caleeksu

One of the most frustrating things is a one star review about something that was very clear in the photo and description or is completely out of our control as a seller.

“This item is too small, one star.” “I thought I was getting three and they’re sold as singles, one star.” My granddaughter didn’t like it like I thought she would, one star.” “UPS delivered too late, one star.”

She said Bible Belt in a different response so I'm assuming an SEC school.

When I went to work for the JCP window buying office in 2007, window had a 33% market share in American homes. That’s beyond enormous. It included ready to purchase and the custom department. Custom can get bananas expensive.

It’s substantially lower now, and hardware stores have taken a ton of that business. Plus curtains aren’t as on trend right now. I have the nicer blinds on my windows, but nothing that involves a curtain rod.

But also keep in mind that most JCP items have a full price retail but 90% go out the door at a sale price. To keep it legal, that’s what buy one get one half price sales are for…items can’t be on sale for more than X days in a row. BOGO gets around that.

Former corporate employee here: he had a ton of amazing ideas, but forgot about the core customer. He should have tested the pricing strategy - most people say they want a straightforward price, but when it comes to shopping, that customer prefers to play the coupon shopping game.

He also killed some very successful private label brands like St. John's Bay.

He actually had some amazing ideas and the store experience was stronger, but not testing and going after the aspirational customer was killer.

After I left corporate the first time and went to work for another retailer, I remember going into a newly remodeled store and thought it was fabulous. And then I remembered I'm not the target customer at all, and realized they were totally effed. Attract the new customer, sure, but don't throw away the existing, especially the ones who are in the target demographic. It's not as many old ladies as many would guess.

I got to sit in the captain’s seat of a Citation once, and holy smokes it was tight in there. Claustrophobic, even. Even the commercial airliners I’m in way too frequently look too cozy. You guys need some elbow room!