Chapter 2: Strategic Planning for Competitive Advantage

Bloomingdale’s is still finding various ways to show that they are no ordinary store by trying to have their own unique ways and being able to give everyone the best in fashion and designing, all in a mind-blowing way. Every week something new is going on. Bloomingdales, “A Store Like No Other”.

            Integrated research, marketing, media and crisis helps Bloomingdale’s develop their great strategies. Bloomingdale’s places all of their store sites in many major cities including, New York City, Las Vegas, Orlando Los Angeles and more. However, one of their best moves was their second store site in New York City, which is now found in SoHo. In Soho they occupied a historical building that was built way back in 1892. That was where Canal Jean Co., a very successful and famous store, was located once before. Bloomingdale’s have seem to always know exactly how to pick out the right locations to bring wanting customers in to find what they need. Not only do they attract people with their sites, but also by the way they merchandise materials and the visual in-site of the store.

            People are always looking for something new. Bloomingdale’s gives them what they are looking for. About every week, Bloomingdale’s is doing some kind of visual changing to the store. Even as an employee of Bloomingdale’s, I was always excited to see what was next. Just the view of seeing how everything was set up and how all the workers had smiles on their faces made anyone who walked in, amazed. “I'm sorry....who doesn't love Bloomingdales? Even when I can't afford a single thing, it's nice to look at stuff!” was a review given by yet another person who was star-struck by the beauty of Bloomingdale’s. To the people who came to shop, it was a small difference of the same story. Customers may run into more than they are asking for when it comes to Bloomingdales. “…Never really shopped for clothing here because I spend all my time in the handbags section!” was said by a young lady who is a big fan of not only handbags, but Bloomingdales itself. The merchandise in Bloomingdales changes regularly because like I said, “People are always looking for something new”. Whenever you walk inside Bloomingdales, be sure to look carefully because you are more than likely to find new items they may fall into your shopping list or that shirt you liked just came in a better color. They have all they best clothing lines and usually have events for any new lines that are coming into the store.
            The most distinctive thing that Bloomingdales does that not many stores do is have many events. Bloomingdales take part in many things like Gay Pride, Aids Walk, Cancer Walk and other contributions that help make the world a better place. Concerts are also put on for many customers. Being an actual employee lets you find out about their parties and other get-together’s which strengths the relation within the store for a better performance in the company.
            Bloomingdale’s seems to find everything that an average person enjoys in life, and somehow translates that into its store and business ideas. Having fun, smiles, something new and fashion is what people are looking for and Bloomingdale’s has all of that for them. Bloomingdale’s, “A Store Like No Other”.

Chapter 1: History & Mission Statement

Joseph and Lyman Bloomingdale started their clothing business in New York’s Lower East Side in 1860. From there they started with a 19th century fad, “The Hoop Skirt”, which led to their new Ladies’ Nations Shop that we know now as Bloomingdales. At the time many fashion retailers only specialized in single clothing, but that wasn’t the plan for the two brothers. In 1872, their East Side Bazaar opened which consisted of a wide variety of European fashions. Now, they are making a transaction from a small shop, into a “Department Store”. The vision of relocating the business came about in 1886. Uptown is where the brothers decided to move, and 59th Street and Lexington Avenue was their destination. The idea of changing the the location wasn’t the only change in mind. By the 1920’s, Bloomingdales expanded their new location to the size of an entire city block. During the early 1900’s, Lyman decided to take advertisement into consideration.The outcome was a slogan that was put on billboards, delivery wagons, and even beach umbrellas that read, “All Cars Transfer To Bloomingdale’s”. To continue to give the people what they wanted, the store needed more experience in clothing, so retailing as theater was a great plan for them. Music, lighting and sophistication lead to Bloomingdales’ gala events and fashion shows, which included “Women Of The Year, 1947”. Bloomingdale’s team noticed that many people would want to keep their bags as much as they want to keep their clothing. So in 1961, Bloomindales came up with the first designer shopping bags that have also been known to be a collective item.

1940'sBloomingdales soon became the north side of a magnet and its customers, the south. People would come just because they knew idols like Queen Elizabeth would be there, but in the midst of their search, they would come across some cutting-edge fashion that amazed them on a different level. Ralph Lauren, Perry Ellis and Norma Kamali were some name brands that gained a lot of exposure threw Bloomingdales itself. Bloomingdale’s is still finding various ways to show that they are no ordinary store by trying to have their own unique ways and being able to give everyone the best in fashion and designing, all in a mind-blowing way. Every week something new is going on. Bloomingdales, “A Store Like No Other”.