Overview
J.C. Penney's is a chain of department stores and therefore part of the retail industry. It offers a variety of brands for apparel, shoes, and cooking ware along with departments including Sephora makeup, optical centers, and hair salons. JCP markets to the middle-class American families who desire quality clothes at reasonable prices.
Personal Analysis
Even with the 2012 cotton crisis JCP's new pricing system of everyday low prices with no extra digits enabled the store to maintain reasonable prices. The days of annoying "$19.95" or "9.99" are gone with JCP and this system should have been abolished long ago! I am very proud of this company for establishing its new price system although customer surveys have portrayed that almost 60% of shoppers found this new system "confusing." I really hope this customers were ones who also took part in One Million Moms against Ellen DeGeneres because this system couldn't be easier to understand. It is more visually appealing to see a clean "$35" instead of "$34.99" in my, and JCP's, opinion.
ProductsNearing the end of its season, this Worthington® Cap-Sleeve Shine Top has gained me many compliments and is a good value. This shirt is proof that JCP is stepping up its game in the Misses department (I gave up on the Junior's department a while ago- too many trends) as it strives to follow current styles (exemplified in the Baroque pattern and metallic shine of this shirt). I bought my shirt during the Black Friday sale for $15 although $20 is still a good price for such a nice shirt.
These a.n.a® Premium Skinny Jeans are my favorite pants and only cost me $20 with one of JCP's "$10 off" coupons. I have them in the sapphire wash and although the dye ran a little when I first purchased the pair, the color remains true and the resilience of the cotton-polyester bland is the best I've ever experienced. These pants are the closest thing to sweatpants without letting anyone know they are actually very comfortable to wear. The best part about this pair of jeans is the absence of a back-pocket design. This keeps the pair classy and versatile.
The accessories and jewelry departments have incredibly stepped up their game after Ron Johnson's takeover- JCP now offers sleek and shiny new merchandise for discount prices. Take handbags for example. This Nicole by Nicole Miller purse is up to 60% cheaper than the product prices listed on Nicole Miller's professional website, here.
|
With a range of products from this shoe to that one, JCP caters to a wide range of people and style preferences from stylish to simply functional. The Call It Spring™ Howles Lace-Up Boots pictured first above are part of the largest returning trend of grunge/lace-up boots these past two seasons. The fall version now on sale from $70 to $30 (one of the best parts about JCP is buying on sale and saving so much money). This brand is also a part of ALDO's shoe company, the leading retailer of fine shoes so we know that this brand must be good. I am always impressed with JCP's shoe selection and ongoinging sale rack. The boots I constantly wear now are from JCP's Black Friday sale : $20 for a chic pair of tall boots.
JCP's Retail Downfall: The Junior DepartmentIt doesn't take long before I cringe while browsing JCP's Junior Department as I come across rack after rack of pointless, "fashionable" clothes. This top will make you look pregnant. This one just makes me laugh. Hahahaha, this one too. The styles found in the Junior Department remind me of the awkward middle school phase, which I guess is what JCP is going for. In my experience the clothing I have bought in this department has lasted less time than in the misses section but for a good reason: the trends portrayed die out even quicker. So be warned before buying any "trendy" shirt in this department- it usually is sold as an over-the-top spin-off of a dying fashion trend.
|