JCPenney Co.

I’ll say this for Ron Johnson: He has turned staid J.C. Penney into the most talked-about retailer in the nation. The company accounted for five of the 10 most-viewed stories on this website in the first half of 2012 (see story). And industry analysts and consultants can’t stop speculating on the chain’s fortunes, in print, on the web and on television.

JCPenney is not dead yet. New shops and free haircuts may help.

Retail pundits eager to write JCPenney’s obituary may want to wait until after the back-to-school season as the struggling retailer revealed several intriguing merchandising moves reminiscent of the tactics CEO Ron Johnson employed during his tenure running Apple stores. And in an unconventional buzz-building, traffic generating move the company said it would offer free haircuts to kids at its salons throughout August.

Plano, Texas -- J.C. Penney on Aug. 1, will open in-store shop concepts for three brands—Levi's, i jeans by Buffalo and The Original Arizona Jean Co.—in nearly 700 stores nationwide. To coordinate with the back-to-school season, the retailer also is offering free haircuts for kids in its salons in the month of August.

PLANO, Texas — When JCPenney first announced its “fair and square” pricing strategy back in January with a great deal of hoopla and fanfare -- complete with a NYC media event attended by 700 people -- there was much hope that former Apple executive CEO Ron Johnson and then president Michael Francis, formerly at Target, would be able to bring some of their retail magic to the stagnant retailer.

New York -- Fifth and Pacific Cos. reported Thursday that it narrowed its loss in the second quarter to $52.1 million, compared with a loss of $89.9 million in the same period last year.  Results, which beat Wall Street expectations, were boosted by strong sales from the Kate Spade and Lucky Brand banners.

The company that was formerly known as Liz Claiborne Inc. saw net sales fall 6.5% to $336.9 million in the quarter, which still beat analysts’ forecasted $330.8 million.

Plano, Texas -- J.C. Penney said Thursday it is once again tweaking its pricing structure, changing course just six months after introducing a three-tiered everyday pricing strategy.

Puyallup, Wash. -- Youngstown, Ohio-based Cafaro Co. said that Torrid, Aveda, Burger Bliss and Mr. Jalapeno will open at South Hill Mall – in Puyallup, Wash. – between now and October 2012.

Torrid will open on Aug. 8 in a 2,600-sq.-ft. space, Aveda will open in 875 sq. ft. in October, and Burger Bliss and Mr. Jalapeno will open in the mall’s Food Court.

The 1 million-sq.-ft. mall is anchored by Target, Macy’s, J.C. Penney, Dick’s Sporting Goods, Sears and Regal Cinemas.
 

PLANO, Texas — JCPenney is boosting its store-in-store offerings by adding 700 Joe Fresh in-store boutiques to its department stores in April 2013.

Joe Fresh, which is a Canadaian fast-fashion brand, will also be featured on JCP.com.