JC Penney has its old CEO, Mike Ullman, in charge of the company again. Abundant sales and coupons have returned, as have brands that disappeared for a spell. In many ways, the JC Penney of old is back. Whether this is a good thing for the company remains to be seen.
J.C. Penney
JC Penney Reintroduces Fake Prices (and Lots of Coupons Too, Of Course)
In early 2012, JC Penney promised the end of “fake prices”—ones that were inflated just so that shoppers could be tricked into thinking the inevitable discounts represented amazing deals. Well, it’s already time to welcome back …
Attention JC Penney Shoppers, Look Out for the Return of ‘Sales Galore’
After months of abysmal sales tallies, the Ron Johnson era is over at JC Penney. Now that Johnson’s “fair and square” no-coupons pricing policies have proved to be a failure, the department store will have to try something else …
The 5 Big Mistakes That Led to Ron Johnson’s Ouster at JC Penney
In the fall of 2011, Ron Johnson was appointed not just as CEO of JC Penney, but as the savior responsible for breathing new life into one of the dowdiest dinosaurs in American retail. Seventeen months—and many, many mistakes—later, he’s out of a job. What happened?
Macy’s CEO: ‘Shocked … Sick to My Stomach’ After Betrayal by Former ‘Friend’ Martha Stewart
The Macy’s-JCPenney-Martha Stewart squabble has quickly gotten personal, even reminiscent of high school—with accusations of backstabbing, betrayal, and months of deception among executives who once considered themselves “friends.”
JCPenney: Forget Coupons and Black Friday Sales. How About a Free Photo Instead?
The reason why door buster deals, coupons, dramatic markdowns, and a short-lived sales are staples of the retail holiday scene is simple: They drive traffic into the stores. So how does a store attract customers when it’s sworn …
JCPenney Would Be Doing Great If the Stores Were Less Like JCPenney
In a meeting with analysts this week, JCPenney CEO Ron Johnson—the retail superstar famous for making the Apple Store a monster success—proudly showed off a model of the JCPenney store of the future, featuring an assortment …
Neiman Marcus and Target Team Up to Go After the Big Middle
This Christmas you won’t have to travel to New York or Los Angeles to splurge on a designer dress or a new purse. You’ll find them just a few aisles away from the laundry detergent and the diapers–at Target.
Maybe Shoppers Don’t Want ‘Fair and Square’ Prices After All
At some level, all shoppers know that a game is being played in every aisle of every store. Original prices, weekly promotions, clearance racks, coupons, Black Friday, blue-light specials, flash sales, oddly specific prices …
Some Stores Finally Decide It’s a Bad Idea to Spam Customers
Got an in-box clogged with ads from retailers? You’re not alone. In recent months, many stores have been sending customers promotional e-mails at a pace of more than one per day. Spam-happy retailers such as Neiman Marcus deluged …
One College Slashes Tuition by 22%, Promises No More Silly Financial-Aid Games
Shopping around for a college education can feel a lot like shopping for a new car — in that very few people wind up paying the sticker price. Many colleges set tuition prices with the assumption that, on average, students will pay 33% less, thanks to financial aid and scholarships. But one university has decided its pricing strategies …
In Major Shakeup, J.C. Penney Promises No More ‘Fake Prices’
Less than 1% of J.C. Penney’s revenues come from items bought at full price. By contrast, nearly three-quarters of merchandise sold by the department store chain is discounted by at least 50% off. What this tells shoppers is that …
