Open Enrollment for Retail 101 at Macys 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 Macys (NYSE:M),
the retailers 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
Macys 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 Macys stores across the nation.
We are very excited to kick off the application process for the next
Workshop class, said Shawn Outler, Macys 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 Macys long-standing commitment
to vendor diversity and to providing customers with unique goods and
services that meet their lifestyle.
The Workshop at Macys is a four and one-half-day intensive training
course developed by a consortium of experts from Macys Learning &
Development, Macys Multicultural Merchandising and Vendor Development,
Babson College, the nations leading business school for
entrepreneurship, and with select Macys 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 Macys
own vendor community, often bringing unique goods/trend perspectives to
stores across the country.
The Workshop at Macys 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 Macys 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
Macys 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 Macys 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 Macys, please visit www.macysinc.com/workshop.
About Macys
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 Macys media materials, images and contacts, please visit our online
pressroom at www.macys.com/pressroom.
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