National v. Local

Ask any of my friends what is one of my strongest personality traits and I've got twenty bucks that says they'll say "loyal." Loyal as a friend (I still speak somewhat regularly via email to my friend Becky, from kindergarten, who now lives in Germany HALLO BECCA!!!) and to my best friend Heather of 22 years and counting...my friend Jenn of 18 years and my girls from D.C., going on 10 years. I am LOYAL. Is this concept dead in the marketplace??? Seriously, does anyone other than myself and a small, haggard band of Chicagoan still mourning our loss care about local, regional loyalties?

Okay, so for those of you not from Chicago, I'll back up the truck. The late, great Marshall Field founded one of the greatest department stores this country, and dare I say, the world has ever known. Marshall Field's wasn't just a store to Chicagoans, it was part of the anchor of this city, part of who we are. The big green bags, especially at Christmas, the old Victorian clock and flagship State Street store with the Walnut Room and Tiffany glass domed ceiling...it was all magnificent. Until the Fields decided to sell and a chain reaction of mediocrity and falling sales took over. Mr. Field coined the phrase "give the lady what she wants!" You used to be able to return things to Field's without a reciept and with visible wear and no questions asked, if it was their stock, they took it back. Sales girls were well dressed, attentive and trained to anticipate what you wanted before you asked. If you were trying on dresses, they would scurry down to jewelry or shoes to make sure your outfit was complete. The hat department made you personalized, hand-made hats and tucked them inside hat boxes stamped with Marshall Field's on the top and sides (I actually just found one of these, circa 1961 in an antique shop and you would have thought I found the holy grail.)

Now we are all subjected to an insane and condescending marketing campaign by the newest owners...Macy's/Federated Dept. Stores. They did away with the Field's name and logos, color green and other hallmarks and are trying to convince us that this is a good thing because "now where ever you shop in the nation, you can go to Macy's!" Barf.

I would like to take a minute as a former Field's sales girl and on behalf of Field's employees everywhere...I want to apologize to everyone who had their Dayton's and Hudson's stores taken away from them. We did not understand then, that even though we thought Field's superior, it was hard for you to loose your local favorite. We understand now.

Now, I work for one of the last retail outlets to remain firmly in control of a Chicago family and they have no thought of selling. I support Chicago companies as much as I can and hope others will join me.