Competitive Strategies Case Study

Federated Department Stores – Focusing on National Brands

Abstract:
Federated Department Stores (FDS) is one of the America’s leading upscale department retail stores that offer a range of merchandise, including apparel, accessories (handbags, jewelry and cosmetics), home furnishing, and other consumer goods. This case discusses in depth the growth of FDS and its constant efforts to unite the US department store industry. This case emphasises the FDS’s focus towards building Bloomingdale’s and Macy’s as its two national brands by renaming all of its regional stores. This case also tries to understand the business strategy of the company and its future plans.

Pedagogical Objectives:

• Study the origin and growth of the US Department Store industry
• Discuss the strategies adopted by FDS to sustain in the competitive retail market
• The pros and cons of FDS’s effort to unite its department stores into two national brands – Bloomingdale’s and Macy’s
• Discuss ‘the four priority’ business strategy of FDS and suggest what other features it has to focus on.

Keywords : US Department stores; Bloomingdale's; Macy's; National Brand; Macy's department stores; differentiated assortments; simplified pricing; shopping experience; marketing strategy; Competitive Strategies Case Study; JC Penny; Kohl's corp; Business strategy; Terry Lundgren; Wal-Mart

Keywords : 
US Department Stores
FDS – Origin and Growth
FDS – Targeting the Leading Brands
FDS Business Strategy – “The Four Priorities”
Financial Highlights of Federated Department Stores
Federated Fact Sheet
Classification of the US Department Stores
Competitors of FDS