Marriages forged in better times and with the best of intentions are under pressure these days, as the down economy takes its toll on every aspect of life. The divorce rate is expected to rise, along with an economic rebound, supported by historical data being analyzed. With that in mind, onlookers say a “separation” may have begun between the Knot and Macy’s, as the better part of their relationship may now be leading to the worse.
In growing discussions, the recent announcement by the Knot involving their arrangement with Macy’s made in 2007 that made them the exclusive retail partner while providing products on TheKnot.com registry, is felt to be one of many reasons for their current troubles.
For the time, the move to create a registry designed to help couples start their lives and find just the right products was appropriate and worked well. The move to identify and break couples into specific categories; the Happy Hipster, the Jet-Setters, the All-American Dreamers, the True Romantics, the Independent Spirits, and the Connoisseurs, turned the drudgery of registering into a fun event, as couples identified themselves with the created segments. The process allowed couples to identify with product choices that included better perceived, branded quality items. In the end, the program leveraged easy access to cash and spending patterns that have since been impeded by the economic collapse of the past two years.
eWN readers weighing in feel the current economic factors are at the heart of the troubles between the Knot and Macy’s and may have led to the cooling off of a relationship that is felt to be showing signs of trouble. The new agreement terminates the previous agreement that had been scheduled to expire in January 2011. The new, three-year deal is expected to begin in February 2010, at which time the Company will cease to host and manage registry websites for Macy's and Bloomingdale's. Macy's and Bloomingdale's will become link-out affiliates similar to the Company's other registry retailer partners. Onlookers see the move as a downgrade and cooling off in the relationship between the two companies.
The Knot stock price was down .15 cents, -1/88%, a share today, closing at 7.85. Macy’s stock price was up .20 cents a share, +1.08%, closing at 18.67.
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2010
Posted on 02/23/2010
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