J.C. Penney and the Future of Retail
When J.C. Penney’s CEO Ron Johnson arrived at the company, he embarked on a journey to fundamentally change how the retailer operates. Upon his arrival, the aura of his success as Apple’s head of retail was believed to inject much needed life in what appeared to be a dying company. After the hoorahs quieted, the reality of the task before Mr. Johnson set in. And, for the 15 months that he has been at the helm, it seems the firm has struggled. When instant gratification did not occur, analysts and the media were quick attack.
When J.C. Penney’s CEO Ron Johnson arrived at the company, he embarked on a journey to fundamentally change how the retailer operates. Upon his arrival, the aura of his success as Apple’s head of retail was believed to inject much needed life in what appeared to be a dying company. After the hoorahs quieted, the reality of the task before Mr. Johnson set in. And, for the 15 months that he has been at the helm, it seems the firm has struggled. When instant gratification did not occur, analysts and the media were quick attack.
