Contact Center Solutions Industry News

[November 08, 2004]

JCPENNEY.COM CELEBRATES 10TH ANNIVERSARY OF ONLINE SHOPPING

PLANO, Texas --(Business Wire)-- Nov. 8, 2004 -- First National Department Store to Go Online Continues Rapid Growth

JCPenney (NYSE:JCP) kicks off the holiday shopping season by celebrating 10 years of online retailing -- a decade in which it has blazed a trail for department stores on the Internet.

Today, millions of visitors shop jcpenney.com, where they can choose from more than 200,000 items whenever they want to shop. The site has become one of the leading home furnishings and apparel sites in the retail industry and an integral part of the Company's strategy for success.

"Our goal is to provide customers with the best online experience in the industry," said John W. Irvin, President of JCPenney Catalog and Internet. "We know customers appreciate the convenience and breadth of merchandise the site offers, and the trusted quality and value JCPenney is known for."

Multi-Channel Pioneer

JCPenney was the first department store to sell via the Internet and a pioneer in integrating the web site with its traditional department store and catalog channels to provide customers with maximum convenience, which has become known as "multi-channel" shopping. Customers can have items delivered to their homes or any of JCPenney's 1,020 stores, and returns are easily accomplished at JCPenney stores or by mail. Orders can be entered directly from home or in-store cash registers by JCPenney sales associates.

"From the early days of online services, jcpenney.com has been a leader in e-commerce. The company had the vision to capitalize on the emerging trend of the Internet, well before other retailers even recognized there was a large business opportunity," said Elaine Rubin, Founder and Chairman of Shop.org. "The company has been a big believer in the promise of the Internet as a sales channel and as a way to serve customers."

Sales Growth

JCPenney's online sales have grown from $1,000 in 1994 to more than $600 million in 2003, and they are expected to reach $1 billion in 2006 -- a mere 12 years after launch. JCPenney catalogs provided a strong foundation for entering the online world. Initially, the company marketed a handful of items through third-party Internet service providers, allowing customers to view the items online and place orders over the phone. The 1994 launch coincided with the Mighty Morphin Power Rangers phenomenon, and the first item offered was a complete Power Rangers action-figure set, including the rare white Ranger, for $24.99.

Since that modest introduction, jcpenney.com has evolved into a premier online destination for busy consumers looking for fashion, quality, value and convenience. The site features a broad assortment of popular national brands and many that can't be found anywhere else online, such as The JCPenney Home Collection, featuring Chris Madden and Colin Cowie; The Original Arizona Jean Company; St. John's Bay; Worthington; Delicates; and Stafford.

Backed by 6 million square feet of warehouse and fulfillment space, jcpenney.com offers more sizes, colors and styles than are available in stores -- such as 17,000 distinct items in window coverings, men's shirts up to 5XL, and bras ranging in size from 32AAA to 54H. Even first-time visitors can choose their own shopping experience, browsing by item, by category, by brand, or by a specific room of the house.

In addition to fashions for the family and the home, jcpenney.com offers solutions and a wealth of information -- from how to find the right bra size to detailed diagrams and instructions for measuring window coverings. Customization and personalization are hallmarks of Internet shopping in the 21st century, and jcpenney.com continues to set the pace in the moderate-price category, recently adding custom-fitted dress shirts and pants, and a "Build-A-Ring" feature where customers can design their own diamond engagement rings. Also new is the Gift Registry that links in-store kiosks, personal service, 24/7 Internet convenience and an exclusive wedding guide designed by renowned party planner Colin Cowie.

JCPenney is one of America's largest department store, catalog, and e-commerce retailers, employing approximately 150,000 associates. The company operates 1,020 JCPenney department stores throughout the United States and Puerto Rico, and 61 Renner department stores in Brazil. JCPenney is the nation's largest catalog merchant of general merchandise, and jcpenney.com is one of the largest apparel and home furnishings sites on the Internet. JCPenney is a contributor to the JCPenney Afterschool Fund, a charitable organization committed to providing children with high quality after school programs to help them reach their full potential. For more information on the company, visit www.jcpenney.net.

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