How J.C. Penney and Sears Could Have Steered Clear of the Slope of Death

Though nearly as old, J.C. Penney, on the other had, is essentially the inverse of Sears. The store stuck to its niche, catering to a middle-income, fashion-conscious, largely suburban demographic. Though never as celebrated as Sears, JCP did boast a dedicated following … a following that dissipated with the 2011 appointment of erstwhile Apple exec Ron Johnson as CEO.