JCPenney emerged more than 100 years ago as a small mercantile store serving families on the American frontier in the Old West. Today, we’re still pioneering new frontiers by challenging the old rules of retail and creating a shopping experience that merges the intimacy of a traditional store with the digital conveniences of personal technology.
Today, JCPenney is one of the nation’s largest apparel and home retailers with over 846 stores across the United States and Puerto Rico, and a powerful e-commerce site, jcp.com. The retail landscape is more competitive than ever, creating new opportunities to differentiate and streamline our business. With 98,000 hard-working associates around the globe, we have the talent and determination to succeed and be the best retailer for American families.
JCPenney began in 1902 as a small mercantile store on the frontier of the American West in Kemmerer, Wyoming. Our founder, James Cash Penney, named his store The Golden Rule to reflect his personal and business philosophy of serving customers.
As Mr. Penney built a chain of successful JCPenney stores, they became a far cry from the small dry-goods store he opened more than a century ago. In those days, frontier miners and farmers and their families turned to JCPenney for blue jeans and work clothes, shoes, fabrics and sewing needs at a fair price.
Today, hard-working families still turn to JCPenney for attainable style and great value, a distinction that we’re proud to keep. And while fashion and shopping patterns have evolved, our focus on customer service remains unchanged.
Inspired by our Golden Rule heritage, the JCPenney Warrior Spirit is a reflection of our culture and how every associate infuses the company’s values of loyalty, passion, courage and service in everything they do. JCPenney believes that hard work shouldn’t go unnoticed, so we strive to consistently acknowledge our associates for a job well done. Through a variety of recognition programs, we let our associates know just how much they’re appreciated. Here are just a few examples of how we reward outstanding efforts by our associates:
With approximately 98,000 associates across the country, we’re able to make a significant impact in the local communities in which we live and work. Each year, associates log tens of thousands of volunteer hours, donating their time and skills to benefit local non-profit organizations. We also encourage volunteerism during National Volunteer Month in April, which happens to coincide with the Company’s anniversary. It is our tradition to celebrate this special milestone by taking the time to give back to meaningful causes, including closing the opportunity gap for underserved youth.
Here are just a few ways we support our communities and fellow associates:
At JCPenney, we believe that a commitment to inclusion and diversity is more than a legal or moral responsibility. It’s the foundation of our culture, the spirit that fosters an environment of collaboration and respect, and the driving force that inspires workplace innovation. Key to our success are the contributions and perspectives provided by our Business Resource Teams. Each team plays a role in advancing the Company’s cultural and social understanding through community engagement and associate events that bring together thought leaders from every walk of life to the forefront of our business.
Research shows that gender and ethnically diverse companies are more likely to outperform their peers. We’re proud that at JCPenney, more than half of our associate population are minorities and they are positively represented at all levels within the company to include our executive team. What’s more, 80% of the people who work at JCPenney are women, representing every level within the organization to include our board of directors. While we don’t champion inclusion and diversity for the awards or distinctions, it’s humbling to be recognized by several leading institutions that recognize and celebrate organizations who make these values inherent to who they are.
There’s nothing more important than preserving the planet and its precious resources for current and future generations. That’s why we place a strong emphasis on reducing our impact on the environment across all our operations.
Whether reducing GHG emissions by closely monitoring energy consumption, creating efficient supply transportation methods or diverting waste from landfills, JCPenney is actively reducing its impact on the environment.
To learn more about how JCPenney is advocating a sustainable future, please visit our 2017 Corporate Social Responsibility Report.