Final answer:
Macy's use of Macys.com for local sweater stock checks is an example of omnichannel retailing, which integrates various shopping modes for a seamless customer experience.
Step-by-step explanation:
When Macy's department store allows customers to check the availability of a sweater at a local store via their website Macys.com, they are practicing omnichannel retailing. Omnichannel is an approach where a company ensures consistent customer experience across different sales and communication channels, both online and offline.
Omnichannel retailing benefits customers by integrating the different methods of shopping available to consumers today, much like the historical transformation seen in the retail industry with the proliferation of department stores and mail order catalogs. These advances in retailing made a wide variety of goods accessible to people no matter their location, which aligns with the contemporary omnichannel strategy from retailers like Macy's.