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Sections Home Page Local News AP News Archives Business Classifieds Event Calendar Forums Life Opinion Obituaries Photo Gallery Since We Asked Sports Tempo Weather Special Coverage 2006 Britt Festivals --> Shop Our Valley AutoFinder HomeFinder JobFinder Search Our Valley Special Sections Homelife Magazine Joy Magazine Readers Choice 2006 Oregon Golf Info Oregon Wine Info Our Valley Other Publications Local Links Ashland News eSouthernOregon Newspapers In Education Personals Moving Here Movie Listings TV Listings Volunteer Customer Service Advertise With Us Media Kit Place Classified Ad Contact Us FAQ's Home Delivery Site Map --> Email Story to a Friend August 3, 2006 Meier & Frank�s Rogue Valley Mall customers will be greeted with wider aisles and new brands when they visit the store after Sept. 9, when it officially becomes a Macy's store. (Mail Tribune / Bob Pennell) With a Sept. 9 changeover date a little more than a month away, Rogue Valley Mall's Meier & Frank store is getting ... A Macy's makeover Store plans 'affordable luxury' items for its Southern Oregon patrons By Greg Stiles Mail Tribune Long-anticipated changes are taking place as the Rogue Valley Mall Meier & Frank transforms itself into Macy's. External signs are being reworked, the cosmetic counter is expanding and fashion lines are morphing daily in preparation for Sept. 9. That's when both Rogue Valley Mall locations join some 400 former May Co. stores in becoming Federated Department Stores Inc.'s flagship Macy's properties. Meier & Frank stores were purchased by Federated for $11 billion in May last year. "We will definitely upgrade the assortment of private brands that are Macy's exclusive, especially in the lady's apparel zone," says store manager Joe McGrew, who has overseen Medford operations since November. "We'll still have national brand assortments and still carry some Meier & Frank lines, but many of the private brands will be transitioned into Macy's brands." Rogue Valley Mall general manager Jeff Barber said he's witnessed an air of expectancy around the change. Advertisement "People are familiar with Macy's," Barber says. "They've heard the name and are kind of anticipating a new thing. I'd certainly like to see Macy's as the fashion leader in Southern Oregon." Some luster has worn off the local Meier & Frank in recent years, although the addition of the Home Store along the eastern edge of the mall in 2002 provided a brief boost. "The last few years, we lost some of our better merchandise," McGrew says. "Now we are going forth as a new organization with a goal to have the best merchandise in the community. We're becoming national: America's department store." He says the store is liquidating old lines prior to the changeover and its upcoming promotions are geared to that end. The most noticeable overhaul will be the removal of the Meier & Frank signs that have been up since 1986, giving way to the Macy's name, complete with a star. Temporary Meier & Frank banners will cover the new signs until the changeover that will coincide with the start of the Christmas shopping season. Inside, the changes will be subtle to occasional customers, but more apparent to shopping mavens. "Most of the construction is minor," McGrew says. "The only major construction you will see is in the MAC (Make-up Art Cosmetics Inc.) shop, where there will be a whole new counter. Cosmetics is definitely a very important part of the structure. MAC is one of real big deals, and one of hottest things out right now." Macy's divides its fashion lines into four types: traditional classic, neo-traditional, contemporary and cutting-edge. Among the prominent brands, McGrew says, are the INC, Charter Club, Alfani, and Style and Co. Among the carry-over brands are John Ashford and Karen Scott. Macy's Northwest spokeswoman Kimberly Reason says the marketing will be different as well. "At Macy's, the goal is to have affordable luxury where you can identify the value," Reason says. "Based on what our customers have told us at focus groups, you will find moderate prices. They will not be priced out of what they're accustomed to shopping for." Reach reporter Greg Stiles at 776-4463 or at [email protected] Mail Tribune Home | Local News | Sports | Business | Obituaries | Life | Opinion AP News | Archives | Site Map | Community | Classified Copyright © 1997-2006 Mail Tribune, Inc. All rights reserved. Privacy Policy | Terms & Conditions | Website Feedback online casinos news Home Security Systems California Casinos Men's Clothing Southern Oregon Loans --> GMAT Prep Fundraisers Send Flowers Entertainment Guide --> Casinos Canada Trunks, Footlocker Online Casino Reviews Advertisements Advertisement