Editing Kohl's

{{Short description|American department store chain}}
{{About|the department store|other uses|Kohl (disambiguation){{!}}Kohl}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=February 2017}}
{{Infobox company
| name = Kohl's Corporation
| logo = Kohl's logo.svg
| image = Kohl's.jpg
| image_caption = Kohl's store in Onalaska, Wisconsin
| type = [[Public company|Public]]
| traded_as = {{ubl|{{NYSE|KSS}}|[[List of S&P 600 companies|S&P 600]] component}}
| key_people = Michael Bender (Acting [[Chief executive officer|CEO]] & Board Chair)
| founder = Maxwell Kohl
| foundation = {{Start date and age|1962|9|12|p=y}}, in [[Brookfield, Wisconsin]], U.S.
| location = [[Menomonee Falls, Wisconsin|Menomonee Falls]], [[Wisconsin]], U.S.
| num_locations = 1,174 (Feb. 2024)<ref name="10K">{{cite web|url=https://s26.q4cdn.com/950703131/files/doc_financials/2023/q4/KSS-10-K-2023-Filed.pdf|title=KOHLS Corp 2023 Annual Report (Form 10-K)|date=February 3, 2024|publisher=U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission}}</ref>
| industry = [[Retail]]
| products = Clothing, footwear, jewelry, accessories, beauty products, furniture, decor, bedding, bath, toys, books, appliances,  electronics, pet products, and housewares.
| website = {{URL|https://www.kohls.com/}}
}}

'''Kohl's'''  (stylized in [[all caps]]) is an American [[department store]] retail [[chain store|chain]], operated by Kohl's Corporation. It currently has 1,165 locations, operating stores in every [[U.S. state]] except [[Hawaii]]. The company was founded by Polish immigrant Maxwell Kohl, who opened a corner [[grocery store]] in [[Milwaukee]], [[Wisconsin]], in 1927.<ref name=":1">{{cite web |url=http://www.nndb.com/people/985/000170475/ |title=Max Kohl|publisher=[[NNDB]] |access-date=February 8, 2017}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.ilctr.org/promoting-immigrants/immigrant-entrepreneur-hof/kohl/ |title=The Immigrant Learning Center » Kohl |access-date=February 8, 2017}}</ref> It went on to become a successful chain in the local area, and in 1962 the company branched out by opening its first department store.<ref name=kohls-at-50>{{cite web |url=http://blog.al.com/bargain-mom/2012/09/kohls_50th_anniversary_sale_ro.html |title=Kohl's 50th Anniversary Sale Round-up + Coupon & Kohl's Cash - AL.com |work=blog.al.com |date=September 12, 2012 |access-date=March 24, 2016}}</ref> [[British American Tobacco]] Company took a controlling interest in the company in 1972 while still managed by the [[Herb Kohl|Kohl Family]], and in 1979, the corporation was sold to [[BATUS Inc.]]  A group of investors purchased the company in 1986 from British American Tobacco and took it [[public company|public]] in 1992.

Kohl's is headquartered in the Milwaukee suburb of [[Menomonee Falls, Wisconsin]].<ref name="factbook">{{citation |url=https://www.directorstalkinterviews.com/kohls-corporation---consensus-indicates-potential-45.0-upside/4121027919 |title=Kohl's Corporation – Consensus Indicates Potential 45.0% Upside |publisher=Kohl's |access-date=October 14, 2021 |date=2021 |archive-date=October 28, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211028170849/https://www.directorstalkinterviews.com/kohls-corporation---consensus-indicates-potential-45.0-upside/4121027919 |url-status=dead }}</ref> It became the largest department store chain in the United States in May 2012, surpassing its competitor [[JCPenney]].<ref>{{cite web |title=Kohl's Corporation SEC 10K/A Filing |publisher=Kohl's |date=September 13, 2011 |url=https://retn.co/us/jcpenney |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180724135408/https://retn.co/us/jcpenney |url-status=dead |archive-date=July 24, 2018 |author=<!--Staff writer(s); no by-line.--> }}</ref> The company is listed on both the [[S&P 400 Index|S&P 400]] and the [[Fortune 500]].<ref>{{cite news |url=https://money.cnn.com/magazines/fortune/fortune500/2012/full_list/101_200.html |publisher=[[CNN]] |title=Fortune 500 2012: Fortune 1000 Companies 101-200 |date=<!--undated--> |author=<!--Staff writer(s); no by-line.-->}}</ref> In terms of revenue, the chain was the 23rd-largest [[retailer]] in the United States in 2019.<ref>{{cite web|title=Top 100 Retailers (2012) |url=https://nrf.com/resources/top-retailers-list//top-100-retailers-2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140713205318/https://nrf.com/resources/top-retailers-list//top-100-retailers-2012 |url-status=dead |archive-date=2014-07-13 |website=National Retail Federation }}</ref>

As of May 2025, the Acting CEO of Kohl's is Michael Bender, following the firing of [[Ashley Buchanan]], who served as CEO for less than five months.<ref>{{cite news|title=Kohl's just fired its brand new CEO for unethical behavior |url=https://www.cnn.com/2025/05/01/business/kohls-ceo-change|date=1 May 2025|work=CNN}}</ref><ref name=cnn>{{cite web|url=https://www.cnn.com/2025/01/27/business/kohls-ceo-ashley-buchanan-sales/index.html|title=As sales slump, Kohl's turns to a new CEO to bring back customers  | first=Maria Sole|last=Campinoti|work=CNN|date=January 27, 2025|access-date=February 12, 2025}}</ref> [[Tom Kingsbury]] previously served as CEO from 2022 to early 2025, replacing [[Michelle Gass]].<ref name=":1" /><ref>{{cite web |title=Kohl's Announces CEO Transition Process |url=https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20241125131125/en/ |access-date=26 November 2024}}</ref> 

==History==
{{See also|Kohl's Food Stores}}
[[File:Kohl's – Beaverton, Oregon.jpg|thumb|The exterior of a typical Kohl's department store in [[Beaverton, Oregon]].]]
Maxwell Kohl, who had operated traditional grocery stores since 1927, built his first [[supermarket]] in 1946, the first in what would become a southeastern Wisconsin chain known as [[Kohl's Food Stores]].<ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.jsonline.com/bym/news/jun02/50935.asp |title=1st Kohl's supermarket to be next Lena's |newspaper=[[Milwaukee Journal Sentinel]] |date=June 13, 2002 |first=Tom |last=Daykin |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20020628144233/http://www.jsonline.com/bym/news/jun02/50935.asp |archive-date=June 28, 2002 |url-status=dead}}</ref> In September 1962, after building Kohl's Food Stores into the largest supermarket chain in the Milwaukee area, Kohl opened his first department store in [[Brookfield, Wisconsin]]. He positioned Kohl's between the higher-end department stores and the discounters, selling everything from candy to engine oil to sporting equipment.

In 1972, the [[British American Tobacco]] Company's U.S. retail division, [[Batus Inc.]], bought a controlling interest in Kohl's Corporation, which at the time operated 50 grocery stores, six department stores, three drug stores, and three liquor stores.<ref name=ms-1972oct28>{{cite news |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=wZJMF1LD7PcC&dat=19721028&printsec=frontpage&hl=en |title=Kohl Buyer Provides Backing for Growth |newspaper=[[Milwaukee Sentinel]] |date=October 28, 1972 |page=6, Part 2 |first=Roger A. |last=Stafford |via=[[Google News]]}}</ref><ref name=wsj-1972oct30>{{cite news |url=https://www.proquest.com/docview/133697361 |title=Control of Kohl Corp. Sold To British-American Unit |newspaper=[[The Wall Street Journal]] |date=October 30, 1972 |page=15 |author=<!--Staff writer(s); no by-line.--> |url-access=subscription |id={{ProQuest|133697361}} |access-date=July 6, 2017 |archive-date=October 7, 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161007042504/http://pqasb.pqarchiver.com/djreprints/doc/133697361.html |url-status=live }}</ref> The Kohl family, led by Allen Kohl and [[Herb Kohl]], continued to manage the company. Herb Kohl left the management in 1979,<ref name=wsj-1979may02>{{cite news |url=https://www.proquest.com/docview/134433809 |title=Kohl Family to Drop Ties to the Kohl Unit Of BAT Industries Ltd. |newspaper=[[Wall Street Journal]] |date=May 2, 1979 |page=41 |author=<!--Staff writer(s); no by-line.--> |url-access=subscription |id={{ProQuest|134433809}} |access-date=July 6, 2017 |archive-date=October 7, 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161007042444/http://pqasb.pqarchiver.com/djreprints/doc/134433809.html |url-status=live }}</ref> eventually becoming a [[United States senator]] and owner of the [[Milwaukee Bucks]]. The firm then expanded Kohl's presence from 10 to 39 stores in Wisconsin, [[Illinois]] and [[Indiana]]. The grocery stores were sold to [[The Great Atlantic & Pacific Tea Company|A&P]] in 1983,<ref name=nyt-1983aug16>{{cite news |url=https://www.nytimes.com/1983/08/16/business/a-p-to-acquire-kohl-s-from-batus.html |title=A. & P. to Acquire Kohl's From Batus |newspaper=[[The New York Times]] |date=August 16, 1983 |author=<!--Staff writer(s); no by-line.-->}}</ref><ref name=wwd-1983sep29>{{cite news |title=Batus Food unit acquired by A&P |newspaper=[[Women's Wear Daily|WWD]] |date=September 29, 1983 |page=8 |volume=146 |issue=63 |author=<!--Staff writer(s); no by-line.--> |quote=A&P Wednesday finalized its purchase of Kohl Food Stores, Milwaukee-based division of Batus Retail Division. |id={{ProQuest|1445624941}}}}</ref> operating under the name Kohl's Food Store, and later Kohl's Food Emporium. In February 2003, A&P put the Kohl's Food Stores up for sale,<ref name=mbj-2003feb25>{{cite news |url=http://www.bizjournals.com/milwaukee/stories/2003/02/24/daily9.html |title=Local Kohl's Food Stores up for sale; Copps buys Madison stores |work=[[Milwaukee Business Journal]] |date=February 25, 2003 |author=<!--Staff writer(s); no by-line.-->}}</ref> as part of an effort to reduce debt. That same year, A&P closed all Kohl's Food Stores locations and the Kohl family left remaining management.<ref>{{cite book |title=Kohl's Q4 2013 FactBook |page=6 |url=http://phx.corporate-ir.net/External.File?item=UGFyZW50SUQ9MTc3MDM3fENoaWxkSUQ9LTF8VHlwZT0z&t=1 |access-date=May 25, 2014 |publisher=Kohl's |date=<!--undated--> |author=<!--Staff writer(s); no by-line.-->}}</ref><ref name=mbj-2003jun13>{{cite news |url=http://www.bizjournals.com/milwaukee/stories/2003/06/09/daily38.html |title=A&P to close area Kohl's Food Stores |work=[[Milwaukee Business Journal]] |date=June 13, 2003 |author=<!--Staff writer(s); no by-line.-->}}</ref>

A group of investors, led by the senior management, purchased the company in 1986.<ref name=nyt-1986may26>{{cite news |url=https://www.nytimes.com/1986/05/26/business/business-people-kohl-s-driving-force-on-the-road-to-buyout.html |title=Kohl's 'Driving Force' On the Road to Buyout |newspaper=[[The New York Times]] |date=May 26, 1986 |author=<!--Staff writer(s); no by-line.-->}}</ref> Building on the existing 40 department stores, the company added 27 more stores over the next two years. In 1988, the chain acquired 26 locations from the [[Chicago]]-based retailer [[MainStreet (department store)|MainStreet]], gaining several stores in Chicago's suburbs, the [[Minneapolis–Saint Paul|Twin Cities]], and [[Michigan]].<ref name=nyt-1988oct29>{{cite news |url=https://www.nytimes.com/1988/10/29/business/company-news-campeau-sells-unit-to-kohl-s.html |title=Campeau Sells Unit to Kohl's |newspaper=[[The New York Times]] |date=October 29, 1988 |author=<!--Staff writer(s); no by-line.-->}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.chicagotribune.com/1989/02/22/kohls-to-expand-mainstreet/ |title=Kohl's to expand MainStreet |last=Randle |first=Wilma |date=February 22, 1989 |newspaper=[[Chicago Tribune]] |access-date=October 1, 2009}}</ref> Kohl's completed its initial public offering on May 19, 1992, and began trading on the [[New York Stock Exchange]] under the symbol KSS.<ref>{{cite web|title=Investor Relations - FAQ |url=http://www.kohlscorporation.com/InvestorRelations/faq.htm |access-date=May 25, 2014 |website=Kohl's |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140525232546/http://www.kohlscorporation.com/InvestorRelations/faq.htm |archive-date=May 25, 2014 }}</ref><ref name=prn-1992may19>{{cite press release |url=https://www.thefreelibrary.com/KOHL%27S+CORPORATION+ANNOUNCES+INITIAL+PUBLIC+OFFERING+OF+COMMON+STOCK-a012152448 |title=Kohl's Corporation Announces Initial Public Offering Of Common Stock |work=[[PR Newswire]] |date=May 19, 1992 |author=<!--Staff writer(s); no by-line.--> |via=[[The Free Library]] |access-date=October 1, 2016 |archive-date=October 7, 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161007042419/https://www.thefreelibrary.com/KOHL%27S+CORPORATION+ANNOUNCES+INITIAL+PUBLIC+OFFERING+OF+COMMON+STOCK-a012152448 |url-status=dead }}</ref>

[[File:Bella Terra Kohls.JPG|thumb|Kohl's in [[Huntington Beach, California]] (formerly [[The Broadway]])]]
During the 2000s, Kohl's expanded nationwide to 49 states. Building from 76 stores in the Midwest in 1992, Kohl's expanded into the [[New York metropolitan area]] in 2000 after [[Caldor]] was liquidated.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Vizard |first=Mary McAleer |date=1999-03-28 |title=In the Region/Westchester; Caldor Closings Bring Newcomers, Including Kmart |language=en-US |work=The New York Times |url=https://www.nytimes.com/1999/03/28/realestate/in-the-region-westchester-caldor-closings-bring-newcomers-including-kmart.html |access-date=2023-01-20 |issn=0362-4331}}</ref> The chain later expanded into the [[Dallas-Fort Worth metroplex]], [[California]] in 2003 with 28 new stores, the [[Pacific Northwest]] in 2006 with 10 new stores, and the [[Southeastern United States|Southeast]] with 43 new stores opening between 2005 and 2008.<ref>{{cite book |title=Kohl's Q4 2013 FactBook |date=May 24, 2014 |page=11 |url=http://phx.corporate-ir.net/External.File?item=UGFyZW50SUQ9MTc3MDM3fENoaWxkSUQ9LTF8VHlwZT0z&t=1 |publisher=Kohl's |author=<!--Staff writer(s); no by-line.-->}}</ref> To raise money to repurchase its stock and open new stores, Kohl's sold its credit card division in 2006 to [[J.P. Morgan Chase]] for $1.5 billion.<ref name=nyt-2006mar07>{{cite news |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2006/03/07/business/kohls-agrees-to-sell-credit-card-business.html |title=Kohl's Agrees to Sell Credit Card Business |newspaper=[[The New York Times]] |date=March 7, 2006 |author=<!--Staff writer(s); no by-line.-->}}</ref> In 2011, Kohl's replaced Chase with [[Capital One]] as their private credit card processing partner for an undisclosed sum.<ref name=wp-2011apr10>{{cite news |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/business/capitalbusiness/capital-one-wins-deal-to-back-kohls-credit-cards/2011/04/07/AFdmSlFD_story.html |title=Capital One wins deal to back Kohl's credit cards |newspaper=[[The Washington Post]] |date=April 10, 2011 |first=Danielle |last=Douglas}}</ref> In 2016, Kohl's added the Capital One backed private label Kohl's Card to the Kohl's App to create Kohl's Pay - the first integrated mobile checkout solution for a retailer in US, combining Kohl's Card, Kohl's Cash, Kohl's Yes-2-You Rewards and Kohl's coupons into a single [[QR Code Payment]], with technology powered by [[Omnyway, Inc]] (né OmnyPay),<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.paymentsdive.com/?referrer_site=www.mobilepaymentstoday.com|title=Payments News and Analysis &#124; Payments Dive|website=www.paymentsdive.com}}</ref> a [[Silicon Valley]] startup.<ref>{{Cite web |date=October 5, 2016 |title=Kohls Pay Launch News Release.Final.pdf |url=https://corporate.kohls.com/content/dam/kohlscorp/pdfs/2016/Kohls%20Pay%20Launch%20News%20Release.Final.pdf |access-date=March 24, 2023 |website=corporate.kohls.com}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://techcrunch.com/2016/10/05/kohls-rolls-out-its-own-mobile-payments-platform-kohls-pay/|title=Kohl's rolls out its own mobile payments platform, Kohl's Pay|date=October 5, 2016}}</ref> That same year, Kohl's became the first retailer to include Kohl's Card and Kohl's Rewards in one tap payments with [[Apple Pay]].<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.retaildive.com/news/kohls-integrates-loyalty-rewards-with-apple-pay/418685/|title=Kohl's integrates loyalty rewards with Apple Pay|website=Retail Dive}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20160504005550/en/Kohl%E2%80%99s-Charge-and-Yes2You-Rewards-Now-Easy-as-One-Tap-in%C2%A0Apple-Pay|title=Kohl's Charge and Yes2You Rewards Now Easy as One Tap in Apple Pay|date=May 4, 2016|website=www.businesswire.com}}</ref>

Kohl's hired [[New York City]] advertising agency [[DeVito/Verdi]] in 2009 to strengthen the Kohl's brand via a series of national television, online, and social media campaigns.<ref>{{cite news|last=O'Leary |first=Noreen |url=http://www.adweek.com/news/advertising-branding/kohls-confirms-media-agency-review-145499 |title=Kohl's Confirms Media Agency Review |work=[[Adweek]]|date=November 28, 2012|access-date=June 26, 2016}}</ref> The same year, ''[[Newsweek]]'' magazine ranked the company 18th overall and first in its industry in its "Green Rankings",<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.newsweek.com/2009/09/20/the-greenest-big-companies-in-america.html |magazine=[[Newsweek]] |title=Greenest Big Companies in America – The 2009 List |access-date=July 21, 2010 |first=Daniel |last=McGinn |date=September 21, 2009 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100625022558/http://www.newsweek.com/2009/09/20/the-greenest-big-companies-in-america.html |archive-date=June 25, 2010 |url-status=dead}}</ref> an examination of 500 of the largest corporations on their environmental track records. ''Newsweek'' remarked that Kohl's had the largest solar power program of any retailer globally, it pursues green building certification, and over 78 locations in six states have solar panels. Kohl's had also begun to sell [[reusable shopping bag]]s the previous year.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://greenrankings.newsweek.com/companies/view/kohl-s |magazine=[[Newsweek]] |title=Green Ranking- Kohl's |access-date=July 21, 2010 |date=<!--undated--> |author=<!--Staff writer(s); no by-line.--> |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090925021233/http://greenrankings.newsweek.com/companies/view/kohl-s |archive-date=September 25, 2009 |url-status=dead}}</ref>

Kohl's was awarded $62.5 million in [[tax credits]] from the [[Wisconsin Economic Development Corporation]] in 2012. The retailer was to create 3,000 jobs with the funds, but only created 473.<ref>{{cite news |last1=DeFour |first1=Matthew |title=WEDC made 27 awards totaling $124.4 million without proper review |url=http://host.madison.com/wsj/news/local/govt-and-politics/wedc-made-awards-totaling-million-without-proper-review/article_98ac5dcf-af12-595c-9e17-f84d9a657ef3.html |newspaper=[[Wisconsin State Journal]] |access-date=June 23, 2015 |date=June 20, 2015}}</ref> In the same year, Kohl's requested financing from the village of [[Menomonee Falls, Wisconsin]], to fund the construction of its new headquarters there. Kohl's received $2 million, the first of five installments that was to equal a total payout of $12 million, but ultimately backed out of the transaction.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Daykin |first1=Tom |title=Kohl's drops plans for new headquarters building |url=http://www.jsonline.com/business/kohls-drops-plans-for-new-headquarters-building-b99147627z1-232836511.html?page=1 |newspaper=[[Milwaukee Journal Sentinel]] |access-date=June 23, 2015 |date=November 21, 2013}}</ref>

In 2015, the company opened the first test store of Off/Aisle, a chain built around selling like-new clothing, home goods, jewelry, and accessories that were purchased and returned at Kohl's stores. The stores sold items at discounted prices, and had a more restrictive return policy than typical Kohl's stores.<ref>{{cite news |last=Romell |first=Rick |title=Kohl's will test off-priced store for returned merchandise |url=http://www.jsonline.com/business/kohls-will-test-off-priced-store-for-returned-merchandise-b99504143z1-304485701.html |newspaper=[[Milwaukee Journal Sentinel]] |date=May 20, 2015}}</ref> The Off/Aisle stores were ultimately closed in 2019.<ref name=":0">{{Cite web|url=https://www.msn.com/en-us/money/companies/kohls-to-close-its-discount-stores-after-4-years-in-operation/ar-AACJCnN?ocid=ientp|title=Kohl's to close its discount stores after 4 years in operation|website=www.msn.com|access-date=2019-06-12}}</ref>

In early January 2017, Kohl's shares fell 19% in value, in what ''[[The Wall Street Journal]]'' said was "the stock's worst day on record," and noted that it was a noticeable exception to the overall declining volatility of the market.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Kuriloff |first=Aaron |date=January 22, 2017 |title=How Often Does a Stock Fall 19% in One Day? Not Very Often |work=[[The Wall Street Journal]] |url=https://www.wsj.com/articles/how-often-does-a-stock-fall-19-in-one-day-not-very-often-1485093782 |access-date =January 23, 2017}}</ref> The company ranked 157th on the 2018 [[Fortune 500]], the annual list of the largest United States corporations, having earned revenues of $19.095 billion in 2017.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://fortune.com/fortune500/list|title=Fortune 500 Companies 2018: Who Made the List|website=Fortune|language=en-US|access-date=2018-11-21|archive-date=November 10, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181110190356/http://fortune.com/fortune500/list|url-status=dead}}</ref> In that year, Kohl's entered into a partnership with [[Amazon (company)|Amazon]], which included a program where select stores would accept Amazon returns; in 2019 it was expanded nationwide.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Thomas |first1=Lauren |title=Kohl's is going to accept Amazon returns in all of its stores across the country, starting in July |date=April 23, 2019 |url=https://www.cnbc.com/2019/04/23/kohls-will-offer-amazon-returns-in-all-of-its-stores.html |publisher=[[CNBC]] |access-date=10 May 2019}}</ref> In 2018, Kohl's announced a pilot program to lease space to grocer [[Aldi]] and, the following year, to fitness center [[Planet Fitness]], alongside up to 10 stores each.<ref>{{Cite web|last=Meyerson|first=Nathaniel|department=CNN Business|title=Kohl's is shrinking stores and leasing out the extra space to Planet Fitness|date=March 5, 2019|url=https://www.cnn.com/2019/03/05/business/kohls-planet-fitness/index.html |publisher=[[CNN]]}}</ref>

On March 16, 2022, it was announced that [[Hudson's Bay Company]] and [[Sycamore Partners]] were considering bids to buy Kohl's, which its shares jumped 17%.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Thomas |first=Lauren |date=2022-03-16 |title=Kohl's shares jump 17% after reports say Hudson's Bay, Sycamore are preparing bids |url=https://www.cnbc.com/2022/03/16/kohls-shares-jump-after-report-says-hudsons-bay-is-considering-buyout-bid.html |access-date=2022-05-10 |website=CNBC |language=en}}</ref> On April 25, 2022, it was announced that [[Simon Property Group]] and [[Brookfield Asset Management]], the owners of [[JCPenney]], had set an offer to buy Kohl's.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Stein |first=Sanford |title=Simon and Brookfield Pursue Kohl's to Join Rival J.C. Penney |url=https://www.forbes.com/sites/sanfordstein/2022/05/01/simon-and-brookfield-pursue-kohls-to-join-rival-jc-penney/ |access-date=2022-05-11 |website=Forbes |language=en}}</ref> In June 2022, the [[Franchise Group]] considered making a bid for the ownership of Kohl's which might result in the sale of the real estate that Kohl's owns to fund the acquisition by the Franchise Group.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.cnbc.com/2022/06/09/why-franchise-group-wants-to-buy-kohls-what-could-happen-next.html |title=Here's why Vitamin Shoppe's owner wants to buy Kohl's – and what could happen next |date=June 9, 2022 |first=Lauren |last=Thomas |work=[[CNBC]]}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.bizjournals.com/milwaukee/news/2022/06/08/real-estate-kohls-franchise-group-negotiate-sale.html |title=Real estate key factor as Kohl's, Franchise Group negotiate potential sale |first=Sari |last=Lesk |work=[[Milwaukee Business Journal]] |date=June 8, 2022}}</ref> Kohl's ultimately withdrew from the deal after Franchise Group lowered their bid for the company after finding out that Kohl's had downgraded its outlook for the second fiscal quarter for the company as a result of "softer consumer spending amid decades-high inflation".<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.cnbc.com/2022/06/30/kohls-terminates-sale-talks-with-franchise-group.html |title=Kohl's ends sale talks with Franchise Group, lowers outlook |date=June 30, 2022 |first=Lauren |last=Thomas |work=[[CNBC]]}}</ref>

Despite declining sales of furniture and home goods (the 6.3% decline in February 2024 was the 12th consecutive quarter of decline) Kohl's is enlarging its home assortment by 40% in March 2024.<ref>{{cite web |website=Retaildive |title=Kohl's expands home goods assortment by 40%
|url=https://www.retaildive.com/news/kohls-expands-home-goods-furnishings-assortment/710661/|date=March 19, 2024 }}</ref>

In 2024, Kohl's struck a deal with Babies R Us to add baby supplies, furniture, Graco, Carter's, Fisher-Price and other brands.<ref>{{cite web |website=CNBC |title=Babies R Us is coming to about 200 Kohl's stores|url=https://www.cnbc.com/2024/03/12/kohls-kss-q4-2023-earnings-report-babies-r-us-deal.html|date=March 12, 2024 }}</ref>

==Brands and store layout==
Kohl's store brands include [[diffusion line]]s from high-end designers such as [[Dana Buchman]], [[Vera Wang]],<ref name=usa_kohls>{{cite news |agency=The Associated Press |title=Vera Wang to design line just for Kohl's |url=http://usatoday30.usatoday.com/money/industries/retail/2006-08-24-vera-wang_x.htm |newspaper=[[USA Today]] |date=August 24, 2006 |author=<!--Staff writer(s); no by-line.-->}}</ref> [[Narciso Rodriguez]],<ref name=style_kohls>{{cite web|last=Wong |first=Jada |title=Narciso Rodriguez Is Doing A Diffusion Line For Kohl's |url=http://www.styleite.com/news/narciso-rodriguez-kohls/ |archive-url=https://archive.today/20140422235709/http://www.styleite.com/news/narciso-rodriguez-kohls/ |url-status=dead |archive-date=April 22, 2014 |publisher=Styleite.com |access-date=April 22, 2014 }}</ref> and [[Peter Som]].<ref name=HuffPost_kohls>{{cite web |last=Leibowitz |first=Laura |title=Peter Som Kohl's Line Will Be The Next Fast-Fashion Collab To Get All Our Money |url=https://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/09/06/peter-som-kohls_n_3880315.html |website=The Huffington Post |date=September 6, 2013}}</ref> Celebrities such as [[Avril Lavigne]], [[Lauren Conrad]], [[Daisy Fuentes]], [[Paula DeAnda]], [[Jennifer Lopez]], [[Britney Spears]], [[Marc Anthony]], and [[Tony Hawk]] have sold branded clothing exclusively through Kohl's.<ref>{{Cite news|url=http://www.refinery29.com/2017/05/156887/lauren-conrad-kohls-swimwear-summer-2017|title=Not A Drill: Lauren Conrad Launched Her First Swim Collection|access-date=2017-09-28}}</ref>

Kohl's private brands generate nearly half of the firm's $19 billion in annual sales. These include in-house clothing brands such as American Beauty, Apt. 9, Croft & Barrow, Jumping Beans, So, Tek Gear, and Urban Pipeline. The Sonoma Goods for Life brand of apparel and home goods alone is worth over a billion dollars, and Kohl's announced relaunch plans for the brand in 2016.<ref>{{cite journal|last=Wahba |first=Phil |url=http://fortune.com/2016/03/11/kohls-sonoma/ |title=Kohl's Stakes its Turnaround on Relaunch of Top House Brand |journal=[[Fortune (magazine)|Fortune]] |date=March 10, 2016 |access-date=March 31, 2017}}</ref> Kohl's has also purchased the exclusive retail rights to existing brands such as [[Candie's]] and [[Mudd Jeans]].

In 2021, Kohl's made a deal with makeup retailer [[Sephora]], to have certain Kohl's locations have Sephora stores inside of the stores. This is a move to replace their in-house beauty selection.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Denton |first1=Jack |title=Kohl's Stock Plunged After a Double-Downgrade. Blame Supply-Chain Issues. |url=https://www.barrons.com/articles/kohls-stock-51633016547 |access-date=25 October 2021 |work=www.barrons.com}}</ref> 

In 2024, [[Haus Labs]] by [[Lady Gaga]] announced that they had joined the Sephora at Kohl’s assortment.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2024-08-26 |title=Haus Labs by Lady Gaga enters Sephora at Kohl's shelves |url=https://drugstorenews.com/haus-labs-lady-gaga-enters-sephora-kohls-shelves |access-date=2024-08-28 |website=Drug Store News |language=en}}</ref>

Kohl's uses a "racetrack" layout with a single aisle that circles the entire store, a layout borrowed from discount stores.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_m0BPE/is_4_10/ai_74991370 |title=A 'racetrack:' would it work for supermarkets? &#124; Store Equipment & Design &#124; Find Articles at BNET |publisher=Findarticles.com |date=June 2, 2009 |access-date=October 9, 2009 |first=Bill |last=Epmeier |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090911083333/http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_m0BPE/is_4_10/ai_74991370/ |archive-date=September 11, 2009 }}</ref>

==References==
{{reflist|30em}}

==External links==

* {{Official website}}
* [https://corporate.kohls.com/ Kohl's corporate website]

{{Finance links
| name = Kohl's
| symbol = KSS
| sec_cik = KSS
| yahoo = KSS
| google = KSS
}}

{{Kohl's}}
{{Department stores in the United States}}
{{Milwaukee Based Companies}}
{{The Great Atlantic and Pacific Tea Company}}
{{British American Tobacco}}

{{Authority control}}

[[Category:1962 establishments in Wisconsin]]
[[Category:British American Tobacco]]
[[Category:1972 mergers and acquisitions]]
[[Category:1983 mergers and acquisitions]]
[[Category:Clothing retailers of the United States]]
[[Category:Companies based in Milwaukee]]
[[Category:Companies listed on the New York Stock Exchange]]
[[Category:Department stores of the United States]]
[[Category:American companies established in 1962]]
[[Category:Retail companies established in 1962]]
[[Category:Retail companies based in Wisconsin]]
[[Category:The Great Atlantic & Pacific Tea Company]]
[[Category:1992 initial public offerings]]