Kohl's 2001 Annual Report Download - page 4

We carefully plan every new store and market entry,
investing early in new distribution centers so they are ready
to support new stores as they open. New market entries
are supported by extensive advertising and promotions
to educate our new customers on the Kohl’s concept of
brands, value and convenience. We enter each new market
with a critical mass of stores that enables us to leverage
marketing, regional management and distribution expenses.
Management information systems are an important
element in the infrastructure that supports our continued
growth. Whether it’s making transactions more customer
friendly, increasing the accuracy and efficiency of our
distribution centers, or managing the thousands of
details for our assortment planning, key item and
advertising programs, our systems provide the framework
for our success. These sophisticated systems help
to maintain our low-cost culture by providing the
information we need to make the right merchandising
decisions and improve our operating efficiencies.
More Brands, Value and
Convenience
While our infrastructure supports our success, our
merchandising model is the catalyst that keeps
customers coming into our stores. It, too, is consistent
in its execution, centering on more brands, more
value and more convenience.
We remain focused on national brands, which are highly
recognized by customers across the country. Recent
additions, including Nine & Company and Oshkosh,
further enhance Kohl’s appeal to customers seeking
moderately priced items for their home and family.
Our Get It! key item program provides basic items that
drive volume, while our table & tower program
enhances the shopping experience with creative gift
and seasonal ideas.
Convenience at Kohl’s continues to mean easy access,
ample parking, in-stock merchandise, an efficient store
layout and fast check-out. We further expanded Kohl’s
focus on convenience in 2001 with the introduction of
online shopping at www.kohls.com. Kohl’s customers
are now able to order the same merchandise at the same
great value from the convenience of their home.
Talented People
The credit for our success belongs to our talented and
dedicated Associates. It takes great people in our stores,
distribution centers and corporate office to deliver the
consistently strong performance that Kohl’s has achieved
over the last ten years. Our extensive training, management
development and succession planning programs are
designed to facilitate our growth and develop our future
leaders. We continue to promote people from within
the organization, and bring new talent to Kohl’s as well.
The executive management team was strengthened in
2001 with the promotions of Beryl Buley to executive
vice president – stores, Patti Johnson to executive vice
president – chief financial officer and Rick Schepp to
executive vice president – general counsel. In addition,
Don Brennan joined us this year as executive vice
president – planning and allocation.
A Bright Future
As we celebrate ten years as a public company, it is
rewarding to look back and see how far we have come.
In 1992, we had a vision to become a leading national
retailer. That vision is quickly becoming a reality as our
expansion to the west gives us a coast-to-coast presence.
But we are far from finished. Kohl’s is still in its infancy,
with many more markets offering the right
demographics for our successful concept of brands,
value and convenience. We also have opportunities to
expand our presence and increase market share in the
locations we already serve. We are confident in our
strategy and excited about our future as we continue
our expansion across the U.S.
We would like to thank our Associates, shareholders,
customers and vendors for their many contributions
in growing Kohl’s to where it is today. Together,
we look forward to achieving many more milestones in
the years ahead.
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Larry Montgomery
Chief Executive Officer
Kevin Mansell
President
Arlene Meier
Chief Operating Officer