Why did JCPenney's President resign?

United States
June 21, 2012 9:25pm CST
Wow. I did not see this coming! Michael Francis resigned from JCPenney's after less than 10 months. He had been with Target for over 10 years and it was a positive experience for him and Target. JCPenney wanted to appeal to younger people (under age 30) as well as their current shoppers so hiring Mr. Francis seemed like a good move. Makes sense, but it didn't work. It is being said that the reason the new marketing strategies didn't work for JCP is because they weren't staying neutral in the culture war. They made commercials featuring gay and lesbian couples. Hmm...what do you think? This link is the article about Mr. Francis resigning from JCP http://adage.com/article/cmo-strategy/michael-francis-departs-jc-penney/235458/ This is a link to the article when Mr. Francis left Target http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052970204524604576608851276736670.html
1 person likes this
1 response
@dragon54u (31634)
• United States
22 Jun 12
Stowyk is right, Penney's has the unspoken reputation of being for older people. And the prices, while they used to be okay and they had great clearance sales, have risen to the point where I don't even go there anymore unless it's a very, very good clearance sale. Penney's has acquired a lot of labels--I can't think of any specifically right now, I haven't been awake very long!--that are more upscale and much pricier than they used to be. Oh, like Alfred Dunne! Nice clothes, way ridiculously high prices!! Everything is so crowded, too. They try to appeal to everyone so they have so many departments and cram so much in that I feel claustrophobic moving around the racks of clothing. And their jewelry department is in the main aisles, people looking at the pieces are constantly bumped by people walking by. It's just not a very comfortable store to shop in for any age group. They should think about that!
1 person likes this
• United States
22 Jun 12
They are the same here - too much merchandise! And the clearance clothing racks are packed tight!