Skinkers, communication you can't miss

Skinkers, T3 and WTG have collaborated on the development of a unique desktop application that is helping one of America’s largest retailers, JC Penney, reach customers in a whole new way. The application, JCPToday, is designed to enhance relationships between JC Penney and its customers by delivering sales offers, new product announcements and in-depth features directly to a computer’s desktop. The application can be downloaded from www.jcptoday.com.

Like a trusted adviser or best shopping buddy, JCPToday brings a wealth of useful information, including daily notifications offering rapid or even first access to JC Penney sale events, product-of-the-day picks and timely, actionable “scoops.” Handy links to current JC Penney store ads and the jcp.com website, as well as style tips, trends, and exclusive editorial content, put a wealth of options at the customer’s command, without so much as opening an email.

JCPToday can be personalized, enabling subscribers to set simple reminders about important personal events like birthdays and appointments. In the future, JCPToday will offer more personalized content based on each person’s registration data and preferences, such as local store events or fashion hints for favourite brands.  

Dave Owen, Manager of Internet customer relationship marketing for jcp.com, commented: “When we say, “Every Day Matters,” we want that statement to have meaning for our customer.  So, we asked Skinkers and T3, along with WTG, to design a simple, innovative way for our customers to have access to valuable offers, great ideas and new products every day, right on their desktops.  We think JCPToday is a great way to initiate a conversation with our customers, and we look forward to hearing what they think of this new application so we can enhance their experience even further.”

A JCPToday "Scoop":

JCPToday is built on Skinkers Live Notification Platform (LNP) which overcomes current communication limitations by pushing valuable information to groups or individuals with visibility and impact. With the ability to broadcast targeted information to opted-in customers, the LNP will continue to meet JC Penney’s future requirements.

Matteo Berlucchi, CEO of Skinkers, stated “We are delighted to be working with a truly innovative retailer like JC Penney. Skinkers technology enables JC Penney to rapidly reach out to their customers, making them aware of news and product offers, directly on their desktop. This is much more effective than sending emails which are often ignored.”

T3 and its emerging media and innovation group, T3 Labs, were strategic partners in developing the JCPToday customer experience from the outset, presenting JC Penney the initial design concepts for the application’s design and content as well as maintaining focus on the customer’s overall interaction with the new application. Moving forward, T3 will continue to play an active role in creative content and publishing support on behalf of JC Penney.

“We felt this was an opportunity for JC Penney to create a deeper customer experience beyond the transaction and distinguish themselves from other retailers,” said Kirk Drummond, T3 vice president of creative and innovation. “This tool demonstrates that JC Penney values customer engagement and is out in front of today’s trends.”

The Skinkers Live Notification Platform is hosted by WTG, a London based company specialising in enterprise Internet solutions. As Skinkers hosting and professional services partner, WTG have worked closely with Skinkers ground breaking Live Notification Platform to ensure the infrastructure consistently delivers the user experience JC Penney customers expect. 

Managing Director of WTG, Volker Schulze, said: “We are really pleased to be able to support Skinkers and JC Penney on this exciting project. Skinkers technology guarantees the right people get the right messages at the right time, thereby enabling tailored communications and closing the feedback loop – a genuine first.”

About T3
T3 is a top integrated marketing firm with offices in Austin, Texas, New York and San Francisco specializing in innovative marketing campaigns that cut across all mediums. As a collaborative think tank, T3 works with clients including Dell, Marriott, JC Penney, Chase Card Services, MTV, UPS, John Deere, Universal, Ingenix and MSN.  Founded by CEO Gay Gaddis in 1989, T3 is independent and the largest advertising agency wholly owned by a woman in the United States. T3 ranks among ADWEEK’s Top 100 Agency and Advertising Age's Top 100 U.S. Marketing Services Agencies lists. 

About WTG
WTG is a UK based company focused on delivering outstanding business solutions to meet client needs by harnessing the latest innovations in internet technology. Their expertise extends from strategic consulting, through hosting and cutting edge website design, to complex behind the scenes data integration. WTG has an excellent track record of working with blue chip corporations and large governmental organisations to deliver complex and mission critical solutions, fast.

About JC Penney
JC Penney is one of America's leading retailers, operating 1,039 department stores throughout the United States and Puerto Rico, as well as one of the largest apparel and home furnishing sites on the Internet, jcp.com, and the nation's largest general merchandise catalog business. Through these integrated channels, JC Penney offers a wide array of national, private and exclusive brands which reflect the Company's commitment to providing customers with style and quality at a smart price. Traded as "JCP" on the New York Stock Exchange, the Company posted revenue of $19.9 billion in 2006 and is executing its strategic plan to be the growth leader in the retail industry. Key to this strategy is JC Penney's "Every Day Matters" brand positioning, intended to generate deeper, more emotionally driven relationships with customers by fully engaging the Company's 155,000 Associates to offer encouragement, provide ideas and inspire customers every time they shop with JC Penney.