CHANNELSURFING; THE STAKES ARE HIGHER THAN EVER IN TODAY'S RETAIL ENVIRONMENT. WWDCB CHECKS IN WITH THREE DEPARTMENT STORE COMPANIES TO SEE HOW THEIR KIDS' BUSINESSES ARE FARING AS THE FIRMS MAKE ADJUSTMENTS TO BECOME MORE COMPETITIVE.(May Department Stores Co.)(Dillard Department Stores Inc.)(Stage Stores Inc.)

Children's Business, October, 2004

Byline: Thomas J. Ryan

May Co.

Struggling to turn around three consecutive years of same-store declines, May is betting that an emphasis on fashion, newness and better merchandise will revive its topline.

The St. Louis-based company, which operates 497 stores under numerous nameplates, is reinventing its department stores to differentiate itself from more discount-oriented competitors Kohl's, Target and JC Penney. May's banners include Lord & Taylor, Famous-Barr, Filene's, Foley's, Hecht's, Kaufmann's, L.S. Ayres, Meier & Frank, Robinsons-May, Strawbridge's, The Jones Store, and the recently-acquired Marshall Field's. May's five-prong strategy includes: delivering newness and fashion faster; identifying new traffic generators and...

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