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 rep-
resentative of all American small businesses and indicate 
the intense drive and spirit of our Nation’s entre-
preneurs; 
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 competi-
tive 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
•HRES 1473 EH 
was sold to every customer at one price, and quoting spe-
cific 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 col-
ored 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, es-
tablishing 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 prospec-
tive 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 re-
tail relationship; and 
Whereas Macy’s, Inc., held its first-ever national supplier di-
versity 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 en-
hancing Macy’s existing assortment for its diverse multi-
cultural customer population: Now, therefore, be it
•HRES 1473 EH 
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 inge-
nuity 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 en-
trepreneurial success story. 
Attest: 
Clerk.