H. Res. 1473 

In the House of Representatives, U. S., 

September 23, 2008. 

Whereas, on October 28, 1858, 36-year-old entrepreneur 

Rowland Hussey Macy opened a small dry goods store 

know as R.H. Macy & Co. at the corner of 14th Street 

and 6th Avenue in New York City; 

Whereas the early struggles of R.H. Macy & Co. are representative of all American small businesses and indicate 

the intense drive and spirit of our Nation’s entrepreneurs; 

Whereas Rowland Hussey Macy adopted a red star as his 

symbol of success, dating back to his days as a sailor, 

and had first-day sales totaling $11.06; 

Whereas, after the first full year in operation, R.H. Macy & 

Co. had gross sales of almost $90,000, and, by 1877, 

nearly 20 years after it was founded, R.H. Macy & Co. 

had become a full-fledged department store occupying the 

ground space of 11 adjacent buildings; 

Whereas, as small businesses must evolve to remain competitive in the marketplace, Macy’s is known for several firsts 

that changed the retail industry, including being the first 

retailer to promote a woman, Margaret Getchell, to an 

executive position, pioneering such revolutionary business 

practices as the one-price system, in which the same item 
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•HRES 1473 EH 

was sold to every customer at one price, and quoting specific prices for goods in newspaper advertising; 

Whereas the competitive pressures facing small retailers such 

as Macy’s compelled it to pursue creative merchandising 

initiatives, including being the first to introduce such 

products as the tea bag, the Idaho baked potato, and colored bath towels; 

Whereas, by November 1902, the small store had outgrown 

its modest storefront and moved uptown to its present 

Herald Square location on Broadway and 34th Street, establishing an attraction for shoppers from around the 

world; 

Whereas, as Macy’s, Inc., has grown, it has not forgotten its 

heritage as a small business and promoted small firms, 

pursued supplier diversity initiatives, and assisted in the 

growth of talented entrepreneurs by striving to purchase 

and support vendors who are certified as minority or 

women owned; 

Whereas Macy’s, Inc., purchases goods and services from 

these small business enterprises and encourages prospective suppliers to partner with it and take advantage of its 

Supplier Diversity Program and provides participating 

vendors with direction and guidance to help them plan 

and ready for the strategic demands of a larger-scale retail relationship; and 

Whereas Macy’s, Inc., held its first-ever national supplier diversity fair in New York City in August 2007 targeting 

the minority- and women-owned vendor community in the 

cosmetics and skincare categories with the goal of enhancing Macy’s existing assortment for its diverse multicultural customer population: Now, therefore, be it 
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Resolved, That the House of Representatives— 

(1) recognizes— 

(A) the 150th anniversary year of the founding 

of Macy’s, Inc., as an American entrepreneurial 

success story; and 

(B) the role Macy’s, Inc., plays in supporting 

America’s small businesses and vendors, including 

those that are minority and women owned; 

(2) celebrates the vision, innovativeness, and ingenuity of all of our Nation’s small businesses that aspire 

to grow and prosper as Macy’s, Inc., has over its 150- 

year history; and 

(3) congratulates Macy’s, Inc., as an American entrepreneurial success story. 

Attest: 

Clerk.