Ron Johnson assembling former Apple retail alumni at JC Penney
After retiring as Apple's senior vice president of retail operations, Ron Johnson is assembling a team of former Apple executives to reinvent US retailer JC Penney, where he now serves as a chief executive.
Johnson, who arrived at Apple from Target in January 2000, is credited with leading the construction of the Mac maker's blockbuster global retail chain, including its innovative features such as Genius Bars, theaters and Easy Pay checkout.
Now, according to a report by the Wall Street Journal, Johnson is assembling a team that includes former Apple executive Daniel Walker, who served as a "chief talent officer" from 2000 to 2005, and Michael Kramer, who worked as Apple Retail's chief financial officer over the same five year period.
Walker initially recruited Johnson to work at Apple, while Kramer worked with Johnson at Target before both joined Apple ten years ago. Johnson's new team hopes to do at JC Penney something similar to what they accomplished at Apple: building a profitable retail operation.
At JC Penney, Johnson faces new challenges. Unlike Apple, which started its retail operations from scratch a decade ago and organically grew global, JC Penney is already operating over 1,100 stores across the US and Puerto Rico, and has been in business since 1902.
Johnson, who arrived at Apple from Target in January 2000, is credited with leading the construction of the Mac maker's blockbuster global retail chain, including its innovative features such as Genius Bars, theaters and Easy Pay checkout.
Now, according to a report by the Wall Street Journal, Johnson is assembling a team that includes former Apple executive Daniel Walker, who served as a "chief talent officer" from 2000 to 2005, and Michael Kramer, who worked as Apple Retail's chief financial officer over the same five year period.
Walker initially recruited Johnson to work at Apple, while Kramer worked with Johnson at Target before both joined Apple ten years ago. Johnson's new team hopes to do at JC Penney something similar to what they accomplished at Apple: building a profitable retail operation.
At JC Penney, Johnson faces new challenges. Unlike Apple, which started its retail operations from scratch a decade ago and organically grew global, JC Penney is already operating over 1,100 stores across the US and Puerto Rico, and has been in business since 1902.
Comments
...and?!
the end.
End quote/
To paraphrase: "Do you want to sell shirts for the rest of your life or change the world?"
"I've helped changed the world and now I want to sell shirts for the rest of my life!"
Computers, IMO, are far more simple which confounds me how CompUSA went out of business.
The section in Steve's bio about the retail venture is one of the best parts in the book; how Steve and Ron built the mock-up store and visit it each week, going over every detail, I wonder if he jumped because there's no more Steve.
Ron has about a decade until he retires. You only get a crack at a CEO position once if your lucky or twice or more if you're really lucky. It's Johnson's turn to guide the whole company. It had nothing to do with Steve.
Computers, IMO, are far more simple which confounds me how CompUSA went out of business.
Sales staff on commission probably. Motivated to sell you the product which gives them the most commission rather than the product you actually need.
There's a chain in Canada called Future Shop which I avoid going to for that reason (don't mind buying from them online, just hate the stores).
Revamping a retail chain like JC Penney will be difficult.
Computers, IMO, are far more simple which confounds me how CompUSA went out of business.
Their selection was terrible. I am not a fan of Best Buy either, but at least Best Buy actually has a nice selection of electronics at terrible prices.
Their inventory of crap is overwhelming. At Apple you could count the money making products on one hand; however,with JCP you'll need a team of dozens to figure what the hell they have. Again, this is pure PR. And I'm sure Wall Street is optimistically cautious about this.
Former alumni is redundant.
Ha Ha you are correct. Maybe they get excommunicated if they leave Apple to join a team of other former alumnus.
So does this mean JC Penny will make their own clothing?
From socks, to shoes, to slacks, to braces, to tshirt, to dress shirt and to jacket--we got you covered, I guarantee it...
Ron has about a decade until he retires. You only get a crack at a CEO position once if your lucky or twice or more if you're really lucky. It's Johnson's turn to guide the whole company. It had nothing to do with Steve.
That is right. Ron did all he could at Apple and as Senior VP, he could not any higher. With JCP, he could reinvent the business and really make a difference. Plus he must have a got a boat load of performance based options that can result in 100s of $Ms.
I would keep an eye on JCP stock and see if their sales accelerate and profit margins start increasing. Also visit the stores and look at their set-up, traffic. More important, I will send the wife to check it out without telling her the reason. I certainly should have listened to her during the Xmas of 2008 when she could not stop going to Dillard.