JCPenney vs Macy’s

Macy’s and JCPenney are famous department stores in the United States. Over the years, both firms have been affected by the increase in e-commerce activities, high demand for off-price products and reduced foot traffic to the malls.

According to the 2018 statistics, it was reported that Macy’s had a 3.1% increase in its sales. On the other hand, JCPenney had a 5.4% decrease in the third quarter. Therefore, it has always appeared that Macy’s is on its exponential growth while Jcpenney is still struggling with the difficulties of reaching its core customers.

The findings from the customers that walked into JCPenney and Macy’s for the shopping experience at different times showed that Macy’s is more clean and organized. In addition, the customers reported that Macy’s had a more extensive product selection. JCPenney was a close competitor with similar promotion strategies for birthday gifts and store credit cards.

Let’s dive deeper and look at what differentiates JCPenney department store and Macy’s.

Difference between JCPenney and Macy’s

• Brand History and Culture

JCPenney and Macy’s are the most renowned names in department stores. Macy’s is older than Jcpenney. The two true department stores have more than 100 years of experience in the market. Unfortunately, JCPenney is no longer in its heyday.

JCPenney and Macy’s department stores are closely tied in the retail shopping experience that is almost similar. The outside appearance might be a bit unique. JCPenney and Macy’s have different strengths and weaknesses. However, which one among the two department stores is at the top? Continue reading to know.

• True or False Department Stores?

JCPenney and Macy’s are the only standing true department stores. They are only competing against one another especially in New York City, where each outlet has stores along the roads in Herald Square.

• Market Growth

Macy’s department store has gained a lot of reputation as a fully functional but unadventurous organization. On the other hand, JCPenney is believed to be the medium-level retail outlet that has more in common with Sears than Macy’s.

JCPenney has implemented strategies that help it dive into department store-like practices. Its current focus is heavily on the ways that help them attract young customers.

• The Approach to Fashion

Macy’s approaches conventional fashion. However, it has also featured celebrity works. Like the Jcpenney department store, Macy’s has moved towards capturing the younger market.

The younger population is always devoted to designer and celebrity fashions. Therefore, Macy’s has been seen as the right fit that features the innovative work of new designers. In addition, the department store also has some of the traditional offerings.

JCPenney has also launched a fashion line that is more direct to the younger generation. JCPenney’s efforts in fashion approach are still under scrutiny since the organization is trying to brand itself as the leading fashion outlet in the industry.

JCPenney and Macy’s are exerting much effort towards the fashion approach. However, it seems Macy’s game is too late with too little. Both are making a significant splash in the client’s fashion field. It’s never certain whether JCPenney and Macy’s will afford to shake their fashion tag and impress the eyes of the public.

In summary;

JCPenney

• It’s a famous name in the retail industry
• Among the few remaining traditional department stores. Their department store model is true.
• Many consider Jcpenney as the mid-level department store
• JCPenney has had a department store-like approach over the years
• JCPenney focuses more on younger customers
• JCPenney have lower prices than Macy’s

Macy’s

• It’s also a popular name in the retail industry
• It’s among the few true department stores in the United States
• It’s believed that Macy’s has homogenized department store fashion
• Macy’s is more mainstream in its tastes
• Macy’s released an urban-oriented fashion line recently.

Is Macy’s better than JCpenney?

According to the various customers shopping in the two department stores, Macy’s emerged as the winner. It was more organized, cleaner and offered a friendly shopping experience. 

Macy’s had a greater variety of goods than Jcpenney. JCPenney and Macy’s feel in the same bracket of providing rewards such as birthday gifts, store credit cards and in-store pickup.

Each of these businesses caters to a very distinct clientele. Value and economic saturation are key priorities at Macy’s. “One-Day “Sales and being close to your local Macy’s draw customers in. The purchases made at Macy’s are more extensive and take up much of the sales floor area.

JCPenney has struggled to regain its former prominence due to the development of rival cheap retailers like Khols. Khols and other value retailers use similar ideas and marketing techniques.

The target of Jcpenney is primarily competing with stores like Costco, BJ’s, Walmart, and—more significantly—Amazon. JCPenney mainly concentrates its efforts on being more customer-focused and socially relevant.

Each store’s purchase is specifically customized to the neighbourhood it serves. Customers of Jcpenney, like Macy’s, may visit their local Walmart to purchase goods for less money. Still, they choose to stay because of a more friendly experience that includes quality merchandise, a clean store, and rapid checkout.

Walmart made an effort to change its reputation for having lengthy checkout lines by introducing “line leaders” in their 2016 holiday marketing campaign “to assist customers in finding shorter lines and speedier checkout.

Is JCPenney a Good Brand?

JCPenney is recommended for people shopping for mid-range and lower-end clothing. JCPenney has an excellent clothes selection despite the slight decline and disappearance of the industry catalogue.