MACY’S BRINGS FASHION HISTORY TO THE SCREEN WITH ADAPTATION OF “WHEN WOMEN RAN FIFTH AVENUE”

Macy’s has acquired an exclusive TV option for the The New York Times and USA Today best-selling novel, When Women Ran Fifth Avenue: Glamour and Power at the Dawn of American Fashion, by award-winning author and journalist Julie Satow. Under the deal, led by Macy’s chief marketing officer Sharon Otterman, the non-fiction portrait of American department stores, will be exclusively developed into a fictionalized television series project. Macy’s is currently in the process of securing a showrunner and attaching talent for the lead roles.

In When Women Ran Fifth Avenue, Julie Satow uncovers the untold stories of the women who built and shaped some of the most iconic department stores in America, from Dorothy Shaver at Lord & Taylor to Hortense Odlum at Bonwit Teller and Geraldine Stutz at Henri Bendel. Long before women had a seat at the corporate table, these trailblazers transformed retail, redefining the way fashion was sold, marketed and experienced. Their innovations laid the foundation for modern shopping culture and challenged the limits of what women could achieve in business.

Margaret Getchell, the trailblazing executive who transformed Macy’s in the 19th century, will be added to the adapted story.

“These are stories of resilience, ambition and creativity — women who understood the power of storytelling and branding long before it was a business strategy,” said Otterman.

“When Women Ran Fifth Avenue celebrates all of the pioneering women who helped shape retail fashion and their enduring legacy, women like Macy’s Margaret Getchell,” said Satow. “I can’t wait to see these trailblazing stories reach a wider audience, inspiring the next generation of innovators in fashion and business, and bring When Women Ran Fifth Avenue from the page to screen.”

For more than a century, Macy’s has created and produced unforgettable content, including the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade and Macy’s 4th of July Fireworks. Each continues to break TV viewership records and inspire audiences worldwide. In 2024, the 98th Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade reached a record 31.7 million viewers and 48th Macy’s 4th of July Fireworks drew 7.6 million viewers, reinforcing the continued impact and growth of these beloved celebrations.

Recently, Macy’s signed a new 10-year rights deal with NBCUniversal, for Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade and Macy’s 4th of July Fireworks on NBC, Peacock and Telemundo. These events bring artistry, craftsmanship and showstopping spectacles to audiences around the world that can also help launch new entertainment properties. These newly secured rights will continue to propel Macy’s entertainment offerings beyond its world-renowned celebrations, as the brand continues to create stories worth sharing.