Business Wars Macy’s vs Gimbels - Wartime Wagers | 5
Dec 16, 2019
In the late 1930s, Gimbels takes daring steps by stockpiling goods and hiring a rival's top copywriter. The looming war and resulting resource shortages spark intense competition with Macy’s. Price wars erupt, leading to chaos as Macy’s grapples with maintaining its historic discount policy. Tensions rise during an urgent board meeting, highlighting the stakes of the ongoing rivalry. Meanwhile, Gimbels launches bold marketing strategies that resonate with consumers, shifting the dynamics of suburban shopping forever.
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Gimbels' Wartime Gamble
- Bernie Gimbel initially doubts the need to stockpile goods for wartime.
- However, he changes his mind after his brother, Fred, suggests stockpiling goods like nylon and silk.
Stocking Stampede
- Gimbels' hosiery department is overwhelmed by shoppers after the government restricts nylon and silk for military use.
- Fred Gimbel's foresight in stockpiling these goods pays off.
Nobody But Nobody
- Bernice Fitzgibbon, Gimbels' copywriter, creates the iconic slogan "Nobody, but nobody undersells Gimbels."
- The slogan becomes a sensation, even reaching Winston Churchill.