J.C. Penney brings back free haircuts for kids

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(AP) NEW YORK - Children who missed the opportunity to get a free haircut at J.C. Penney (JCP) last month will get plenty more chances.

After an overwhelming response to the chain's free haircut program offer for children in August - 1.6 million haircuts, to be exact - Penney will be making it a permanent offer every Sunday, starting Nov. 4.

The decision underscores the extent of new CEO Ron Johnson's efforts to re-energize the chain and transform every aspect of its business, from pricing to creating a new shopping experience.

The move comes as the Plano, Tex.-based company grapples with two straight quarters of losses and severe sales drops as shoppers, accustomed to big sales signs, have been turned off by a new pricing plan. The pricing strategy, implemented Feb. 1, involves eliminating hundreds of sales events in favor of every day prices that are 40 percent lower than last year. Starting last month, Penney tweaked its strategy to add more clearance events and to educate shoppers that they're getting a fair price every time they visit the store. At the same time, Penney is opening new shops and plans to open an area in the store that will serve as meeting places for shoppers.

Penney officials told investors in recent weeks that they've been encouraged by customers' response to the launch of the first group of new branded shops and the recent changes to its pricing strategy. And the free haircut program for children, from kindergarten through the sixth grade, also helped to bring in new customers and existing ones who didn't know about the latest merchandise changes. While Penney is still dissecting shopping patterns among families who took advantage of the free haircuts, the company believes some of them did cross the aisle to buy products.

"It definitely drove new people and reintroduced J.C. Penney to existing customers" who didn't know about the latest changes, said Jan Hodges, senior vice president of Penney's salon services, which are offered in 949 of its 1,100 stores. Penney originally thought it would give one million haircuts last month. The hairstylists earn hourly wages and are no longer paid on commission, so they were being paid anyway. Also, Hodges says it was a big win for the salons, which benefited from the boost in traffic.

Hodges added that the free haircuts also fit into Penney's mission of helping people live better. "We served a lot of different types of families," she said. She noted that the program did "help to stretch families' budgets."

As part of that overall mission, Penney will also be offering free haircuts to breast cancer survivors in October, which is breast cancer awareness month, Hodges said.

Johnson is expected to announce the free haircut program for children in a newsletter emailed to 15 million customers early Monday.

[michiganmomof2]

I also just tried to call JCPenney (in Oakland Mall) Troy Michigan. They informed me that the free haircuts for kids on sundays ended in February...Hello!! It's still February. So what's the deal? I messaged JCPenney on Facebook and am waiting for a response. I hope they actually take the time to respond and make this right. I have been a loyal customer, eventhough sometimes they charge me different prices for the same services. I am not currently mad or upset I just want them to clarify and make their business consistent with what is being advertised. Thank you and wish me luck.

[grace929]

I am sodisappointed in how JcPenny's treats their employees. I have been going to your Hair salon in Trumbull CT ever since my hair dresser became part of your company almost 20 years ago. She has always been accommodating and I have never had a problem with her work or making sure I am scheduled for my next appointment. I spend well over $100 a visit and when I have my hair frosted I spend close to $250.00. Why? because I think my hair dresser does what she is skilled at which is HAIR (not answering phones for others!!!)Last August when JCPenny had their FREE Hair cut for kids I had to try to change my appointment due to a family conflict and I could not reschedule until after my September scheduled appointment that is crazy especially when I spend as much as I do. I also know that most of those employees that had to give FREE Hair Cuts did not get a tip and got less than minimum wage during that time. I think that they could have gone to the Labor Board to say they were forced into giving Free hair cuts for less than minimum wage. I have been loyal to JCPenny's and I have your charge card. I have to tell you that since your NEW outlook starting last summer, I have only used my card for hair cuts or styles or hair supplies. I have not even wanted to to shop because I have such a bad feeling as a loyal customer that you as a company has shoved your employees and loyal customers under the bus and gone for giving away FREE stuff to those that will NEVER BUY!! I SPENT MONEY WITH YOU AS A CUSTOMER AND WHAT DID I GET FOR BEING LOYAL??? no coupons, No discounts, a very unhappy hairdresser and a very unhappy customer! I am upset that my hairdresser has had her hours cut and now has to answer phones to HELP YOU THE BIG COMPANY MAKE MONEY!!! I Enjoyed being able to come in to the salon at 8:30 in the AM to get my service done before noon! I had a wedding in May that my hairdresser got me ready for since I was part of the Family of the Bride (Mother!!!!) The wedding was at 1 PM in Madison, CT. If I had not gotten in at 9 AM I would have never made it to the wedding!!!)Get real upstairs in your Big Office!! These folks are hard working people who have given many hours and years to your company and this is how you treat them??? Wake up! Your company is BASED on these Loyal employees and their customers. If you do not want us then it will be very easy to move on. I'm loyal only to my hairdresser at this point and not to JCPENNY! IF you want customers then you need to RESPECT YOUR EMPLOYEES not treat them as if they were no more than High school dropouts. Hair dressers were trained to style people's hair not to answer phones for the company. They are worth more that that. Isn't that why you hired receptionists??? To do those little jobs so that you wouldn't have to pay a Professional top dollar to do? You are wasting money left and right. I have no idea where this president got his degree in management, but I know that if I did this at my small business of 15 employees, I would be fired within a month of setting this program out to the public! Listen to your customers if not you will be part of the Caldor/Bradlee"s gang of OUT OF BUSINESS!!! So disappointed in a company that was so strong 5 years ago!

[sandinfrank]

I called JcPenneys yesterday and they said they stopped doing free haircuts in December.

[ambassadormom]

My son got his haircut at J.C. Penneys, and she massacred his hair! I will have to let it grow out a little so i can take him another place to have it done right. The lady was is a huge hurry, and never spoke (even small talk) to my son. Hopefully, in the future they will have some people who genuinely care about what kids hair is supposed to look like.

[hypnotoad72]

Quotas, and the fact there are other hidden costs...

[Betty2530]

why not pre-school kids? I have two grandsons that need haircuts before they get their picture taken at your studio.

[c00lnh]

I am mad as hell! I am a small time barber and this is outrageous! I don't go around giving away JCP clothing for free! I live off haircuts and I cannot compete with this big company! They suck! I will never go back to JCP again. This is as bad as any walmart horror story I have ever heard. Every JCP store has a 100 salons and barbers around it. Is no one else mad at this outrage?!? I would jump on a class action lawsuit in a minute!

[waubles]

I don't understand why it would upset you for JCP to appreciate Breast Cancer Awareness Month and give away free haircuts. I guess some people aren't selfish and if this is the attitude you have with your customers then you probably don't have many. It's for a good cause, it shouldn't upset you.

[ceyamom]

how can you say that ,ys they offer a free kids hair cut others have done the same its just for a short time why dont you try it yourself ,maybe if people saw how good you did with free hair for a week they would tell others about you I feel sure that where ever you live that you could afford to give kids a free hair cut has a promo to your business for a week or even just a week end think some people dont have it to send there kids or them selves to get hair cuts ut if you do good it comes back my friend GOD BLESS U

[DebraSanAntonioTx]

As a Cancer Survivor, I wish JCP and all other stores would honor ALL cancer survivor with the proceeds still going to breast research, we fought cancer too, it still cancer :(

[grace929]

The problem is that the company took advantage of their employees and no where did I see that the free hair cuts were for Breast Cancer Awareness nor did the company compensate their employees for the time that they gave for FREE and did not get tipped and had to turn away paying clients because the COMPANY booked their time for FREE hair cuts! that is not professional. If JCPENNY want me as a paying customer to contribute to Breast Cancer Awareness then Tell me and I will do my part. this was a shamn and it has hurt many employees as well as loyal clients of the hair salon!

[ATLANTAS_BEST_BARBER]

http://www.alexccampbell.com

[ATLANTAS_BEST_BARBER]

Free haircuts have always been a way to bring in extra business at any location. Every time i would open a new barbershop, i would advertise free haircuts and OMG!!!!!!! Tons of moms would come in with 2 and 3 kids. But in the end they would remember you and some would come back for future haircuts!! Great strategy JCPenny.
http://www.alexccampbell.com

[dolphin1958]

I use to love shopping at Penney's however 3 years ago I bought a bedding there,the first time I washed it fell apart and I attempted to return it I had it 45 days and if it had not been for a woman who had the same problem that was a supervisor I would have been up a creek without a paddle. They say the lowered there prices everything I compare there prices with Macy's or other stores there prices are always higher. There letting their business go down the toilet what a shame,I bet J.C. is rolling over