Suddenly, and not very surprisingly, there seems to be a continuous rash of executive firings at JC Penney.\u00a0 It is likely that any company experiencing harsh financials at a time when Wall Street is thriving would have to consider considerable executive turnover. \u00a0Contemplating the disastrous year JCP recently completed, high level executive change was inevitable.\u00a0 In this case however, the specifics of the turnover are pointed and are sharply aimed at execs hired by the visionary that the recently deposed Ron Johnson seemed to embody.<\/p>\n
Massive executive change brings to mind a JCP store visit which revealed several management shortcomings, as detailed in a CSG Insight last month.\u00a0 Now a visit to a second Penney\u2019s store brings additional concerns to light.<\/p>\n
The previously visited Penney\u2019s store had posted an entire section of a wall with a unified photo display previewing what the coming Martha Stewart department\/store will look like.\u00a0 It was marked, ‘Coming Spring 2013’.\u00a0 The display invited shoppers to get a preview of MarthaCelebrations at the JCP website.<\/p>\n
Viewing this came as a surprise as the back and forth preliminary rulings continued to anticipate a final decision during the contentious courtroom proceedings between JCP, Martha Stewart Living Omnimedia, Inc. and Macy\u2019s. \u00a0A ruling just prior to this visit, stated that at least until a final decision is issued or another appeal is answered, Penney\u2019s could proceed to sell a line of Martha Stewart home goods under the “JCP Everyday” label.<\/p>\n
The second Penney\u2019s location features MarthaCelebrations actually operating as more of a barely noticeable department than a store within a store, with little signage.\u00a0 Most of what is offered is essentially disposable party ware.\u00a0 Packs of eight paper plates cost $3.50 to $4.50.\u00a0 Eight paper hot\/cold cups run the same price.\u00a0 The website notes both these products are of paper made in America.\u00a0 Plastic champagne flutes run $10 for a set of four.\u00a0 The JCP website notes specifically that the plastic is imported.\u00a0 Last month in the court proceedings, Macy\u2019s attorneys had protested the MarthaCelebrations line while JCP lawyers wondered why worry about essentially disposable products.<\/p>\n
At a nearby Dollar Tree, glass<\/em> flutes run the standard dollar a piece or ten for $10 for those desiring to burn ten dollars (of course you can reuse these so it isn’t really burning money). Needless to say paper plates and cups and even plastic plates, cups and flutes at the Dollar Tree represent a far better value if you don’t require a celebrity name behind them.\u00a0 Same goes for similar wares at a nearby Target.<\/p>\n Traveling randomly through this Penney\u2019s housewares department, signage was at least as confusing as it was at the previous Penney\u2019s store.\u00a0 The ample department was loaded with price signs that did not seem to reflect most, if not all, of the surrounding wares.\u00a0 One sign in clearance featured a large $1 alongside a diminutive and up.\u00a0 On close examination, there was a single item for a dollar.\u00a0 Most of the many other local items were considerably higher in price.\u00a0 This seems far from signage that would be deemed \u2018fair and square\u2019, a bedrock promotional term of the Johnson administration.\u00a0 This seemed to be more like a bait and switch.<\/p>\n Another table sign indicated a tall $150.\u00a0 There was nothing on the table that should have nearly approximated even a hundred dollars.\u00a0 As some products were not marked, it was difficult to be sure.\u00a0 A nearby table sign offered an even higher price and seemed even more obviously out of touch.<\/p>\n One couple trying to shop the housewares section looked at each other with grins of frustration and loudly shared the notion that determining prices here was a challenge.\u00a0\u00a0 A family had to wait for an associate to search the storage area only to be told that no one could find stock in the product they were seeking.\u00a0 They weren\u2019t pleased but seemed patient and understanding.<\/p>\n Further browsing in housewares revealed a section that could be deemed \u2018designer lamps\u2019.\u00a0 These items are relatively pricey and come adorned with the names of fairly prominent designers of housewares.\u00a0 Somewhat surprisingly, there were offerings here with tags bearing the name <\/strong>Martha in the unmistakable type and colors representing Ms. Stewart.<\/strong>\u00a0 They didn\u2019t seem to indicate anything about “JCP Everyday”.\u00a0 Their stated prices ranged from $195- $250.<\/p>\n During back and forth court proceedings leading into this month, a judge issued the latest ruling stating that JC Penney could sell certain Martha Stewart designed goods under the “JCP Everyday” label.\u00a0 This, at least until an appeal by Macy’s is decided. A ruling on appeal could come at any time.\u00a0 Ultimately, a final decision could set everything aside.<\/p>\n This of course is all part of the mammoth court proceedings brought on by Macy\u2019s against Martha Stewart Living Omnimedia and JC Penney\u2019s.\u00a0 How then does JC Penney\u2019s get to sell under the MarthaCelebrations banner or Martha labeled products at JC Penney\u2019s?<\/p>\n A revisit to this store just a few days later revealed even more confusion.\u00a0 Many displays offered no pricing signage.\u00a0 One table was signed, \u2019Clearance $17 and up\u2019.\u00a0 Looking at the actual products, they had been marked down to $14.\u00a0 Interestingly, a nearby display sign notes that prices which were originally $6 are now $4.99, an early indication that JCP may be moving away from Ron Johnson\u2019s idea of offering all items at flat dollar prices ($15 rather than $14.99), as part of his \u2018fair and square\u2019 policy.<\/p>\n A mature couple frustratingly noted that many items did not indicate prices.\u00a0 They finally asked a cashier how they could determine prices and were told to check at a central pole or bring the product to her to scan. The pole had a price scanner attached.\u00a0 The couple seemed confused as many of these products are cumbersome to carry.\u00a0 It likely seemed a chore to go back and forth to compare prices on like and large items.\u00a0 Penney\u2019s was supposedly instituting a system where floor personnel and cashiers would be freed to wander the aisles and actually transact sales with portable devices.\u00a0 Apparently this has not been fully implemented as yet and wasn\u2019t offered to the couple.<\/p>\n Sears has been a much maligned retailer in recent years.\u00a0 Walking through a Sears located at the same mall as this Penney\u2019s store revealed signage which was clear and bold and easy to read from a distance.\u00a0 Many items were on sale anticipating Mother\u2019s Day.\u00a0 Reductions could easily be noted from a distance and all products seemed well signed and easy to glance.<\/p>\n When Myron \u201cMike\u201d Ullman was brought back by the JCP board, to replace his former successor Ron Johnson, many wondered why bring back someone who had been replaced less than a year and a half earlier. While he faced considerable challenges in his previous administration, he must now additionally decide how to manage in the middle of a very costly, total store do-over which was not in any way a part of his decision or implementation process.\u00a0 And then there is the much publicized battle in court over what if anything can be sold from Martha Stewart.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" Suddenly, and not very surprisingly, there seems to be a continuous rash of executive firings at JC Penney. 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