[NewsPoster]

Former Apple retail head and later JC Penney CEO Ron Johnson is working on a "high-end, on-demand delivery service" for gadgets, says The Information, citing sources in contact with him. Johnson has allegedly recruited some other former Apple workers, including ex-VP Jerry McDougal. McDougal left Apple at the beginning of 2013; Johnson left JC Penney roughly three months later.

Although his stint at JC Penney is often considered a failure, Johnson is also credited with having guided and expanded Apple Stores to their current level of success. It's unclear how his new company will operate, but the description suggests it may borrow cues from companies that provide services like same-day grocery delivery.

[donmontalvo]

I stopped going to JCPenney when they threw Ron Johnson under the bus. You can't keep a good man down.

[bjojade]

It wasn't Ron's fault, it was the consumer's fault. Apparently, an $80 shirt at 75% off is a better deal than a $15 shirt, even if it's the exact same shirt.

[testudo]

Yep, bjojade, that's how it went. Sort of. Actually it's like this:

1) The Ron Johnson/Apple way: Sell shirt for $25, year round. No coupons needed.

2) The stupid consumer demand way #1:
a) Sell shirt for $75 (list price).
b) Offer coupons every week, varying savings as 40% off, 50% off, $30 off.
c) Stupid customer feels like they're saving huge money by buying with Coupon. Consumer happy.

3) The stupid consumer demand way #2:
a) Sell shirt for $75 (list price).
b) Don't buy shirt because it's too much, wait for sale.
c) Store doesn't sell enough inventory, so have big end-of-season sale to close out inventory. Sell shirt for $20.
d) Consumer buys shirt at $55 off.
e) Consumer happy.
f) JC Penney continues to lose money and goes out of business.
g) Consumer goes "Oh, I love that store. If only their prices weren't so high!"

[testudo]

Yeah, and all that great formatting, shot to hell!

[testudo]

BTW, another problem for JC Penney, Ron Johnson and the folks in charge didn't realize how backwards, uptight, and intolerant a large section of it's consumers were. Because I can't tell you how many people I read talking about how JC Penney went 'gay' and they were catering to the 'gay' crowd and it was all about the gays and gays were evil and so they would no longer go to JC Penney. And all this because they made Ellen Degeneres (Ellen 'Degenerate' to former JC Penney customers) a spokesperson.

[shawnde]

Holy F&CK, testudo is BACK !!!! He was MIA for a long time .... must have been a long vacation !!! Welcome back ...