Another Snafu at J.C. Penney (NYSE: JCP): This Time an Ad That Resembles Hitler

JC Penney (NYSE: JCP) just can’t seem to get out of its own way lately. The firm has struggled mightily in recent years and suffered one after another public relations disasters. First, the firm ousted it’s entire retail management team and brought in a contingent from Apple (NASD: AAPL). Then, after abandoning its long run customers in an effort to attract younger, edgier customers, saw its sales plummet, leaving them to once again oust its entire management team. Now, with the old management team in their new seats once again, the latest disaster comes from a recent advertising campaign, and a resemblance to a not so popular historical figure.

“Several customers have taken to the Web to complain about a J.C. Penney billboard that’s next to the 405 Freeway in Culver City,” reported the Without A Net blog on the website of southern California public radio station KPCC on Tuesday. The problem is that it looks like Adolf Hitler, the genocidal maniac and once ruler of Germany.

The billboard in question promoted the Bells and Whistles Stainless Steel Tea Kettle, which was designed for J.C. Penney’s home goods collection by Michael Graves. However, to some customers, the black detailing on the kettle were seen as reminiscent of Hitler’s iconic black mustache and his severely parted hair. Meanwhile, the spout of the kettle — which featured a small, brass-colored bell on its top — looked like a right arm raised in a Nazi salute.

Only J.C. Penney could fall prey to such a ridiculous stumble. The firm lacks a culture of quality, and it must quickly seek to instill that – is has failed in virtually every facet of business in recent years and must right the ship before they finally run out of cash. The firm’s stock price is near historic lows, meaning that the firm is either on its slow march to doom, or about to embark on one of the greatest turnarounds in history.

J.C. Penney is a retailer operating 1,102 department stores in 49 states and Puerto Rico. Its business consists of selling merchandise and services to consumers through its department stores and through its Internet website at jcp.com. It sells family apparel and footwear, accessories, fine and fashion jewelry, beauty products through Sephora inside J.C. Penney, and home furnishings. The company has not done too well in recent years but is doing what it can to be a top provider of apparel and related products. The products J.C. Penney is able to produce and market can take the company to rising profits, but it would need to see a change of approach soon.