Rowland Hussey Macy facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Rowland Hussey Macy
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| Born | August 30, 1822 |
| Died | March 29, 1877 (aged 54) Paris, France
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| Resting place | Woodlawn Cemetery |
| Nationality | American |
| Known for | R. H. Macy and Company |
| Spouse(s) | Louisa Houghton |
| Children | 3 |
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Rowland Hussey Macy Sr. (born August 30, 1822 – died March 29, 1877) was an American businessman. He is famous for starting the well-known department store chain, R. H. Macy and Company, which we know today as Macy's.
Contents
The Story of Rowland Macy
Early Life and Adventures
Rowland Macy was born on Nantucket Island, Massachusetts. He was the fourth of six children in a Quaker family. When he was 15, he worked on a whaling ship called the Emily Morgan. He even had a red star tattoo, which later became a famous symbol for his stores!
In 1844, Rowland married Louisa Houghton. They had three children together: Charles, Rowland Jr., and Florence.
Learning from Mistakes
Before Macy's became a huge success, Rowland tried to open several other stores. Between 1843 and 1855, he opened four different dry goods stores. A dry goods store sells things like fabric, clothing, and household items. All of these first stores did not succeed.
One of his early stores was in Haverhill, Massachusetts. He opened it in 1851 to serve people working in the local mills. Even though these businesses failed, Rowland learned important lessons from each one. He used these lessons to help him later on.
Starting Macy's in New York
In 1858, Rowland Macy moved to New York City. He opened a new store called "R.H Macy Dry Goods." It was located on Sixth Avenue at 14th Street. This spot was further north than other big stores at the time.
The very first day of business was October 28, 1858. The store made $11.08 in sales that day. This was a small start for what would become a giant company!
Growing the Business
As his business grew, Macy's expanded into nearby buildings. Rowland Macy kept adding more and more departments to his store. He was very creative in how he attracted customers.
He used fun ideas like having a store Santa Claus. He also created special themed exhibits and bright, lit-up window displays. These displays helped to draw people in. Macy's also offered a money-back guarantee, which was quite new for the time. For many years, the store only accepted cash payments.
Macy's even made its own custom-fit clothing for men and women. This clothing was put together in a factory right inside the store.
Later Years and Legacy
In 1875, Rowland Macy brought in two partners. One was his nephew, Robert M. Valentine. The other was Abiel T. La Forge, who was married to a cousin.
Rowland Macy passed away in Paris, France, on March 29, 1877, after an illness. He was buried in Woodlawn Cemetery in The Bronx.
After his death, ownership of the store stayed with the Macy family for a while. However, in 1895, the store was sold to Isidor and Nathan Straus. Today, Macy's is one of the most famous department stores in the world, all thanks to Rowland Macy's vision and hard work!
