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Ron Johnson, former Apple retail chief, rebuilding Apple staff at JC Penney

by Mike Schramm Nov 9th 2011 at 8:00PM

Ron Johnson left Apple as head of retail at the beginning of this month to run J.C. Penney, and apparently he's wasting no time rebuilding an Apple-style shop over there. The Wall Street Journal reports that he's aiming to bring both former Apple executives Daniel Walker and Michael Kramer on the staff there, essentially recreating part of the group that ran Apple from the year 2000 to 2005. Walker actually brought Johnson on at Apple, and it seems like the group is coming back together to do at the clothing retail company what they helped to do at Apple Inc.

Of course, as Apple fans, we don't really have too much interest in the inner workings of J.C. Penney or what they're trying to do with that company. But it is interesting to think that the principles and ideas that Apple has come up with in its incredibly successful retail program are now floating out to other retail chains and industries. Going to an Apple Store is a pretty singular experience, but what if it wasn't? I'm interested to see a clothing store like J.C. Penney that's put a few of Apple retail's ideas and bits of thinking into play.



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Ron Johnson left Apple as head of retail at the beginning of this month to run J.C. Penney, and apparently he's wasting no time...
 

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11 Comments

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Elena Khutareva

Apple rules! JCPenny's will have to do more than that to pimp up their retail sales though. Shoppers want to do different stuff in the Mall then behind their PC. Different is not always better. But better is always different!

Elena
www.goaltrainingen.nl

December 28 2011 at 1:27 PM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
Terry

This is very nice informative information with great details. You have described it in a very descriptive and understandable manner so everybody understand it.

November 11 2011 at 6:09 AM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
joel8x

Ron Johnson is not the reason Apple's retail effort is a success. Apple's products are. He'll likely fail with JC Penny because they have no real brand for people to care about, they're just another typical department store that sells white-bread clothing. He was the right guy for Apple, but I don't think anything will help JC Penny.

November 10 2011 at 9:00 AM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
1 reply to joel8x's comment
GoonerYoda

Ahem...see Target. He succeeded there, and at Apple and he will succeed with JCP. Good luck to him.

November 10 2011 at 4:01 PM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
John

So the next thing will be Penny's Geniuses?

November 10 2011 at 7:59 AM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
timb21

Jessie, check out the new Apple Store app. Customers can now buy items on the shelves with an iPhone and no sales staff contact.

November 10 2011 at 6:16 AM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
Jessie Scherbain

If this means I can one day walk into a lingerie shop to find all the women are being fitted and trying on items in the middle of the store, then my wife's probably going to start receiving a lot more lingerie gifts!

Though I have to say, I can't stand the Apple POS system. It's incredibly inefficient, and down right frustrating for someone like me who knows what he wants going in, and simply wants to purchase said item(s) with debit and get the hell out of that mad house. If the rest of the retail world goes this way, I might go postal.

November 09 2011 at 9:34 PM Report abuse -2 rate up rate down Reply
2 replies to Jessie Scherbain's comment
Raj

You must be happy to hear about Apple's new iOS based scan, pay (w/ Apple ID) and walk out method.

November 09 2011 at 11:59 PM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
Terrywood02

Have an iPhone 4 or 4s? Download Apple store App, Scan Items with camera, Pay with CC on app, get reciept in App, walk out.

Sure this is a new development but I used this option yesterday and spent 2 minutes instore before I was ready to go. I was asked by the concierge for my reciept, I showed him and was on my way \.

November 10 2011 at 7:48 AM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
Tetas

I wish them luck but I don' think they can save Penney's. I don't think anyone can.

November 09 2011 at 8:25 PM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
1 reply to Tetas's comment
Shameer Mulji

Do you remember when Apple first started opening retail stores everyone and their gramma said it was going to be a failure because people like Gateway failed at retail. Looks like we know who was right. This was all under RJ's leadership as the man in charge of retail @ Apple.

With his experience and ability I'm willing to give him the benefit of the doubt.

November 10 2011 at 3:25 AM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
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