Field's Soon-To-Be Owners Looking For Answers From You

By Scott Smith in News on Jul 15, 2005 12:38PM

Fans of Marshall Field’s might want to get their shopping done this weekend as there’s no telling how much longer the name will remain.

On Wednesday, shareholders of Federated Stores, Inc. voted to approve the takeover of May Co., parent of Marshall Field’s stores. We’ve been following this story but we weren’t too concerned that anyone would think changing a 124 year-old Chicago institution would be a smart idea. But comments by Federated’s CEO Terry J. Lundgren have us concerned. When asked about whether he’d keep the Field’s name, Lundgren responded:

"Certainly Marshall Field's is a very well-known, strong name. But the real answer is not with us in this room. It's really with what customers actually will do with that name and how important it is."

Since Lundgren is so concerned with what the company’s customers—present and future—think about their stores, why not drop him a line and tell him what you think about a possible name change? Here’s his address:

Mr. Terry J. Lundgren
Chairman, President and CEO
Federated Department Stores, Inc.
7 West Seventh St.
Cincinnati, OH 45202

For those of you who are all Internet, all the time, we know having to dig in your desk drawer and find an envelope and a stamp will be a challenge. Letters have the greatest impact but you can also contact the company switchboard at 513-579-7000 or Jean Coggan, Federated’s manager of Community and Public Relations at 513-579-7315.