ProfitLogic, the industry-leading provider of Retail Profit Optimization solutions, today announced that JCPenney is continuing its relationship with ProfitLogic for Markdown Optimization.  JCPenney began working with ProfitLogic in 2001 and was the first large-scale retailer to implement ProfitLogic’s Markdown Optimization solution.  The retailer extended the use of ProfitLogic analytics and optimization into its assortment and allocation process in 2004.

JCPenney’s initial decision to work with ProfitLogic coincided with the beginning of a multi-year strategic transformation focused on key initiatives to centralize buying and planning to better serve customers. Applying timely store-level data in the merchandising process to accurately respond to demand variations is a central component of JCPenney’s approach. 

“We believe merchandising should not be viewed as a discrete set of processes, but as an integrated set of decisions informed by a common, accurate, customer-centric view of demand,” said Jeff Allison, Executive Vice President and Director of Planning and Allocation at JCPenney.  "ProfitLogic analytics and optimization capabilities contribute to our end-to-end, optimized merchandising strategy.”

“In addition to having the right tools, the success of the implementation required consistent focus and support at all levels, including senior management, to drive these multiple process changes throughout the company,” said Geoff Ayoub, Vice President and Director of Business Process Development at JCPenney. 

“JCPenney is ahead of the curve in applying science and analytics to all its merchandising processes,” said Tom Ebling, Chairman and CEO of ProfitLogic.  “ProfitLogic is proud to be a part of this ongoing success story.”

ProfitLogic provides industry-leading Retail Profit Optimization solutions designed for retailers whose top priority is getting the highest return on inventory investments.  ProfitLogic’s customers have found that using insight into future customer demand results in more profitable merchandising decisions and more time to focus on what matters most: the customers and the merchandise.

About JCPenney  J. C. Penney Corporation, Inc., the wholly owned operating subsidiary of J. C. Penney Company, Inc., is one of America's largest department store, catalog, and e-commerce retailers, employing approximately 150,000 associates. As of Jan. 29, 2005, J. C. Penney Corporation, Inc. operated 1,017 JCPenney department stores throughout the United States and Puerto Rico, and 62 Renner department stores in Brazil. JCPenney catalog, including e-commerce, is the nation's largest catalog merchant of general merchandise, and jcpenney.com is one of the largest apparel and home furnishings sites on the Internet. J. C. Penney Corporation, Inc. is a contributor to JCPenney Afterschool Fund, a charitable organization committed to providing children with high quality afterschool programs to help them reach their full potential.