Bell rings earlier for school shopping

Back-to-school shopping is taking a page from "Christmas creep." Just as retailers have been pushing holiday goods into stores before Halloween , stores have been getting an early jump on back-to-school sales.

[Jim]

Clearly Von Maur and Lord & Taylor are getting former Marshall Field's customers. Meanwhile, the downmarket Macy's is tanking.

[Spector]

Oh how I only wish that Von Maur would open downtown Chicago! It's such a great store, and even though it's much smaller, it's family-owned and has the same high quality of service and products as did our Marshall Field's. And having an interest free charge card and free shipping is just beyond compare. I can't understand why they keep opening their stores only out in the far western suburbs like this.

Joliet? Sheesh!

Von Maur, you ever hear of Northbrook Court? Michigan Avenue? Old Orchard? State Street?(111 N. State Street....?)

[Early xmas shopper]

Can Von Maur change its name to Marshall Field's; it's a very classy store. Messy's is a carpetbagging, low end department store.

[One of many]

I am glad Von Maur and Lord & Taylor recognize that customers still do want quality in a department store. I hope this can inspire a return to Marshall Field's as well.

[LOL]

Von Maur, please come to California. Good bye Macy's.

[Brad]

Didn't Macy's justify their actions to eliminate and replace Marshall Field's by telling everyone that regional and higher-end department stores were dinosaurs, unable to compete in today's retail marketplace? Macy's also said that their national mid-tier brand would capitalize on economies of scale in advertising, buying and branding and that Macy's would outperform the stores it replaced.

Well, Macy's couldn't have been more wrong. Marshall Field's was profitable and growing before Macy's moved in, but as Macy's the former Chicago area Field's locations saw an immediate drop in revenues and profits. Macy's never did win back all those loyal Field's customers and Nordstrom, Neiman's, Saks and Barneys have all stated how thrilled they've been to gain all those former Field's customers who have contributed to sales growth these last two years.

Now we see more examples of how wrong Macy's has been about the failings of regional and higher-end department stores with both Lord & Taylor and Von Maur finding success while Macy's continues to struggle and make excuses. To make matters even more embarrassing for Macy's, it once owned Lord & Taylor and sold about the same time that it eliminated Field's.

Lord & Taylor's new owners decided to capitalize on Lord & Taylor's history and reputation for quality and have restored a wonderful and successful brand. The same could be done with Marshall Field's, but perhaps with even more success in the midwest due to Field's extraordinary relationship with Chicago and with generations of loyal customers who even today continue to fight for Field's return.

[Early xmas shopper]

Brad, couldn't agree more with you. I think the retail landscape at 111 N. State may change after this holiday season. It will either be the closing of stores or the return of Marshall Field's. We obviously all hope for the later

[Phillip]

Looks like a dept. store can be successful if you provide superior service and quality merchandise. Too bad for Messy*s.

[Rich]

Von Maur is SUCH A GREAT Store -- wonderful assortments- superb personal service- great available extras such as gift wrapping -etc-- Von Maur is TERRIFIC! Lord & Taylor Also!-- it makes me miss Marshall Field's All the MORE!