A brief guide to Barney’s (RIP)

Chapter 1: Early Beginnings of Barneys

Barneys was founded in 1923 by Barney Pressman, who opened a men's discount clothing store in Manhattan, New York. Pressman began by selling off-price clothing and shoes out of the family's basement, thus starting the company as a "cut-price" retailer.

The founder, Barney Pressman

Barney Pressman was born in 1891 in New York City, the son of Russian immigrants. He was the eldest of six children, and his family was not wealthy. Pressman grew up working in his family's clothing business, which sold low-priced, off-the-rack men's clothing.

In 1923, Pressman opened a men's discount clothing store on Seventh Avenue in Manhattan, using $500 of his own money and $500 borrowed from his wife. The store was called Barney's Clothes and it was located in a small basement space. Pressman had a very specific target market, men who couldn't afford to buy clothes at full price, and he focused on providing them with quality, stylish clothing at a fraction of the cost.

Pressman was a shrewd businessman, who had a keen eye for fashion and an ability to spot a bargain. He traveled to Europe to buy overstocked and off-season designer clothing and brought it back to sell in his store. He also had a knack for finding unusual and hard-to-find items that other retailers didn't carry. Pressman was also known for his commitment to customer service, he trained his salespeople to be knowledgeable and attentive, and he insisted on a high standard of personal service. He was heavily involved in the day-to-day operation of the store and continued to be an active member of the company until his death in 1978.

Chapter 2: Expansion and Growth

In the 1930s, Barneys expanded to other locations and began to focus on luxury goods, becoming a full-price department store. The company also began to diversify its product offering to include women's clothing and accessories. The expansion was driven by the success of the original store and the demand for their unique offering. The Pressman family, especially Barney, had a keen eye for fashion and an ability to spot a bargain, this allowed them to provide the customers with quality, stylish clothing at a fraction of the cost.

As the company grew, it started to focus more on providing excellent customer service and personal shopping experiences. The salespeople were trained to be knowledgeable and attentive, and the store created a high standard of personal service. The company also began to focus on luxury goods, positioning itself as a full-price department store, and began to attract more upscale clientele.

Chapter 3: Post-War Era

During the post-war era, Barneys continued to grow and evolve, opening new stores and increasing its focus on luxury goods. The company also began to focus on providing excellent customer service and personal shopping experiences. In addition, it began to focus on creating a unique and upscale shopping environment, with unique store design and visual merchandising. The company also started to expand its product offerings to include more high-end designer fashion and exclusive merchandise, which helped to establish Barneys as a destination for luxury fashion.

Chapter 4: Going Upscale

In the 1970s, Barneys began to position itself as a luxury department store, focusing on high-end designer fashion and exclusive merchandise. The company also began to focus on creating a unique and upscale shopping environment, with unique store design and visual merchandising. This helped to establish Barneys as a destination for luxury fashion.

In this decade, Barneys also began to expand its product offerings to include more luxury brands and exclusive merchandise. This helped to attract more upscale clientele and establish Barneys as a luxury department store. The company also continued to focus on providing excellent customer service and personal shopping experiences, which set it apart from other department stores.

Chapter 5: Going Public and International

In the early 2000s, Barneys went public and started to open international locations. The company focused on expanding in the USA and Asia, opening stores in major cities such as Chicago, Beverly Hills, and Tokyo. The company's expansion was driven by the success of the original store and the demand for its unique offering. The company also began to focus on expanding its e-commerce and online presence, making it easier for customers to shop and purchase luxury goods from anywhere in the world.

As part of the international expansion, Barneys also began to form partnerships with local and international luxury brands to offer exclusive merchandise and collections. This helped to further establish the company's reputation as a premier destination for luxury fashion.

Chapter 6: Recent History and Current Day Barneys

In the 2010s, Barneys faced financial challenges, like many retailers, but despite these challenges, it is still considered one of the most prominent luxury department stores in the USA. In 2019, the company filed for bankruptcy, and it was acquired by Authentic Brands Group. The company was later reopened briefly before closing its doors forever on Feb 22, 2020.