Macy's benefits from letting Citibank--which has more experience in handling credit--extend credit to Macy's customers. This allows Macy's to focus more energy on its retail business.
Increases in Commodity Prices Will Raise Clothing Retailer Prices
In 2010, cotton consumption exceeded cotton production for the fifth year in the row, making cotton prices increase by 80.5% from last year.[27] [28] In 2009, natural disasters also severely damaged crops in many large cotton producer countries, such as China, India, and Pakistan. This led to decreases in cotton exports from these countries and increases in cotton imports as these countries sought to supplement their supply of cotton. [29][30] With limited cotton supplies and rising prices, retailers will either have to absorb these higher material costs, restructure the composition of their clothing to have less cotton, or pass these higher costs to its consumers. Higher clothing prices or lower quality clothing could discourage consumer spending, resulting in decreased net sales. However, adult or teen clothing retailers may not be too adversely affected as their clothing (which is usually 30-40% cotton based) has more flexibility in their composition and thus, costs.
In addition, raising commodity prices in other areas will also raise costs for retailers. The price of shipping a 40-foot dry container from China to the US has increased by 90% since 2009. Lumber and coal prices increased 36.3% and 23.7% from last year, respectively, while oil prices increased by 40% in early 2010 but has now decreased back to a steady single digit increase for the year.[27] While premium price and established brands may be able to pass their higher costs to their consumers, value based companies may not fare as well and may suffer from lower profit margins.[27]
Competition
Macy’s faces strong competition in the retail industry from other retailers in their geographic areas, including other traditional, moderate or luxury department stores, specialty stores, general merchandise stores, off-price and discount stores and other forms of shopping including the Internet, mail order catalogs and television. Retailers competing with Macy’s include:
Other traditional department stores such as Bon-Ton Stores (BONT), Belk, Dillard's (DDS), and Sak’s Department Store Group[31]
Moderately priced department stores that have lower gross margins than traditional stores like Macy’s. These include J.C. Penney (JCP), Kohl's (KSS), and Sears Holdings (SHLD)[31]
Luxury department stores such as Neiman Marcus, Nordstrom (JWN) and Saks (SKS)[31]
Discount stores such as Target (TGT) and Wal-Mart Stores (WMT)[31]
Warehouse stores such as BJ's Wholesale Club (BJ), Costco Wholesale (COST) and Wal-Mart's Sam's Club.[31]
Off-Price stores such as Ross Stores (ROST) and TJX Companies (TJX).[31]
In terms of price point, Macy's faces stiffest competition from J.C. Penney (JCP) and Sears Holdings (SHLD):
J.C. Penney sells goods at a slightly lower price point than Macy's does. Since more than half its 2009 sales came from private labels, J.C. Penney places considerable effort in developing its own brands, which though they have a higher profit margin than third-party brands, they do not have the same name recognition that would come from a national or international line. In addition, private brands are usually produced to appeal to the greatest number of customers, meaning their designs tend to be more conservative than third-party brands. These safer, more tried-and-true designs can present a problem when they do not excite or interest consumers enough to compel them to spend money. As of fiscal 2009, Macy's had 850[32] stores in the United States whereas J.C. Penney had 1,008.[33]
Sears Holdings is composed of Sears, Kmart and Land's End. Sears sells home appliances, garden and fitness equipment and electronics. Kmart sells similar goods, along with home furnishings and clothing. Land's End sells clothes and accessories, primarily online and through catalogs. As a discount store, Kmart's price point is lower than that of Macy's, attracting a lower-income consumer. Sears Holdings is more focused on appliances and electronics, whereas Macy's is more focused on apparel and accessories. Sears Holdings had 3,900 stores as of the end of fiscal year 2009. [34], providing access to a much larger base of consumers than Macy's. The lower price point of Kmart stores also makes the chain more attractive to consumers looking to cut back on their spending considering the flagging American economy.
Luxury department stores such as Saks (SKS) operate at a higher price point, attracting a clientele with more disposable income. Discount stores operate at a much lower price point, attracting less affluent consumers. Macy's is distinct from warehouse stores in that it does not sell goods in bulk and operates at a higher price point. Below are charts comparing Macy's to the different retailers it competes with through the operational metrics of net or total sales and net income for fiscal year 2009(a loss is written in parenthesis).
Macy’s Comparison to other Department Stores
Macy’s Bon-Ton Stores JC Penney Kohl’s Nordstrom Dillard's Saks Sears
Net Sales ($ millions) 23,489[35] 3,034[36] 17,556[37] 17,178[38] 8,627[39] 6,226[40] 2,631[41] 44,043[42]
Net Income ($ millions) 350[43] (4)[44] 251[45] 991[46] 441[47] 68[48] (58)[49] 235[50]
Macy’s Comparison to Specialty Stores
Macy’s Aeropostale AnnTaylor Stores (ANN) Gap Limited Brands
Net Sales ($ millions) 23,489[51] 2,230[52] 1,828[53] 14,197[54] 8,632[55]
Net Income ($ millions) 350[56] 229[57] (18)[58] 1,102[59] 448[60]
Macy’s Comparison to Mass Merchandisers
Macy’s Walmart Target
Net Sales ($ millions) 23,489[61] 408,214[62] 65,357[63]
Net Income ($ millions) 350[64] 14,848[65] 2,488[66]
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