Does JCPenney’s new pricing appeal to you?
If you subscribe to The Gazette, you no doubt noticed the slick glossy “JCP” insert in Sunday’s paper.
“We want to be your favorite store,” a message inside said. With JCPenney turning 110 this year, the stores will simply “treat people as we’d like to be treated ourselves. Fair and square.”
So, instead of advertising hundreds of “sales” every year, Penney’s will switch to everyday low pricing—much like Wal-Mart—and mark apparel at, say, $17 or $24 instead of $16.99 or $23.99.
An Associated Press interview with Ron Johnson, new CEO of Penney’s, in Sunday’s Marketplace section shed more light on the plan. Johnson says he will do away with most of the 590—that’s no misprint—sales the stores had last year that turn off customers who must play waiting games for good deals. Johnson thinks these big markdowns insulted customers.
For 15 years, Johnson helped shape Target’s cheap chic image, the story said. Then he spent a decade changing the way we shop for electronics at Apple. Now he wants to create a Penney's shopping experience with “great support” that will encourage customers to return.
Where do you spend most of your clothing dollars? I don’t shop for clothes often; my wife keeps me well supplied with dress shirts and ties, sweaters and sweatshirts as Christmas or birthday gifts. She almost always shops at Boston Store, where she once worked part time. When I do shop for clothes, however, I almost always target the Janesville Mall’s four anchors—Boston Store, Kohl’s, Sears and, yes, JCPenney.
I’ll be intrigued to see if Johnson’s new strategy pays off. Do you think his plan might entice you to check out Penney’s more often?
Greg Peck can be reached at (608) 755-8278 or gpeck@gazettextra.com. Or follow him on Twitter or Facebook
Feb 7, 2012 at 10:58 p.m.
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usaret: Would agree that other stores such as Sears and Kohls are in same category .. Not sure if Farm & Fleet, Target, Fleet Farm, and others would publicly advertise they were able to reduce prices by at least 40% on all items. Do not shop at many stores other than for groceries .... have what I need and do not shop just for the sake of shopping. Usually look first at thrift stores when I do need something. Used but clean is sufficient and proceeds benefit good causes.
Feb 7, 2012 at 6:16 p.m.
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Maynard: Please note that ALL stores fall in catagory 2 so does that mean you will stop shopping there to?
Feb 7, 2012 at 5:10 p.m.
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The JCP commercials the last days of January had 3 results for me: 1) they annoyed me so much that I muted the TV each time one was on 2) They highlighted that all items were going to be reduced to an everyday price at least 40% lower than current regular prices thus stating that they have been overcharging Big Time for all these years. 3) Items 1 and 2 were enough to make me not care if I ever step forth in a J.C.Penny store again.
Feb 7, 2012 at 5:04 p.m.
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Kmart had the great every day low price for years (GELP) and look where they are today?
Feb 7, 2012 at 4:17 p.m.
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the "590" is the number of sales advertisements JCP had during the previous year. The bad thing is that the cut back on advertising will cut back on income for newspapers and the postoffice. The bright side is it will save trees and leave you with that much less to recyle. Also, stores have gone about as far as they can with sales and discounts. Look at the ad's, that blouse was the same price on sale last month as this month and most likely next month. JCP now has the low price and you don't have to wait for the coupon.
Feb 7, 2012 at 4:09 p.m.
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Jvlhomeowner, a lot of people are just like you, which is why mid-range retailers like Penney's have been in trouble for a while now. First places like Target began eating their lunch, then "upscale discounters", particularly Kohls, sat down at the table and dug in. The old mainline department stores like JCP have been fearful of joining the discount crowd and losing their brand by gaining a perception of cheapness.
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Ron Johnson -- this guy seems a lot smarter than his namesake whom we sent to the Senate -- has worked magic before, so it will be interesting to see if he succeeds. Clearly the status quo was not working.
Feb 7, 2012 at 4:02 p.m.
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frogger, you're not reading the whole sentence. It says: "Johnson says he will do away with most of the 590—that’s no misprint—sales the stores had last year that turn off customers who must play waiting games for good deals."
Take the phrase "that's no misprint" out and it says: Johnson says he will do away with most of the 590 sales the stores had last year....
Feb 7, 2012 at 3:57 p.m.
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wjbecky--Goodwill represents my upper limit! I also shop Castaways & Salvation Army.
Feb 7, 2012 at 3:39 p.m.
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I work in an office and frequent Kohl's, Penny's, and Boston Store for my work clothing. I've read some stories on this change JCP is making, but I'll be curious to see what the implementation of it looks like the next time I go shopping. I can't say I mind not getting a million coupons in the mail every week, but hopefully there will actually be cost savings for the customer. I also read part of this plan involves massive renovations over the span of many months. The Janesville store could certainly use it, but I hope that doesn't mean shopping there is going to be disrupted for months.
Feb 7, 2012 at 3:30 p.m.
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Penny's is still in business?
Seriously, I have not shopped in the mall for anything past Sears ( for tools) and Radio Shack, in years. Buy my jeans and work clothes at Farm & Fleet, sweats & stuff at Old Navy.
Feb 7, 2012 at 3:25 p.m.
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I'm with you janesvillecomments. My wife and daughters buy most of my clothes. The only good thing about the mall is that they have a place to sit down and have a beer. And I can shop online and drink a cheaper one at home.
Feb 7, 2012 at 3:23 p.m.
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I shop at goodwill....
Feb 7, 2012 at 2:03 p.m.
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I buy most of my clothes online: http://www.dickies.com/
Farm and Fleet (where I buy most of the rest of my clothes and my footwear) carries the Dickies line, but only in a couple of colors in my size.
The last 2 or 3 times I visited JCPenneys, they just didn't have anything I was interested in buying. Since Walden Books is gone, I don't have a reason to visit the Mall on a regular basis. I probably average one visit per year.
Feb 7, 2012 at 12:34 p.m.
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No more "lowest prices of the season"?!
Those ADS look pretty expensive to me!
"Johnson says he will do away with most of the 590"
maybe I don't understand store lingo but what does this mean?
Seems easy enough. If you can remember the color codes.
Feb 7, 2012 at 12:28 p.m.
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Ive always hated the .99 stuff. i think they should have tax already in the price also. Totally do away with anything past the decimal. I have change in my pockets. Now we need to get gas stations to get rid of the 3rd place past the decimal.
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