About this episode
<p>The iconic department store calls the parade its “gift to the nation.” With 30 million TV viewers, it’s also a big moneymaker — at least we think it is: when it comes to parade economics, Macy’s is famously tight-lipped. In this 2024 episode, we try to loosen them up. (Part one of a<a href="https://freakonomics.com/podcast-tag/can-the-macys-parade-save-macys/"> two-part series</a>.)</p><p> </p><ul><li><strong>SOURCES:</strong><ul><li>John Cheney, carpenter at Macy’s Studios.</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://www.linkedin.com/in/kevinjlynch23/">Kevin Lynch</a>, vice president of global helium at Messer.</li><li>Jen Neal, executive vice president of live events and specials for NBCUniversal Entertainment.</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><li><a href="https://www.nyc.gov/site/nypd/about/leadership/commissioner.page">Jessica Tisch</a>, New York City police commissioner, former commissioner of the New York City Department of Sanitation.</li><li><a href="https://www.nyc.gov/site/cecm/about/about-the-executive-director.page">Dawn Tolson</a>, executive director of Citywide Event Coordination and Management and the Street Activity Permit Office for the City of New York.</li></ul></li></ul><p> </p><ul><li><strong>RESOURCES:</strong><ul><li><a href="https://amzn.to/40XwtNr"><i>Macy’s: The Store. The Star. The Story.</i></a><i>, </i>by Robert M. Grippo (2009).</li><li><a href="https://www.amazon.com/History-1858-1919-Harvard-Studies-Business/dp/0674863704"><i>History of Macy’s of New York, 1853-1919: Chapters in the Evolution of the Department Store</i></a>, by Ralph M. Hower (1943).</li><li><a href="https://www.macys.com/s/parade/">Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade</a>.</li></ul></li></ul><p> </p><ul><li><strong>EXTRAS:</strong><ul><li>"<a href="https://freakonomics.com/podcast/helium/">Helium</a>," by <i>The Economics of Everyday Things </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>