J.C. Penney offers online window treatment tool

J.C. Penney has launched a custom application on its Web site at http://www.jcp.com/ that allows customers to mix, match and layer window treatments and preview how they'll look in their home.

The Window Design Center tool, which was developed internally, was designed to help make it easier for consumers to buy window treatments by enabling them to visualize the impact the treatments will have in the home.

J.C. Penney, Plano, TX, believes this will give it a significant competitive advantage in the window category.

Once online, customers can pick a window type -- standard, double, bay and so on - as well as wall color and floor color of a room in their home. The customer can then dress the window in 142,000 combinations of jcp.com's ready-made window products.

Customers can also save up to nine window designs and e-mail them to a friend to get their opinion. If the customer visits a JCPenney store, a sales associate can bring up the saved designs at a point-of-sale register and help finalize the selections, or see if the product is available in the store.

Those who need a little help designing their own window treatments can choose from a variety of pre-designed window treatment combinations. There's also an online worksheet to assist with accurate window measurements.

The Window Design Center recommends the quantity and size of each item as well as suggested hardware to finish the look and help with installation.