Macy's announces unexpected closure ahead of holiday season

Group 1: Macy's Transformation Efforts - Macy's is implementing a transformation plan to regain customer loyalty and achieve sustainable, profitable growth due to persistent sales declines [1] - The company is consolidating operations by closing dozens of stores and laying off hundreds of employees [1] Group 2: Seasonal Retail Trends - Retailers are preparing for the holiday season by hiring seasonal workers to meet rising consumer demand [2] - Average parcel delivery times have improved, decreasing from 6.6 days in Q1 2020 to 4.2 days in Q2 2023, indicating enhanced logistics efficiency [2] Group 3: Consumer Spending Insights - Consumers plan to spend an average of $890.49 per person on gifts and seasonal items this year, the second-highest amount on record [3] - Despite economic uncertainty, Americans prioritize spending on loved ones during holidays, with many seeking out sales [4] Group 4: Macy's Operational Changes - Macy's is closing its Backstage operations unit at its distribution center in South Windsor, affecting 106 employees [6] - Layoffs from this closure will begin on December 28 and continue through January 10, as per a WARN notice [6]