It’s Personal: How Lundgren Led Macy In Bouncing Back

Macy’s logo (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

As backdrop to the legendary parade, the Macy’s store at New York City’s Herald Square is a star of the show on Thanksgiving. But ask Terry J. Lundgren about Philadelphia, and the Macy’s CEO shares a surprising adoration for a different landmark altogether – the one in Center City that opened a century ago as Wanamakers.

“That is one of the most unique stores in the entire enterprise of Macy’s Inc.,” the chairman, president, and chief executive said as he gushed, largely unprompted, about the Philly stunner that is home to the world’s largest working pipe organ, the kitschy-but-adored Christmas Light Show, and the Dickens Village exhibit.

“It’s the only store in the world that has a pipe organ and that has performances on this organ every single week – and we maintain that. I mean, who would do that?”

Here’s who: A $28 billion company that believes, even amid the growing popularity of Internet shopping, that retailing remains a local game. With this guiding principle and Lundgren’s charisma as change agents, the 800-store chain, now based in Cincinnati, has grabbed a top position only a few years after the department-store sector looked like an endangered species.

Read more at http://www.philly.com/philly/business/20131128_How_Lundgren_led_Macy_in_bouncing_back.html#u2dKLoMavfuplyf4.99

New A.C. Mayor Vows Better Relationships With State, Casinos

English: Atlantic City (NJ) – The boardwalk in a rainy day (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

ATLANTIC CITY, NJ – Talk about shuffling the deck.

In an unexpected outcome, voters replaced two-term incumbent and Gov. Christie foe Mayor Lorenzo Langford with an openly gay Republican who rides a bicycle to work and whose current job is with the state board that oversees the governor’s tourism district.

“Atlantic City is amazing at how it reinvents itself,” Mayor-elect Don Guardian said Wednesday in a bit of understatement to supporters and press at his Atlantic Avenue headquarters.

The 60-year-old Guardian, an Eagle Scout who came to Atlantic City from Bergen County to be an executive with the local Boy Scouts, has spent 20 years as head of the city’s Special Improvement District, a division of the Casino Reinvestment Development Authority, which oversees the state Tourism District.

Read more at http://www.philly.com/philly/news/politics/20131107_New_A_C__mayor_vows_better_relationships_with_state__casinos.html#v7d88YUJXs8ogS5u.99

New Heinz Owners Cut 600 Jobs — Including 350 In Pittsburgh

PPG Place in downtown Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

Editor’s note:  Not off to the greatest start!

The new owners of the H.J. Heinz Co. are eliminating 600 office positions across the Pittsburgh company’s operations in the U.S. and Canada — including 350 jobs in Pittsburgh — as a move toward a more efficient operation.

A company spokesman this morning confirmed reports that layoffs had begun in Pittsburgh this week, about two months after the close of the $28 billion sale of the historic food company to 3G Capital and Berkshire Hathaway.

The cuts here will take Heinz employment in the region down from close to 1,200 to about 800.

“As part of our transition to a private company, the senior leadership team has examined every piece of our business to better position Heinz for accelerated growth in a very competitive global market,” said Michael Mullen, senior vice president of corporate and government affairs.

Read more: http://www.post-gazette.com/stories/business/news/new-heinz-owners-cut-600-jobs-including-350-in-pittsburgh-699153/#ixzz2bs2KegX2