Open Enrollment for Retail 101 at Macy’s The Workshop at Macy’s, the retailer’s women and minority vendor development program, begins accepting applications on Sept. 28 via macysinc.com/workshop (Graphic: Business Wire)

After two highly successful courses, The Workshop at Macy’s (NYSE:M),

the retailer’s innovative business of fashion program begins accepting

applications for the next class on Friday, Sept. 28 via

macysinc.com/workshop. With an aim of mentoring and fostering growth

with up-and-coming minority- and women-owned businesses, The Workshop at

Macy’s hopes to help these enterprises achieve and sustain positive and

successful vendor relationships. This industry-first initiative, which

began in spring of 2011, has already resulted in six current vendor

relationships with previous graduates, who have seen their unique goods

hit the market at select Macy’s stores across the nation.

“We are very excited to kick off the application process for the next

Workshop class,” said Shawn Outler, Macy’s group vice president of

Leased Businesses, Vendor Collaboration and Multicultural Business

Development. “This program was created to develop minority- and

women-owned businesses that make great product, but need real-world

knowledge and experience in the arena of a large scale nationwide

retailer. This program helps reinforce Macy’s long-standing commitment

to vendor diversity and to providing customers with unique goods and

services that meet their lifestyle.”

The Workshop at Macy’s is a four and one-half-day intensive training

course developed by a consortium of experts from Macy’s Learning &

Development, Macy’s Multicultural Merchandising and Vendor Development,

Babson College, the nation’s leading business school for

entrepreneurship, and with select Macy’s merchants and vendors. The

specially-designed business development curriculum is aimed at minority-

and women-owned retail businesses that make department store products

and are poised to grow beyond self-distribution or low volume retailing.

The goal of this annual program is to help create a pipeline of viable

enterprises that will grow to become successful partners within Macy’s

own vendor community, often bringing unique goods/trend perspectives to

stores across the country.

The Workshop at Macy’s allows selected participants to collaborate with

fellow aspiring vendors, gain access to industry experts and solicit

one-on-one business coaching. The course work includes classes on

merchandising and assortment planning, marketing, EDI, financial

management and access to capital.

The inaugural Workshop saw more than 1000 applicants, 22 of which were

selected for the program. Businesses ranged from makeup/skincare

companies to confectionaries, home textiles and ready-to-wear designers.

The most recently wrapped Workshop at Macy’s featured 17 new businesses.

Built as a long-term program to cultivate potential new vendors, as of

this month, six of those businesses have begun selling products at

Macy’s stores and online at macys.com. The Workshop team continues to

follow all past participants as they progress through the opportunities

outlined during the course for potential graduation to Macy’s vendor

status.

New applications will be accepted beginning on Sept. 28, 2012. To be

eligible, an applicant must be the majority (51 percent or more of

equity) owner, co-owner or otherwise have operational control (per

applicable status rules) of a business that has been in operation for a

least two consecutive years and be its primary decision maker. Eligible

applications will include a 250-word biographical statement, look

book/line sheets or images of product including costs, resumes on all

owners, financial statements for the business for two years, fall within

the minority- and women-owned definition of the program and provide

verification of the business as a legal entity (i.e. Corporation, LLC,

etc.), among other requirements. Applications must be submitted online

or postmarked by Feb. 3, 2013

by 11:59 p.m. ET. All information

including full program requirements are available online at www.macysinc.com/workshop.

All eligible applications will be reviewed and select applicants will be

asked to attend an in-person interview. Final selections will be made

after all prospective candidates are interviewed. The program will take

place in New York City in early May of 2013.

For more information on The Workshop at Macy’s, please visit www.macysinc.com/workshop.

About Macy’s

Macy’s, the largest retail brand of Macy’s, Inc., delivers fashion and

affordable luxury to customers at more than 800 locations in 45 states,

the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico and Guam. Macy’s stores and

macys.com offer distinctive assortments including the most desired

family of exclusive and fashion brands for him, her and home. Macy’s is

known for such epic events as Macy’s 4th of July Fireworks®

and the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade®, as well as

spectacular fashion shows, culinary events, flower shows and celebrity

appearances. Building on a 150-year tradition, Macy’s helps strengthen

communities by supporting local and national charities that make a

difference in the lives of our customers.

For Macy’s media materials, images and contacts, please visit our online

pressroom at www.macys.com/pressroom.

Photos/Multimedia Gallery Available: http://www.businesswire.com/cgi-bin/mmg.cgi?eid=50422649&lang=en

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