Chicago Wants Marshall Field's-Not Macy's!


– Enewsletter – Field's Fans' Blog – Leaflets, Flyers, Etc. – FREE Pin-on Buttons! – Shopping Guide – Contact Us/About... ...LINKS (Highlights) – darrid.com – Matchless Field's – Chicago Postcard ...Museum Exhibit		EVEN NEW YORKERS WANT MARSHALL FIELD'S Be sure to read the September 14, 2009 issue of The New Yorker mag-azine. Demonstrating more than an understanding of Marshall Field's, Patricia Marx captures the ethos of Marshall Field's, beginning with, In the beginning there was Marshall Field's, a dry good concern that grew to be thirty-six acres of everything money could buy (111 North State Street). She goes on to ask the poignant question: [Marshall Field's] was sold to Macy's in 2005. Chicago has been in mourning ever since. How can one not grieve for an emporium--Field refused to call it a department store --whose slogan was "Give the lady what she wants"? The full version of Ms. Marx's article is only in the print edition of The New Yorker and paid area of newyorker.com. (The free on-line abstract does not include all of the discussion of Marshall Field's.) Even in New York City, it appears that they know it was a mistake to replace Marshall Field's with Macy's. A Return to Marshall Field’s in These Difficult Times Marshall Field’s was so many things on so many levels: world wide fashion and culinary trend setter; customer service leader; retail innovator; Chicago’s number three destination; an international name synonymous with Chicago at its very finest with something for everyone from the wealthy to the poor; and much more. In these difficult times, it is clear that we need a return to the corporate values that the store at 111 N State St. embodies when it is run in quality, service, and name as Marshall Field’s. The return of Field’s would be an exceptional antidote to these exceptional economic times. Your ongoing support & dedication to the return of Field’s at its best embodies what is needed in the world today. Our group continues to work hard to restore this icon’s distinctively Chicago quality, service and culture, as well as the name “Marshall Field’s.” Simply putting a “Marshall Field’s” sign on a “Macy’s quality” store won’t do. Among our many activities have been the distribution of over 130,000 buttons and lapel stickers and even more leaflets; the confrontation of Macy’s execs at the annual stock-holders meeting in Cincinnati; and rallies and letter-writing so as to sustain public awareness that Marshall Field’s can and should come back. Marshall Field's: More Than A Name For over 150 years, Marshall Field’s defined Chicago as an international city. More than just a department store and major tourist destination, Field’s set the standards for world-class quality in service, fashion, merchandise, food and culture. The world recognizes Marshall Field’s–once Chicago’s number three destination–as synonymous with Chicago at its very best. In 2006, Macy’s took away our beloved Marshall Field’s and made it one of over 800 Macy’s. Macy’s is no Marshall Field’s! Our group is working hard to restore this icon’s distinctively Chicago quality, service and culture, as well as the name “Marshall Field’s.” Simply putting a “Marshall Field’s” sign on a “Macy’s quality” store won’t do. Marshall Field’s Can Be Brought Back! While Macy’s has disregarded tens of thousands of petition signatures and letters in support of Field’s, it is starting to listen to a sustained reduction in sales at former Field’s stores. We urge you to send a message to Macy’s that Marshall Field’s must be brought back. The best way to do this is not to shop at Macy’s until Field’s is revived. Macy’s must come to understand that former Field’s stores are only of maximum value when they are operated as Marshall Field’s in quality, service & name. Every dollar you spend at Macy’s—and Bloomingdale’s—is a vote against bringing back Marshall Field’s. Every dollar you spend at Carson’s, Crate & Barrel, Garrett Popcorn, Nordstom’s, Von Maur, Sears, Fannie May or any other store sends a mes- sage to Macy’s that it must bring back Marshall Field’s. We want Field’s! Please urge your family and friends to help bring Back Field’s—Boycott Macy's. THREE WAYS TO GET STARTED Spread the word — Download, print and distribute leaflets. Show your loyalty to Marshall Field's — Wear one of our pin-on Buttons. Stay in touch about upcoming activities and rallies where you can help bring back Field's — Sign up for our email newsletter.
OPRAH FANS SNAP UP 1,000 BUTTONS & LEAFLETS IN 20 MINUTES (CHICAGO, September 8, 2009) "Joe" and "G" thought it would be a great idea to stand outside this past Tuesday's special Oprah taping on Michigan Avenue and pass out "I Want My Marshall Field's" buttons and rally leaflets. In record time of less than 20 minutes, 1,000 "I Want My Marshall Field's" buttons and 1,000 bookmark-style leaflets announcing this Sunday's rally were snapped up by the mid-day crowd until supplies were exhausted. Says Joe, "I was standing by the edge of the crowd, on the Michigan Avenue sidewalk and, started passing out leaflets and buttons. Those deeper in the crowd started waving their hands for buttons and leaflets. Twenty minutes later, all 1,000 buttons and 1,000 leaflets we had were gone!" It sure looks as if Oprah fans want their Marshall Field's! Thanks to Joe, "G" and everyone in the crowd who brought back the thrill of Marshall Field's to the Oprah fans! For the record: FieldsFansChicago.org and its activities -- including Tuesday's distribution of leaflets and buttons in the public right-of-way near the Oprah taping -- are in no way connected to nor sponsored or endorsed by Orah Winfrey, her show, her enterprises and her associates. 139,000+ Marking Special Milestones in The Movement to Bring Back Chicago's Marshall Field's (UPDATE, Dec. 17, 2009) Over 139,000 Leaflets & Over 134,000 Buttons & Lapel Stickers Distributed on State Street & World-wide. READ MORE Feb. 2, 2009 This is a sad day for all Macy's employees. Good will especailly goes out to those thousands who will be losing their positions. While economy has been hard on all retail, Macy's wouldn't be in such bad straights with enormous debt if they had not blundered by getting rid of beloved regional stores like Marshall Field's. Doing so has caused a decline for these converted stores BEFORE the recession. Had they not, Macy's would be in a much better position to weather the current downturn. It's a one-two punch: Macy's huge mistake to kill off its best (Marshall Field's); and then, as a result, Macy's ends up positioned poorly for the subsequent recession. Peruse this site and you will see that Macy's is STILL not what Chicago customers want. The "My Macy's" program initiated in 2008 is an admission that the original national chain model from 2005-2006 was not what customers wanted. But unlike other chains, why is Macy's so slow to recognize regional shopping interests and tastes? This is pretty basic to any store. Stores from JCPenney to Home Depot have had the equivalent of "My Macy's" for years. Why is Macy's surprised to learn that ladies shopping at the State Street store are more likely to want career dresses than at other Macy's? It bodes poorly that they claim to have just figured this out. Starting with its crazy move to replace Field's in merchandise, service and style, as well as in name, with Macy's, it's become clear that Macy's needs new direction to re-enage customers. Only then will they have hope that they will be profitable--or even around--after the recession. — Jim ONWARD! THE BOYCOTT IS WORKING FieldsFansChicago.org organizers steadfastly maintain, "As we continue our grassroots efforts to bring back Marshall Field's in all its glory, it is good to keep in mind that in corporate America, anything can happen. After seven years as part of Daimler, Chrysler is again an independent American auto company. 'AT&T Wireless' became 'Cingular' only to reverse course back to 'AT&T'. Great brands, like the Ford Taurus, can be resurrected after much consumer demand. And CEOs can admit they've lost touch with giving their customers what they really want, as the CEO of Starbuck's recently did. With the widespread perception that the conversion from Marshall Field's to Macy's is a huge corporate blunder, we look unflinchingly to the future and keep emphasizing that although Field's is gone for now, it can indeed come back--just as Coke did when consumers rejected New Coke. It is only a matter of time until those visionary business and civic leaders with the needed clout come forward to do what needs to be done.	HELP DISTRIBUTE LEAFLETS & BUTTONS ON STATE STREET THIS 2009 HOLIDAY SEASON Sat 12/5, Fri 12/11, Sun 12/13, Sat 12/19 & more! Email Info@FieldsFansChicago.org for information. Thanks to all who made it a huge sucess! RALLY FOR MARSHALL FIELD'S! RALLY FOR CHICAGO! ^^VIEW RALLY PHOTOS IN OUR GALLERY ABOVE^^ >>VIEW ORIGINAL EVENT DETAILS>> 78% 78% of 522 Chicago Shoppers Want Field's to Return: THREE YEARS LATER, SURVEY SHOWS CHICAGO OVERWHELMINGLY WANTS ITS MARSHALL FIELD'S (CHICAGO--May 15, 2009, Updated Noon, CDT) A just-completed survey of shoppers in Chicago’s Loop and on North Michigan Avenue indicates that 78% still want Marshall Field’s instead of Macy’s. The survey of 522 shoppers was conducted anonymously by the grassroots organization FieldsFansChicago.org. Participants responded to three questions regarding their shopping habits at the Chicago store that was Marshall Field’s until 2006 when it was converted to Macy’s. Participants’ brief comments during the survey questions were also noted. The three survey questions and results are as follows. The statistically rigorous survey had a margin of error of 4.2% ( < 5.0% ) with a confidence level of 95% and a response distribution of 50%. Do you prefer Marshall Field's, Macy's or both about the same? (522 responses) - 78.0% preferred Marshall Field's - 12.6% preferred Macy's - 9.4% preferred both equally Do you shop at the store more, less or about the same since the store became Macy's? (521 responses) - 8.6% said that they shop more - 72.2% said that they shop less - 19.2% said that they shop with the same frequency as before Would you shop at the store more, less or about the same if the store was converted back to Marshall Field's from Macy's? (520 responses) - 78.3% said that they would shop more - 2.9% said that they would shop less - 18.8% said that they would shop with the same frequency as they do now Three types of comments predominated with great regularity: (1) a number of shoppers not only shop less, they decidedly do not shop Macy's at all since the conversion; (2) they perceive the stores as having lesser-quality merchandise and service since the conversion to Macy's; and (3) many say that the conversion to Macy's was more than a name change--certain merchandise and a "Field's way" of doing business would have to be restored in addition to the name "Marshall Field's" before they would shop the stores again. Started in 2005, FieldsFansChicago.org is a grassroots organization that has staged protest rallies, letter-writing campaigns and boycott activities with the goal of restoring Marshall Field's in quality and service, as well as name. Its activities have included distributing more than 130,000 leaflets and pin-on buttons and media coverage at the local, national and international levels. Shareholder representatives with FieldsFansChicago.org presented these findings at Macy's, Inc.'s 2009 Annual Shareholders Meeting, which was held today in Cincinnati. Mr. Terry J. Lundgren, CEO, Chairperson and President, responded to the stockholders in attendance that he had a different take on the Chicago stores. One supporter of Marshall Field’s recently commented: "Now is the time for the restoration of Marshall Field's. It would absolutely warm Chicago's heart, and people would turn out in droves to shop there. If anything would get people to spend again, it would be such a turnaround. Lord knows we could use a sign to reassure us that all will be well again. That's what Marshall Field's stood for, if you think about it. In good times and bad, it was a gentle reminder of the good life. Marshall Field’s was a reminder of tradition and quality, even in the Great Depression. We need Marshall Field's more than ever." For further information, including questions about the methodology and results of the survey, please contact Jim McKay, Co-Organizer of FieldsFansChicago.org, at jjmckay@FieldsFansChicago.org. SPECIAL THANKS... To All Who Helped Make 2008 Leaflet and Button Distribution a Success: (CHICAGO, January 7, 2009) Thank you to all past and present who have done so much to help bring back Marshall Field's! Special thanks to those who helped make leafleting and button distribution on State Street a huge success in the past few weeks during the 2008 holiday season, especially Carol, Gail and Alfred, and, most of all, Gloria and Jon, who especially made it possible. 2nd Anniversary Rally Re-enactment & Evening Book Signing, Talk & Reception: Field's Fans Rally on State to Remind the World Chicago Wants Its Marshall Field's in Service, Quality & Name (CHICAGO, September 9, 2008) Roughly 50 Field's Fans took time from their busy work schedule, taking turns during lunch hour to rally in support of the return of Chicago's internationally renowned icon, Marshall Field's. Later in the evening, more Field's supporters came to hear forward-looking historian Joan Greene, author of Marshall Field's Food and Fashion: A Chicago Tradition. Ms. Greene gave a captivating and inspiring account of Marshall Field's local, national and international significance from the 1800s all the way through today. Please review details of our events for 9.9.2008. 2008 Annual Macy's, Inc. Shareholder Meeting: Marshall Field's Supporters Confront Macy's CEO Terry Lundgren (CINCINNATI, May 16, 2008) Chicago-based shareholders and representatives from FieldsFansChicago.org and Macy's CEO, Chairman and President Terry Lundgren engaged in a sometimes-heated Q & A about returning Marshall Field's to Chicago. The ten-minute long Q & A was at the end of Macy's 2008 Annual Shareholders Meeting in Cincinnati which was attended by hundreds. READ MORE The Second Annual Looptopia 2008 on State Street: Those Wearing "Forever Marshall Field's" Pin-on Buttons Outnumber Those Carrying Macy's Bags 7 to 1 (CHICAGO, May 3, 2008) Despite Macy's claims that their store is more appealing to young customers than Field's, the response to FieldsFansChicago.org during Looptopia demonstrated quite the ooposite. READ MORE
Revision of 12.17.2009 Email the webmaster at webmaster@fieldsfanschicago.org This site is NOT affiliated in any way with Marshall Field's, Macy's, Macy's, Inc., or its subsidiaries Clock image ©2006 D. Staub via CreativeCommons.org Some photos ©2008 or 2009 G. Evenson or ©2007 Timothy State ©2005, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009 All Rights Reserved.