On my way home from the likemind coffee meetup, I saw a rat in the Loop. Where it is not unusual to see one, this version was over 10 feet tall! I snapped this picture with my Treo, and couldn't help but walk up to the men standing by it to find out what it was doing there.

It turns out there was some demolition going on in the building, and the rat was put up by a union to protest the use of non-union workers. As I was talking with them another person came up to ask.

I'd say this was more effective than those kids that try to stop me every day.

Diversions • (3) Comments • Permalink

As The Hot Iron was not around when Federated Department Stores acquired the former parent of Marshall Field’s and proceeded to rebrand it and in the process drain the life out of the store, you my readers were spared quite a bit! Especially for someone like me, who hails from Western Massachusetts, first worked in Pittsfield, Mass. and moved to Chicago to start a business, I relate a little bit to the late Mr. Field. Add to that my appreciation for history and tradition, it is probably not surprising to you that I have not entered the State Street store since the red star was placed on the awnings of the building.

I don’t need to recant all of the negative press and poor performance numbers that Federated has experienced in the stores that were formerly Field’s, not to mention Macy's attempts to blame others for their own ills. Where Federated’s chairman Terry Lundgren said that it was a business decision to rebrand the stores and build a national brand, it doesn’t help if the people that you want to continue shopping in your stores don’t know anything about you. As for business decisions, since when does spending hundreds of dollars for a sweater constitute a business decision?

When the announcement was originally made, there was the promise Frango mint production returning to the Windy City, and many enhancements to the State Street store including a fresh foods market, recognizing the residential growth in the Loop. It’s been over a year since those announcements, and there is some chatter about Frangos (conveniently timed with chatter about closing Field’s old distribution center in the city) and no fresh food market in sight. Sure, the 28 Shop is back and valet parking have been added, which may account for the store's perception of being overpriced.

Unfortunately I have witnessed this corporate arrogance before. Back in the early 90’s Federated bought the Jordan Marsh department store in Boston and rebranded it. Small plaques were added to the exterior of the store mentioning its history, but nothing else. Two big things Federated did to irk Bostonians was to cancel Marsh’s Enchanted Village, a Christmas display setup every year, and run ads in Boston newspapers featuring New York Yankees player Derek Jeter. The Village is now owned by the city of Boston and fallen into disrepair, and it does not need to be mentioned how much Boston loathes the Bronx Bombers. Fortunately for Bostonians there was Filene’s department store chain… until last year when they were also acquired and rebranded as Macy’s.

In both cases Macy’s did what seems like all they know – to offer coupons and sales. As they have discovered in Chicago, this isn’t working. Sure, they may have wanted to be cautious as to not flaunt the fact that they killed Field’s, but there comes a point where you can’t just mail it in from corporate headquarters and expect people to shop. That isn’t working, and as much as Federated has reshuffled its Midwest management, they are doing the same thing they have always done. Prior to rebranding Field’s there were no Macy’s stores in Chicagoland – apparently Federated thought its sponsoring of a Thanksgiving Parade in New York was enough brand recognition?

Retail, brick and mortar shopping is being hit from all angles today, including the Internet and discounters. If Federated, which will soon be renaming itself to Macy’s, doesn’t create some buzz or mojo soon in Chicago, it may never be able to. And for those who are loyal to Field’s, they can take comfort that when Macy’s faces its demise, it will be their name and not Field’s on the awnings when the State Street store is shuttered.

Business • (2) Comments • Permalink

On a daily basis, and several times a day, as I traverse downtown Chicago on business, I am posed with the same questions. "Do you have a minute for the environment?" "Do you have a moment to help the children?" These questions are asked by young people with binders and clipboards who want me to donate money to organizations they work for or represent who in turn support those causes. In actuality they should be asking me if I want to support (insert name of organization) but their questions are more of a hook. I simply nod no and continue on my journey until I encounter the next person with a question on the next block.

If I were a weaker person I would feel bad that I have no time for the world or its children. In the past I have stopped to hear their pitch. Even if I was convinced to donate to them, I have an issue with handing over cash or my credit card number to a complete stranger standing on LaSalle Street.

I do care about the environment and the world, and I support other causes that are important to me, like the American Liver Foundation. I also have several pro bono clients for whom I donate services and my time to present themselves online. Where they have a legal right to be there and promote their cause, do they have to continually get in my walking path to try to stop me? And I have no idea if this is even a successful endeavor - maybe some of the marketing folks who visit could comment to that?

When I head out today on my daily trek, rather than simply saying "no" maybe I should instead ask them if they are taking good care of their liver.

Diversions • (3) Comments • Permalink

Do you have a MyBlogLog account? It wasn’t until shortly after I started this blog that I created one. For me, MyBlogLog is a community and a way of connecting myself to bloggers – learning of others and informing others of my own. Others I am sure have other definitions, but the increased traffic to my site as I traverse MyBlogLog proves my point.

I was unable to make the SOBcon conference this past weekend here in Chicago due to a prior commitment, but there have been plenty written on it. One announcement came from the new community manager of MyBlogLog, which is now owned by Yahoo! Fellow Chicago blogger and Internet analyst David Dalka was at SOBcon and reported that MyBlogLog will be rebranding, getting a redesign and other features which will seek to expand its market. Yahoo! is also seeking input and suggestions, which is also welcome to hear.

Technology • (5) Comments • Permalink

A very heartfelt (albeit belated) Happy Mother’s Day to all of the Moms out there and to those who are regarded as a Mom to someone. I especially extend this to my Aunt/Godmother and to my own Mother-in-Law, the latter with whom we spent some nice time with this past weekend.

It is also yet another day that I remember my own Mom, whom I lost 6 years ago. She was an amazing woman, and I could fill pages of posts about how truly wonderful she was. Not only was she the one who taught me about sports, but she did all she could to make sure both of her kids went to college, and encouraged me all the way with computers from when I got my first one in junior high. Though it may be cliché, I would not be here today if it wasn’t for her love and sacrifices.

This picture is my favorite of me and my Mom, taken at the old Foxboro Stadium during a Patriots game in 1999. Some say it is ironic that the Patriots won the Super Bowl and I got married, both within a year of her passing – but I know better that there were some special "forces" involved!

Diversions • (0) Comments • Permalink