Kohl 's - wikipedia Kohl 's Kohl 's Corporation Type Public Traded as NYSE : KSS S&P 500 Component Industry Retail Founded September 12, 1962 ( 55 years ago ) ( 1962 - 09 - 12 ) Milwaukee, Wisconsin, U.S. Founder Maxwell Kohl Headquarters Menomonee Falls, Wisconsin, U.S. Number of locations 1,155 ( Q3 2016 ) Key people Kevin Mansell ( Chairman, CEO ) Products Clothing, footwear, bedding, furniture, jewelry, beauty products, electronics, and housewares. Revenue US $ 18.686 billion ( 2016 ) US $19.204 billion ( 2015 ) Operating income US $1.183 billion ( 2016 ) US $1.553 billion ( 2015 ) Net income US $556 million ( 2016 ) US $673 million ( 2015 ) Total assets US $13.574 billion ( 2016 ) US $13.606 billion ( 2015 ) Total equity US $5.177 billion ( 2016 ) US $5.491 billion ( 2015 ) Number of employees 138,000 ( 2016 ) Website www.kohls.com Kohl 's is an American department store retailing chain. The first Kohl 's store was a corner grocery store opened in Milwaukee, Wisconsin in 1927 by Maxwell Kohl. The company 's first department store opened in September 1962. British American Tobacco Company took a controlling interest in the company in 1972, and in 1979, the Kohl family left the management of the company. A group of investors purchased the company in 1986 from British - American Tobacco and took it public in 1992. Contents 1 Company overview 2 History 2.1 1940s to 1970s 2.2 1980s to present 3 Stores 4 Private brands 5 Marketing 6 References 7 External links Company overview The company is headquartered in the Milwaukee suburb of Menomonee Falls, Wisconsin, operating 1,155 stores in 49 states ( The only state it does not operate in is Hawaii ). Kohl 's is America 's largest department store chain by the number of stores as of February 2013 -- surpassing its biggest competitor, J.C. Penney in May 2012. In 1998, it entered the S&P 500 list, and is also listed in the Fortune 500 ( # 146 in 2012 ). The chain was the 20th - largest retailer in the United States in 2013 in terms of revenue. As of 2013, Kohl 's was the second largest U.S. department store company by retail sales. History 1940s to 1970s The exterior of a typical Kohl 's department store in Beaverton, Oregon Kohl 's in Huntington Beach, California. 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. In 1962, after building Kohl 's Food Stores into the largest supermarket chain in the Milwaukee area, Kohl opened his first department store, Kohl 's 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. The Kohl family, led by Allen and Herb Kohl, continued to manage the company. The family left the management in 1979, and Herbert Kohl became 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 A&P in 1983, 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, as part of an effort to reduce debt. In 2003, A&P closed all Kohl 's Food Stores locations. 1980s to present A group of investors led by the senior management, purchased the company consisting of 40 department stores, in 1986. The company added 27 more stores over the next two years. In 1988, the chain acquired 26 locations from Chicago - based MainStreet, gaining several stores in Chicago 's suburbs, Minneapolis - St. Paul, and parts of Michigan. Kohl 's completed its initial public offering on May 19, 1992 and began trading on the New York Stock Exchange under the symbol KSS. During the 2000s, Kohl 's expanded nationwide to 49 states. Building from 76 stores in the Midwest in 1992, Kohl 's expanded into California in 2003 with 28 new stores, the Pacific Northwest in 2006 with 10 new stores, and the Southeast with 43 new stores opening between 2005 and 2008. 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. In 2011, Kohl 's replaced Chase with Capital One as their private credit card processing partner for an undisclosed sum. In 2007, Kohl 's began selling a diffusion line from designer Vera Wang called Simply Vera. Since then, it has also sold diffusion lines from other high - end designers including Narciso Rodriguez and Peter Som. Newsweek magazine ranked Kohl 's 18th out of 500 overall and first in its industry in its 2009 `` Green Rankings '', 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. In 2008, Kohl 's started to sell reusable shopping bags. In 2012, Kohl 's was awarded 62.5 million dollars in tax credits the same year from the Wisconsin Economic Development Corporation. The retailer was to create 3,000 jobs with the funds, but only created 473. In the same year, Kohl 's requested financing from Menomonee Falls, Wisconsin to finance the building of a new headquarters in the municipality. Kohl 's received 2 million dollars, the first of five installments that would equal a total payout of 12 million dollars, and then backed out of the transaction. In 2015, Kohl 's opened a test store built around selling only returned, yet as new clothing, home goods, jewelry, and accessories. The store, called Off / Aisle by Kohl 's, sells items at a marked down price. The stores have a restrictive return policy different from regular Kohl 's stores. In 2017, Lauren Conrad launched a line of affordable swimwear at Kohl 's. 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. '' Stores Kohl 's uses a `` racetrack '' aisle that circles the entire store, a technique borrowed from discount stores. In 2011, Kohl 's announced plans to remodel 100 of its 1,100 locations. Changes included redone store sections, fitting rooms, and newer merchandise displays. In 2012, a consumer investigation by CBS News discovered that Kohl 's had engaged in the practice of marking up products in the weeks before a sale in order to make products appear as if they were being sold at discounted prices and artificially inflating the amount of the price mark - down. Private brands Kohl 's private brands, which include Sonoma, Croft & Barrow, and Apt. 9 generate nearly half of the firm 's $19 billion in annual sales. Kohl 's has plans to re-launch and reimagine the billion - dollar Sonoma brand for apparel and home goods. Croft & Barrow, men 's and women 's clothing and shoes. Apt. 9, clothing and shoes for young men and women Sonoma ( since 1994 ), casual clothing and shoes for men, women, and children American Beauty, men 's and women 's patriotic clothing Tony Hawk, boys ' clothing and shoes Urban Pipeline, ( since 2006 ), casual clothing and shoes for men and boys Daisy Fuentes, women 's clothing and shoes Jumping Beans, baby, toddler and young children 's clothing and shoes Tek Gear, active and athletic clothing, accessories and shoes for men, women, and children So, women 's and girls ' clothing and accessories, swimwear, sleepwear, shoes Mudd Jeans, women 's and girls ' clothing and jeans Candie 's, women 's clothing and accessories Marketing In 2009, Kohl 's hired New York City advertising agency DeVito / Verdi to strengthen the Kohl 's brand via a series of national television and online / social media campaigns. One of the brand campaigns featured American professional athletes. References ^ Jump up to : Kohl 's Fact Book ( PDF ), Kohl 's, 2016, retrieved November 26, 2016 ^ Jump up to : `` KOHLS Corp 2013 Annual Report Form ( 10 - K ) '' ( XBRL ). United States Securities and Exchange Commission. March 21, 2014. Jump up ^ `` Max Kohl ''. NNDB. Retrieved February 8, 2017. Jump up ^ `` The Immigrant Learning Center '' Kohl ``. Retrieved February 8, 2017. Jump up ^ `` Kohl 's 50th Anniversary Sale Round - up + Coupon & Kohl 's Cash - AL.com ''. blog.al.com. September 12, 2012. Retrieved March 24, 2016. Jump up ^ `` Kohl 's Corporation SEC 10K / A Filing ''. Kohl 's. September 13, 2011. Jump up ^ `` Fortune 500 2012 : Fortune 1000 Companies 101 - 200 ''. CNN. Jump up ^ `` Top 100 Retailers ( 2012 ) ''. National Retail Federation. Archived from the original on 2014 - 07 - 13. Jump up ^ `` Top 100 Retailers ''. National Retail Federation. Retrieved July 12, 2014. Jump up ^ Daykin, Tom ( June 13, 2002 ). `` 1st Kohl 's supermarket to be next Lena 's ''. Milwaukee Journal Sentinel. Archived from the original on June 28, 2002. Jump up ^ `` Kohl 's Q4 2013 FactBook ''. Kohl 's. Retrieved May 25, 2014. Jump up ^ Stafford, Roger A. ( October 28, 1972 ). `` Kohl Buyer Provides Backing for Growth ''. Milwaukee Sentinel. p. 6, Part 2 -- via Google News. Jump up ^ `` Control of Kohl Corp. Sold To British - American Unit ''. The Wall Street Journal. October 30, 1972. p. 15. ( Subscription required ( help ) ). Alternate Link via ProQuest. Jump up ^ `` Kohl Family to Drop Ties to the Kohl Unit Of BAT Industries Ltd ''. Wall Street Journal. May 2, 1979. p. 41. ( Subscription required ( help ) ). Alternate Link via ProQuest. Jump up ^ `` A. & P. to Acquire Kohl 's From Batus ''. The New York Times. August 16, 1983. Jump up ^ `` Batus Food unit acquired by A&P ''. WWD. 146 ( 63 ). September 29, 1983. p. 8. A&P Wednesday finalized its purchase of Kohl Food Stores, Milwaukee - based division of Batus Retail Division. Link via ProQuest. Jump up ^ `` Local Kohl 's Food Stores up for sale ; Copps buys Madison stores ''. Milwaukee Business Journal. February 25, 2003. Jump up ^ Kohl 's Q4 2013 FactBook. Kohl 's. p. 6. Retrieved May 25, 2014. Jump up ^ `` A&P to close area Kohl 's Food Stores ''. Milwaukee Business Journal. June 13, 2003. Jump up ^ `` Kohl 's ' Driving Force ' On the Road to Buyout ''. The New York Times. May 26, 1986. Jump up ^ `` Campeau Sells Unit to Kohl 's ''. The New York Times. October 29, 1988. Jump up ^ Randle, Wilma ( February 22, 1989 ). `` Kohl 's to expand MainStreet ''. The Chicago Tribune. Retrieved October 1, 2009. Jump up ^ `` Investor Relations - FAQ ''. Kohl 's. Archived from the original on May 25, 2014. Retrieved May 25, 2014. Jump up ^ `` Kohl 's Corporation Announces Initial Public Offering Of Common Stock ''. PR Newswire ( Press release ). May 19, 1992 -- via The Free Library. Jump up ^ Kohl 's Q4 2013 FactBook. Kohl 's. May 24, 2014. p. 11. Jump up ^ `` Kohl 's Agrees to Sell Credit Card Business ''. The New York Times. March 7, 2006. Jump up ^ Douglas, Danielle ( April 10, 2011 ). `` Capital One wins deal to back Kohl 's credit cards ''. The Washington Post. Jump up ^ `` Vera Wang to design line just for Kohl 's ''. USA Today. The Associated Press. August 24, 2006. Jump up ^ Wong, Jada. `` Narciso Rodriguez Is Doing A Diffusion Line For Kohl 's ''. Styleite.com. Archived from the original on April 22, 2014. Retrieved April 22, 2014. Jump up ^ Leibowitz, Laura ( September 6, 2013 ). `` Peter Som Kohl 's Line Will Be The Next Fast - Fashion Collab To Get All Our Money ''. The Huffington Post. Jump up ^ McGinn, Daniel ( September 21, 2009 ). `` Greenest Big Companies in America -- The 2009 List ''. Newsweek. Archived from the original on June 25, 2010. Retrieved July 21, 2010. Jump up ^ `` Green Ranking - Kohl 's ''. Newsweek. Archived from the original on September 25, 2009. Retrieved July 21, 2010. Jump up ^ DeFour, Matthew ( June 20, 2015 ). `` WEDC made 27 awards totaling $124.4 million without proper review ''. Wisconsin State Journal. Retrieved June 23, 2015. Jump up ^ Daykin, Tom ( November 21, 2013 ). `` Kohl 's drops plans for new headquarters building ''. Milwaukee Journal Sentinel. Retrieved June 23, 2015. Jump up ^ Romell, Rick ( May 20, 2015 ). `` Kohl 's will test off - priced store for returned merchandise ''. Milwaukee Journal Sentinel. Jump up ^ `` Not A Drill : Lauren Conrad Launched Her First Swim Collection ''. Retrieved 2017 - 09 - 28. Jump up ^ Kuriloff, Aaron ( January 22, 2017 ). `` How Often Does a Stock Fall 19 % in One Day ? Not Very Often ''. The Wall Street Journal. Retrieved January 23, 2017. Jump up ^ Epmeier, Bill ( June 2, 2009 ). `` A ' racetrack : ' would it work for supermarkets ? Store Equipment & Design Find Articles at BNET ''. Findarticles.com. Archived from the original on September 11, 2009. Retrieved October 9, 2009. Jump up ^ `` Kohl 's unveils new look at Burlington store ''. Boston Globe. March 25, 2011. Archived from the original on October 29, 2011. Jump up ^ `` ConsumerWatch : Investigation Finds Kohl 's Sale Prices Are n't Always A Deal ''. CBS News. February 22, 2012. Jump up ^ Wahba, Phil ( March 10, 2016 ). `` Kohl 's Stakes its Turnaround on Relaunch of Top House Brand ''. Fortune. Retrieved March 31, 2017. Jump up ^ `` Who makes Urban Pipeline clothing ? ''. Reference.com. Retrieved March 31, 2017. Jump up ^ `` Kohl 's - `` Lindsey Vonn '' ``. AdForum. Retrieved June 26, 2016. Jump up ^ O'Leary, Noreen ( November 28, 2012 ). `` Kohl 's Confirms Media Agency Review ''. Adweek. Retrieved June 26, 2016. External links Kohl 's official website Kohl 's corporate website Business data for Kohl 's : Google Finance Yahoo ! Finance Reuters SEC filings Kohl 's Brands Abbey Dawn Adidas American Beauty Apt. 9 Candie 's Carter 's Chaps Cooking with Calphalon Cuisinart Daisy Fuentes Dana Buchman Dockers Dyson Elle Contemporary Collection Food Network Hang Ten Jennifer Lopez Collection Jumping Beans KitchenAid Marc Anthony Collection Mudd Jeans Rock and Republic Sonoma Tony Hawk Clothing Urban Pipeline Simply Vera Vera Wang People Herb Kohl Major companies based in Milwaukee Allen - Bradley A.O. Smith Brady Corporation Briggs & Stratton Harley - Davidson Joy Global Kohl 's Koss Magnetek ManpowerGroup Marcus Corporation Miller Brewing Company Northwestern Mutual Quad / Graphics Rockwell Automation Former A.F. Gallun & Sons Blackhawk Chain Belt Company Firstar John Pritzlaff Hardware Company Journal Media Group Marshall & Ilsley Midwest Airlines Nordberg Manufacturing Company Pfister & Vogel The Great Atlantic & Pacific Tea Company Inactive banners A&P Fresh Best Cellars / A&P Wine & Spirits Food Basics Waldbaum 's A&P Canada A-Mart Dominion Family Mart Farmer Jack Food Basics Canada Pantry Pride ( Richmond, Virginia ) Futurestore Kohl 's Food Stores Miracle Food Mart Plus Sav - A-Center Super Fresh Canada SuperPlus Food Stores Ultra Food & Drug Warehouse Economy Outlet People Evelyn Adams Emmett Ashford Richard F. Colburn Bill Corbus Michael J. Cullen Jimmy Duncan E. LeBron Fairbanks George Gilman Edward V. Hartford George Huntington Hartford George Ludlum Hartford Huntington Hartford John Augustine Hartford Christian W.E. Haub Bill McEwan Produce Pete Steve Peters Floyd James Thompson Products Bokar Coffee Eight O'Clock Coffee Quaker Maid Red Circle Coffee Former facilities A&P Warehouse A & P Food Stores Building Great Atlantic and Pacific Tea Company Warehouse Related `` A&P '' The A&P Gypsies Bark Pepsi 400 Presented by Farmer Jack Great Atlantic & Pacific Tea Co. v. Supermarket Equipment Corp. John A. Hartford Foundation New Community Corporation Supermarket Superstar Tengelmann Group Woman 's Day British American Tobacco Subsidiaries Current Bentoel Group ( 85 % ) Pakistan Tobacco Company P.J. Carroll & Company Souza Cruz Bigott Nobleza Piccardo Ceylon Tobacco Company House of Prince Imperial Tobacco Canada Former Integrated Batus Inc. Brown & Williamson Murray, Sons and Company Rothmans International Sold Allied Dunbar British American Racing The Crescent Cunliffe - Owen Aircraft Eagle Star Insurance Farmers Insurance Group Frederick & Nelson Gimbels Kohl 's Marshall Field 's Brands Current Alain Delon Belinda Benson & Hedges Caballero Carroll 's Craven A Cutters Choice Derby du Maurier Dunhill Everest Free HB Hollywood Kent Kim King 's Kingsway Kool Jadran Lucky Strike Mantano MS North State Pall Mall Parisienne Peter Stuyvesant Player 's Prince Ritz Rothmans State Express 555 Sweet Afton Teddy Tekel Viceroy Vogue Winfield Former Elita People Hugo Cunliffe - Owen James Buchanan Duke Sir Joseph Hood, 1st Baronet Jan du Plessis Nicandro Durante Richard Burrows Other Export House Integrated into other British American Tobacco subsidiaries or business entities. Commons Retrieved from `` https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Kohl%27s&oldid=817546685 '' Categories : 1962 establishments in Wisconsin British American Tobacco Clothing retailers of the United States Companies based in Milwaukee Companies listed on the New York Stock Exchange Department stores of the United States Retail companies established in 1962 The Great Atlantic & Pacific Tea Company Hidden categories : All articles with dead external links Articles with dead external links from September 2017 Articles with permanently dead external links Articles with dead external links from October 2016 Pages containing links to subscription - only content Use mdy dates from February 2017 Articles containing potentially dated statements from February 2013 All articles containing potentially dated statements Talk Contents About Wikipedia Deutsch فارسی Français Bahasa Indonesia Português Suomi Svenska Edit links This page was last edited on 29 December 2017, at 02 : 44. Text is available under the Creative Commons Attribution - ShareAlike License ; additional terms may apply. By using this site, you agree to the Terms of Use and Privacy Policy. Wikipedia ® is a registered trademark of the Wikimedia Foundation, Inc., a non-profit organization. About Wikipedia

Question: what type of store is kohls considered to be
Answer: American department store retailing chain