Macy's to open new Backstage distribution center in Columbus, Ohio

By

Robin Driver

Published
Apr 30, 2018

Department store chain Macy’s, Inc. is set to create 400 jobs in Columbus, Ohio with the opening of a new distribution center for its “on-mall, off-price concept” Macy’s Backstage, for which the company has significant expansion plans in 2018.

 
In the first quarter of this year, Macy’s opened 20 new Backstage locations, putting the company well on the way to achieving its goal of launching 100 locations for the concept within pre-existing Macy’s stores in fiscal 2018.

As a large number of the original stores were concentrated in the Northeast, many of the new locations have been set up in markets which are new to the Backstage concept, such as the Northwest and Southwest.

With the announcement of the new Ohio distribution center, Macy’s looks to be bulking up its infrastructure for Backstage in the Midwest and, as pointed out by an official release, the move also constitutes “another step in the company's commitment to the state of Ohio”, where the company already employs some 6,500 people in 24 Macy’s stores, one Bluemercury and its Cincinnati HQ.
 
“Macy's has a strong business in Ohio, and we are excited to continue building our presence in the state,” said Jeff Gennette, Macy's, Inc. chairman and CEO, in a statement. “This new distribution center will enable us to move merchandise to our Backstage locations faster and with more flexibility.”
 
Macy’s Backstage is a store-in-store concept offering apparel and accessories, as well as houseware, cosmetics, footwear and jewelry at outlet prices. Each location is supposed to be tailored to suit the needs and desires of the local community.
 
Commenting on the concept’s success, Michelle Israel, Macy's senior vice president of off price, stated, “The focus on value and newness guarantees that with each visit, shoppers will find a compelling assortment of recognizable brands, trends and deals. We're pleased to be expanding the Backstage shopping experience across all of our regions, including to the West Coast.”
 
The new Macy’s Backstage distribution center in Columbus, Ohio is slated to open in fall 2019.