Second international location for the iconic US retailer

Dubai, UAE, January 20, 2016 - Al Tayer Group LLC today announced plans to open the first Bloomingdale's store in Kuwait, in Spring 2017, as part of a strategic partnership with Macy's, Inc.   This will mark the second international location for the US department store giant, following the success of Bloomingdale's - Dubai, which launched in 2010, and in advance of opening at Al Maryah Central, Abu Dhabi in 2018.

The three-level apparel, beauty and accessories store, spanning over 93,000 square feet will anchor 360 MALL, Kuwait's luxury retail destination which has been setting new benchmarks since its opening in 2009.  

Bloomingdale's - Kuwait will fulfil the New York City flagship's brand promise of "like no other store in the world", offering key category leadership, immersive luxury brand experiences, seamless digital and social media integration to enhance the in-store experience, extraordinary personalised services, and a curated merchandise selection to create true value to the consumer. 

"Bloomingdale's in Kuwait is another step forward in our strategy for capitalizing on the international potential of Macy's and Bloomingdale's, both of which are well-known retail brands around the world," said Terry J. Lundgren, chairman and chief executive officer of Macy's, Inc. "We are continuing to learn how best to translate these outstanding brands for our international customers, and we expect the new store in Kuwait to build on Bloomingdale's experience and success in Dubai."

"Kuwait is one of the world's most sophisticated and upscale fashion markets, and Bloomingdale's is excited to serve new and existing customers from Kuwait. We believe we will bring a new dimension in fashion and style for which Bloomingdale's is known worldwide," said Tony Spring, Bloomingdale's chairman and chief executive officer. "This project also represents our latest step forward in an outstanding relationship with Al Tayer Group, which shares our dedication to quality and service. Together, we have made the Bloomingdale's Dubai location one of our most productive stores. We have similar high expectations for Kuwait."

"Having launched the first international Bloomingdale's store in Dubai almost six years ago, we are delighted to further extend our successful partnership with Macy's Inc., with the launch of this new location in Kuwait.  The 360 MALL in Kuwait provides us with the perfect location for this landmark introduction," said Khalid Al Tayer, CEO - Retail, Al Tayer Group.  "We will bring a proposition that is uniquely tailored to the needs of the market, with concepts and innovations that we are certain will delight the customers in Kuwait."

Mohammed Jassim Al Marzouq, Chairman, Tamdeen Group, said: "With the opening of Bloomingdale's at 360 MALL, we are bringing one of America's most iconic department store brands to the country. We are delighted to welcome Bloomingdale's to our mall and we are confident that their presence here will create enormous synergies for both brands. 360 MALL is Kuwait's most sophisticated retail offering and the presence of Bloomingdale's will further enhance our positioning. The choice of Kuwait as only the second international location for the brand bears testimony to the savvy Kuwaiti consumer and their interest and familiarity with the latest global luxury trends. We are sure that the new store will be a huge success and look forward to the opening."

The store will be managed and operated by Al Tayer Group, under a licensing agreement.

About Bloomingdale's
Bloomingdale's is America's only nationwide, full-line, upscale department store; and a division of Macy's, Inc. It was founded in 1872 and currently operates 40 stores in New York, New Jersey, Massachusetts, Pennsylvania, Maryland, Virginia, Illinois, Minnesota, Georgia, Florida, Nevada and California. In addition, the first international Bloomingdale's opened in Dubai in 2010. For more information, or to shop any time, visit www.bloomingdales.com.

About Macy's, Inc.
Macy's, Inc., with corporate offices in Cincinnati and New York, is one of the nation's premier retailers, with fiscal 2014 sales of $28.015 billion. The company operates about 900 stores in 45 states, the District of Columbia, Guam and Puerto Rico under the names of Macy's, Bloomingdale's, Bloomingdale's Outlet, Macy's Backstage and Bluemercury, as well as the macys.com and bloomingdales.com websites. Bloomingdale's in Dubai is operated by Al Tayer Group LLC under a license agreement.  (NOTE: Additional information on Macy's, Inc., including past news releases, is available at www.macysinc.com/pressroom)

About Al Tayer Group
Al Tayer Group is a diversified regional business established in 1979 with its headquarters in Dubai, UAE. Since its inception, the Group has grown rapidly and currently operates in 12 countries in the Middle-East and beyond. It has built leading operations in multiple sectors, including automotive, contracting, distribution, retail, and services.

Al Tayer Group represents over 600 global leading brands that span from Ferrari, Ford, Land Rover and Jaguar, among others, in the automotive sector to brands like ABB and Danzas in services.

In retail, Al Tayer Group has firmly anchored its position as a leader in the Middle East through the representation of major brands such as Alexander McQueen, Boucheron, Coach, Dolce & Gabbana, Emilio Pucci, Giorgio Armani and  Jimmy Choo, to name but a few.  Al Tayer Group is also responsible for opening and operating the largest Harvey Nichols outside the United Kingdom as well as the first Bloomingdale's stores outside the United States.  Complementing its position in luxury retail, the Group's portfolio includes leading lifestyle brands such as Gap, Banana Republic and Crate and Barrel.  The Group also has Joint Ventures with Bottega Veneta, Bulgari, Ermenegildo Zegna, Gucci, Prada and Saint Laurent.  The retail division represents over 35 of the world's most renowned brands and operates over 200 stores in the region.

About 360 MALL
360 MALL is an exciting and unique destination in Kuwait whose shopping, entertainment and leisure components are synonymous with sophistication, elegance, unsurpassed style and high-end luxury. The mall integrates retail, leisure and entertainment in a luxury environment, positioning it as the premier luxury shopping experience in Kuwait. The superb architecture of the project is a circular design that was inspired by a modern day interpretation of the region's Arabic architectural features.

Amongst its stores are a mix of luxury brands, dining and entertainment, many of which were introduced for the first time in Kuwait, offering shoppers and visitors exciting leisure and shopping experiences. The mall's elegant interiors include seven different experience zones. 360 MALL marks a milestone in the growth of Kuwait's retail sector and is clearly setting benchmarks for the industry.

The mall has commenced a massive expansion program to develop added offerings which include sports, entertainment, a hotel, and additional shopping. This will be the first time in the world that retail, sports and entertainment come together under one roof as a world-class tennis complex is added to the mall. The expansion project will feature several new to the market retail brands, a signature five star hotel, in addition to outstanding restaurants, a ballroom, and a health club. The upgraded retail experience will leave shoppers with a multitude of new brands to choose from, while the hospitality and F&B facilities will create a new luxury paradigm. Once the expansion is completed, the total GLA of the mall will be approximately 120,000 square metres.

For more information on the mall, please visit www.360mall.com

Macy's Inc.
Media - Jim Sluzewski
+1-513-579-7764
 
Al Tayer Group
Emma Rymer
Tel:+971 4 201 1158 

© Press Release 2016