J.C. Penney

The value of Facebook and other social media sites to retailers is greater than previously thought, according to a recent survey conducted by Media Logic, a company recognized for specializing in marketing for a social world. After all, Facebook would be the third most populated country in the world if it were, in fact, a country. Therefore, it makes perfect sense for retailers to be involved with the social media site.

J.C. Penney's third-quarter earnings rose 63 percent as the department store operator benefited from fewer charges, but high merchandise levels and indications of poorer profits from the products it sells raised eyebrows.

Same-store retail sales for October were up 1.7 percent, a smaller increase compared to the gains in September with 2.8 percent and 2.3 percent in October 2009, according to Kantar Retail's monthly report of 31 U.S. retailers.

After discontinuing its Big Book catalogs last year, J.C. Penney has decided to exit the rest of its traditional catalog business as e-commerce sales overshadow its direct mail channel. The retailer confirmed that it's notified suppliers that it will stop publishing its remaining dozen specialty catalogs next year.

Most major American retailers plan to hire the same number of temporary holiday workers as last year, according to a survey by a top industry consultant, underscoring that store chains continue to view the coming season with caution. Still, the annual Hay Group survey found that more than one-fifth of respondents expected to hire more seasonal help than in 2009, a sign that store chains aren't expecting shoppers to hibernate this winter, even if they fail to fully resume free-spending ways.

Barneys New York, Gap, Coach and other big brands are collaborating with bloggers to create new and controversial forms of advertising for a more social age.

In an economy in which very little is thriving, Goodwill stores are flourishing. In the neatly organized, brightly painted stores, it’s easy to see the appeal: Goodwill has gone retail.

Department store chain J.C. Penney has continued to roll out applications that support mobile coupons as it gears up for its holiday season sales push.

In an attempt to win over fashionable young women, J.C. Penney Co. is going to try running with a faster crowd. This week, the Plano, Texas-based retailer unveiled an unconventional collaboration with Mango MNG Holding SL, the closely-held Barcelona chain known for whipping up cutting edge looks that go from design studio to store shelves in as little as four weeks.