Bella Tunno, Big Girl Cosmetics, Cenia, Kane & Couture, and Lamik Beauty bring unique products to Macy’s stores nationwide and on macys.com

NEW YORK--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Jun. 6, 2012-- After a highly successful inaugural edition in the spring of 2011, Macy’s (NYSE:M) innovative business of fashion program - The Workshop at Macy’s, graduates five enterprises to vendor status within Macy’s selling matrix. Bella Tunno, Big Girl Cosmetics, Cenia, Kane & Couture and Lamik Beauty have all begun selling products at select Macy’s locations and/or on macys.com. With an aim of mentoring and fostering growth with up-and-coming minority- and women-owned businesses, the Workshop at Macy’s hopes to help these enterprises achieve and sustain positive and successful vendor relationships. This industry first initiative reinforces Macy’s long-standing commitment to vendor diversity and to providing customers with unique goods and services that meet their lifestyle.

The Workshop at Macy's, the company's minority- and women-owned business development program welcomes five new vendors. Bella Tunno -Cricket Dot Ocean Zig Zag Fabric Loop Binker $8 (Photo: Business Wire)

“The incredible success of our first Workshop is evidenced by this amazing group of enterprises that have now graduated to vendor status within Macy’s community of suppliers. Our goal with the Workshop has been to create a viable pipeline of businesses that will ultimately bring unique products to our stores and online storefront,” said Shawn Outler, Macy’s group vice president of Multicultural Development, Fashion Forecasting/Operations and Leased Businesses. “We are extremely pleased to see this goal come to fruition so soon in the life of this long-term initiative. It speaks volumes about the impact of the coursework and the insight that was shared with these participants. They took the information they learned to heart, put it into practice and are now seeing their efforts come full circle with their first order of goods from Macy’s.”

The Workshop at Macy’s is a four and one-half day intensive training course developed by a consortium of experts from Macy’s Learning & Development; Macy’s Multicultural Merchandising and Vendor Development; Babson College, the nation’s leading business school for entrepreneurship; and with select Macy’s merchants and vendors. The specially-designed business development curriculum is aimed at minority- and women-owned retail businesses that are poised to succeed on a larger scale, but need real-world business practice information and perspective on large-scale vendor relationships to move to the next level and sustain growth. The goal of this annual program is to help create a pipeline of viable enterprises that will grow to become successful partners within Macy’s own vendor community. First held in the spring of 2011, the inaugural Workshop included 22 businesses that ranged from makeup/skincare companies to confectionaries, home textiles and ready-to-wear designers. The Workshop at Macy’s just recently wrapped its second program which featured 17 new businesses. The Workshop team will continue to follow current and past participants as they progress through the opportunities outlined during the program for potential graduation to Macy’s vendor status.

The new Workshop vendors include baby accessories from Bella Tunno, unique color cosmetics from Big Girl Cosmetics and Lamik Beauty, body- and fit- conscious dresses from Cenia, and fun doggy accessories from Kane & Couture.

Speaking about the experience of The Workshop at Macy’s, Michelle Tunno Buelow, founder and CEO of Bella Tunno, noted, “The Workshop at Macy’s challenged us to examine our business on an elevated level. It encouraged us to realistically look at our current infrastructure and strategy, dream bigger, and then bridge the gap. The program was planned and executed in such a way that it empowered and inspired our team. We left the week armed with a toolbox for success, a plan for growth and the support of Macy’s.”

"The opportunity changed my perspective and gave my business the retail insider information it needed to succeed even my own limits,” added Kim Roxie, founder and CEO of LAMIK Beauty. “The relationships I was able to build within a week will span a lifetime, cheers to the Magic of Macy's!"

New Vendor background and product availability:

Bella Tunno

Bella Tunno is a brand where sophistication and whimsy meet philanthropy in a fancy, fresh and fun baby and children’s “neccessories” line. Bella Tunno takes the necessary child and baby products, infuses them in function and then dresses them in fashion. Founded in 2005, their mission is to be fashionably functional, innovative and solution-based, but with an equal mission to donate a portion of every sale to charity. Bella Tunno’s pacifier accessories are available at a few dozen Macy’s locations nationwide including Macy’s Herald Square (New York City), Macy’s on State Street (Chicago), Macy’s Kenwood Towne Centre (Cincinnati), Macy’s Lenox Square (Atlanta), Macy’s Dadeland (Miami), and Macy’s Union Square (San Francisco).

Big Girl Cosmetics

Big Girl is a full-service cosmetics line for poly-ethnic women. Big Girl marries edgy, urban, high pigment with a healthier, mineral-based product and extended-wear performance. Big Girl was created with the monetary profit gained after founder and CEO Kiley Russell sold the free car she won on the “Oprah” show. Big Girl, headquartered in Chicago, IL, currently operates a spa and makeup bar, but Macy’s will be their first department store experience. Big Girl’s cosmetics are available in the Chicago metro area at Macy’s on State Street and Macy’s River Oaks Center, as well as Macy’s Southlake and Glendale in Indiana.

Cenia^®

Cenia, a day-into-evening dress line takes pride in its quality and blends modern, clean aesthetics and sophistication with a revolutionary fit concept that offers four distinctive cuts to fit the four predominant female body shapes. The Cenia dress collection is created exclusively to flatter and compliment these specific body shapes. Select Cenia dress styles are available now with additional designs debuting in early July 2012 at select Macy’s stores including Macy’s South Coast Plaza (Los Angeles), Macy’s Aventura and Dadeland (Miami), Macy’s Mall at Millenia (Orlando), Macy’s Plaza Las Americas (San Juan, PR), and Macy’s Fashion Show (Las Vegas).

Kane & Couture

Kane & Couture’s signature label doggy collars, harnesses and leashes are fun, trendy and affordable. Featuring various designs with specialty treatments including studs, grommets and even hearts, the Bubba Dog Collection by Kane & Couture will make any pup top dog. Kane & Couture dog accessories will be available on macys.com in late June.

Lamik Beauty

Lamik believes “Beauty is revealed, not applied.” Lamik gives makeup a new purpose, women a new zeal for applying it, and a healthy platform for its existence. Lamik stands for “Love and Makeup in Kind” and features a wide range of colors to fit the needs of every woman. New Lamik product can be found at Macy’s Lakeside (New Orleans), Macy’s Pearland (Houston), Macy’s Southlake and Greenbriar (Atlanta).

The Workshop at Macy’s allows selected participants to collaborate with fellow aspiring vendors, gain access to industry experts and solicit one-on-one business coaching. The course work includes classes on merchandising and assortment planning, marketing, EDI, financial management and access to capital.

Macy’s will begin accepting entries for consideration to the 2013 Workshop in the late fall/winter of this year. Eligibility requirements include the following: an applicant must be the majority (51 percent or more of equity) owner, co-owner or otherwise have operational control (per applicable status rules) of a business that has been in operation for a least two consecutive years and be its primary decision maker. Eligible applications will also include a 250-word biographical statement, look book/line sheets or images of product including costs, resumes on all owners, financial statements for the business for two years, fall within the minority- and women-owned definition of the program and provide verification of the business as a legal entity (i.e. Corporation, LLC, etc.), among other requirements. All information including full program requirements will be available online at www.macysinc.com/workshop.

About Macy’s

Macy's, the largest retail brand of Macy's, Inc., delivers fashion and affordable luxury to customers at more than 800 locations in 45 states, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico and Guam. Macy's stores and macys.com offer distinctive assortments including the most desired family of exclusive and fashion brands for him, her and home. Macy's is known for such epic events as Macy's 4th of July Fireworks^® and the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade^®, as well as spectacular fashion shows, culinary events, flower shows and celebrity appearances. Building on a 150-year tradition, Macy's helps strengthen communities by supporting local and national charities that make a difference in the lives of our customers.

For Macy’s media materials, images and contacts, please visit our online pressroom at www.macys.com/pressroom.

Photos/Multimedia Gallery Available: http://www.businesswire.com/cgi-bin/mmg.cgi?eid=50300879&lang=en

Source: Macy's

Macy's
Orlando Veras, 646-429-7450
Orlando.Veras@macys.com