[Deathwatch] Stanley Marcus, Neiman Marcus Retailer, 96

[Deathwatch Central <cdw@slick.org>]

Message-Id: <20020124081823.B3FE575FA9@mail.slick.org>
Date: Thu, 24 Jan 2002 00:18:23 -0800 (PST)

Retailer Marcus of Nieman Marcus dies at 96
January 23, 2002 Posted: 4:12 AM EST (0912 GMT)

DALLAS, Texas (Reuters) -- Texas retail legend Stanley Marcus, who
built up the swank Neiman Marcus department store chain, died Tuesday
after working for more than 70 years in the world of fashion, personal
service and extravagant gifts. He was 96. 

Marcus died in a Dallas hospital where he had been undergoing treatment
for heart trouble since Sunday, according to a spokeswoman for the
Dallas-based Stanley Marcus Consultancy. 

Marcus greatly expanded the Dallas-based department store founded in
1907 by his father, uncle and aunt, taking over in 1926 at age 21 after
getting a Harvard business degree. 

He transformed the one-outlet store into a national chain of upscale
department stores replete with Gucci and other top fashion names. 

In 1960, he introduced a Christmas catalog offering unique
"his-and-her" presents like submarines, hot air balloons and Egyptian
mummy cases, a practice that continues today. 

"He was a legend and it was well deserved," said his son, Richard
Marcus. 

"Retail, particularly the high end of quality goods, was his focus. But
he was active all his life in many things, especially the arts," Marcus
told Reuters. 

Stanley Marcus was emeritus chairman of Neiman Marcus after retiring
from the company in 1975 and handing the reins to his son. He continued
working as a retail consultant. 

"Just last week he and I were talking with someone about taking them on
as a client," Richard Marcus said. 

Marcus was inducted into the Advertising Hall of Fame in 2000. 

The Neiman Marcus Group, which includes Manhattan retailer Bergdorf
Goodman, runs 32 Neiman Marcus stores around the United States. 

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