No More Appliances or Furniture to Be Sold at J.C. Penney Stores
When you hear the name J.C. Penney, you associate it with clothes and appliances right away. This, however, will change very soon. From February 28 onward, J.C. Penney will no longer be carrying any household appliances in any of its department stores. This means shoppers will need to look elsewhere for household appliances.
Most stores are already struggling to remain profitable in the wake of the online shopping trend, which is taking retailers by a storm. Many department stores and retail giants like Sears have filed for bankruptcy due to this trend, and it is also the reason for this J.C. Penney’s decision.
Who Is Behind This Move?
The decision of removing appliances form J.C. Penney stores has been made by its CEO, Jill Soltau, who joined the company in late 2018. This is not the only major decision made by her as another one is on the way. She plans to remove all furniture offerings from the stores and restrict them to the online store. She does plan to keep the furniture on sale in a few select stores in Puerto Rico.
On February 6, a blog post made by the corporate office of J.C. Penney broke the news of the retailer removing all appliances offerings from its stores, effective February 28. They explained it was to meet the customer expectations better, improve the financial performance of the company and have profitable growth.
Online vs Retail Shopping Experience
Online shopping is generally considered to be more convenient, comfortable and straightforward for most people. It is less expensive as well. J.C. Penney wants to improve the overall customer experience in its stores so that its customers remain loyal and are inclined to return. The additional space in the stores due to the removal of furniture and appliances will be used to ensure this. J.C. Penney plans to focus on its “legacy” strength, which is apparel and soft home furnishings. According to its blog post, it will continue to sell mattresses as well.
This is a big step that the company is taking, and whether it will be a wise and profitable one remains to be seen. The consumer mindset has changed over the years from the time retail companies like Sears and J.C. Penney were considered the one-stop shopping option. Hence, how it will impact the consumer is yet to be seen.
J.C. Penney has already announced three store closures and plans to close a few more, which it will make public on February 28 when it reports its earnings.
The Future of J.C. Penney
The removal of furniture and appliances will surely help cut down the costs of the store, but department stores have an edge over online shopping which cannot be compared. Customers can see and feel the products in person and buy the product right away as opposed to waiting. This experience cannot be compared to online shopping. Only time will tell how this decision will impact the sales and profitability of J.C. Penney and whether the department stores can function along with online shopping.