FIDM Grads Move Upward With Macy's

Jumpstart Your Career!

Are you patiently waiting for an overdue promotion? It's time to take Rory Raggio's advice: "Let other people know where you want to go! Don't wait for someone else to vocalize your goals." Raggio is living proof of his own mantra. 'Upward' is the only direction that he has traveled along his 20-year-long career path. Raggio started out selling women’s shoes at Bullocks Wilshire department store in Century City while attending FIDM. After graduating from the Merchandise Marketing Program in 1981, Raggio headed straight to Bullocks and made his intentions clear: "I want to be a buyer!" Bullocks listened and initiated his climb with training and promotion. He went from assistant buyer to associate buyer and even developed a private label for Bullocks within a very short span of time. Eventually, Macy's purchased the upscale Bullocks department store chain. Echoing the shift to a new company, Raggio decided to move forward and take on the challenge of store management. For the next few years, he managed several Macy's stores in locations throughout the West, from Las Vegas to Northern California. Raggio is now senior vice president director of all the Macy’s West stores in Los Angeles. His responsibilities range from keeping the stores staffed to overseeing all visual aspects of the stores. Macy's West operates 99 stores in Arizona, California, Minnesota, Nevada, New Mexico, and Texas.

Raggio recently visited FIDM to share his experiences and offer sage advice. He was adamant about the value of connections: "First and foremost, I've managed my career by building mentorships and partnerships." Along with Raggio were fellow alumnae and Macy’s reps Amy Hangartner ’90, regional merchandise manager of women’s ready-to-wear for L.A.'s Westside; and Claudia Vazquez ’84, regional director of visual for L.A. & the Inland Empire. Hangartner and Vazquez each tried on a series of jobs for size within the Macy’s ranks before getting promoted to their current impressive titles.

MAKING RETAIL HISTORY

Macy's has been a pioneer in American retailing ever since Rowland H. Macy opened his first store in 1858. Today, with 186 stores, over 58,000 employees, and over $8.5 billion in sales, Macy's is the largest chain owned by Federated Department Stores, Inc. Federated acquired R. H. Macy & Co. in the mid-1990’s. Federated operates ten divisions including Macy’s East, Macy’s West, Fingerhut, Burdines, Bloomingdale’s, and more. Federated was founded in 1830 and is the oldest Fortune 500 U.S. department store company.

Macy’s has a fascinating history. Of course, you’re probably familiar with the famous Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade, a tradition that started in 1924. These lesser-known Macy’s facts will surprise you:

• Macy’s was the first department store to offer its customers credit.
• Macy’s was the first company to create a personnel department, now called "human resources."
• Macy’s introduced colored bath towels in 1932.
• In 1866, Macy’s was the first company to promote a woman to an executive position.

Interested in a great career with serious promotion potential? Check out job openings at Macy’s and other Federated Department Stores at www.retailology.com.