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J.C. Penney’s Website Needs More Help Than Its Stores

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The retailer’s online sales fell 33 percent last year while competitors are seeing double-digit gains.

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As bad as things are for J.C. Penney’s brick-and-mortar stores, they are even worse for its digital operation.

Internet sales plunged 33% last year to $ 1.02 billion, performing even worse than the company's physical stores, where sales fell 25%. By contrast, e-commerce sales for competitors are booming — Macy's and Kohl's both saw online sales soar more than 40% in the same time period.

The decline is even more surprising given that it came under the watch of former CEO Ron Johnson, the executive responsible for transforming Apple into a retail behemoth.

Mike Ullman, who was brought back to replace Johnson as CEO in April after retiring from that position in November 2011, emphasized on J.C. Penney's first quarter conference call Thursday that fixing the retailer's online storefront was a top priority. (First quarter online sales figures were not provided.)

During his first public remarks since becoming CEO, Ullman told analysts yesterday that problems with the website were “self-inflicted” — it was just hard for customers to use. During the last year, JCP.com operated as “a completely separate entity inside the company, with little synergy between stores and online” and the company is working to make “a seamless omnichannel experience” going forward, he said.

Or, put another way, J.C. Penney's digital operations lacked the ease-of-use and seamless integration that has become Apple's trademark.

Visitors to the J.C. Penney website are now met with a pop-up asking them to participate in a customer satisfaction survey that asks questions about what sections they plan to visit, their likelihood of making a purchase and possible bugs, among other things.

Ullman is cleaning up a number of mistakes caused by his predecessor, who was responsible for a $ 4.3 billion plunge in sales last year as he experimented with a shift to everyday-low prices, slashed mainstay private-label brands such as St. John's Bay and sought to turn most J.C. Penney stores into a collection of boutiques.

This month, J.C. Penney has been running ads asking customers to come back to stores and thanking them for returning.

Ullman wouldn't provide any concrete numbers but said the response to the marketing and Mother's Day promotions were encouraging. After a 16% decline in this latest quarter and a net loss of $ 348 million, investors and analysts will have to hope so.

Samsung Galaxy S 4 now available online at Sprint, in stores today at AT&T

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Author: Stacey Cook

Samsung’s latest and greatest smartphone, the Galaxy S 4, is making a big move into the US today with an online arrival at Sprint and in-store availability at AT&T. If you’re a Now Network subscriber and happened to miss out on the carrier’s pre-order action, you might want to make some quick moves onto Sprint’s website in order to secure your new handset, which goes up for sale at midnight Central Time. In a not-so-cool move, however, only those porting their number to Sprint are eligible for the carrier’s $ 100 price break, which means all of you who’ve stuck through the dark days of EV-DO will need to pony up $ 249.99 for the Galaxy S 4. Meanwhile, if you’re aching to lay your hands on Samsung’s 1080p handset, you can finally get some gratification, as AT&T is now offering the smartphone for in-store purchase and play. Here, you’ll pay $ 199.99 for the handset, and while it’s potentially more expensive, at least AT&T’s pricing scheme doesn’t involve fine print shenanigans.

Filed under: Cellphones, Mobile, Samsung, Sprint, AT&T

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Source: AT&T (Twitter), Sprint

Samsung Galaxy S 4 coming to AT&T stores April 27th, pre-orders arrive April 25th

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Author: Antonio Pierce

Pre-orders of the Samsung Galaxy S 4 have already begun at AT&T, but the operator has been oddly silent about the actual date customers can expect to purchase one in stores and online. Now that T-Mobile and Sprint have both announced specific launch dates (April 24th and 27th, respectively), the largest GSM carrier in the country has followed up by declaring its intent to sell the flagship Samsung device on the 27th of this month. This is four days earlier than the anticipated pre-order shipment date, which means the HTC One has merely a full week to bask in the spotlight by itself. What’s more, if you simply couldn’t wait and jumped on those pre-orders, you’ll get yours a full 48 hours early (read: April 25th). As expected, the GS 4 will be offered for $ 200 (16GB) and $ 250 (32GB) in both black and white.

[Thanks to everyone who sent this in]

Filed under: Cellphones, Wireless, Mobile, Samsung, AT&T

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Source: AT&T (Twitter), AT&T

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Black HTC One peeks out of AT&T and Sprint web stores, promises to be available soon

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Author: Jenny Zhao

Torn between getting an HTC One right now and waiting for that sleek black variant? We know the feeling, and the folks at Sprint and AT&T aren’t making it easier: both providers have tossed up a product page for the color. Unfortunately, a solid street date is nowhere to be seen — Sprint only promises that it’ll be available “soon.” The tease won’t make the wait any more bearable, but if you want to ogle that press image a bit more, check out the product pages at source.

Filed under: Cellphones, HTC, Sprint, AT&T, AMD

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Google Retail Stores Planned In Los Angeles And San Francisco

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Author: James Cliff

The stores will promote all of Google's flagship products — including Glass.

Via: phandroid.com

Google is planning to open retail stores in Los Angeles and San Francisco, according to a source familiar with the plans. The company has already begun hiring staff, who are being trained in how to explain and market Google products — including Glass — in stores. It’s likely that the company will open stores in more locations, but SF and LA will be among the first.

Rumors that Google was opening its own retail spaces by the end of the year began circulating in February, and were spelled out more clearly today at 9to5mac. The reports indicated the shops would be selling Android and Chromebook-related products, as well as Glass.

Google has been expanding its retail plans in other ways, too. Google already has kiosks at Best Buy locations where Google-trained employees demonstrate Chromebooks. It's also been testing a same-day shipping program for online purchases in San Francisco, which could position it to compete more directly with Amazon.

The plans may shed light on another storyline at Google: Earlier this year, Google's Andy Rubin, the co-creator of Android, flatly denied the rumors altogether. “Google has no plans, and we have nothing to announce,” Rubin told the audience at an international mobile industry conference in Barcelona. He downplayed the value of brick-and-mortar retail, too, saying consumers “don't have to go in the store and feel [products] anymore.” A month later he left his post as head of Google's Android division.

As for what the stores will look like, we can expect plenty more leaks; for now, however, Google is remaining silent. A Google spokesperson has not returned a request for comment.

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T-Mobile Begins $99 iPhone 5 Sales, Sees Lines At Retail Stores

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Author: Gabe Hall

T-Mobile is kicking off its official sales of the iPhone 5 today, marking the first time the U.S.’ fourth largest carrier has offered an Apple smartphone. Thanks to T-Mo’s new Uncarrier plans, the iPhone 5 can be had starting at just $ 99, with two years of $ 20 monthly payments to cover the balance, or for free if you’re switching from another carrier and bring a device in for trade. So far, so good, according to reports of lines forming at retail stores for a phone that’s now over six months old.

BTIG analyst Walter Piecyk tweeted the photo above of a line at a location this morning, and reports on Twitter suggest that small lines are forming at various locations around the U.S. Our own intern Michael Seo said there was a small one outside the T-Mobile store near our New York offices when he came into work this morning.

The appetite for the T-Mobile iPhone is good news for both Apple and the small carrier. T-Mobile’s existing potential reach only represents around 26.1 million total additional subscribers for Apple (a smaller percentage of which are realistically potential iPhone 5 buyers). That’s not a huge number in global subscriber terms, but it does give Apple room to expand its smartphone dominance in the U.S., and could provide it a late-stage bump for the iPhone 5, which is going to face increasing pressure from new competing flagship devices like the Samsung Galaxy S4.

T-Mobile has consistently been left out of launch day hype surrounding the release of Apple’s iPhone, with the carrier relegated to watching from the sidelines as AT&T, Sprint and Verizon locations saw customers queue for the iPhone 5 back in September, so it’s probably very happy to see lines form with this launch. Combined, the iPhone 5 and the carrier’s new model could lure away quite a few switchers, but we’ll have to wait and see if that impacts the overall distribution of U.S. wireless customers in any significant way.

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Blockbuster UK finds a rescuing buyer, keeps staff and stores afloat

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Author: Jon Daniels

When Blockbuster’s UK brand entered administration at the start of the year, there were concerns that it would eventually show simply an additional casualty of the inexorable step toward online video. Not rather: Gordon Brothers Europe, a private equity company known for rescuing struggling business, has bought Hit’s British assets. The acquirer isn’t disclosing the money involved, but it prepares to try to keep 2,000 workers and 264 shops in full swing while it plots a turnaround. That recuperation is just explained in vague terms at this stage, however– Gordon Brothers prepares to bring “brand-new items” and “new innovations” to the bruised retail chain. While we’re pleased to see a one-time foundation of video rentals get a 2nd possibility, we hope that its bounce-back technique includes a more futureproof selection than aisles full of plastic discs.

[Thanks, Steven]

Filed under: House EntertainmentCommentsVia: Sky NewsSource: Gordon Brothers Europe

Jawbone Releases Android UP App, Makes Wristband Available In European Apple Stores

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Author: Tiffany Shoman

Jawbone announced today that its app for UP, the company’s movement-tracking wristband, is now available as a free download for Android on Google Play. The $ 129 UP was previously only compatible with iOS. The wristband can also now be purchased in European Apple stores, and will be made available in Asia and Australia next month.

“We are excited to expand the UP community by introducing support for Android, 11 new languages for iOS, and product availability in more than 25 additional countries around the world,” said Travis Bogard, Jawbone vice president of product management and strategy, in a statement.

When coupled with its app, the UP wristband allows users to track their sleep, movement, food, and mood. Apple Stores in Asia and Australia will begin carrying the gadget next month, along with other retail locations in Europe, Asia, Australia, and the Middle East.

While Android users can now use Jawbone UP, the company says it currently has no plans to release the UP app to BlackBerry 10 or Windows Phone.

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Minecraft: Xbox 360 Edition gets a disc-based version, hits retail stores April 30th

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Author: Dave Adams

Minecraft has already been plenty successful on the Xbox 360 as a downloadable game, but it looks like there will soon be another way for players to find their way into the world-building game. Microsoft announced today that Minecraft: Xbox 360 Edition will be available as a disc-based game at all the usual retail outlets on April 30th, where it’ll set you back $ 19.99. The game will be otherwise identical to the downloadable version, and come complete with all the features and content that will be included in the forthcoming ninth update to the game. Gamers in Australia, Hong Kong, India, New Zealand, Singapore and Taiwan will have to wait a bit longer to get it, though, with release dates in those countries set for “early June.”

Filed under: Gaming, Microsoft

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Source: PlayXBLA

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PS Vita fire sale in Sony stores could signal plans to axe 3G model

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Author: Angela Chin

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Sony is offering the 3G-equipped PS Vita for $ 199.97 at a few of its shops, a conserving of some $ 100 on its list price. Joystiq reports that “a majority” of Sony stores in the United States are offering the deal, which also consists of an 8GB memory card and free downloadable game (if you sign up to a data strategy). Some shop representatives told Joystiq that the offer is taking place because Sony plans to cease the 3G design.

If that holds true, it ‘d definitely clarify why both the Wi-Fi and 3G models wound up at the exact same rate point following an official rate cut in Japan recently. However, it wouldn’t shed much light on whether Sony has changed its mind about dropping the cost on the Wi-Fi design in the US. Till we hear anything to the contrary, it …

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Posts Tagged ‘stores’

J.C. Penney’s Website Needs More Help Than Its Stores

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