Macy’s Inc. announced Monday that it will halt the sale of fur products in its stores by 2021.
The corporation, which owns Macy’s stores as well as Bloomingdale’s, will phase out its fur sales in protest of animal cruelty.
In a statement about the decision, Macy’s CEO Jeff Gennette claimed it was made in partnership with the Humane Society, a prominent animal rights group. He also noted the move is an expansion of the corporation’s decision to ban fur from its private brands.
“We’ve listened to our colleagues, including direct feedback from our Go Green Employee Resource Group, and we have met regularly on this topic with the Humane Society of the United States and other NGOs. Macy’s private brands are already fur free so expanding this practice across all Macy’s, Inc. is the natural next step,” said Gennette.
He added, “We are proud to partner with the Humane Society of the United States in our commitment to ending the sale of fur. We remain committed to providing great fashion and value to our customers, and we will continue to offer high-quality and fashionable faux fur alternatives.”
PETA Executive Vice President Tracy Reiman commended Macy’s decision after years of protesting the corporation’s position on fur sales.
“PETA members have never let up in campaigning for Macy’s to go fur-free—starting back in the 80s when we made the store our prime target for Fur-Free Friday (aka Black Friday) and activists were arrested for blocking the doors at Macy’s Herald Square, and later for disrupting its Thanksgiving Day parade—so PETA is toasting Macy’s new, fur-free decision,” Reiman said. “Any store that wants to survive must read the writing on the wall: Today’s kind shoppers have no interest in wearing tormented animals’ skins.”
Macy’s Inc. has been struggling to compete with the growing online marketplace as physical stores become less relevant. Its stock fell by 50% in the first half of 2019, making it one of the worst performing stocks in the market.
