How to Sell Clothing Products at Macy’s Department Store?

Macy's Department Store is an American giant with over a century of history. Even though they are a department store, they boast a wide range of products. Accessories, jewellery, furniture, presents, and even meals are available here. Their inventory has many product varieties that you wouldn't have ever considered would be available at a department store.

First of all, they're in charge of some 650 or so retail locations. That's a lot of business that your brand can become a part of. Because a single order from Macy's might mean millions of dollars for your business and your bottom line. That means getting an order from them and being consistent with them can mean 10x or 100x growth for your business.

Reasons for the reputation of Macy’s department stores

Macy's has proven that it can prosper in the face of major transformations in American malls. According to the department store chain's fourth consecutive quarter of sales improvements in FY 2020–21, some of its turnaround measures are beginning to pay off after three years of declines. As a result, the company boosted its per-share earnings forecast for 2022 and sounded upbeat about the fourth quarter and the holidays.

A Wall Street Journal story stated that Macy's is planning to close many of its local shops and focus more on the online ones. Customers will be able to pick up or return online orders, as well as skincare and other replenishment supplies, at these fulfilment sites. More self-service options will be made available at Macy's as well. Macy's Department Stores, like Kohl's, is considering renting out part of its empty space to other businesses in order to boost traffic.

In the meantime, the company is broadening the selection in its best-performing flagship stores and "magnet" stores, the focus of the company's capital expenditure. Adding its special discount strategy will help discourage customers from turning to places specialising in deep discounts. According to Macy's, the stores that feature backstage have witnessed an increase in sales and visitors.

Macy's is increasing the number of eateries and other types of businesses in its stores to increase foot traffic. Since 2015, Macy's has shuttered at least 124 shops, which is a better number than many competitors.

Between 2012 and 2017, brick-and-mortar department shops in the United States lost $20 billion in sales, a 4.6 percent yearly decline. As the market leader, Macy's saw its share of the market fall from 22.3 percent to 18.2 percent in 2017, while Kohl's off-mall concept gained traction, with its market share jumping around one percentage point to 18.1 percent.

Macy's is increasing its investment in mobile apps and other forms of technology, as are many other companies. The company reported double-digit growth in internet sales, with mobile revenues expected to reach $1 billion this year. Shoppers can also avoid the checkout line at Macy's by using the mobile scan-and-pay option.

The company has installed virtual smart mirrors in some stores, allowing customers to see how beauty goods would look on them before buying. The company also offers virtual reality stations in some of its stores, allowing customers to see how a piece of furniture would appear in their homes before buying it. This, according to the company, has improved furniture sales while decreasing returns. The corporation says it's also relying on data analytics for inventory planning.

In order to attract new customers, Macy's has overhauled its loyalty reward programme and made it available to all customers regardless of how they pay for their purchases.

Is there a third-party seller programme at Macy's?

Third-party vendors will be able to offer their goods at Macy's new marketplace. Products from third-party stores and brands are sold by Macy's through its partnership with these retailers and brands.

What does "vendor direct" mean at Macy's?"

Macy's Department Stores allow third-party companies to fulfil client purchases and mail goods directly to them as a result of their collaborations with third parties. According to Macy's customer data, a retailer can select and alter new goods through vendor direct, which it refers to as its consumer information programme.

How to get listed with Macy?

The process of getting listed with Macy's can be broken down into two steps. Your goods must be approved first, and then you must comply with their EDI specifications. Because this procedure is time-consuming and requires adherence to tight laws, it is important to understand these phases in order to expedite the whole process. Because of these rules, retailers can work with hundreds or even thousands of suppliers like you. In order to manage and organise enormous amounts of data, EDI compliance makes it simple.

Step 1: Start with a product submission for approval

You must first submit your products’ list for evaluation before you may be featured on Macy’s Online Platform. New and innovative products are always sought after by reputed platforms in order to keep their customer base interested in their offerings.

Here are a few strategies to help you get the thumbs-up:

1.       Describe the product's advantages in a brief paragraph or two.

2.       Include images of the product with your writing.

3.       Specify appropriate pricing and order details.

4.       Make sure to include patents or other evidence of the product's retail appeal in the application.

5.       In the event that you can, include consumer reviews.

6.       Include a photo of your product's packaging.

7.       Share your website address and phone number with others.

Recall that your goal is to convince Macy's about how they will benefit from carrying the products you are selling to them. In addition, it helps to show that you're enthusiastic about what you're promoting. It's also important to show that you intend to build a long-term relationship with the company. If you are promoting the product on behalf of the store, make sure to mention that.

Step 2: Set up the EDI

Macy’s is the most important department store to shop at in the United States. To become a supplier to them, you'll need to use EDI, which stands for Electronic Data Interchange.

Retailers like Macy's have their own set of EDI compliance criteria for department store chains. To have a better chance of getting your products on their shelves, be sure you can meet these conditions.

If you don't get EDI set up correctly, you may be subject to chargebacks from Macy's. You may be removed from the retailer's list if you do not correctly transact business documents. Integrating your ERP system with a cloud-hosted iPaaS solution is the first step in ensuring your EDI success.

Why is it a win-win situation to sell products with Macy’s?

It's not easy to get your products into Macy's Department Store, but once you are successful, everyone else will start paying attention to you. In this way, you'll get the attention of the greatest distributors and reps because you're selling to Macy's and other big retailers. When you open a single account at a chain store or department store, everyone will know about you, and you'll start getting phone calls. Because your company is expanding in general, you should explore your options.

One more reason why you should sell to Macy's is that they prefer doing business with women- and minority-owned businesses. If you are a female or minority-owned firm, you can show your certification to the company's diverse supplier area. They've received comprehensive training and are constantly on the lookout for new vendors to meet the unique needs of their clients.

This has led to a wide spectrum of potential suppliers being on the lookout to suit their needs. So if you're a woman or a minority-owned or a small-sized business, they're definitely looking into you. It's true that diversity is sought because their clients are diverse, and so if you can get certified and then go out to the diversity divisions, you'll have a better chance of succeeding in your job application process.

Final Words

Besides clothing, Macy's Department Stores also carry a wide variety of other products, making them a great place to sell. In addition to clothing and accessories, they also provide a wide range of housewares, jewellery, cosmetics, and bedding. They even have meals for sale. While they have an array of things on display in their stores, you can still find what you're looking for. So one reason you want to explore selling to them is that you will be ahead of your competitors.

You can definitely get creative at Macy's since they know it's a pleasant place to shop. That Macy's corporate headquarters site in New York is magical, and they allow you to test and do really intriguing stuff there.