Carole Sloan — Furniture Today,
PLANO, Texas — Furniture may be added to more

JCPenney stores based on the progress the product category has made, according to the new head of the business.

“Furniture has come a long way at JCPenney, and it definitely has a place in the stores,” Jeffrey Allison, executive vice president, general merchandise manager of home and custom decorating, said in his first interview since he assumed his post at the giant department store chain on Dec. 1.

“We’re looking at store counts — furniture currently is in 170 stores — looking for the opportunity,” he said. The category may be added to more stores in malls across the country, he added.

An important element, he said, will be the Chris Madden for JCPenney Home Collection and the role it has played in furniture.

In the home category in general, Allison said the company will focus on its private brands including Chris Madden and Studio “but we will not walk away from our national brands and our exclusive brands.”

*For more of this interview, see the Jan. 1 print edition of Furniture|Today.