By Bill Parry
The curtain went up Wednesday on a whole new concept for Macy’s shoppers in Elmhurst. The retail giant opened Backstage at the Queens Place shopping center, located at 55th Avenue and Queens Boulevard, an outlet offering deeply discounted designer brands.
“As a new business venture for Macy’s, we are ecstatic about our debut of Macy’s Backstage,” Senior Vice President Vanessa LeFebvre said. “It is exhilarating to create an exciting and entertaining destination for the customer who loves to shop and loves bargains even more. Macy’s Backstage is for the shopper who is always on the hunt for a deal, where time, convenience and money are a commodity.”
The new store in Elmhurst is one of three to open with another three Macy’s Backstage locations scheduled to debut later in the fall. Under the direction of its own team of buyers, planners and merchandisers, each store offers a wide selection of merchandise from the previous season, as well as merchandise from new brands and internationally recognized labels, all at exceptionally great values, often between 20 to 80 percent off original prices.
In addition to a wide range of men’s, women’s and children’s apparel, shoes and accessories, housewares and home textiles, Macy’s Backstage features an expanded assortment of home decor, bath and beauty products as well as toys, tech and gadgets.
Macy’s decision to get into the discount outlet business is a strategic response to its slower sales as shoppers increasingly buy online. Macy’s Backstage stores will accept Macy’s charge cards but Macy’s coupons will not be accepted.
