About this episode
<p>Macy’s wants to recapture its glorious past. The author of the <i>Wimpy Kid </i>books wants to rebuild his dilapidated hometown. We just want to listen in. (Part two of a<a href="https://freakonomics.com/podcast-tag/can-the-macys-parade-save-macys/"> two-part series</a>, first published in 2024)</p><p> </p><ul><li><strong>SOURCES:</strong><ul><li><a href="https://www.linkedin.com/in/mark-cohen-b9886b7/">Mark Cohen</a>, former professor and director of retail studies at Columbia Business School.</li><li><a href="https://www.linkedin.com/in/willcoss/">Will Coss</a>, vice president and executive producer of Macy’s Studios.</li><li><a href="https://wimpykid.com/about-the-author/">Jeff Kinney</a>, author, cartoonist, and owner of An Unlikely Story Bookstore and Café.</li><li><a href="https://macysinc.com/investors/governance/board-of-directors/person-details/default.aspx?ItemId=59e54111-e049-4319-9d8a-260734f6d65a">Tony Spring</a>, chairman and C.E.O. of Macy’s Inc.</li></ul></li></ul><p> </p><ul><li><strong>RESOURCES:</strong><ul><li>"<a href="https://www.wsj.com/business/earnings/macys-raises-full-year-view-on-same-store-sales-growth-8bcae2a6">How Macy’s CEO Tony Spring Is Turning the Retailer Around</a>," by Suzanne Kapner <i>(The Wall Street Journal,</i> 2025).</li><li>“<a href="https://www.wsj.com/business/media/nbc-ready-to-pay-triple-to-gobble-up-thanksgiving-parade-broadcast-rights-e18fd95f">NBC Ready to Pay Triple to Gobble Up Thanksgiving Parade Broadcast Rights</a>,” by Joe Flint (<i>The Wall Street Journal, </i>2024).</li><li>“<a href="https://www.retaildive.com/news/how-macys-set-out-to-conquer-the-department-store-business-and-lost/608277/">How Macy’s Set Out to Conquer the Department Store Business — and Lost</a>,” by Daphne Howland (<i>Retail Dive, </i>2022).</li><li><a href="https://www.anunlikelystory.com/">An Unlikely Story Bookstore and Café</a>.</li></ul></li></ul><p> </p><ul><li><strong>EXTRAS:</strong><ul><li>“<a href="https://freakonomics.com/podcast-tag/can-the-macys-parade-save-macys/">Can the Macy’s Parade Save Macy’s?</a>” series by <i>Freakonomics Radio </i>(2024).</li></ul></li></ul><br/> <p>Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See <a href="https://pcm.adswizz.com">pcm.adswizz.com</a> for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.</p>