Dive Brief:
-
J.C. Penney will launch a series of sales events, including deals that, as at other retailers, overlap with Prime Day, with more than 7,000 items under $20 and 2,500 items under $10.
-
The department store’s events include “Black Friday in July,” running July 15 to July 21; a “Mystery Sale” Aug. 1 to Aug. 4; “Super Saturday” Aug. 9 to 11; its Semi-Annual Home Sale July 15 to Aug. 11; and its Semi-Annual Beauty Event Aug.1 to Aug. 18.
-
Members of Penney’s newly revamped loyalty program get special deals during an “all-new Members-Only Savings Season event happening July 11 to Aug. 29,” per a company press release. That includes a free back-to-school photo session and digital image from J.C. Penney Portraits by Lifetouch.
Dive Insight:
J.C. Penney joins Kohl’s, Target, Best Buy, Walmart and Macy’s in hopping onto the midsummer sales bandwagon, likely an answer to Amazon’s annual Prime Day sales.
With more than 4,000 back-to-school items for kids priced less $20, including some apparel items under $10, Penney is keeping deals going as the summer winds down and families increasingly look to get their back-to-school shopping done. As of early this month most back-to-school and college shoppers have begun to cross things off their lists, according to research from the National Retail Federation and Prosper Insights & Analytics released Thursday.
The department store has some key differentiators for those shoppers, including photography and hair salon services. Haircuts for children under 12 are priced at $12, while kindergartners through high school seniors can opt for any styling service for less than $30, from now through Sept. 21, per the press release. As of July 22, verified teachers will get an extra 35% discount. Loyalty members who take a back-to-school quiz can earn 25 free CashPass Rewards points.
As at other retailers, loyalty members get extra perks, including an extra 30% off on Thursdays now through Aug. 29 and one-time free shipping on an order of $25 (valid Aug.13 to Aug. 14). At various points as summer winds down, CashPass Rewards will pile up with bonus dollars with minimum purchases on certain items.
Penney is touting discounts on name brands like Levi’s, Adidas, Puma, Forever 21, IZOD, Carter’s and Reebok, as well as on its own private labels including Arizona, Liz Claiborne, A.n.a., St. John’s Bay, Okie Dokie and Xersion. Its Thereabouts children’s label includes uniforms starting at just $5.
