“Ron Johnson , who helped build Apple Inc.’s successful retail stores before a troubled stint as chief executive of J.C. Penney Co., is getting back in the game with a well-funded startup that aims to bring some of the Apple Store mystique to online shopping,” Daisuke Wakabayashi reports for The Wall Street Journal.
“The new company is called Enjoy, and Mr. Johnson says its goal is to change the way people buy and use the “things that matter” in a world in which consumers start their shopping online. The service is scheduled to start in 2015,” Wakabayashi reports. “In a move reminiscent of his old boss at Apple, Steve Jobs , Mr. Johnson is keeping most of Enjoy’s plans and strategy secret to avoid tipping off rivals.”
“But he said Enjoy aims to help shoppers develop a connection with new products, in the way that Apple Stores let shoppers try its products,” Wakabayashi reports. “Mr. Johnson said in an interview, ‘There’s a place for high touch in a high-tech world… There’s more to life than logistics. There’s more to life than a review. Just because we’re moving online, it doesn’t mean that need for a connection is going away. No one has really thought that through yet.'”
Read more in the full article here.
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Why the heck did Ron Johnson leave Apple for J.C. Penney? – August 15, 2014
Three ex-Apple execs exit JC Penney following Ron Johnson ouster – April 11, 2013
Yoshikami: The Ron Johnson disaster at JC Penney – April 9, 2013
Ron Johnson: Apple Stores vs. J.C. Penney – April 9, 2013
Will Apple bring Ron Johnson back? – April 8, 2013
Ron Johnson out as JC Penney CEO, says source – April 8, 2013
Ron Johnson starting to look a lot more maniacal than brilliant – March 8, 2013
If JC Penney fires CEO Ron Johnson, analyst predicts bankruptcy – March 8, 2013
J.C. Penney CEO Ron Johnson cuts 2,200 more jobs as sales plunge – March 8, 2013
J.C. Penney posts large loss as sales sink further – February 27, 2013
JC Penney CEO Ron Johnson capitulates, brings back sales – January 28, 2013
Apple retail’s Ron Johnson and John Browett have proved the Peter Principle is alive and well – November 13, 2012
CEO Ron Johnson switches J.C. Penney to two-tier pricing with price-match guarantee – July 26, 2012
Why is Ron Johnson’s retail strategy for J.C. Penney failing? – June 26, 2012
J.C Penney’s stock tumbles after key exec’s abrupt exit – June 19, 2012
J.C. Penney reports loss and plummeting sales in 1Q – May 15, 2012
Why Ron Johnson left Apple to head JC Penney – April 30, 2012
lets be honest.. I dont think he would have accomplished much in his professional career if it wasnt for Steve telling him what he wants.
Agreed. It is actually pretty sad that he gave up, IMHO, the world’s premium retailing position and try to impose the Apple system on JC Penny, a very different type of retailer. It was a very dismal and very public failure. Very sad indeed.
i hope he is succesful in whatever he does, but I believe people expect to much from him when in reality it was Apple and Steve that made him succesful not the other way around.
I’ve met the man, and he is one of the finest executives in the world. When Steve decided to get into retail, he set out to find the best possible person to run the division, and he found him.
-jcr
Johnson is the business version of a one-hit wonder.
Hey Ron, go have a drink with Don McLean and talk about your successes.
That’s not true. He was quite successful at Target before going to Apple.
McClean had more than one hit, though. Vincent, Castles in the Air, etc…
Auto correct…McLean.
You have no idea what you’re talking about. Ron was already a very successful retail executive before Steve convinced him to come to Apple.
-jcr
Lots of slams.
I, for one, hope he’s successful.
After working with Ron at Apple for years, I’ll tell you that he’s much more of the story at Apple Retail than you think. For example, the Genius Bar, his idea. Ron partnered with Steve on many initiatives, but I personally saw him challenge and push back when needed. It will be interesting to see Enjoy come to light.
This business idea sucks.
Where’s the money in it?
Such VENOM this early in the morning! I… like it!