Retailer & Marketplace · vs · Retailer & Marketplace
Macy's vs Staples
Structured technology and market comparison · 2026
Direct Feature Comparison
Macy's · vs · StaplesUS department-store retailer with marketplace and retail media network.
Office supplies retailer with B2B procurement and retail media operations.
Analyze all overlapping signals and tech stacks for Macy's and Staples
Compare mutual enterprise clients, monetization models, live market signals, and partner networks directly in the interactive Knowledge Graph.
Comparison Analysis
What is the main difference between Macy's and Staples?
When comparing Macy's and Staples, both platforms operate within the Retail Media Technology, Display, Web & Mobile, and Retailer & Marketplace ecosystem. Macy's is positioned as US department-store retailer with marketplace and retail media network, whereas Staples focuses on Office supplies retailer with B2B procurement and retail media operations. Decision-makers evaluate both solutions when orchestrating their commercial monetization and technology stack.
What are the top alternatives to Macy's and Staples?
When evaluating Macy's and Staples, enterprise buyers also consider other platforms in Retail Media Technology, Display, Web & Mobile, and Retailer & Marketplace. You can discover the full competitive landscape and evaluate other alternatives by viewing their respective footprint profiles on Polaris7.
Market Signals
Recent Market Signals & Activity: Macy's vs Staples
Documented market movements, strategic partnerships, product releases, and regulatory developments mapped across Polaris7.
Macy's
Recent Signals
- ·Modern RetailRetail Media
DoorDash Adds Retailers, Launches Text Shopping Assistant
DoorDash has added Macy's, Anthropologie, The North Face, Vans, and Timberland to its retail marketplace, expanding beyond restaurant delivery. The company also launched Dasher Returns, a service that coordinates pickups for product returns. On the technology side, DoorDash announced Text DoorDash, an expansion of its Ask DoorDash in-app assistant, allowing customers to place orders via text messaging. These moves follow a milestone partnership with Costco and the expansion of its SNAP/EBT program with seven new grocers. DoorDash aims to build a 'mall in your pocket' by reducing friction in online shopping, leveraging AI and agentic assistants to improve discovery and conversion. The company reports over 4.5 million users have added SNAP cards, and 75,000 stores accept the benefit. The focus is on serving routine shopping habits and providing value through savings and convenience.
- DoorDash added Macy's, Anthropologie, The North Face, Vans, and Timberland to its retail marketplace.
- DoorDash launched Dasher Returns, a service for coordinating product return pickups.
- DoorDash announced Text DoorDash, an expansion of its Ask DoorDash assistant for ordering via text.
- ·SEC APIfinancials
10-Q Financial Filing Analysis for Macy's (2026-09-10)
For the second quarter ended August 1, 2026, Macy's, Inc. reported total revenue of $5.06 billion, up 1.2% year-over-year from $5.00 billion in Q2 2025, driven by net sales growth to $4.87 billion and comparable sales growth of 2.7% across all nameplates. Gross margin rate improved 180 basis points to 41.5%, significantly aided by $95 million in gross tariff refunds received under the International Emergency Economic Powers Act (IEEPA). Operating income surged 63.8% to $244 million compared to $149 million in the prior-year period, while net income almost doubled to $169 million ($0.62 per diluted share). Operating cash flow for the first 26 weeks reached $586 million, boosted by a $328 million credit card interchange fee litigation settlement.
- Total revenue for Q2 2026 grew to $5,059 million with net sales of $4,866 million and comparable sales expanding 2.7% (Bloomingdale's up 11.3%, Bluemercury up 6.2%, Macy's up 1.1%).
- Net income increased 94.3% YoY to $169 million ($0.62 diluted EPS), benefiting from $95 million in IEEPA tariff refunds credited to cost of sales and an additional $3 million interest benefit.
- Operating cash flow for the first half of 2026 reached $586 million (up from $255 million in H1 2025), driven by $328 million received from credit card interchange fee litigation settlements.
- ·Retail DiveRetail Supply Chain Technology
Macy's Rolls Out AI Inventory Replenishment Tool
Macy's Inc. is expanding an artificial intelligence forecast overlay to its inventory replenishment operations, moving from pilot to broader implementation, according to its September 10 earnings call. The initiative aims to improve in-stock levels and drive inventory efficiencies by ensuring the right product is in the right place at the right time. COO and CFO Tom Edwards highlighted that supply chain efficiencies are expected in the second half of 2026, benefiting gross margin. This rollout is part of Macy's 'Bold New Chapter' transformation plan launched in 2024, expected to generate $235 million in savings by 2026. The company enters the fall season in a good inventory position, with inventory up 2.5% in Q2, aligned with sales growth. Other retailers like Target, Lowe's, and Kohl's are also optimizing inventory management with AI and other technologies.
- Macy's is rolling out an AI forecast overlay for inventory replenishment, moving from pilot to broader implementation.
- The AI capability aims to improve in-stock levels and inventory efficiencies.
- COO and CFO Tom Edwards announced the rollout during a September 10 earnings call.
Staples
Recent Signals
- ·Retail DiveMarketing
Staples Launches 'Hard vs. Easy' B2B Brand Campaign
Staples is launching a new full-funnel advertising campaign called 'Hard vs. Easy' to spotlight its enterprise-level B2B services and celebrate its 40th anniversary. The campaign introduces a black 'hard button' as a dark alter ego to the iconic red 'easy button,' humorously depicting workplace mishaps solved by Staples' solutions. The ads will run across streaming services like YouTube, Hulu, and Netflix, as well as social platforms and out-of-home placements. Chief Marketing Officer Bob Sherwin, who joined in June of last year, aims to shift perception from Staples as a retail store to a comprehensive B2B solutions provider, leveraging its supply chain and same-day delivery capabilities. The campaign was created in-house with support from agencies Bandits & Friends and Monks.
- Staples launched a new 'Hard vs. Easy' full-funnel B2B campaign featuring a black hard button alter ego.
- The campaign includes ads on YouTube, Hulu, Netflix, LinkedIn, Meta, out-of-home billboards, and digital signage.
- Staples' CMO Bob Sherwin says the campaign aims to shift perception from retail store to B2B solutions provider.
- ·The DrumCreative & Production
Ten Most Memorable Back-to-School Ad Campaigns
The Drum published a feature listing ten notable back-to-school advertising campaigns, spanning retailers and charities such as Staples, Old Navy, JCPenney, Target, Sandy Hook Promise and The Diana Award. The piece highlights creative approaches — from parent-focused humor and child-directed work to shock-value PSAs and cause-driven activations — and cites measurable outcomes like view counts, recall rates, donation commitments and sales uplifts that demonstrate long-term impact beyond seasonal selling.
- The Drum published a list of 10 notable back-to-school ad campaigns on 2026-08-17.
- Staples’ 1994 'It’s the Most Wonderful Time of the Year' campaign won a Clio and an Effie; later revivals achieved up to 56% unaided recall.
- Sandy Hook Promise’s 2019 'Back-to-School Essentials' film (created by BBDO New York) reached 26 million views in 24 hours on $37,000 of paid media and won the 2020 Emmy for Outstanding Commercial.
- ·Retail DiveBuy Now Pay Later (BNPL)
Parents increasingly use BNPL for back-to-school shopping
A survey by Omnisend of 1,075 U.S. consumers found rising reliance on buy now, pay later (BNPL) for back-to-school purchases: 45% of households plan to use BNPL this season, up from 39% in 2025. About 40% of parents expect to be more financially stressed compared with last year. Nearly 20% of respondents expect to spend more than $1,000 on back-to-school items, and 44% anticipate spending over $500. Omnisend reports nearly one in three households expect BNPL to cover over half of school spending. To fund purchases, parents plan measures including cutting family activities, using credit, dipping into other savings or borrowing from friends/family.
- Omnisend surveyed 1,075 U.S. consumers about back-to-school spending.
- 45% of households plan to use BNPL for back-to-school purchases in 2026, up from 39% in 2025.
- About 40% of parents expect to be more financially stressed this back-to-school season than last year.
Compare their exact ecosystem overlaps.
Explore all deep relationships in Polaris7. Discover exactly which mutual clients, integrated technologies, and overlapping partners Macy's and Staples share across the market ecosystem.