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J. C. Penney Company, Inc. (formerly Penney's) (NYSE: JCP) is a chain of American mid-range department stores based in Plano, Texas, a suburb north of Dallas. The company operates 1,106 department stores in all 50 U.S. states [3] and Puerto Rico.[4] JCPenney also operates catalog sales merchant offices nationwide in many small markets.

Most JCPenney stores are located in suburban shopping malls. Previously, most stores were located in downtown areas. As shopping malls became more popular in the latter half of the 20th century, JCPenney followed the trend by relocating its stores to anchor the malls. In more recent years, the chain has continued to follow consumer traffic, echoing the retailing trend of opening some standalone stores, including some next door to competitors. Certain stores are located in power centers and can be considered big-box stores. The company has been an Internet retailer since 1998. Increased competition from big box retailers like Wal-Mart, Target and Kmart have forced JCPenney to focus on private brands such as St. John's Bay, Worthington, and Arizona Jean Company.[citation needed] It has streamlined its catalog and distribution while undergoing renovation improvements at store level.

In addition to selling conventional merchandise, JCPenney stores often house several leased departments such as Sephora, Optical, Portrait Studios, Jewelry & Watch repair, a JCPenny Marketplace or Seattle's Best Coffee Cafe, etc.
Strengths

* Privately owned - doesn't sacrifice short term results for longer-term planning
* Appeals to a wide consumer economic segment (ABCD SES)
* Expanding into food categories
* Great value in tough consumer and economic environment

Weaknesses

* Variable assortment - inconsistent throughout stores
* Weak perishable offerings
* Not the best merchandising standards
* Rising costs put pressure on store economics basics

Opportunities

* Discount format not explored in Mexico
* Expansion of perishable offerings, more food
* Services to leverage real estate (banking, health care, mobile services)

Threats

* Informal market: People trade out of store in tough consumer times
* Manufacturers resist supplying products to Waldo's in fear of damaging their brands
* Store within a store concepts (Wal-Mart's Pricho's, for example)
 
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