Black Friday brings snow globes back to J.C. Penney; fans rejoice
On Friday morning, some very happy snow globe fans will return to J.C. Penney stores for a Black Friday tradition that was briefly wiped out last year. Call it the Black Friday Snow Globe Debacle of 2012.
J.C. Penney dropped its post-Thanksgiving snow-globe giveaway last year, and a small but determined rebellion took root. It turns out the Disney globes were an entrenched holiday tradition with some customers.
Leah New of Memphis was one of them. She and her mom had a mother-daughter tradition of shopping at J.C. Penney every Black Friday and picking up a snow globe. (The company kicked off the giveaway in 2000.) New’s mom died suddenly in 2012, she told the Los Angeles Times in an interview Wednesday. She had planned to carry on the tradition, but the promotion was pulled.
Under the guiding hand of then-CEO Ron Johnson (killer of JCP’s coupons and some longtime brands), the annual Black Friday snow globe giveaway was tossed. So, New started a Facebook page: Bring Back the Snow Globes, JCPenney. She found she wasn’t alone in her snow globe longing. Others voiced their dissatisfaction, and on Twitter too.
I can’t believe this will be my tenth year black friday shopping! Too bad I won’t get a snow globe from jcp :(— Allie Gloor (@AllieXGator) November 23, 2012
A new year brought new management and efforts by the company to erase many of the changes by Johnson. Penney’s also registered the complaints and revived the snow globes.
They’re back! Get your free snow globe on #BlackFriday in store, while supplies last. #jcpListens pic.twitter.com/1t85JX5Fg4— JCPenney (@jcpenney) October 12, 2013
This year, New said, she and her boyfriend will stand in line beginning at 3 a.m. for the 4 a.m. globe giveaway.
New, a senior at the University of Memphis, said she was surprised at the number of people who shared the snow globe holiday tradition. “There are so many mother-daughter shoppers out there who seem to love it as much as I loved it with my mom.”
J.C. Penney offered up a limited number of 2012 snow globes for customers to make up for the skipped year. New said she received hers and was thrilled. It’s a reminder of her mother, she said. “2012 was a sad year for my family,” but continuing the snow globe tradition helps: “The spirit of Mom lives on in the traditions that she started.”
Love a happy ending? Follow me @AmyTheHub
ALSO:
‘How to Fight a Baby’ goes viral
Cheese made from human bacteria is ‘for thinking’
PHOTOS: Meet Clyde, the hat-wearing turkey from Alabama
Start your day right
Sign up for Essential California for news, features and recommendations from the L.A. Times and beyond in your inbox six days a week.
You may occasionally receive promotional content from the Los Angeles Times.
