Trailblazing female executive transforms store and paves the way for women in retail leadership.
Margaret Getchell, a young woman with a knack for numbers and a keen sense of customer service, played a crucial role in the early success of R.H. Macy’s department store. In 1860, at just 19 years old, she approached her distant cousin, Rowland Hussey Macy, the store’s founder, seeking employment. Macy, who had recently opened his store in New York City, hired Getchell as a cash clerk due to her skills with numbers. She quickly excelled in her role, eventually becoming head bookkeeper and training other clerks.
Getchell’s real talent, however, lay in her ability to anticipate and meet customers’ needs. Her keen insight into what customers wanted helped drive the growth and success of R.H. Macy’s. She played a pivotal role in shaping the store into the iconic retail destination it is today.
Source: The NY Times
