Holidays looking happier for JCP

Same store sales increased 10.1% during November at J.C. Penney, the company announced during an update on its holiday performance.

In addition to the double digit comp performance, J.C. Penney said its e-commerce sales through jcp.com continued to be strong, running well ahead of last year, consistent with last month's trend.

"We are pleased with our performance during the Thanksgiving holiday weekend, particularly in light of the continued spending pressures on consumers,” said J.C. Penney CEO Mike Ullman. “The combination of our great merchandise and compelling promotions put us in a position to succeed in a highly competitive environment, and our teams executed very well.”

Based on sales trends through the weekend, the company said it was encouraged by the early performance of its giftable items, especially among its private brands such as Modern Bride, St. John's Bay and a.n.a.

"The traffic and conversion we saw both in stores and online this weekend was exciting for everyone across our organization. We know the environment will remain as competitive as ever, and we are all working to maintain our momentum through the holiday season,” Ullman said.