ABOUT THIS COMPANY

ABOUT THIS COMPANY

Based in Menomonee Falls, Wisconsin, Kohl's is a family-oriented discount department store offering moderately priced national and private brand apparel, shoes, accessories and home products. Through alliances with top merchandisers such as Nike and Levi's, Kohl's are able to offer labels not normally seen in stores of its kind. Kohl's focuses on speed and efficiency, simplifying the shopping experience by making aisles wider, carrying fewer brands and offering centralized checkout counters throughout its stores. As of January 2005, the company operates 637 stores in 40 states, most of which are located in the Midwest.

In the beginning

Max Kohl opened his first department store in Milwaukee in 1962, selling equal amounts of apparel and household goods. With the assistance of retail expert William Kellogg, Kohl begins developing the Kohl's concept of finding the middle ground between discount stores and more fashionable department stores. In 1978, Kohl's Corporation becomes wholly owned by the BATUS Retail Group, a subsidiary of British-American Tobacco Company. While owned by BATUS, Kohl's expands from 10 to 39 stores throughout Wisconsin, Illinois and Indiana. BATUS split up the company's department store and food operations and later sold the food stores to A&P.

In 1986, BATUS made the decision to sell the Kohl's department stores since its discount reputation didn't fit in with the rest of its retail operations. The company is purchased by a group of investors led by Kohl's senior management, including CEO William Kellogg. That same year the company opens its 40th store.