411. Redefining JCPenney for today’s customer

411. Redefining JCPenney for today’s customer

From Retail Gets Real by National Retail Federation

March 24, 2026 · 27 min · Episode 411

About this episode

Michelle Wlazlo, brand CEO of JCPenney, discusses the evolution of retail and the importance of customer service.

Retail is evolving at an incredible pace, but at its core, it still comes down to people. Michelle Wlazlo, brand CEO of JCPenney, joins Retail Gets Real to share her grounded and optimistic perspective on where the industry is headed and why the fundamentals of serving customers remain as important as ever. (00:00:00) A retail career shaped by customers (00:06:44) Why physical stores aren’t going anywhere (00:09:02) Reintroducing JCPenney to a new generation of customers (00:15:52) The forces reshaping retail right now (00:17:52) Career advice that changes how you lead and grow (00:19:54) What will and won’t change in the future of retail (00:22:24) The joy of shopping beyond just buying The National Retail Federation is the world’s largest retail trade association. Every day, we passionately stand up for the people, policies and ideas that help retail succeed. Resources: • Yes—JCPenney: Their Boldest Campaign Yet • Become an NRF member and join the world’s largest retail trade association • Learn about our retail education platform, NRF Foundation, at nrffoundation.org • Learn about retail advocacy at nrf.com/advocacy • Find more episodes at retailgetsreal.com Related: • 393…

People in this episode

Host: National Retail Federation

Guest: Michelle Wlazlo

Topics covered

  • retail evolution
  • customer service
  • physical stores
  • JCPenney rebranding
  • career advice
  • future of retail

Keywords

  • retail
  • JCPenney
  • customer experience
  • physical stores
  • career growth
  • retail industry
  • shopping

Mentioned in this episode

Organizations: JCPenney

More episodes of Retail Gets Real

Explore listener stats, chart rankings, contacts and more on the Retail Gets Real podcast page.