Ex-Bloomies Chief Traub Dies at 88

Shopping should never be a chore. That was the belief of former Bloomingdale’s CEO Marvin Traub, who died on Wednesday. He was 88. Taub uplifted the typical department store selling floors with exotic import promotions, glitzy galas and designer shops. He transcended the competition by bringing glamour and sex appeal to Bloomingdale’s, making it a magnet for East Side singles, tourists worldwide and high society, shopped by the likes of Jacqueline Kennedy, Lady Bird Johnson, Faye Dunaway and Diana Ross.

Traub was also a friend to some of the industry’s leading designers and is credited with giving Ralph Lauren his big break by placing an an order with the upstart when he was just designing ties.

Traub spent 41 years at Bloomingdale’s, starting as a merchandise assistant. He served as CEO for 13 years, until 1991, and was also president of the store for nine years. Most recently, he was involved in global deals through his consultancy Marvin Traub Associates, where he became one of the industry’sleading analysts of emerging markets, including Russia, China and the Middle East.