Macy’s CEO: First Thanksgiving opening a success

Just hours after the 89th Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade ended, some 15,000 people lined up outside the New York flagship store for what the retailer hopes will become another tradition: Shopping.

CEO Terry Lundren was at the Herald Square store when the doors opened at 8 p.m., four hours earlier than last year and the retailer's first Thanksgiving opening.

"I had to get out of the way," he says. "There was a steady stream of humanity coming through the front doors for about 12 or 13 minutes."

Despite outcries every year from workers' rights groups and others that Thanksgiving store hours unfairly keep employees from enjoying the holiday with their families, Lundgren says Macy's store employees wanted to work.

"The overwhelming response from our full-time associates was, 'I would like to work those hours'," he says. "They said, 8 p.m. on Thanksgiving is much more convenient for me than having to go to bed and wake up and go to work at midnight." Plus employees didn't want to miss out on the chance to be paid time and a half on the holiday, he says.

While Thanksgiving hours could have been filled by temporary holiday workers, about 90% of spots were taken by regular employees, he says. Macy's has 176,00 full-time workers.

The extreme crowd Thursday night confirmed Lundgren's confidence in opening early.

"Based on the fact that we had a record number of customers outside our door made it very clear," he made the right decision, Lundgren says.

Inside the Herald Square Macy's Thursday night, customers were packed wall-to-wall and there was a five minute wait to get on the escalators, Lundgren says. The crowd was mostly younger shoppers, while Friday morning is bringing in the traditional "over 35" set.

"Hopefully we're getting two different bites at this apple," Lundgren says of attracting both Millennials and older families. "Right now it just seems to be a steady stream whereas last night it was like letting out of a football game."

The earlier op! ening Thursday allowed for a calmer crowd despite the number of people packing into the store, he says. "They were wide awake. It was a different, more alert crowd that was ready to shop and ready to do business."

Colder weather throughout the Northeast and Midwest is helping sales, with cashmere sweaters, coats, and boots strong sellers at Macy's. A pair of diamond earrings for $599, down from $1,500, is also a popular deal, Lundgren says. So are select kitchen appliances, including a coffee maker, blender, and pancake griddle, all selling for $9.99.

Contributing: Associated Press