She's running late for her next business meeting but Deena Nichols decides to give a pair of reporters an impromptu tour of Macy's new Ala Moana Center department store. Macy’s new point person
in Hawaii brings a lot
of energy to the jobStar-Bulletin staff
"Keep up, keep up," Nichols admonishes the journalists as she quickly goes over many of the recent changes by Macy's, which transferred all 18 of Liberty House's department stores and specialty outlets to its Macy's brand on Friday.
In many ways, the 46-year-old Nichols' frenetic pace is a sign that local shoppers should expect big changes from the new department store chain.
As Macy's senior vice president and director of its Hawaii stores, Nichols directed the transition of the former Liberty House department store chain to its current Macy's brand.
Some of the new features at the Ala Moana Center location include a bigger women's shoe department, increased selection for men's and women's wear and bold new in-store designs to bring more focus to product displays.
A native of Indiana, Nichols previously headed Macy's San Diego department store after heading the company's store in Carmel, Calif.
Nichols has been actively involved in the United Way and previously served on the Arts and Cultural Councils in Carmel and Lexington, Ky.
Between 1988 and 1996, she headed Federated Department Store's William H. Blocks unit in downtown Indianapolis. Federated is Macy's parent company.
>> Company: Macy's West Deena Nichols
>> Title: Senior vice president and director of Hawaii stores
>> Age: 46
>> Past positions: Macy's San Diego store manager, 2000-01; Macy's Sacramento store manager, 1997-2000
>> First job: Part-time sales associate, The Gap
>> Hobbies: Entertaining guests