Sales & Marketing

Plano, Texas -- J.C. Penney Co. reported Friday a bigger-than-expected second-quarter loss of $147 million, compared with net income of $14 million in the same period last year.

Sales plummeted 22% to $3.02 billion from $3.9 billion, and same-store sales tumbled 21.7% after an 18.9% fall in the first quarter. Wall Street had forecast revenue of $3.2 billion.

Facing the investment community on Friday, CEO Ron Johnson admitted to some strategic pricing mistakes, but said he and his team will stay the course.

CINCINNATI — DunnhumbyUSA has appointed a new VP business development.

The company said Brian Murphy will be responsible in leading its growth with retail partners in consumer markets, adding that Murphy's role "is instrumental in aligning business objectives and strategy to build measurable and sustainable value as DunnhumbyUSA expands its retail footprint into industry verticals such as apparel, beauty and food service."

Murphy joins DunnhumbyUSA from SBC Advertising, a leading retail advertising agency in Columbus, Ohio.

New York -- Only 26% of parents say they are shopping wherever the best back-to-school promotions are offered, according to a study by WSL/Strategic Retail. The finding was revealed as part of the company’s Back-to-School 2012 How America Shops trend report, which tracked what stores and categories parents are shopping.

Vince Camuto's namesake store in Grand Central Station, New York City, reflects the footwear's designer's edgy and feminine style and modern sensibility with mirrored product displays and polished chrome metal accents. Other materials include white lacquer and a ceramic floor.

The design team created a  shelving system that  wraps the columns on the left side while connecting them on the right side.  The color palette takes on different shades of gray for a balance of modernism and sophistication.

BOISE, Idaho — Albertsons Market has launched a month-long contest asking customers to share their “Best Road Trip. Ever!” through photos, videos and essays on Albertsons Markets’ Facebook fan page for a chance to win a new car.

Specialty retailer Express expects to have its first stores in Latin America open by year end.

By Craig LaRosa, [email protected]

A consumer walks into a store, tries on a pair of running shoes, and then hops online to buy them from someone else—10% to 15% cheaper. It’s called “showrooming” and it has a lot of businesses scrambling.

If JCPenney CEO Ron Johnson is concerned by a 21.7% second-quarter same-store sales decline and a worse-than-expected loss, it wasn't evident Friday morning.

The retailer said sales for the second quarter ended July 28 declined 22.6% to a little more than $3 billion, resulting in a $147 million loss, or 67 cents per share. After adjusting for $159 million in restructuring charges, the company reported a loss of $81 million, or 37 cents per share. The 21.7% comp decline follows a first-quarter decline of 18.9%.