Sean John — the clothing label founded by hip-hop entrepreneur Sean “Diddy” Combs — has signed an exclusive distribution deal with Macy’s.
The nation’s biggest department-store chain — which lately has scored exclusives with brands including Tommy Hilfiger, Ellen Tracy, Diesel and Martha Stewart — in spring 2011 will become the only department store to sell Sean John men’s sportswear.
“I got my start at Macy’s when I was 16, selling shirts and ties,” Combs told The Post in an interview, adding that he had worked at the New Rochelle, NY, store. “To come full circle like this is a dream come true.”
At a press event yesterday at the trendy Standard Hotel in Manhattan’s Meatpacking District, Combs and Macy’s CEO Terry Lundgren declined to specifically discuss the terms of the agreement. But Combs said Sean John has “done more than $1 billion of business at Macy’s, and we plan to do a couple billion more.”
Macy’s initially will begin selling Sean John exclusively at 400 stores — or about half of its nationwide chain. But the line will eventually be rolled out to all stores, said Macy’s Chief Merchandising Officer Jeff Gennette.
Combs and Lundgren said they’ve talked about an exclusive distribution deal for at least two years. Combs said the higher profile given to Tommy Hilfiger at Macy’s after the brand went exclusive helped seal the deal.
“It really opened my eyes to the possibilities,” Combs told The Post. “They’re displaying Tommy right up there with Ralph Lauren.”
Indeed, Sean John clothing will move from the young men’s area of most Macy’s stores to the higher-profile “Collections” area, according to Gennette.
In addition, there will be exclusive Sean John shops built within key Macy’s locations, including the flagship at Herald Square.
While Sean John will have sole discretion over designs, it will work closely with Macy’s when it comes to pricing and deciding which fashions to emphasize each season.
“We’re in each others’ shorts on those issues every day,” Gennette said. “We’ll live in each others’ offices.”
Macy’s CEO Lundgren said that while the retailer is offered exclusive deals by countless clothing brands, “We turn down 95 percent of the invitations we get,” noting that commitments to exclusive distribution deals carry greater risks. james.covert@nypost.com