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”.