Marvin Traub and Bloomingdales

Marvin Traub made Bloomingdale's the "greatest retail show on Earth" during his more than 20 years as a top executive at the department store. He used celebrities and grand events to generate inexpensive publicity. Under Traub's watch, Bloomingdale's devoted more of its resources to public relations than any department store ever had at the time.

Traub created the concept of dividing the selling floor into boutiques and used this setting to showcase then-emerging designers such as Yves Saint Laurent. He also brought a fashion element to home furnishings, housewares and cosmetics.