Macy’s is seeing early success from its “Bold New Chapter” strategy, which aims to revitalize the department store chain and its sister brands, according to a report by Inside Retail Asia . The retailer’s first-quarter fiscal 2026 earnings showed improvements across Macy’s, Bloomingdale’s and Bluemercury, signaling that the turnaround plan is starting to take hold.
At Macy’s, comparable sales rose 1.5% year over year, while Bloomingdale’s posted a 3.2% increase and Bluemercury saw a 4.8% gain. The company attributed the growth to a focus on fashion-forward merchandise, improved in-store experiences and better inventory management. Macy’s also highlighted that its loyalty program and digital enhancements contributed to higher customer engagement.
The “Bold New Chapter” initiative, launched last year, includes closing underperforming stores, investing in a smaller but more profitable footprint, and expanding higher-margin categories like beauty and luxury. With these results, Macy’s management expressed confidence in meeting its full-year guidance, though it acknowledged that macroeconomic headwinds remain a challenge.