On our way back to Colorado from a visit to Yellowstone National Park this summer, my wife, The Lovely Christy, and I found ourselves getting fuel in a little town in Wyoming called Kemmerer. Little did either of us know this was the location of the first JCPenney store until we saw signs pointing us in its direction.
We took a couple photos and I shot a video for my followers in front of the location before driving on. However, we were curious to learn more about the story behind the well-known brand and the man who started the company in this small Western town, as well as what business lessons can be taken from the past successes and recent challenges the company is experiencing.