Macy’s is closing 125 of its least productive stores and cutting 2,000 corporate jobs. The store closures represent about one fifth of Macy's current total. The struggling department store is trying to reinvent itself in the age of online shopping. Macy’s is the latest in a long line of retailers and department stores facing the effects of a volatile retail environment and downsizing. Bloomingdale’s is reassessing underperforming stores and making smarter use of the ones they have. The company has begun heavily investing in rotating shop-in-shops, allowing it to fit a larger number of new concepts into a single store. Additionally, Bloomingdale’s is also one of the first high-end department stores to have its own rental service. Basically it is checking up on the health of the company, taking proactive action and ensuring it is not put in a situation where it can only be reactive.

The department store and other specialty retail categories that are selling commodity products and brands that are available at many retail chains have been hit hard with many store closings and bankruptcies in recent years. Luxury retailers in the US have faced issues due to over-expansion and high rent costs, leading to closures or bankruptcy.