J.C. Penney cuts an additional 2,200 workers

[TexasTowelie]

Source: AP

NEW YORK (AP) — J.C. Penney Co. confirms it's eliminating an additional 2,200 jobs as the struggling department store chain aims to slash more costs after a year of plunging sales and mounting losses.

According to Joey Thomas, a company spokesman, those being axed work in back-office administration in stores and district offices. He noted that the cuts translate to an average elimination of two positions per store.

The cuts come as Penney finishes a full year of snowballing losses and steep sales declines. A strategy launched early last year by CEO Ron Johnson to scale back most sales has failed to resonate with shoppers.

Johnson said last week that since coming on board in November 2011, the Plano, Texas-based company has cut 19,000 jobs.


Read more: http://www.reporternews.com/news/2013/mar/08/jc-penney-cuts-additional-2200-workers/

[DainBramaged]

1. JC Penny, a store for the 80's............formerly relevant, now forgotten

Ask yourself, when was the last time you went shopping at Penny's?

[bluedigger]

2. Quite often.

There aren't many stores around here that have tall sizes and they have great off season sales. Where do you shop that's so great?

[DainBramaged]

7. Trash night twice a week.........

[truth2power]

29. Cute! But apparently you really don't ever shop at JCP's...

Maybe you should go take a look sometime.

I don't buy a lot of clothes, but what I do have is practically all from JC Penney's, and I certainly don't think I look trashy when I go out.

You can find classic clothing there - things with not a lot of frou-frou; although there is some of that. St. John's Bay jeans fit me quite nicely. Also St. John's Bay shoes, which run a little wider, so I can always find what I need. Also, they carry Clark's shoes. I have a pair of Clark's sandals I've had for about 5 years and wear practically every day in the summer. They won't wear out.

I like their T's - although those execrable stretchy things have practically taken over the market everywhere, including Penney's. They look nice on 16 year olds, but not on a mature woman with, um.....a little chubbiness around the middle. Alas, that's a problem with women's clothing everywhere these days.

Where would you expect women to shop? Certainly not WalMart. Macy's is expensive. Target has nice clothing, believe it or not, but their Mossimo line (similar to Misses) seems to be disappearing; again in favor of the teeny bopper sizes.

I would hate to see Penney's go away, although I did make my displeasure known when they had the coats with the dog fur collars a few years ago. I spoke out right in the coat dept. Drove some customers away, I do believe.

[DainBramaged]

30. Did it occur to you I don't care? Did it occur to you I don't shop there?

I wear fucking jeans and Champion shirts, period. I still wear the same jean jacket I wore 10 years ago. Why, because at 62 fashion is pointless.


Have a nice Sunday

[truth2power]

32. Did someone pee in your Wheaties this morning? There's no need to be snarky about it...

You seemed to be implying that wearing clothes from JCP's makes someone look trashy.

I was just giving another viewpoint and attempting to SUPPORT MY POSITION with some examples. I'm sorry if it pissed you off. And I didn't mean to offend you. Geez!

Perhaps you're male, I don't know. Maybe a woman's viewpoint is somewhat different in this instance. I'm older than you, and I'm FAR from a slave to fashion. In fact, during the winter I quite literally live in sweatshirts and sweatpants -- men's sweats, actually; they're less expensive and by the time they shrink (and they do) in the wash they're just the right size.

However, I'm still employed, and I need a basic assortment of classic clothing to wear. I can't wear jeans every day. I, and other women posting on this thread, are saying we need clothing appropriate for the workplace. Where are we going to get that at a reasonable price?

[DainBramaged]

33. Oh my dog....

give it up I don't care


about


JCPenney


or


what


they sell



And snark my wrinkled old ass, I meant every word.


Goodbye, spread your fashion police 911 elsewhere

[truth2power]

34. Oh my!...

Try to have a reasonable discussion and this is what happens.

All right, then.

Bye

[Skittles]

41. twice in the past month

I like their new way of business

[Purveyor]

3. Posted earlier in GD and damned few cared... Link:

http://www.democraticunderground.com/10022477622

[TexasTowelie]

5. I didn't see it earlier in GD.

Thanks.

[Trascoli]

4. I shopped there as a kid

but Macy's took over.

[BlueStreak]

6. And this is why Apple is headed straight for the toilet

Steve Jobs was one of a kind. Apple is loaded with morons who think they are geniuses. There is one and only one reason for Apple's success, and that was Steve Jobs. He did it twice. He built Apple the first time. When those morons forced him out, the company just about went under. They brought him back and we know what happened.

It is called hubris. They all think they are brilliant. They were just schmucks, and this Ron Johnson is a prime example.

He moved to Penney's and tried to do the hip "genius bar" type of thing. Here's a clue. Penney's is not a hip joint. It's clientele aren't looking to buy Penny's product as a status symbol. Jobs was able to cater to status-seekers brilliantly. But you can't use that same strategy with the Penny's customers. They are the bargain shoppers that want nice stuff without paying Nordstrom's or Macy's prices.

Complete dumba$$, this Johnson guy.

I went into Penny's about a month ago. I needed some handkerchiefs. Basic ones. Nothing fancy. Penny's should have been a good place to find that. I had been in that same store 9 months earlier, and was certain I'd have no trouble finding what I needed. Well, the store was completely different this time. They seemed to have only about 1/4 as much merchandise. Their floorspace was sucked up with upscale displays and big open spaces where there should have been merchandise. I looked in the most obvious places for handkerchiefs and found nothing. I had half an eye open for any clerk I could find, but all I saw were poorly groomed, poorly dressed kids, which I presumed to be customers.

Finally one of these poorly groomed, poorly dressed kids came over to help. He was an employee, it turns out, although he didn't have any badge or anything else that would make one think he was capable of any responsibility. I guess having holes in your jeans and just hanging out without any ID makes it more cool. Maybe that type of crap works at the genius bar -- I wouldn't know, but I was looking for a pack of handkerchiefs. He was able to point me to the one, single style they had in the entire store. OK, I bought it. I would have hoped there would have been a few choices (different materials, monograms, etc.) But I just wanted to blow my nose. That's why I went in there in the first place.

Look, the Apple strategy works only if you have a religious cult following, and Steve Jobs was one of the few people who could pull that off. It is ridiculous for somebody to think that putting snot-nosed, poorly presented young punks into a JC Penney's would suddenly make that store hip.

They need to fire that CEO and go back to what works for JC Penney's.

[lolly]

21. Exactly. I hope someone with clout there reads DU

Those of us who are not teenagers wearing size 0 jeans kept JCPenneys in business.

Up until very recently, it was a great place to buy attractive, affordable work clothes--nice skirts, slacks, blazers, etc.

And a good supply of jeans and knit tops for everybody.

They decided that money from people over 30 somehow wasn't worth as much as money from hip 19 year olds, so now most of their stuff is outlandish, trendy stuff.

Newsflash for JCP--doesn't matter how much you try to imitate Forever 21, you are not going to get those 19 year olds into your store. Certainly not enough to replace the 42 year olds who fled the loud music and chaotic floor design after you stopped providing anything of value for them.

[JI7]

39. i was wondering if they had less merchandise than before also when i went less than a week ago

it does seem like that . and yeah i mostly went there for things i needed like plain white socks, some jeans , plain shirt etc.

but it really does seem like there is such a lack of choices . not even the basics.

and yeah they do seem to have a lot of display/decor type stuff around the store.

[SunSeeker]

8. Crap. I guess I better go shopping there soon.

They took a brave stand portraying LGBT folks in their recent ads, despite threats of boycotts from the teavangelicals. I'd hate to think those boycotts worked.

JC Penney does have decent clothes. I go there for reasonably priced, good quality clothes for the office. And I need talls, which they carry.

[shanti]

9. Yes, they do talls well

My ex liked their extra long, extra thick tee shirts.

I don't shop at penneys but my mother used to shop there a lot - she is 80 years old. Penneys is a dinosaur whose time has run its course.

[duhneece]

14. That's why I shop there AND American made running shoes

Otherwise, I can only afford thrift stores. Funny, but their becoming gay-friendly really 'bought' them my store loyalty.

[JI7]

40. that's why i made a point of buying something from there and would have bought more

if they had what i wanted.

[olddots]

10. Penneys fall to Walmart

I haven't seen a Penneys in L.A. for years-of all the cheap department stores they had better quality stuff.This is sad because I feel they were a better operation than walmart but who isn't ? soon there will just be big box stores stocked by robots where you don't even stop at the self check out lines because sensors will charge your bank card.

Wal mart is winning and we are loosing.

[secondwind]

11. I think Wal-Mart is having its own unique set of problems, too.

[AngryOldDem]

12. Glad you had good experiences at Penney's.

When I was pregnant with my second kid I bought a crapload of maternity clothes at Penney's. They fell apart almost immediately. And I mean fell apart -- they made good furniture dusting rags.

Really haven't been back since. And I think Penney's was having issues long before Wal-mart came on the scene.

[secondvariety]

13. I loved Penny's.

When it came to moving merchandise, they could move it. Then they started "Fair and Square" (or whatever it's called) pricing with a discount on the second Tuesday in a month that ends in R or some other jibber jabber sales scheme and it just got confusing. I went to Penny's last week to get some socks and gotchies and noticed the pricing and sale items were more like the pre-Johnson days so maybe all hope isn't lost.

[Safetykitten]

15. The market for a "retro store" is huge.

Put back lunch counters in Penny stores.

Take down all the new displays.

Put the merchandise in large, easy to navigate areas with easy to read signage.

Keep the store clean.

Put in a "bargain area".

Hire more people to work the aisles.

It's not fucking rocket science.

[Berlin Expat]

16. I think a concept like that

would go over pretty well.

I remember the Sears up in the Vancouver Mall in the early 1980s; they had a restaurant, everything was easy to find, staff was reasonably plentiful. I also recall a Sears store down in Los Angeles in the mid-70s, with their "Bargain Basement" - this was in one of their older, free-standing stores before they moved to the suburban malls - and my folks and I would go there regularly. In the 90s, Meier & Frank up in the northwest had restaurants in quite a few of their stores. The food, as I recall, was quite good. K-Mart also used to have that as well. I remember going to K-Mart with my parents regularly, and dining in the restaurant; they also had something like a deli where you could buy sandwiches as well.

I think a retro store concept as you described, especially in more rural or exurb areas, would be a hit.

[benld74]

17. I entered our local JCP recently and it floored me by the look,

stark, bare, some decor around the product, but NOTHING the way it used to look in the past.

Now the PRODUCT and the PEOPLE are lacking

No wonder why the the bottom line has dropped and the dropping of people continue.

Lousy management decision to raise sales, OR

WAS it a way to get rid of workers?

[emmadoggy]

18. Up until a year ago, I LOVED

Penneys. It was perfect for me - a plus-size gal - to find clothes for my casual (but no jeans) job, in addition to just about anything else - lounge/fitness wear, jeans, bras, dressier items when I needed them etc. and all at reasonable prices that I could afford. St. John's Bay was my favorite line because the clothes just FIT me properly and were very affordable.

Now St. John's Bay is gone and replaced by "designer" labels and the plus-size department is almost non-existent. I am very upset about it because it leaves me with almost no other options. There are really no other stores that are of a similar price range and quality range that also offer decent plus-size clothing. Kohl's is the only one and I have never had good luck there. Their plus-size stuff just isn't as good.

When I walk into the store now, it appears that the entire concept is geared to young, 20-something, skinny "fashionista" types. It used to be a store for the "everywoman" of nearly any age. Shot themselves in the foot in a big way and that is unfortunate for both Penneys and myself.

[Avis]

19. So agree

Tried to find clothes for elderly mother, as Penneys now seem to cater to the young. Can't find anything. Certainly with an aging population, there is a market for mature clothing?

[LiberalElite]

27. Sears, maybe??

[LiberalElite]

26. I didn't know this - thanks

Now I know not to schlep out there only to find my brands are gone.

[truth2power]

31. Hmm...consider this an addendum to my post upthread. I stand corrected, I guess...

I was singing the praises of St. John's Bay in my previous post. They're gone?? Say it ain't so!.

Like you, I found that St. John's Bay fit me perfectly.

I guess everyone can see that I was telling the truth when I said I don't buy a lot of clothes. I was in JCP just before Christmas, and they were doing the upscale remodeling thing. Since then, I've been there, but not to really "shop". I was planning to go there this weekend, actually, to find some slacks and maybe some spring tops. I guess I'm in for a rude awakening. Yikes!

I agree with you, emma. My experience with JCP has been as you've described it - clothing for the "everywoman", good quality, good prices. We also have a Kohl's nearby, and you're correct, their clothing just doesn't fit as well.

I, too, am left with no options.

[emmadoggy]

38. Well, I should clarify one thing.

I don't know the "official" status of St. John's Bay, but if you go to the website, there are only a tiny number of SJB items and every single one of them is in closeout status - extremely limited colors and sizes. And the last time I was in the store looking, I also could only find a smattering of SJB items. So my assumption was that they are closing out the line. The plus-size area was a FRACTION of the size that it had been. I kept wandering around thinking that there would be more in another area, but no luck, that was it. They do still carry the A.N.A. line, which I have sometimes had luck with.

They do appear to have a "JcPenney" brand that MAY be a replacement for SJB, but I'm not clear on that yet.

I was mostly OK with the whole pricing change they did last year, but the merchandising change is definitely NOT Ok with me.

[Liberal_in_LA]

37. tissue thin shirts. that's whay i saw last time i went in

[Mutatis Mutandis]

20. J.C. Penney Is the New Sears: CEO Ron Johnson Has Done “Incalculable Damage,” Davidowitz Says

http://finance.yahoo.com/blogs/daily-ticker/j-c-penney-sears-ron-johnson-done-incalculable-160736591.html

---------------------------------------

If JCP is around by 2015 in its current form, I will be shocked. I have been shorting this bloated pig on and off for the last 12 months. I will leave the last 15 dollars p/s for the vultures.

[BlueStreak]

22. I missed this short opportunity. Please let me know where Ron Johnson goes next.

A short sale on anything that moron touches sounds like a safe bet.

[Mutatis Mutandis]

23. he will ride JCP down to the gutter, then pop off with a typical golden parachute

I will indeed watch where he lands, and prepare a fresh round of shorts.


'Worst CEO' list calls out Zynga's Pincus, Zuckerberg's 'hoodie mentality'

http://www.computerworld.com.au/article/446057/_worst_ceo_list_calls_zynga_pincus_zuckerberg_hoodie_mentality_/

[davidpdx]

28. I think JC Penny is one of the next ones headed for extinction

Like many others, I remember shopping there when I was a kid. They will join Montgomery Ward's where ever the deceased department stores go.

[primavera]

24. That's sure to help

The main reason I don't go to Penney's anymore is because they have no trained service staff to provide customers with assistance, either in product selection or at check-out. The only reason I ever brave the ninth plane of hell that is the suburban shopping mall is to be able to talk to somebody who can give me information to help guide my purchases. If I want no service, I can get what I'm looking for cheaper, quicker, and with less hassle online. Reducing already inadequate customer service positions will only ensure that Penney's has even less appeal for me as a consumer.

[LiberalElite]

25. Why don't they get rid of CEO Johnson? Oh, wait...

[southerncrone]

35. JCP doesn't know their target market anymore.

It is middle-class & aging. They managed to reinvent themselves in the '80's, to attract the yuppy mkt., by upgrading their quality & style & gained mkt share by expanding the clothing lines & almost completely removing the furniture dept. Their bedding & bath dept has always been a solid moneymaker, tho the quality of late has gone down.
My advice to them would be to spin off a subsidiary targeting youth under a completely different name that will resonate w/today's youth. Keep their flagship stores that are geared toward those 35 & up.

I hate to see them go down. My mother retired from there & I worked my way thru college at JCP. They hold a special place in my heart.

[Liberal_in_LA]

36. the fabric of their blouses is tissue thin

What's up with that?