“The genius behind Apple’s successful retail venture will head to JC Penny in an attempt to recreate the magic at the ailing department store, but Apple shouldn’t worry analysts say,” International Business Times reports.
“Ron Johnson, Apple’s senior vice president of retail, will head up JC Penny from November 1, the store said on Tuesday, taking the helm from Myron Ullman who will become executive chairman of the board,” IBT reports. “Johnson joined Apple in 2000 and has is the visionary behind the opening of more than over 300 stores for Apple.”
IBT reports, “Apple’s stores have become ‘a way of life,’ explained Mark Moskowitz of JP Morgan. ‘In our view, his consistent execution, messaging, and Apple’s retail revenue growth in the oft-challenging retail segment are without rival. The silver lining in the departure is that we believe Mr. Johnson’s retail team has plenty of managers that can carry the torch.'”
Read more in the full article here.
I agree.
When Ronnie’s JC Penney stock options melt down to zero, he’ll come running back with his tail between his legs, that’s for sure.
If I were Steve Jobs I wouldn’t lose any sleep over it. Tim Cook has got that completely covered. The Apple store retail experience is second to none. Just roll out more Apple goodies in the shape of an iPhone 5 for the masses to clamour over.
Get Steve Jobs to head over to Nordstrom and ask their head of retailing one question: “Would you like sell Triumph bras for the rest of your life or come with me and change the world with iPads?”
The only problem i see at JC Penny is the products.
Apple Stores draw me in because the products are badass. I just dont see that at JC Penny
Good ideas, or good offerings are insufficient to stand on their own.
Apple managers erroneously believe they can parlay their magical touch elsewhere. This decision is driven more by money than probability.
Good ideas must be coupled with good offerings to ensure success.
Hello? If Hush Puppy shoes and Wrangler jeans aren’t bad ass I don’t know what is.
I would expect he’d try for a blend of Target and Nordstroms.
Ron may have been in charge of the retail stores, but the retail store experience they created was primarily driven by Jobs. When the store got rid of the register up front in favor of easypay units, it was made clear that “Steve” didn’t like the register area being a focal point. Steve drove the simplistic look and feel, the decisions on where the focus should be, etc.
Ron’s expertise was behind the scenes. The training, the on boarding, the financial structure. He was the reason one Apple store felt like all the others. He established the consistency. He will be missed, but his work was done.
For Ronnie’s sake I hope JCP will have some “magical” and “revolutionary” products.
Again, the “genius” and “visionary” behind Apple’s stores was Steven Jobs, not Johnson. And this is actual reason why Apple should not have any worries about Johnson’s departure.
Yet, as everybody agrees, Johnson done superb vision implementation job and deserves best of the best opportunities.
It’s not the stores that bring people in.
It’s the products that are in the stores. They’re just that great.
Conversely for Microsoft:
It’s not the stores that don’t bring people in.
It’s the products that aren’t in the stores. They’re just that bad.