solitary 25 days remain before Mars...

solitary 25 days remain before Marshall Field's, a 154-year-old brand that survived the Chicago Fire, is transformed into Macy's department store.

Executives of Federated, proprietor of Macy's, are sweating the details before tribe 9 to show shoppers unique merchandise, upgraded fitting ranges and "runways" of mannequins displaying a variety of ways to wear the outfits that are onward the racks.

Shopper are getting their first glimpses of the of recent origin features at Marshall Field's flagship store at 111 N State, including shopping carts, Macy's INC, Alfani and Charter set clothing brands and an iPod vending machine in the men's department.

Shopper also will notice more sagacious changes, such as wider aisles, upholster chairs in recent seating areas, sales associates arrangeed in black and a of recent origin pricing policy in which r signs highlight "everyday value pricing" upon select items that never pass on sale.

The strategy -- fewer interest certificates and more direct-mail offers to haunt buyers -- is designed to make pricing more convenient, said Macy's North spokeswoman Jennifer McNamara, who l a store tour Tuesday.

The tour revealed construction regions where workers are installing an Eileen Fisher women's clothing store the beginnings of a Frango Mints viewing kitchen and an expanded Coach handbag store

Macy's executives know they are treading treacherous country by replacing Field's trademark fresh shopping bags with the Macy's trademark cream bags with a r star, and, for the 28 store of women's couture apparel, pink-and-white bags. the same of Field's previous owners, Target Corp., was forced to back against when it tried to introduce brown shopping bags to replace the Field's bag.

Meanwhile, Frank Guzzetta, chairman and CEO of Macy's North, based in Minneapolis, is keeping a stop eye on how many Field's credit-card owners are activating their new Macy's cards, and writing verbal expressions or making phone calls to Field's shopper threatening to stop up their charge accounts.

Macy's will continue to vend Marshall Field's cookbooks, Great Clock holiday ornaments designed by dint of Christopher Radko and souvenirs with Marshall Field's iconic statement, "Give the Lady What She Wants."

Macy's also will detain Field's historic nameplates on the exterior walls of the store, as well as the Walnut swing the Great Tree, holiday window displays and the Glamorama fashion display

Still onward the "to do" list: finding a high-end, new food shop, similar to a Whole feeds market or a Fox & Obel gourmet pabulum store, and bringing Frango Mint production back to Chicago.

sguy@suntimes.com

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