M. Jericho Banks PhD

I'm optimistic. There are more influences on JCP's new strategy than just advertising. For instance, an article by Frank Hayes in StorefrontBacktalk entitled "JCPenney IT 'Is A Mess,' Says COO." Here's part of it:

"Now it is IT's turn to take the blame for JCPenney's woes. On Tuesday (May 15),...

Hey, we have a fashion truck right here in Sacramento! It's called "Gypsy," and received excited coverage in the Sacramento Bee yesterday. Here's a link.

The owners have spent about $30,000 so far, including renovating a U.S. Postal Service truck, and after about a month on the road...

Michael Jackson's hair was famously set on fire during filming of a Pepsi commercial. Now consumers are asked to purchase MJ Pepsi cans as if their hair were -- well, you know the rest. Some things come full circle.

When I was Ad Mgr. for 2,000 7-Eleven stores back...

Where to start? When was the last time (men only) you bought an "outfit?" That's Trunk Club's slogan, "Hand-Selected Outfits Shipped To Your Door." This service seems to be for metrosexuals who don't like to shop in stores, which to my understanding is an oxymoron. Except for the thrill...

What did the Heinz respondents say?! Come on! Don't leave us hanging!

On a more controlled note, what's so hard about trading discounts for comments? It's consumer engagement, and isn't that the first step, after all, when using social media? Sure, they'll lie and invent stories -- and enter...

I'd like to receive a can of pricey power steering fluid for my '97 BMW 840Ci for Father's Day. Like that'll happen. Woodrow Wilson, who many believe was our worst president ever didn't realize what he unleashed on American men in 1914 when he proclaimed Mother's Day "for American...

It occurs to me that Open Graph and Graphite are just new ways to game the Facebook system. How do you verify with any sense of confidence the truth of your company's comment trends on Facebook? Perhaps it would benefit your competitor more to eschew the cost and organization...

Have you watched the CNBC documentary, "The Costco Craze?" It's still available this week, and provides an interesting snapshot of the retailer.

A great deal of the documentary is devoted to profiling Jim Sinegal, a Costco co-founder. Among his many comments, one in particular struck me. He spoke about the...

I know from personal experience that too much time can be spent "getting ready." Waiting for just the right time. Doing all the research. It also can be putting off the inevitable or missing opportunities. Sometimes you just have to jump in and learn from your mistakes. In my...

A few thoughts: First, this is an excellent brief on the dynamic between B&M and online shopping. I look forward to an expanded report on this subject from Ken Lonyai.

Second, I was impressed by Ken's observation that online shopping is today's version of catalog shopping. Obviously he's not...