For the second consecutive year, JCPenney claimed the top spot in USA TODAY’s 10Best Readers’ Choice Award for best department store in the country.
What This Recognition Means
This latest recognition, driven by votes from readers across the U.S., highlights JCPenney’s continued commitment to excellent service. Winning this recognition two years running is proof of the retailer's loyal customer base.
Founded in 1902, JCPenney has over 600 department stores across 49 states and Puerto Rico, offering a diverse selection of national, private and exclusive brands. The retail giant relocated to Plano in 1992.
Top 10 Winners
- JCPenney
- Belk
- Macy’s
- Kohl’s
- Von Maur
- Burlington
- Nordstrom
- Target
- Boscov's
- Walmart
“This award reaffirms our confidence in our reinvestment progress – everything we have worked toward is coming together and we’re proud consumers are taking notice,” said Chief Executive Officer Marc Rosen in an official statement.
How And Why JCPenney Was Chosen
Nominees for this category were selected by a panel of editors from USA TODAY 10Best, with public voting open for four weeks. USA TODAY 10Best aims to deliver impartial and valuable insights, helping readers maximize their free time with expert recommendations spanning vacation destinations, dining, shopping and more.
JCPenney’s Reinvestment Plan Pays Off
In August 2023, JCPenney unveiled a plan to reinvest $1 billion into its business by 2025, aimed at enhancing customer experiences and boosting operational efficiency. This investment includes store updates, advancements in technology, innovative product collaborations and more.
Over a year into its reinvestment plan, JCPenney has made significant progress. About a quarter of stores have been refreshed, with updated locations showing a 3-5 point increase in net promoter scores. Assortment enhancements are attracting new customers while optimizing inventory and supply chains to ensure products are available where needed. The company relaunched the Rewards and "really big deals," which have drawn strong customer response, expected to bring over two million new customers to JCPenney stores and website.
So far, this reinvestment is paying off.
Continued Recognition Of Retail Excellence
In the past month, JCPenney was also named the top retailer for Black Friday deals by WalletHub. The study, which analyzed over 4,300 deals from 13 major U.S. retailers, revealed that JCPenney provided the best discounts across categories such as apparel, accessories, consumer electronics, toys, home appliances and more. This marks the third consecutive year JCPenney has claimed the top spot in WalletHub’s report and the sixth time since 2014.
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