By Abha Bhattarai Abha Bhattarai Reporter covering the retail industry Email Bio Follow May 24 Christie Mowry, a 43-year-old mom in Missouri, loves shopping at J.C. Penney.
J.C. Penney and Kohl’s — which have toggled between courting moms and millennials — both posted disappointed earnings this past week. And Dress Barn, frequented almost exclusively by middle-aged working women, announced Tuesday that it was closing all 650 of its stores. New tariffs, he added, are likely to make matters worse for middle-of-the-road retailers. Executives at J.C. Penney, Kohl’s and Macy’s this past week warned that the trade war may soon cut into profits as they pay 25 percent more to import items such as makeup, handbags and leather jackets. At the same time, cash-strapped consumers are likely to cut back on clothing and shoes as they pay more for groceries, toilet paper and other essentials.
J.C. Penney’s troubles go back nearly a decade, when the company brought on Ron Johnson, formerly head of Apple’s retail business, to revamp its stores. He got rid of coupons and tried to turn the company’s tired locations into sexier enclaves filled with “stores within a store” featuring brands such as Levi’s and I Jeans by Buffalo. It was a fast failure: Sales dropped by about 30 percent, and longtime shoppers swore off the company.
The company is now opening 500 new baby shops and replacing its appliance and furniture departments with more clothing. It also brought on a new CEO, Jill Soltau, who has yet to outline her strategy for the company.
Disagree. jcpenney has done a pretty good job with it's Liz Claiborne brand, Worthington fit is fair and it's overpriced but still styles are OK for middle-aged moms. Kohls 's is stale in every way.
ALL clothes sellers have! What’s out there is for sleazy people under 20 or fat people over 90. Nothing classic, modest or well-made!!
Honestly it kinda doesn't matter either way. The internet and the usage of online coupons makes these stores kinda of irrelevant
Good shopping 👏
Does anyone in the media know what a millennial IS?
realDonaldTrump tax cuts didnt make up for losses? 😕
Sorry Brenda. 😢
Sooo not gonna read this
We blaming trump or is this more Russia collusion? 🤯
Stg they were the biggest bitches when I worked there.
Kohl's costs twice as much as Target for the same shit
F