JCPenney might not have the trendiest reputation, but thanks to the addition of Sephora to its lineup in 2006, the long-running department store became a little cooler. The only problem is that the store-within-a-store concept is only found in about 150 JCPenney locations, a small amount considering there are just over 1,000 JCPenney stores in the country.
Sephora fans, get excited. Currently, Sephora is testing out beauty vending machines in 20 smaller JCPenney stores that don't have the store-within-the-store locations. The vending machines, operated by ZoomSystems, are similar to the ones you often see in the mall for Proactiv Solutions. They'll include 50 of Sephora's most popular products, including Korres, Dior, Bare Escentuals, and Philosophy. (Dior at Penney's! Can you believe it?) We'll have to wait and see how the program plays out, but in the meantime, I'd love to know your thoughts.
Marks and Spencer
Kenneth Jay Lane
Marciano
Well...the Sephora is right across from the JCPenney in my mall, so I don't think that this'll be quite so exciting if it does happen there.
1I hope they bring this to our JCPenny's because the nearest Sephora is almost 2 hours away!
2What if you want to return something you got from this kiosk? Can you do it at JCP? I'm guessing this will be nice for people who don't have a Sephora remotely near them (although in that case I'd just buy online...)
3I'm with Anonymous. My mall has both so it really makes no difference!
4There are about four sephora stores in my area, so not a very big deal.
I'm not sure I comprehend the idea of a vending machine. If the makeup drops, couldn't it break? I'm picturing broken pressed powders.
5As with the folks above, I think that the key will be the store's distance away from a Sephora store. Though a kiosk is a great idea for ME because I tend to splurge on stuff I don't need in a store... but that's not a great way for the company to make money!
6great idea... they get to have their products available to more customers (who are not online) but they dont have to pay for an employee to dish out their goods... think about self checkout at the grocery store... machines cutting costs for corporations so they can supply goods at a cheaper price! yay!
also, I doubt they would install these automated kiosks without first considering the problem of falling and breaking makeup... (how funny if they didnt.. I picture broken compacts and po'd customers!) the machine must have an automated arm like vending machines that dispense glass soda bottles.
7I live over an hour away from my closest Sephora and since there's nothing else there, it's hard for me to justify driving an hour just to buy makeup. If it sold products I used, I buy from the vending machine.
8I think the key to Sephora's business model is that you get to try the makeup on in the store. If you can't try out the makeup (or return it as those above point out) it's doubtful this kiosk model will be successful.
I do imagine they'd be successful if they put them in airports where people are a) bored and b) have forgotten important essentials. I'm sure I'd end up buying a lot stuff I didn't need if I found one of these in an airport.
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