Macy's To Introduce Apple Pay Next Month

By Megan Zielinski, contributing writer

Macy’s and Bloomingdale’s stores will be among the first in the retail industry to introduce Apple Pay in stores this October — a new, secure and convenient way for customers to pay for products at the hands of mobility. The addition of Apple Pay is a continuation of Macy’s, Inc. growing omni-channel developments.

Select Macy’s and Bloomingdale’s stores in locations of Chicago, Houston, Los Angeles, San Francisco, San Jose, New Jersey, Seattle, and Washington D.C. will offer same-day delivery services of online purchases for customers to enjoy starting this fall. Deliv, leading same-day delivery provider, will carry out the delivery process in alliance with major mall owners located in same-day delivery regions.

Employees at Macy’s stores in Georgia and New Jersey are testing out in-store technologies to better-serve customers—new tablets and POS devices are being used to improve employee interaction with customers, enable speedier transactions, connecting employees to online inventory, and providing detailed product information. Omni-channel platforms, including electronic kiosks and “lookbook” displays will be upgraded and implemented in more Macy’s stores this fall.

The newly-launched iOS and Android mobile app empowers Macy’s and Bloomingdale’s customers to quickly search and purchase products at the simplicity of a single tap. App features will consistently be added throughout the year and beyond to enhance the mobile shopping experience. Soon to be integrated into Macy’s primary app is Macy’s Image Search app—currently available for iPhone users, guiding customers directly to merchandise they are looking for. By snapping and sending a photo of favorite outfits and accessories from anywhere, Macy’s Image Search will reveal comparable items available on the Macy’s website. 

Macy’s and Bloomingdale’s newly-introduced mobile wallets allows for customers enrolled in each store’s rewards program to collect exclusive offers and coupons and checkout from one spot—by November, the Macy’s and Bloomingdale’s app will include the mobile wallet feature for members to seamlessly shop through the app on their mobile devices. 

Macy’s is transforming the Fall Fashion direct mail catalog into a fun virtual viewing and buying experience on customer’s tablets, mobile and desktop setting—delivering interactive content such as fashion tip videos, top-trending recommendations, 360 degree product images, and a new digital image styler that allows customers to match pieces together from the catalog.

Smart fitting rooms have been included into California, New Jersey, and NYC Bloomingdale’s locations. Wall-mounted tablets allow for customers and employees to scan and see various colors and available sizes of clothing, along with customer ratings on products and even suggested pieces that can complete the outfit. This fall, the new Bloomingdale’s store in Palo Alto California will incorporate smart fitting rooms for both men’s and women’s departments.

Available this October, created to heighten the online gift registry process—Bloomingdale’s website will feature a unique TableTop Builder, enabling customers to pair together pieces from a wide variety of dinnerware and glassware sets on a virtual tabletop that can be shared, saved or purchased.

Advanced RFID technology has allowed for both stores to experience increased sales, improved gross margins, and manage inventory costs as the identification system gives exact, real-time inventory data from the stock room to shelves. Macy’s and Bloomingdale’s will expand RFID technology in the fashion categories for the upcoming year.  

As a result of positive trials of the Shopkick real-time shopping app in Macy’s New York and San Francisco flagship locations, Shopkick’s shopBeacon technology will expand to all Macy’s stores across the country. The incorporation of iBeacon technology through Apple’s iBeacon Bluetooth Low Energy protocol will bring more than 4,000 shopbeacons and devices to each Macy’s store—marking it as the largest department store installation. Upon entry of store, Shopkick app users are presented with customized offers and rewards, as iBeacon analytic technology targets each customer based off of personal interests.

Macy’s, Inc. is committed to serving customers at every channel, at all times. “We are a multi-faceted retailer with stores, technology, Internet capability and mobile access that come together for our customers. They are at the center of all our decisions, and our ongoing research and development will continue to help us understand how to personally engage with them,” said Terry J. Lundgren, Macy’s, Inc. chairman and chief executive officer.