What Retail Legend Ron Johnson Learned from Apple’s Success and JCPenney’s Failure

Ron Johnson attributes Apple Store's success to instinct-driven bets and JCPenney's failure to rushing change without listening to stakeholders.

• Instinct over data: Johnson says Apple Stores were built on gut calls, not data — locating in high-traffic malls despite 4-5 year replacement cycles, matching Gap-sized footprint since Steve Jobs believed Apple's brand was bigger than Gap's.
• No-hurry innovation: Jobs shipped one product at a time — a year-plus designing the iPod, then six years before the iPhone — waiting until Apple "earned the right" to another consumer product.

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