JCPenney maintains top spot; Bloomies up 12.4%
By Carole Sloan -- Furniture Today, September 5, 2005
New York — The names are the same and, surprisingly, 10 of the rankings of the Top 15 department stores also are the same for 2004 as compared with 2003.
Overall, only five of the Top 15 department stores posted sales gains in furniture and bedding, led by New York's Bloomingdale's at 12.4%. Eight of the Top 15 had losses, and two were flat.
JCPenney once again leads the department store rankings for 2004 with a strong sales gain of 10.4%, bringing its sales of furniture and bedding to $734 million, up from $665 million in 2003. The Plano, Texas-based Penney recorded the increase despite a drop in store count of three full-line stores, and a shrinking of its furniture and bedding units.
San Francisco-based Macy's West recorded a smaller increase of 3.3% in furniture and bedding, bringing its sales in these businesses to $217 million in 2004, up from $210 million in 2003. Macy's West held on to its second place in the department store rankings.
Again in third place is Macy's East, the New York-based division of Federated, where sales were flat for the year at $215 million.
The first switch in rankings among the Top 15 were in fourth and fifth places, where Atlanta-based Rich's-Macy's/Lazarus-Macy's/Goldsmith's-Macy's moved up to No. 4, and Los Angeles-based Robinson's-May/Meier & Frank slipped to No. 5.
Both retailers recorded declines in furniture and bedding sales, with the Rich's group dropping 2.9% to $170 million and the Robinson's-May group falling 4.8% to $160 million.
Moving down the Top 15, Minneapolis-based Marshall Field's, Filene's/Kaufmann's in Boston, and Arlington, Va.-based Hecht's/Strawbridge's held onto the sixth, seventh and eighth positions, respectively.
Field's had a 3.7% increase to $140 million, while both Filene's and Hecht's each had declines in furniture and bedding sales. Filene's dropped 1.6% to $121 million, while Hecht's declined 5.7% to $115 million.
Bloomingdale's New York jumped three slots to No. 9 with a 12.4% gain, bringing furniture and bedding sales to $103 million. Sliding to No. 10 from No. 9 in 2003 is Little Rock, Ark.-based Dillard's with sales of $100 million, a 4.8% decline.
Milwaukee-based Carson Pirie Scott held onto 11th place with a 2.1% increase in sales to $99 million.
Houston-based Foley's dropped to No. 12 on a 5% sales decline, bringing its furniture and bedding business down to $96 million.
Seattle-based Bon-Macy's, Burdines-Macy's, Miami, and Famous Barr, St. Louis, each held on to their positions from 2003 at Nos. 13, 14 and 15, respectively. Bon-Macy's had a 4.3% drop to $90 million, while Burdines-Macy's held flat at $80 million, and Famous Barr dropped 7.1% to $52 million.
As a group, the Top 15 department stores accounted for 3.3% of total 2004 furniture and bedding sales, down slightly from its share of 3.5% in 2003. Total 2004 furniture and bedding sales for the group were $2.49 billion, up 2.2% over the 2003 sales figure of $2.44 billion.
From a corporate perspective, Federated Department Stores ranked No. 1, followed by JCPenney, May Department Stores, Dillard's and Saks.
| Top 15 U.S. department stores | ||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Rank | Estimated furniture and bedding sales in $ millions | Total number of units | ||||||
| 2004 | 2003 | Company, home base, notes | 2004 | 2003 | Percent change 2003 to 2004 | Furniture and bedding sales as a percent of total company sales 2004 | 2004 | 2003 |
| R = Revised All sales information, except for that supplied by publicly held companies which break out furniture and bedding sales, are Furniture/Today market estimates. All data for calendar 2004 and 2003, unless otherwise noted. Source: Furniture/Today market research |
||||||||
| 1 | 1 | JCPenney, Plano, Texas | $734.0 | $665.0 | 10.4% | 4.1% | 1,017 | 1,020 |
| Independent. Fiscal year ended Jan. 29. Sales and store counts are for department stores in the United States and Puerto Rico, the "big book" and specialty catalogs and Internet. Furniture was one of the high-performing categories within the strong home store for 2004. Under its dominant JCPenney Home Collection banner, the company launched the Chris Madden "Turning Home into Haven" last May with considerable success. This May, three new collections and two new product categories — entertainment centers and casual dining — were added to the mix, as well as expanded selections of window coverings, bed coverings, rugs, wall art and decorative accessories. Launched a major sales training initiative with field trainer/supervisors focused only on furniture and bedding businesses. Plans to open 20 new stores this year, mostly off-mall sites, and remodel 50 existing stores. California and Boston are key major market expansion areas. Total 2004 sales were $18.1 billion, up 3.3% from $17.5 billion in 2003. | ||||||||
| 2 | 2 | Macy's West, San Francisco | $217.0 | $210.0 | 3.3% | 5.0% | 146 | 144 |
| Federated. Fiscal year ended Jan. 29. Operates in the states of Arizona, California, Hawaii, Minnesota, Nevada, New Mexico, Texas and Guam. This division also operates the macys.com e-commerce site. Began revamping its Union Square flagship store this spring, reconfiguring four of its seven selling floors, including the main level. The furniture departments within its San Francisco and South Coast Plaza, Calif., store created a store-within-a-store, displaying merchandise from France's Comptoir de Famille. This is part of the new fashion approach to home furnishings, which this season focuses on Provence for color, design and style inspiration. Future expansion plans include a fourth store in Las Vegas and a new store in the Bay Area of Antioch, Calif. Total 2004 sales were $4.35 billion, up 3.4% from $4.2 billion in 2003. | ||||||||
| 3 | 3 | Macy's East, New York | $215.0 | $215.0R | 0.0% | 4.9% | 93 | 95 |
| Federated. Fiscal year ended Jan. 29. In July, Macy's Home Store created a store-within-a-store in 11 of its furniture departments, including its stores in Herald Square and Carle Place, N.Y., and Paramus, N.J., for merchandise from France's Comptoir de Famille. This is part of the new fashion approach to home furnishings, which this season focuses on Provence for color, design and style inspiration. Macy's Home launched its first home store circular crafted by its consolidated home store buying, merchandising and marketing division for its five Macy's divisions in January. As the company solidifies its home store merchandising and marketing, there is a significant effort to upgrade the merchandise and sales efforts of this giant division. Parent Federated announced in February its acquisition of rival May Department Stores. The merger is expected to close during the third quarter. The New York-based division had 2004 sales of $4.43 billion, down 5.6% from $4.69 billion in 2003. | ||||||||
| 4 | 5 | Rich's-Macy's/Lazarus-Macy's/Goldsmith's-Macy's, Atlanta | $170.0 | $175.0R | -2.9% | 8.6% | 71 | 71 |
| Federated. Fiscal year ended Jan. 29. Operates stores in Alabama, Georgia, Indiana, Kentucky, Ohio, Pennsylvania, South Carolina, Tennessee and West Virginia. All stores officially changed to the Macy's nameplate on March 6 and this division offically became Macy's Central. Launched Star Rewards in March, a nationwide customer loyalty program in conjunction with the nameplate changes. The Macy's Home Store divison was created in early 2004 and is responsible for strategy, merchandising and marketing of home-related categories in all 423 Macy's stores nationwide. Total 2004 sales were $1.97 billion, down 2.9% from $2.03 billion in 2003. | ||||||||
| 5 | 4 | Robinsons-May/Meier & Frank, North Hollywood, Calif. | $160.0 | $168.0 | -4.8% | 6.4% | 75 | 73 |
| May. Fiscal year ended Jan. 29. Operates stores in 16 markets, including Los Angeles/Orange County; Riverside/San Bernardino, Calif.; Phoenix; San Diego; Las Vegas; Portland/Vancouver metro; and Salt Lake City. In 2004, opened a Robinsons-May store in Rancho Cucamonga, Calif., and a Meier & Frank store in Portland, Ore. Opened a Robinsons-May store in El Centro, Calif., during the first quarter of 2005 and plans to open one more in Simi Valley, Calif. Following the merger of Federated and May, Robinsons-May and Meier & Frank will be renamed Macy's, sometime in fall 2006. In addition, more than a dozen Robinsons-May stores in California and one in Arizona will be divested to eliminate duplicate locations. Total 2004 sales were $2.48 billion, up 1.4% from $2.45 billion in 2003. | ||||||||
| 6 | 6 | Marshall Field's, Minneapolis | $140.0 | $135.0 | 3.7% | 5.6% | 62 | 62 |
| May. Fiscal year ended Jan. 29. Acquired from Target Corp., in July 2004. Marshall Field's operates stores in 26 markets in Michigan, Illinois, Minnesota, Wisconsin, Ohio, North and South Dakota, and Indiana. Furniture brands carried include Herman Miller, Thomas O'Brien, Baker and Stearns & Foster. This summer opened a 2,000-square-foot French Heritage shop-within-a-shop at its flagship department store. Also, introduced Althorp Living History, the licensed furniture collection of Charles, 9th Earl Spencer. A decision about whether the Marshall Field's name will be changed to Macy's has not been made. Total 2004 sales were $2.5 billion. | ||||||||
| 7 | 7 | Filene's/Kaufmann's, Boston | $121.0 | $123.0 | -1.6% | 4.1% | 101 | 101 |
| May. Fiscal year ended Jan. 29. May's largest division operates in 40 markets, including Boston metro; Pittsburgh; Cleveland and Columbus, Ohio; southern Connecticut; Hartford, Conn.; Providence metro; and Buffalo and Rochester, N.Y. Opened a Filene's store in Dartmouth, Mass., last year and plans to open two Kaufmann's stores in Pittsburgh and Columbus, Ohio this year. Filene's and Kaufmann's will be renamed Macy's in 2006 and 12 of its stores will be divested. Total 2004 sales were $2.95 billion, down 2.2% from $3.02 billion in 2003. | ||||||||
| 8 | 8 | Hecht's/Strawbridge's, Arlington, Va. | $115.0 | $122.0 | -5.7% | 4.9% | 81 | 80 |
| May. Fiscal year ended Jan. 29. The Arlington, Va.-based division of May Department Stores operates under the names Hecht's and Strawbridge's in 21 markets, including Washington metro; Philadelphia metro (Strawbridge's); Baltimore; Norfolk and Richmond, Va.; Nashville, Tenn.; and Charlotte, Greensboro and Raleigh-Durham, N.C. Last year, opened Hecht's stores in Nashville, Tenn., and Wilmington, N.C. Will open one Hecht's store this year in North Charlotte, N.C. Hecht's and Strawbridges will also be renamed Macy's in 2006. Will divest of one Hecht's in Maryland and nine Strawbridges. Total 2004 sales were $2.35 billion, down 0.5% from $2.36 billion in 2003. | ||||||||
| 9 | 12 | Bloomingdale's, New York | $103.0 | $91.6 | 12.4% | 5.0% | 36 | 36 |
| Federated. Fiscal year ended Jan. 29. Operates stores in California, Florida, Illinois, Maryland, Massachusetts, Minnesota, Nevada, New Jersey, New York, Pennsylvania and Virginia. Launched in March its exclusive Oval collection of home furnishings designed by California designer Barbara Barry. The collection includes furniture made by Henredon, Karastan rugs, Kravet fabrics and trims, as well as decorative pillows, throws, lighting and other decorative accessories. Restructured its furniture buying organization and expanded its staff to include assistant buyers and planning staff in January. Total 2004 sales were $2.06 billion, up 10.6% from $1.86 billion in 2003. | ||||||||
| 10 | 9 | Dillard's, Little Rock, Ark. | $100.0 | $105.0 | -4.8% | 1.3% | 329 | 328 |
| Independent. Fiscal year ended Jan. 29. Operates stores in 29 states primarily in the Southwest, Southeast and Midwest. Furniture brands carried include Bernhardt, Brookwood, Hooker, Italsofa, Lane, LeatherTrend, Natuzzi, Pulaski, Riverside and Universal, as well as its own brand - Gallery Design by Dillard's. In 2004, Home dropped 2% in 2004 compared to a 4.3% drop in 2003. Opened eight stores and closed seven in 2004. Opened four stores, including a replacement store during the first quarter of 2005. Five more are scheduled to open later this year. Completed the sale of its credit card business to GE Consumer Finance in November. Total 2004 sales were $7.53 billion, down 0.9% from $7.6 billion in 2003. | ||||||||
| 11 | 11 | Carson Pirie Scott, Milwaukee | $99.0 | $97.0 | 2.1% | 4.5% | 143 | 145 |
| Saks. Fiscal year ended Jan. 29. The Milwaukee-based division of Saks operates stores under the nameplates of Carson Pirie Scott, Bergner's, Boston Store, Herberger's, and Younkers in 12 Midwestern and Great Plains states. Furniture is offered in nine department stores as well as in five free-standing galleries, four Carson's in Illinois and one Boston store in Milwaukee. A centerpiece of the home furnishings division is the Jane Seymour collection, primarily bedding, but also furniture and accessories. Saks is exploring strategic options for its department store group, including the potential sale of each segment. Has already sold the Proffitt's/McRae's business to Southern retailer Belk, in July. Total 2004 sales for Sak's Northern Department Store Group were $2.2 billion. | ||||||||
| 12 | 10 | Foley's, Houston | $96.0 | $101.0 | -5.0% | 4.9% | 69 | 69 |
| May. Fiscal year ended Jan. 29. Operates stores in 22 markets, including Houston; Dallas/Fort Worth; Denver; San Antonio; Austin, Texas; and Oklahoma City. Furniture brands carried include Bauhaus, Corinthian, Italsofa, Legacy, Progressive, Riverside and Vaughan Bassett, as well as its own brand, Hotel Suite. Opened Foley's stores in El Paso and Houston, Texas, last year. In 2005, plans to open Foley's stores in Loveland, Colo., and in Dallas/Fort Worth and San Antonio, Texas. Foley's will be renamed Macy's in 2006. Total 2004 sales for the Houston-based division were $1.94 billion, down 1.9% from $1.98 billion in 2003. | ||||||||
| 13 | 13 | Bon-Macy's, Seattle | $90.0 | $94.0R | -4.3% | 9.2% | 52 | 50 |
| Federated. Fiscal year ended Jan. 29. All stores were officially changed to the Macy's nameplate on March 6. Additionally, the division name changed from Bon-Macy's to Macy's Northwest on March 6. At the time of the conversion, Federated launched a national marketing and advertising campaign for the new national Macy's and launched a customer loyalty program called Star Rewards. The Macy's Home Store, responsible for buying, merchandising and marketing for home furnishings for each Macy's division, launched its first home store circular in January. Total 2004 sales were $981 million, up 0.7% from $974 in 2003. | ||||||||
| 14 | 14 | Burdines-Macy's, Miami | $80.0 | $80.0R | 0.0% | 4.8% | 61 | 63 |
| Federated. Fiscal year ended Jan. 29. Operates exclusively with in Florida. Nameplates were changed to Macy's and the division officially changed from Burdines-Macy's to Macy's Florida on March 6. Macy's launched a nationwide customer loyalty program called Star Rewards in coordination with the nameplate change. All active customers at the five Macy's divisions were sent credit cards color-coded to represent each customer's purchasing level. Opened a redesigned Macy's Home store, featuring a men's, home and furniture gallery, in Aventura, Fla. last October. Total 2004 sales were $1.66 billion, up 23.8% from $1.34 billion in 2003. | ||||||||
| 15 | 15 | Famous-Barr, St. Louis | $52.0 | $56.0 | -7.1% | 4.9% | 42 | 43 |
| May. Fiscal year ended Jan. 29. Operates stores under the names Famous-Barr, L.S. Ayres and The Jones Store in 23 markets, including metro St. Louis, metro Kansas City (The Jones Store) and Indianapolis (L.S. Ayres). Opened a Jones Store in Kansas City, Kan., last year. All three nameplates in this division will be renamed Macy's. Will divest of one L.S. Ayres and one Famous-Barr beginning in 2006. Overall, May's 2004 sales for home furnishings and furniture lagged. Total 2004 sales for the St. Louis-based division were $1.07 billion, down 3.2% from $1.1 billion in 2003. | ||||||||
