JCPenney holiday plans include tie-in with popular pop concerts
JCPenney is optimistic heading into the holidays, citing “undeniable” momentum and increased customer frequency.
The department store retailer said its traffic trends have grown throughout the year in store and online, and customer trip frequency has increased for the past 15 consecutive months. Top-selling categories include beauty with double-digit growth this year, while home and fine jewelry are also performing strongly.
Penney’s holiday plans include a tie-in with the popular multi-city concert tour, the iHeartRadio Jingle Ball. The retailer is debuting the first-ever official iHeartRadio Jingle Ball fashion lineup — called the “iHeartRadio Jingle Ball x JCPenney Collection — created in partnership with the concert series. Described as multigenerational, the 29-piece collection includes sequined tops, faux leather skirts, fur jackets and other “holiday glam” pieces.
In addition, Penney is running a ‘receipt-to-access' sweepstakes for tickets to iHeartRadio Z100’s hugely popular Jingle Ball in New York City. The annual concert showcases the year’s biggest pop stars. Customers can turn JCPenney receipts into a chance to win access, including travel, JCPenney gift cards and more by uploading a photo of the receipt from a $25 or more purchase to iheartradio.com/JCPjingleball for a shot at winning VIP Jingle Ball tickets.
“Collaborating with iHeartRadio as the first ever retail partner to create a fashion collection as a new way to engage fans is so special — and just one of the ways we’re hoping to make sure the holiday experience can be memorable for all,” said Marisa Thalberg, executibe VP and chief customer and marketing officer at Catalyst Brands, parent company of JCPenney.
Photo Challenge
Penney is adding a playful twist to its iconic holiday family photo tradition. Each week, from Nov. 3 through Nov. 28, friends and families are invited to share their favorite shots based on weekly themes — from matching pajamas to retro poses — for a chance to win prizes, including a free holiday family session with a digital photo album at JCPenney Portrait Studio or a $500 JCPenney gift card.
Holiday Deals
Similar to last year, Penney’s Black Friday “Early Access” program will start Nov. 8, with incentives such as the “Golden Tote” gift with a $25 purchase. The gift comes with a “Season of Savings” coupon book. (Penney stores will open at 5 a.m. on Black Friday, with “surprise offers” at opening., 9 a.m., 1 p.m. and 5 p.m.)
The retailer's “daily deals” will start on Nov. 10, and will run Monday through Thursday each week until Nov. 20, with a new set of limited time offers released daily. Each deal will be available for 24 hours only. In addition, “really big deals” will continue to drop each Thursday through Christmas Day.
Penney's holiday campaign, “It’s What They Thought That Counts," will kick off Nov. 2, with a series of TV and social ads. The ads will highlight different scenarios in which consumers can achieve that “you shouldn’t have” moment and rush of knowing how much it actually cost.
"This holiday season, we’re proving a simple idea on a big stage: it’s not about what you spend, but the care and effort you put into finding the perfect gift,” said Michelle Wlazlo, brand chief executive officer at JCPenney. “With growing traffic, deeper loyalty engagement, and a surge of enthusiasm from younger shoppers, our momentum is real. It’s what allows us to offer truly memorable gifts at an incredible value."
