PITTSBURGH – Because many downtown department stores have failed under the current model of Macy’s, there is a misunderstanding of what a department store is, and whether a department store is a valid idea. Currently, the idea of a department store is a massive, massive clothing and accessories store, withMORE HERE

Many companies, large and small, are faced with the idea that a brand name might die off, might have died off or be struggling. Macy’s killed off great brands like Marshall Field’s, Burdine’s, A&S, May Company, Foley’s and the like. They lost massive market share, and did not have to. TheirMORE HERE

The folks in Chicago are still missing Marshall Field’s. We just encountered this BBC report on the issue, and are grateful that the FieldsFansChicago are still at it. There is a great discussion of the issue of international retail brands and retail. The folks are calling it “corporate imperialism.” Amazon.comMORE HERE

“A common syndrome is the case in which a purported solution is in fact the cause of the problem.” A quote from the blog Unqualified Reservations. We thought this quote applied very well to the case of Macy’s and Marshall Field’s.MORE HERE

Except for the success of discounters like Wal-Mart Stores (WMT), BJ’s Wholesale Club (BJ), Dollar Tree (DLTR), Family Dollar Stores (FDO) and Dollar General, it feels like 1932. That being said, not all retailers will go the way of Circuit City and Linens-n-Things. So the question becomes what retailers canMORE HERE