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About Just out. (Portland, OR) 1983-2013 | View Entire Issue (Dec. 17, 1999)
1 nTÍHTHTTÍTl news P osh S hop P olicies When spending big bucks on gifts and party wear, there's more to think about than just the name on the label by Gip Plaster eiman Marcus announced this past summer it would start offer ing domestic partner benefits to its employees. That doesn’t make the company a leader in the industry, however, it means it’s lagging behind. Whether you’re interested in a few shares of the company’s stock or a new, swanky wardrobe, it may be important to some consumers to know if the nation’s classier department stores are gay-friendly. Here’s a look at Federated Depart ment Stores—which comprises Macy’s, Bloomingdale’s and more—as well as —Brooke White, Nordstrom, Saks and Neiman Marcus. Gai-fPied tor The Gay Man In Your Life I n 1901 1901, Carl Wallin and John Nordstrom I. opened a shoe store in Seattle. In 1928, Nordstrom passed down his share of the business to his sons; a year later, Wallin sold his share to the Nordstrom sons, too. The Nordstrom fam ily has retained a role Nordstrom spokeswoman in the company’s leadership ever since. Family members now own about one-third of the company’s stock. Nordstrom has nearly 70 stores and 20 outlets in 22 states. With just over $5 billion in sales, it ranks No. 318 in the Fortune 500. “The gay and les bian community is an important part of our customer base,” says spokeswoman Brooke White. Although the company does not market directly to gays and lesbians, White adds, “We like to be the hometown store in every market where we do business.” Domestic partner benefits are offered, she says, and the company includes sexual orienta tion in its nondiscrimination policy. Gay and lesbian issues are addressed in diver sity training, but there is no gay employee group and no movement to start one of which she is aware, White says. "The gay and lesbian community is an important part of our customer base." Christmas Cards (Men&Womyfts) Rainbow Christmas Ornaments C'alcndars-2000 Gift Items Such As: Exposed (Hot New Board Game) Intense (Gay Pheromone) Newly-Released Videos federated Depart ment Stores, with an estimated $16 bil lion in sales, is by far the nation’s largest upscale department store operator. It runs a number of the biggest names in the industry, most notably Blooming dale’s and Macy’s. But it operates other chains, too, including Lazarus, Burdine’s the Bon Marché and Stem’s. When all of its chains are added together, Federated weighs in with more than 400 stores in 33 states. It is No. 95 in the Fortune 500. In March 1999, the company bought catalog and Internet titan Fingerhut. That acquisition strengthened the company’s direct-to-customer business, which already included Bloomingdale’s by Mail, Macy’s by Mail and macys.com. This giant does well on gay and lesbian issues. It’s nondiscrimination policy includes specific protection based on sexual orientation, and the company offers domestic partner bene fits, according to spokeswoman Carol Saunders. Î ■ ■ 2544 NE Broadway ph 331.1125 Email: infoCagaipied.com ▼ ▼ ▼ cotshfng ^oa ir^ouRs peace, pwfoe á- pRospeRtty this hoLioa.y season & Bemoan! magic happens toben (yorj call home! Millynn James, The company also discusses gay and lesbian issues in its diversity training. In the minus column, the company has no gay and lesbian employee group, Saunders says, and does not do any marketing specifically aimed at the gay and lesbian community. gri . abr Accredited Buyer's Representative Associate Broker 2100 NE Broadway Portland,OR 97232 503-495-5748 office 503-330-HOME(4663) Millynn’s mobile phone & pager ▼Out of the area? Call Millynn tollfree at 1-800-825-9948▼ website: www.equitygroup.com/millynn Our family realtor for a decade, Millynn is ready to help you find your new home for the new millennium' ▼Check for my hot listings in the classifieds...then call 330-Home ■ S F or Saks Inc., it’s not all Proffitt’s. In fact, the company has more Saks than Proffitt’s. All
