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JCP’s 3rd quarter results: The beat-down goes on
Since JCP released its 3rd quarter earnings last Friday, there has been plenty of commentary about the worse-than-expected sales trend, gross margin performance and operating losses. There isn’t much...
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Was this Black Friday comment premature?
I wrote the following for RetailWire after what was clearly a successful Black Friday weekend wrapped into a big Cyber Week. What’s not so apparent (a week before Christmas) is whether the momentum...
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JCP’s woes extend to the human-resources front
A couple of weeks ago, it was reported that JCPenney’s 3rd quarter statement to the SEC warned about problems hiring new managers after having “downsized” some of its most experienced associates during...
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More flavor on holiday 2012 sales reports
Just to add a few comments to the last blog entry, now that stores have reported December comp sales: 1. The winners appear to underline the “barbell effect,” in which consumers are gravitating to the...
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Sears’ new CEO? Surprise!
From a recent RetailWire comment about the announcement that Eddie Lampert has taken the reins as CEO of Sears Holdings: Why would this announcement come as a surprise? Doesn’t the revolving door of...
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Will a revamped promotional calendar save JCP?
JCPenney recently announced a couple of tweaks to its “Fair & Square” pricing policy. First, JCP plans to reticket merchandise throughout the store with EDLP comparisons to manufacturers’ suggested...
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Should JCP go private?
From a recent RetailWire discussion: There are plenty of ideas being kicked around to “save” JCPenney from what seems like an inevitable downward spiral. Among these: Going private, or spinning off...
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JCP reverses course (again) on its pricing strategy
JCP has become a favorite topic among RetailWire panelists, and no wonder: The missteps involved in the execution of its “reinvention” strategy will be fodder for textbooks and case studies for years...
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JCPenney: End of the Johnson era, or end of story?
The end of Ron Johnson’s tenure at JCPenney came with unexpected speed this week. (In my case, it happened just before I taught a class of retailing management students about “retail pricing,” and I...
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JCP and Martha: Was the “juice worth the squeeze”?
It may be premature for RetailWire panelists to weigh in on the JCP/Macy’s/MSLO trial outcome, but we didn’t hold back. Here’s my point of view: Without knowing exactly how the judge will issue his...
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JCP apologizes, but is it enough?
By the time you read this, you have probably seen the new JCPenney ads asking customers for another chance. Here’s my take, from a recent RetailWire panel discussion: The “mea culpa” ad isn’t nearly...
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A marriage of Saks and Neiman?
There is recent speculation among current and prospective investors in both Saks and Neiman-Marcus that a combined company would be a powerful one. While many RetailWire panelists are skeptical, some...
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Bluelight special on data storage?
Sears Holdings has come up with one idea after another about ways to generate revenue from their assets, very few of which have anything to do with improving their retail model. The latest has to do...
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Another pricing misstep for JCPenney?
There was a heated discussion on RetailWire recently, focused on reports that JCP has covered up its former EDLP prices with new regular prices…and in some cases the sale prices are substantially...
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On the Sears Holdings “management team”
RetailWire started a provocative discussion among its BrainTrust panelists by headlining its article: “Should Eddie Lampert Fire His CEO?” (Referring to himself, of course.) I’ve had plenty to say...
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Hudson’s Bay makes a play
The rumored combination of Saks and Neiman Marcus was just that…a rumor. It was laid to rest by the announcement this week that Canada’s Hudson Bay Company — already owners of Lord & Taylor — is...
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How robust is JCP’s e-commerce business?
RetailWire panelists were mostly skeptical about a study by Experian (the big credit rating firm) ranking JCP as #2 among retailers for the overall strength of its Back to School e-commerce business....
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JCP: Ackman stirs up trouble for the CEO and the company
News broke yesterday that Bill Ackman, who owns the largest share of JCPenney stock, voiced his unhappiness at the speed of the search to replace Mike Ullman as interim CEO. The rumor also escaped that...
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JCP and Martha: All bets are off?
There are reports (unconfirmed by Penney) that it is dropping the Martha Stewart-branded product from its home store. My thoughts, as recently posted on RetailWire: It’s unclear from the conflicting...
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Store visits: Good for the CEO, good for the company
A recent RetailWire discussion focused on Terry Lundgren, the CEO of Macy’s, and discussed the amount of time he spends visiting stores. This sort of “stealth visit” would be a good habit for middle...
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