Kohl’s

Kohl's Corporation is a major American department store retailer with roots stretching back to 1927, when Maxwell Kohl opened a grocery store in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. The company's transformation into a department store began in 1962 with the opening of its first location in Brookfield, Wisconsin. By 2012, Kohl's had grown to become the largest department store chain in the United States by store count, a position it has maintained through steady expansion and strategic adaptation.

As of February 2024, Kohl's operates 1,174 stores across 49 states, with a presence in every state except Hawaii. The company is headquartered in Menomonee Falls, Wisconsin, and maintains a workforce of approximately 87,000 employees. Its annual revenues reached $16.2 billion for fiscal 2025, reflecting its substantial scale within the retail sector.

Over the past five years, Kohl's has shifted its growth strategy away from aggressive store expansion toward optimization of its existing portfolio and enhancement of its omnichannel capabilities. The company has invested heavily in store remodels and digital infrastructure, recognizing that modern retail success depends on seamless integration between physical and online shopping. Customers can now shop through multiple channels, including in-store, online, curbside pickup, same-day delivery, and a robust mobile app.

A defining element of Kohl's evolution has been its partnership strategy. The introduction of Sephora at Kohl's stands out as a significant recent milestone, with the beauty brand now featured in hundreds of Kohl's locations. This partnership reflects the company's approach to staying relevant by curating a mix of exclusive private-label brands such as Apt. 9, Croft & Barrow, Sonoma Goods for Life, and Jumping Beans alongside national powerhouses like Nike and Levi's. Loyalty programs including Kohl's Cash and Kohl's Rewards remain central to customer engagement.

Kohl's real estate strategy emphasizes flexibility and efficiency, with stores ranging from traditional department store formats to smaller, more localized concepts designed to serve diverse markets. The company went public in 1992 and has since expanded into suburban, urban, and rural markets across the country. Today, under the leadership of Chairman and acting CEO Michael Bender, Kohl's continues to adapt its operations and portfolio to respond to evolving market dynamics while maintaining its position as a stable, nationally recognized retail anchor with a proven track record of long-term relevance.