The Red Star Shines Bright in its Communities

Probably one of the best ways for a company to enhance its name and improve image is through service to the community. A companies commitment to the public can do nothing but enhance the view of a corporation. State Farm Insurance seems to have gotten the right idea, creating a slogan that instills trust in its prospects instantly. "Like a good neighbor State Farm is there," Community relations is just this, it is the idea of being a good neighbor and lending a helping hand to the ones in need.

The key to a great community relations program is targeting the best group or demographic. One that applies to your market and incorporates the issues surrounding your companies, figuratively and literally. Where does Macy's stand in this corporate world, is the company simply cutting a check, or are they making their mark something more than just a checkbook?

While many companies have a single focus on one issue or foundation, Macy's has taken a different approach. There are five different areas Macy's/Bloomingdales bases its community campaigns off of. These areas include the arts and culture, HIV/AIDS, education, woman's issues, and environment. This approach by Macy's is true genius, by having so many different demographic targets in their community giving, the company covers all of its consumer grounds, most notably their two main markets woman and children. Macy's contributes to these demographics but giving to charities that cover these topics, such as "Go Red for Women", and "Back to the books".

As we all know there is a clear difference between cutting a check and getting out into the community and doing work. Both areas of giving have its effect, but for a corporate company like Macy's sometimes the only way to ensure a companies good intentions is to get out in the community and gain face time. This has been mastered through the Partners in time Volunteers. Through this program, Macy's employees are given time off from their work to go out and give back to the community, while keeping within the companies five main focuses.  According to the Macy's Inc. website in 2009 Macy's celebrated 20 years of the Partners in Time program, having given 1.8million hours of community service in total with two decade time frame. That year Macy's gave around 100,000 hours to the community in various different areas of the community.

From a Public Relations perspective Macy's has all parts of community relations covered. They give back to multiple demographics, which practically covers their entire consumer base. It is also a company which takes the time to give a face to the company, encouraging all of its employees to go out and take the time to give back through hands on work and service. Macy's truly does root itself into the communities around its stores, and this technique has been accomplished through Macy's veteran status in our country and many years of gaining public relations experience.

Hey Macy's HR Department! Wheres the Magic?

New Jobs are always a great thing to be excited about, whether seasonal or full time. They mean jobs for the unemployed which means a better economy, happy families, and of course more customers to take part in the unique Macy's experience.  The only problem is when people are not aware of these new job opportunities, how are they supposed to go about getting them?


In a press release sent out by the company on Thursday, September, 23rd 2010 Macy's announced the hiring of 65,000 seasonal employee's for the holiday season. With Holiday's approaching fast the need for extra help is out there, in a quote from the release the chairman and president Terry J. Lundgren states, "It is vitally important that our customers are well-served during the busiest shopping time of the year. So we ramp up our workforce starting now and running through December." In order for Macy's/Bloomingdales customers to have that unique experience it is especially important to have the best staff on the team as possible. Yet the company does not seem to be promoting these positions efficiently. Macy's could have taken these yearly hiring opportunities and spun it into a campaign to help the ever growing unemployment rate and add to the "magic" of the giving season. This would have been a great Public Relations campaign to build Brand loyalty and give consumers the idea that Macy's is always looking out for them, not just in they're clothing and great deals, but in employment as well. 


Even without spinning these Jobs into a campaign it still seems that Macy's has not made any effort in promoting. While looking on Facebook and Twitter, there has been zero posts or tweets on the new open positions. It is especially disappointing when looking at the companies Linked In account to see zero job opening posts on these new seasonal positions. It is known that social networking is the most up and coming PR tool and if every option is not used properly it can make it harder for a company to succeed properly. 


The companies lack in job promotion is not by all means going break this fortune 500 company. Macy's will most likely be successful in filling these positions indefinitely. Although  for next year, with a little bit more creative thinking on the part of their PR practitioners, they could have a great campaign on their hands.