If You Shop at Kohl’s, Prepare for a “Reinvention” at 100 Stores

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For many shoppers, consistency is key. Heading into a store and knowing exactly where to find what you need is equal parts convenient and comforting, streamlining the shopping process. But for some of us, it’s exciting when retailers try something different and switch up the customer experience . Now, Kohl’s is doing just that as part of its plans to revamp store strategy, according to top executives. Read on to find out how 100 locations are playing a part in Kohl’s “reinvention.”

READ THIS NEXT: Kohl’s Won’t Let Shoppers Do This in Stores Next Month .

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Changes at Kohl’s have been ongoing in 2022, including the introduction of self-pickup for online orders and the expansion of its partnership with Sephora.

On Aug. 18, the retailer announced that Sephora shops would be opened inside all of Kohl’s stores , which total 1,165 nationwide, per The New York Times . As of August, the retailer had opened 600 Sephora shops, and 2023 will see the addition of 250 more, Michelle Gass , Kohl’s CEO, said on an earnings call . The mini makeup hubs are 2,500 square feet in size, and intended to “update, refresh and reflow stores,” according to a press release.

But this is just one component of a larger initiative to reinvent Kohl’s stores, and now, the retailer has revealed specifics on what that might look like.

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Kohl’s shoppers in Tacoma, Washington, will soon be able to experience something new , Forbes reported. In November, the retailer will open up a new concept store, which will be smaller than standard Kohl’s stores, at 35,000 square feet. Gass led a virtual tour of the store on Oct. 27, outlining changes that include an easily accessible self-pickup area, more “open sightlines,” and more inclusive and diverse mannequins.

“We’re in [the midst] of a big reinvention,” Gass said during the tour, per Forbes . “It’s all about serving the customer. The company can really be a leader in the active and casual lifestyle. There’s strategy, product and value, and there’s the experience. Thinking differently about the experience is a big part of this strategy.”

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Kohl’s announced plans for the Tacoma trial back in August, writing in a press release that the location will be “unlike any other.” Kohl’s promised a modern feel, as well as “product vignettes that tell stores across departments and brands” to help guide customers while they shop. According to Forbes , the retailer has stayed true to this vision.

“The way we have flowed the store will also look different and that’s intentional,” Gass said during the virtual tour. “What we’ve done is a different use of space, a different use of the walls. We’re really taking advantage of that space, but importantly it’s about inspiration and storytelling. What customers have told us, ‘I’m time starved, I want solutions,’ so we’re mixing brands, it’s not head to toe one brand.”

This vision also includes tailoring stores to the local community. In Tacoma, that means a closer focus on outdoor and activewear, which the retailer honed in on “based on data” from customers. According to Gass, the focus will be different in other areas of the country, particularly the South, where customers might see “a lot more summer-oriented products, swimwear, tanks.”

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According to Forbes , the Tacoma store has women’s clothing up front, with men’s toward the back, and the self-pickup area has also been reworked for convenience. The home department will house familiar brands, but offer more in terms of experience.

“One of the things that we’ve done, which is different, is we do have these vignettes to offer solutions and inspiration,” she said. “If you want, you can buy this candle and this pillow, but you can also buy things that come from our web exclusives. This is a good example of where physical and digital come together. It’s super easy.” To illustrate this, Gass noted that customers will be able to scan QR codes and order an entire display if they so choose.

An even larger diversion from the classic Kohl’s store is the relocation of the checkout area, which isn’t in the front.

“This whole area has been redesigned and it offers both the traditional associate checkout as well as self-checkout,” Gass said, per Forbes . “This is a test. It has the latest hardware and software. It’s very clean it’s very modern.” She also noted that self-checkout will have a convenient way to remove security tags—an issue that “has been a bit of a barrier” for the retail world.

READ THIS NEXT: 7 Secrets Kohl’s Doesn’t Want You to Know .

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In May 2022, Kohl’s announced plans for 100 smaller-format stores “in markets currently untapped by existing Kohl’s stores.” According to Gass, the Tacoma store will be used as a test to see what works for customers and what doesn’t before moving forward with additional locations.

She called Tacoma “an experiment” and stressed that the store is in the conceptual phase, so the additional stores might not look exactly the same.

“It’s not yet what we’ve decided to scale for those 100 stores,” she said. “We have working models that are based on the economics and experience. This was taking a white space and putting the customer first, using analytics data and saying, ‘Okay, we’re designing this store from scratch, what is possible.’”

Kohl’s Won’t Let Shoppers Do This in Stores Next Month

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Kohl’s is fairly well known for the extra steps it takes to help shoppers out. Between Kohl’s Cash, free self-pickup , and senior discounts, the department store offers ample opportunities to save time and money while shopping. But now, the retailer just announced that you won’t have access to something specific in November, which may make the shopping experience a bit inconvenient. Read on to find out what Kohl’s won’t let shoppers do in stores next month.

READ THIS NEXT: 7 Secrets Kohl’s Doesn’t Want You to Know .

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Department stores are often thought of as a bit old-fashioned, but Kohl’s has been actively catering to new customers. In August, the retailer announced plans to open additional Sephora shops at all Kohl’s stores nationwide, appealing to a “ younger and more diverse ” customer base, CEO Michelle Gass said during an earnings call.

Kohl’s also continued its eco-conscious efforts in September by providing free electronic vehicle charging at over 140 stores nationwide. Free charging was in celebration of National Drive Electric Week, spanning from Sept. 23 through Oct. 2, 2022, which is intended “to raise awareness of the many benefits of all-electric and plug-in hybrid cars, trucks, motorcycles, and more.”

The latest change, however, won’t thrill some customers—as it may limit your holiday shopping plans.

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The holidays are fast approaching, along with the biggest shopping day of the year—Black Friday. The day after Thanksgiving is typically the best day to score deals and discounts on holiday gifts, and many families have even made Black Friday shopping a part of their holiday traditions.

Some stores opt to open as early as midnight on Black Friday, which falls on Nov. 25 this year, or even on Thanksgiving itself. But according to an Oct. 11 press release, Kohl’s stores won’t be one of those retailers , as all stores nationwide are closed on Thanksgiving Day, Nov. 24, 2022.

READ THIS NEXT: Kohl’s and Gap Are Both Pulling These Items From Shelves .

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Kohl’s has been closed on Thanksgiving for the past two years, and in 2021, the retailer was successful even with the one-day closure.

“Last year, Kohl’s served millions of customers both in store and online throughout Black Friday week, and we look forward to delivering that same incredible experience to our customers again this year,” Kohl’s said in the press release, adding that holiday hours and those for “Black Friday week” will be announced at a later date.

If you absolutely need to get your shopping fix in between slices of turkey and pumpkin pie, the retailer confirmed that you can do so via Kohls.com or in the Kohl’s app.

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As reported by CBS News, closing on Thanksgiving became more popular in 2020 during the height of the COVID-19 pandemic . Closures helped not only to provide employees with much-needed time off, but also kept crowds smaller.

Like Kohl’s, Target closed its doors in 2020 and 2021, and in November last year, confirmed that stores would be closed on Thanksgiving Day “moving forward.” Best Buy—an extremely popular destination for those looking to save on big-ticket electronics —is also closed on Turkey Day for the third year in a row. JCPenney, Lowe’s, Home Depot, Macy’s, and even Walmart were closed on Thanksgiving in 2021, according to BlackFriday.com, but shoppers are still waiting on company decisions for this year’s holiday.

Other retailers take a different approach and start sales earlier than their competitors. It’s rumored that crafters will be able to shop at Michaels from 6 p.m. to 12 a.m. on Thanksgiving, per BlackFriday.com, and you might also be able to get your clothing fix at Old Navy starting at 3 p.m. Neither retailer has officially confirmed its hours for the 2022 holiday season.

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While several big chains are willing to close on Thanksgiving, few are willing to give up in-store sales on Black Friday. Standing out from the crowd is outdoor retailer REI , which will be closed on Black Friday “for good,” per an Oct. 4 press release.

The decision to close on Black Friday is part of REI’s #OptOutside movement, which “has always been about prioritizing the experience of our employees—choosing the benefits of time outside over a day of consumption and sales,” Eric Artz , president and CEO of REI Co-op, said in the release.

In addition to closing on Thanksgiving, REI has closed on Black Friday dating all the way back to 2015. Company employees are paid to spend time outside instead of working in stores, and while customers can place online orders, they aren’t processed or fulfilled until the next day.

“When we first introduced this movement, it was considered revolutionary for a retail brand, but we felt it was the right thing to do for our members and employees,” Artz said. “Making Opt Outside an annual observance will serve as a yearly reminder of this commitment to doing the right thing for the co-op community.”