J.C. Penney wants you back. It’s sorry it ever tried to do away with coupons and sales. It wants you to know, customers, that you’re the love of its life and that its learned from its mistakes. So, please come back? Pretty please?
In an unusual move, the troubled retailer has released 15 and 30 second commercials apologizing to customers.
Though J.C. Penney hasn’t yet recovered from its roller coaster year (CEO Ron Johnson was outed earlier this month after his ambitious restructuring plans failed to see immediate results), the retailer has found an important cheerleader (a lifeline even?) in investor and philanthropist George Soros.
And so the JC Penney mass exodus continues.
The latest Ron Johnson (the recently ousted former CEO) hire to leave the struggling retailer? Beloved menswear street style dandy, Nickelson Wooster, who was appointed to a creative director position back in April of last year.
J.C. Penney CEO Ron Johnson is out, according to a press release sent out by the company. The store’s former CEO, Mike Ullman, will replace him. This news should not come as a surprise to anyone who’s been watching the Penney saga unfold. Johnson, a former Apple and Target exec who joined J.C. Penney in November 2011, tried to bring the long-struggling store into the 21st Century with an updated design, tons of designer collaborations, lower prices, and the elimination of discounts. (Each of these tactics, particularly the last one, alienated what’s left of Penney’s loyal customers. People are creatures of habit. They’re used to markdowns. Even if a product is cheaper in the first place, they can’t help but want to see it discounted.)
Anyway, Johnson also brought in some great brands to Penney, including Martha Stewart (whoops, that resulted in a lawsuit), Michelle Obama favorite Duro Olowu, MNG by Mango and Joe Fresh. These were all great prospects. But no matter how hard Johnson tried, no matter how good his strategy was, it was never going work. Here’s why.
Does Karl Lagerfeld say no to anything? The ubiquitous designer is collaborating with purveyor of plastic shoes, Brazilian footwear company Melissa for four seasons. {WWD}
Sally Field had a Kristen Stewart-esque surprise hiding under her gorgeous Valentino gown at the Vanity Fair Academy Awards after party. {HuffPo}
Natalie Portman’s latest Dior ad, directed by Sofia Coppola, has us seeing “La Vie en Rose.” {Telegraph}
Marchesa at prom: Not just for Blair Waldorf anymore! More deets on Georgina Chapman’s “special occasion” gown and dress collection for JCPenney. It’s called Pearl. {WWD}
More designers are finally starting to pay models for walking in their shows, instead of just gifting them clothes. But you’ll never guess who’s still holding out…{BuzzFeed}
Kate Upton talks to Ellen DeGeneres about shooting her Antarctic Sports Illustrated cover, plus her favorite body part–but it’s not what you’re thinking. {HuffPo}
This hurts more than a blister: Manolo Blahnik tells Interview Magazine that he doesn’t find “anonymous girls” like Anne Hathaway or Amanda Seyfried very memorable. Burn. {Page Six}
Last night’s party to celebrate the launch of Nanette Lepore’s L’Amour collection–part of JC Penney’s major revamp–was kind of like the best sweet sixteen ever.
Queen Elizabeth II is getting downright festive in her holiday dress (well, for her, anyway). {HuffPo}
Jane Fonda is 75 (!) and credits her youthful looks to good genes…and, okay, a good plastic surgeon. {US Weekly}
A new study shows a majority of women prefer 1950s-eqsue men; let’s not try to unpack the feminist implications of that and just enjoy looking at Jon Hamm as Don Draper, shall we? {Daily Mail}
Andrej Pejic covers Elle Serbia in head to toe Jean Paul Gaultier. {Styleite}
We all know that those at the tippy top of the fashion industry make a lot of money–but just how much is not as well known. WWD is reporting the total 2011 earnings of fashion’s top 67 CEOs in the US, which public companies were required to release to the Securities and Exchange Commission. And, Read more →
It only takes one look from Nina Garcia on Project Runway and contestants instantly know where they stand with her. Looks like she has the same effect on the stock market. Garcia, who was named JC Penney’s new “style voice” last month, tweeted this yesterday afternoon: I’m @jcpenney’s HQ. Thank you Ron Johnson for the Read more →
JC Penney’s $800 million revamp is well underway. After unveiling its store redesign on Monday–a shops-in-shops model meant to give more of a “boutique” feel–the department store has even more exciting news to deliver today. Uber-cool Canadian brand Joe Fresh will open up shop–literally–in 683 JC Penney stores, WWD is reporting. According to Joe Fresh‘s Read more →
Yesterday, the internet blew up with rumors that Miranda Kerr and Orlando Bloom were splitting. Today, the supermodel reveals that, actually, her marriage is just fine, thank you. {Vogue UK} Celebrity fragrances are a huge market these days, in fact, I’m wearing Beyonce’s perfume right now! Find out which star-studded scents are the best selling. Read more →
