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krapug1


Joined: 09 Dec 2008
Posts: 18
Location: Hamptons, LI
Posted: Tue Sep 22, 2009 4:47 pm    Post subject: The Most Stupid Promo/Event That Your Store Ran  

This should be a fun post !

What was the most stupid promo or event that your store hosted ??

I'll start. When I was still in school (way back when) I took a job as a Evening/Weekend Supervisor at the brand new Abraham and Straus (A & S) in the Mall at Short Hills.

The Mall at Short Hills is an upscale mall to say the least, and at the time A & S arrived the other anchors were, Bloomingdales, Bonwit Teller and B. Altman.
Needless to say A & S was the "odd man out", and business
went nowhere fast. A & S regulars did not travel to the store, and the regular clientle of the mall looked down upon the store, and rarely ventured inside.

This was 1981, and the soap opera, General Hospital, was all the rage. So to generate buzz for the new store, an in store meet and greet was scheduled with the actors who played Luke and Laura. A stage was set up in the furniture department, and when we opened the doors at 10:00am, I joked that I could hear a stampede, well I was right, 500
teens ran into the store, and by 11:00 we were up to 2,000., and the local fire department ordered the 3rd floor closed to further patrons. So we wound up with 2,500 teenagers that had to be entertained until 1:00 pm.

At last count we had to turn 3,500 people away, and the Police were growing more and more concerned about the
amount of people refusing to leave.

Luke and Laura arrived and were advised by their "people" to leave since the crowd was unruly. They did go on, but cut short their "visit" to 30 minutes (it was supposed to be 90).

As the event ended the angry kids started to tear up the store, and the Police ordered the building shut down at 2:00 pm.

The end result being a near riot, loss of sales for a Saturday, and complaints that lasted for months.

A & S did pay everyone for their regular Saturday hours, and the commission deparments were paid pro-rate.

Needless to say it did not generate any new business for the store, and in fact the next 2 months of Saturday's saw business drop.

Ken

PS For the record, business at that A & S store finally improved when they started to stock the store with merch more be-fitting for the location, like the store they had in Manhassett, Long Island. The location is now a Macy's.
The other anchors today at this mall are: Bloomingdales,
Saks, Neiman-Marcus and Nordstrom.
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fashion101


Joined: 12 Dec 2007
Posts: 884
Posted: Tue Sep 22, 2009 5:30 pm    Post subject:  

The real question with Macy's should be.... Which one ISN'T stupid!
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Pollianna2


Joined: 03 Jan 2008
Posts: 1217
Location: ole wrap stand
Posted: Tue Sep 22, 2009 8:58 pm    Post subject:  

what amazed me is that they want you to press for donations..but they look like the shinning RED START Thumbs Up Team Wins yeah...
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NormaRae


Joined: 14 Jan 2008
Posts: 730
Posted: Wed Sep 23, 2009 4:30 am    Post subject:  

the most stupid event/promo, you ask ?

that's easy. it's the one running now (well, one of the 5 that are running now ! )

the come+together campaign. it is explained in detail in other recent threads.
basically, macy*s wants customers/employees to host a dinner party at their home, make all kinds of dishes/food, etc. then at said dinner, macy*s wants the hosts to ASK their dinner guests to pay their hosts MONEY ( i think they want a dollar donation but will gladly take much more than that ). then the hosts will in turn come into their local macy*s store and turn that money in as a donation.
wait, it gets better. after the hosts do all of the work, then macy*s makes the donation in their name (macy*s) and gets all the glory and the tax write-off !!
whadda ya think ?? Thumbs Up
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belldoll


Joined: 30 Nov 2008
Posts: 919
Location: CA
Posted: Wed Sep 23, 2009 5:25 am    Post subject:  

NormaRae wrote:
the most stupid event/promo, you ask ?

that's easy. it's the one running now (well, one of the 5 that are running now ! )

the come+together campaign. it is explained in detail in other recent threads.
basically, macy*s wants customers/employees to host a dinner party at their home, make all kinds of dishes/food, etc. then at said dinner, macy*s wants the hosts to ASK their dinner guests to pay their hosts MONEY ( i think they want a dollar donation but will gladly take much more than that ). then the hosts will in turn come into their local macy*s store and turn that money in as a donation.
wait, it gets better. after the hosts do all of the work, then macy*s makes the donation in their name (macy*s) and gets all the glory and the tax write-off !!
whadda ya think ?? Thumbs Up


Gotta agree on this one. I've been there for ....oh shit, too long, and the dinner party thing is downright the stupidest thing I've every heard.
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MAYcylady


Joined: 06 Jan 2008
Posts: 1957
Location: A Place Where No Thongs Are Not Allowed
Posted: Wed Sep 23, 2009 12:24 pm    Post subject:  

I predict that this one is going to be a big flop. I can't imagine who thought that it sounded like a good idea. With all of the advertising and promoting that they have done for this stupid thing, they could have donated that money and been done with it!
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NormaRae


Joined: 14 Jan 2008
Posts: 730
Posted: Thu Sep 24, 2009 5:35 am    Post subject:  

now why didn't i think of that ??? Doh!
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fashion101


Joined: 12 Dec 2007
Posts: 884
Posted: Thu Sep 24, 2009 10:44 pm    Post subject:  

MAYcylady wrote:
I predict that this one is going to be a big flop. I can't imagine who thought that it sounded like a good idea. With all of the advertising and promoting that they have done for this stupid thing, they could have donated that money and been done with it!

You would have thought between Donald Trump, Jessica Simpson, Martha Stewart, Tommy Hilfiger, Usher and whomever else is sitting at that table in the commercial, one of them could have thought of that!!!
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hudsmarshmacys


Joined: 09 Aug 2008
Posts: 364
Posted: Thu Sep 24, 2009 11:07 pm    Post subject:  

fashion101 wrote:
MAYcylady wrote:
I predict that this one is going to be a big flop. I can't imagine who thought that it sounded like a good idea. With all of the advertising and promoting that they have done for this stupid thing, they could have donated that money and been done with it!

You would have thought between Donald Trump, Jessica Simpson, Martha Stewart, Tommy Hilfiger, Usher and whomever else is sitting at that table in the commercial, one of them could have thought of that!!!


You're giving Jessica waaaaaaaaaaaaay too much credit here. Rolling Eyes
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MAYcylady


Joined: 06 Jan 2008
Posts: 1957
Location: A Place Where No Thongs Are Not Allowed
Posted: Thu Sep 24, 2009 11:25 pm    Post subject:  

Yeah, she was just trying to figure out if they were having tuna fish or chicken.
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fashion101


Joined: 12 Dec 2007
Posts: 884
Posted: Fri Sep 25, 2009 12:07 am    Post subject:  

MAYcylady wrote:
Yeah, she was just trying to figure out if they were having tuna fish or chicken.

I was planning on having Chicken of The Sea for my dinner party!
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friendofmacy


Joined: 06 Jan 2008
Posts: 1810
Location: It's NewDepotGuy - Using Acid to open Polli's special safe!
Posted: Fri Sep 25, 2009 1:51 am    Post subject:  

Whats wrong with aerosol cheese and day old bread?
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belldoll


Joined: 30 Nov 2008
Posts: 919
Location: CA
Posted: Sat Sep 26, 2009 6:22 am    Post subject:  

OK, now they're playing "Come Together" by the Beatles, but in instrumental form. I love that song, but if Macy's plays it constantly, I'm afraid I'll hate it.
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hudsmarshmacys


Joined: 09 Aug 2008
Posts: 364
Posted: Sat Sep 26, 2009 3:20 pm    Post subject:  

belldoll wrote:
OK, now they're playing "Come Together" by the Beatles, but in instrumental form. I love that song, but if Macy's plays it constantly, I'm afraid I'll hate it.


They started yesterday, and played some version of it nearly every twenty minutes.

I hate it now. Sad
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MAYcylady


Joined: 06 Jan 2008
Posts: 1957
Location: A Place Where No Thongs Are Not Allowed
Posted: Sat Sep 26, 2009 5:31 pm    Post subject:  

I would agree that this is by far the stupidest thing that they have ever come up with. I used to think that it was Thanks for Sharing...give me $25.00 and I'll give $10 of it to charity and keep the other $15, but this has that waaaay beat.
And the marketing to sell housewares and clothing to go along with your fundraising dinner party is just hillarious. The person that came up with this will be thrown out on his ear before this is all said and done.
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belldoll


Joined: 30 Nov 2008
Posts: 919
Location: CA
Posted: Sat Sep 26, 2009 5:49 pm    Post subject:  

hudsmarshmacys wrote:
belldoll wrote:
OK, now they're playing "Come Together" by the Beatles, but in instrumental form. I love that song, but if Macy's plays it constantly, I'm afraid I'll hate it.


They started yesterday, and played some version of it nearly every twenty minutes.

I hate it now. Sad

It's a conspiracy for us to hate the Beatles...
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belldoll


Joined: 30 Nov 2008
Posts: 919
Location: CA
Posted: Sat Sep 26, 2009 5:50 pm    Post subject:  

MAYcylady wrote:
I would agree that this is by far the stupidest thing that they have ever come up with. I used to think that it was Thanks for Sharing...give me $25.00 and I'll give $10 of it to charity and keep the other $15, but this has that waaaay beat.
And the marketing to sell housewares and clothing to go along with your fundraising dinner party is just hillarious. The person that came up with this will be thrown out on his ear before this is all said and done.


I'm cleaning up on the TFS! $$$ Already filled up 1 card, working on the 2nd. Hey, anything for tequila money!
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fashion101


Joined: 12 Dec 2007
Posts: 884
Posted: Sun Sep 27, 2009 2:00 am    Post subject:  

belldoll wrote:
MAYcylady wrote:
I would agree that this is by far the stupidest thing that they have ever come up with. I used to think that it was Thanks for Sharing...give me $25.00 and I'll give $10 of it to charity and keep the other $15, but this has that waaaay beat.
And the marketing to sell housewares and clothing to go along with your fundraising dinner party is just hillarious. The person that came up with this will be thrown out on his ear before this is all said and done.


I'm cleaning up on the TFS! $$$ Already filled up 1 card, working on the 2nd. Hey, anything for tequila money!

Hey what's your secret of how to buy tequila with Macy's Money???
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MAYcylady


Joined: 06 Jan 2008
Posts: 1957
Location: A Place Where No Thongs Are Not Allowed
Posted: Sun Sep 27, 2009 2:33 am    Post subject:  

Fashion, Fashion, Fashion...haven't we been over this already? You can buy anything with macy's money. It's just like REAL money! In fact, is so similar to real money, that I can't figure out why they don't just give us real money!!!!
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hudsmarshmacys


Joined: 09 Aug 2008
Posts: 364
Posted: Sun Sep 27, 2009 3:02 am    Post subject:  

belldoll wrote:
MAYcylady wrote:
I would agree that this is by far the stupidest thing that they have ever come up with. I used to think that it was Thanks for Sharing...give me $25.00 and I'll give $10 of it to charity and keep the other $15, but this has that waaaay beat.
And the marketing to sell housewares and clothing to go along with your fundraising dinner party is just hillarious. The person that came up with this will be thrown out on his ear before this is all said and done.


I'm cleaning up on the TFS! $$$ Already filled up 1 card, working on the 2nd. Hey, anything for tequila money!


No fair!!!! Your store sells tequila?

Ugh, wait. It's probably a Macy's private label brand distilled in China, with a picture of Terry on the label wearing a stupid looking sombrero.
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hudsmarshmacys


Joined: 09 Aug 2008
Posts: 364
Posted: Sun Sep 27, 2009 3:05 am    Post subject:  

MAYcylady wrote:
Fashion, Fashion, Fashion...haven't we been over this already? You can buy anything with macy's money. It's just like REAL money! In fact, is so similar to real money, that I can't figure out why they don't just give us real money!!!!


Right. I take Macy's Money to the grocery store, the gas station, and even Target. When my utilities are due, I just tuck the appropriate amount of Macy's Money inside. I also use it to pay for haircuts, carpet cleaning, and my gym membership.

I even got a THANK YOU letter from my mortgage company for my timely payments with Macy's Money.

It's just like money!!!
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MAYcylady


Joined: 06 Jan 2008
Posts: 1957
Location: A Place Where No Thongs Are Not Allowed
Posted: Sun Sep 27, 2009 3:12 am    Post subject:  

Have you ever noticed the look on your waiter's face when you leave macy money for the tip? They just can't believe it. Macy's is enabling me to make so many people happy with macy money.
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hudsmarshmacys


Joined: 09 Aug 2008
Posts: 364
Posted: Sun Sep 27, 2009 3:36 am    Post subject:  

MAYcylady wrote:
Have you ever noticed the look on your waiter's face when you leave macy money for the tip? They just can't believe it. Macy's is enabling me to make so many people happy with macy money.


I know!!! The server just looked at me and said "What is THIS?"

And I said, "What do you think it is?"

And the server said, "Are you SERIOUS?"

And I said, "Yes. Yes, I am. And you're welcome. You have an outstanding day."

The server starting welling up... and I left. I needed no thanks. My work here was done.

Isn't it just OUTSTANDING how Macy's allows us to spread their brand of joy with everyone else?


Last edited by hudsmarshmacys on Mon Sep 28, 2009 4:02 pm; edited 1 time in total
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Ex-employee


Joined: 28 Jan 2008
Posts: 608
Location: Somewhere in Nantucket...until I sat on a bucket...
Posted: Sun Sep 27, 2009 5:44 am    Post subject:  

NormaRae wrote:
the most stupid event/promo, you ask ?

that's easy. it's the one running now (well, one of the 5 that are running now ! )

the come+together campaign. it is explained in detail in other recent threads.
basically, macy*s wants customers/employees to host a dinner party at their home, make all kinds of dishes/food, etc. then at said dinner, macy*s wants the hosts to ASK their dinner guests to pay their hosts MONEY ( i think they want a dollar donation but will gladly take much more than that ). then the hosts will in turn come into their local macy*s store and turn that money in as a donation.
wait, it gets better. after the hosts do all of the work, then macy*s makes the donation in their name (macy*s) and gets all the glory and the tax write-off !!
whadda ya think ?? Thumbs Up


Hey I'll host of them fancy shindigs! Anyone up for day old bread and water? Just donate your Macy's Money to me! Thumbs Up
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fashion101


Joined: 12 Dec 2007
Posts: 884
Posted: Mon Sep 28, 2009 12:02 am    Post subject:  

I have started giving my Macy Money as change to my customers.
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