Macy's

Federated stands today as the nation's largest department store retailer. Federated celebrated its 75th birthday in 2004, but its retailing roots extend far beyond that, stretching back to the middle of the 19th century when most of its department store franchises were founded. The company built on those traditionally strong franchises, calling on the experience and innovative retail strategies of each division to contribute to Federated's overall success. As a result, Federated understands and meets the needs of American consumers in ways unmatched by any other retailer, anywhere.

Seventy-five years ago on the morning of March 6, 1929, millions of Americans opened their edition of The New York Times to find a headline that would send the business and retail world into a spin of excited chatter and speculation - "Abraham & Straus and Filene's to Unite." The announcement marked the beginning of the evolution of what was to become one of the largest and most influential corporations in retail history.

Federated Department Stores was born through the combination of Abraham & Straus of Brooklyn, Filene's of Boston, F&R Lazarus & Co. of Columbus, Ohio and Bloomingdale's of New York. Each of these retailers was an established, prominent presence with a rich history of its own. In joining together, they agreed to maintain their separate identities while linking their financial interests. These pioneers recognized the immense opportunity that lay before them and on November 25, 1929 Federated Department Stores was incorporated as a revolutionary new company in American retail.

As Federated emerged in the years of the Great Depression and World War II, it became apparent that the corporation was equipped with both resilience and flexibility. It adapted to the times by implementing innovative retail firsts, such as "pay when you can" credit policies and arranging merchandise by size rather than color, brand or price. Not surprisingly, one of the best and boldest ideas of the time belonged to Fred Lazarus, the retailing legend and president of F&R Lazarus. He became concerned in 1939 upon realizing that Thanksgiving would fall on the last day of November. This meant fewer shopping days in the coveted holiday shopping season between Thanksgiving and Christmas, a circumstance that could push many retailers from the black to the red. Mr. Fred, as he came to be called, proposed a brazen solution when he suggested to President Roosevelt that in the future, Thanksgiving be anchored to the fourth Thursday in November. The President supported this proposition, and within two years it passed through Congress into law.

When the war came home to America in 1941, Federated responded with the resolve of a company dedicated to community and civic support. Selling war bonds, volunteering with the Red Cross, helping in Victory Gardens and participating in U.S.O. events became part of its daily business. Thirteen percent of Federated's workforce fought in the war, and 56 died in action.

Seventy-five years after its founding, Federated is one of the nation's most successful and respected retail institutions. The company continues to prosper by adapting and flowing with new demands on department stores in an ever-changing society. Embracing the words and philosophy of one of its founders, Fred Lazarus Jr., Federated succeeds by striving to be "a living mirror of our civilization in which we see the constant changing needs and wishes of our people."