VM+SD has named Federated Department Stores (Cincinnati) as the recipient of its fifth annual VM+SD/Peter Glen Retailer of the Year award. Created in 2001 in honor of the late retail observer, motivational speaker and longtime VM+SD columnist, the award is given to the retailer who best exemplifies Glen's standards of retail excellence: innovation, service and intelligence.
This year, the editors of VM+SD chose Federated Department Stores not only for its successfully massive undertaking of turning all 450 stores into two national brands, Bloomingdale's and Macy's, but also for tackling a whole new level of retail challenge and opportunity by acquiring the 500-location May Department Stores Co.
“At a time when the viability of the department store is being questioned, Federated is charging right into the battle, being aggressive and being willing to take chances and to change,” said VM+SD editor Steve Kaufman.
Federated will receive the award on the last day of the VM+SD International Retail Design Conference (IRDC), which takes place Sept. 21–23, 2005, at The Fairmont Hotel in Chicago. Tom Cole, vice chairman at Federated, will accept the award and deliver a keynote address on the story behind the retail giant’s success.
Previous winners of the award were Target Stores (Minneapolis) in 2001, Limited Brands (Columbus, Ohio) in 2002, Apple Computer (Cupertino, Calif.) in 2003 and The Neiman Marcus Group, Inc. (Dallas) in 2004.
This year’s IRDC conference will feature 15 breakout sessions, daily keynote presentations, roundtable discussions, and the IRDC party: Cool Jazz Night at Marshall Field’s. For complete event details and online registration, visit www.irdconline.com.