Ron Johnson, known for designing Apple stores and unsuccessfully trying to reboot JCPenney's sales model, is reportedly at work on a new on-demand retail business.
After helping to develop some of Apple's most popular and lucrative locations, Johnson served as JCPenney's CEO for about two years until he was fired in April 2013. The former Apple executive is now developing "a high-end, on-demand delivery service for gadgets," Bloomberg Businessweek reported via The Information.
Johnson has reportedly brought on former Apple Vice President Jerry McDougal as well as other former employees from the Cupertino, Calif.-based company.
The new retail service could launch as soon as next year, sources familiar with the matter told The Information's Editor-in-Chief, Jessica Lessin.
"The effort will be a closely watched attempt to reinvent real-world shopping for the digital age as well as a third big act for the retail executive who was fired from his last job after 17 months," Lessin wrote.
Businessweek was unable to reach Johnson for comment, and he has not yet confirmed the report.
Amazon and Google have also been working to launch on-demand services, with the former reportedly developing a wi-fi device that would let consumers order household goods at the touch of a button.
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