Kohl’s Opens Sixth E-Commerce Fulfillment Center to Support Growing Digital Demand and Supply Chain Efficiencies
Investment in e-commerce fulfillment supports Kohl’s continued online demand and digital sales acceleration
Next-generation facility leverages technology and automation to drive greater supply chain efficiencies
Opening brings 400 new jobs to Columbus-area with thousands of seasonal positions during holiday peak
MENOMONEE FALLS, Wis., April 6, 2021 – Kohl’s (NYSE: KSS) today announced the opening of its sixth e-commerce fulfillment center in Etna, Ohio (10201 Schuster Way) to support the company’s continued online demand and digital sales acceleration. The 1.2 million square-foot facility is Kohl’s largest, most efficient fulfillment center and will be dedicated to processing, filling and shipping Kohls.com orders. The next-generation facility leverages automation and technology to make processing and delivering Kohls.com orders faster and more efficient. Construction of the facility began in 2019, was temporarily paused in 2020 due to the pandemic, and resumed in 2021.
“Over the past five years, Kohl’s digital sales have grown more than 100 percent. Our investment in a highly efficient sixth e-commerce fulfillment center will meaningfully grow our peak fulfillment capacity,” said Paul Gaffney, Kohl’s senior executive vice president, chief technology officer and head of supply chain. “The new facility makes Kohl's more efficient at fulfilling orders via automation and modern technology, puts Kohl’s products geographically closer to our customers, and ultimately gets our great products to our customers faster.”
As part of its strategic framework, Kohl’s is focused not only on driving top line growth, but on increasing operating margin, including end-to-end supply chain efficiencies. The new e-commerce fulfillment center supports the company’s initiatives to manage fulfillment costs at a lower level, while further leveraging stores to drive customer pickup and get closer to the customer.
State-of-the-Art Automation and Technology
The Etna, Ohio facility is equipped with state-of-the-art technology, making it three times more productive than Kohl’s traditional e-commerce fulfillment centers. By removing five touches from the full fulfillment life-cycle of an online order, orders are processed more efficiently and minimize fulfillment costs, without sacrificing accuracy.
Full-Time, Part-Time and Seasonal Positions Available
With the opening of the new e-commerce fulfillment center, Kohl’s will bring more than 400 new jobs to the Columbus-area over the next few months and plans to add thousands of seasonal positions in the back half of the year to support increased digital demand during peak seasons. In addition to an exciting, supportive work environment rooted in a culture of appreciation and opportunity, Kohl’s offers competitive wages, weekly paychecks, a free on-site wellness center for associates and their families, and an immediate 15 percent Kohl’s discount. Interested applicants should visit Careers.Kohls.com/etna or text “apply” to 24508 for information.
Robust Fulfillment Network
In response to continued online demand and digital sales acceleration, Kohl’s has invested significantly over the past several years in building a powerful omnichannel platform to deliver the ease and convenience customers are looking for. In addition to Kohl's e-commerce fulfillment centers, the company also leverages the strength of its more than 1,100 stores nationwide to fulfill Kohls.com orders. In 2020, Kohl’s stores fulfilled nearly 45 percent of digital orders through fast and free omnichannel services including Drive Up, In Store Pick Up and Ship to Store.
In 2017, Kohl’s opened its fifth e-commerce fulfillment center in Plainfield, Ind. Based on learning from that facility, Kohl’s made design improvements to drive greater speed and efficiency in order fulfillment in its sixth facility. In addition to the new Etna, Ohio facility and the Plainfield, Ind. facility, Kohl’s operates e-commerce fulfillment centers in San Bernardino, Calif.; Edgewood, Md.; Monroe, Ohio; and DeSoto, Texas.
Cautionary Statement Regarding Forward-Looking Information
This press release contains “forward-looking statements” within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. The Company intends forward-looking terminology such as “believes,” “expects,” “may,” “will,” “should,” “anticipates,” “plans,” or similar expressions to identify forward-looking statements. Such statements are subject to certain risks and uncertainties, which could cause the Company's actual results to differ materially from those anticipated by the forward-looking statements. These risks and uncertainties include, but are not limited to, risks described more fully in Item 1A in the Company's Annual Report on Form 10-K, which are expressly incorporated herein by reference, and other factors as may periodically be described in the Company's filings with the SEC. Forward-looking statements relate to the date initially made, and Kohl’s undertakes no obligation to update them.
About Kohl’s
Kohl’s (NYSE: KSS) is a leading omnichannel retailer. With more than 1,100 stores in 49 states and the online convenience of Kohls.com and the Kohl's App, Kohl's offers amazing national and exclusive brands at incredible savings for families nationwide. Kohl’s is uniquely positioned to deliver against its strategy and its vision to be the most trusted retailer of choice for the active and casual lifestyle. Kohl’s is committed to progress in its diversity and inclusion pledges, and the company's environmental, social and corporate governance (ESG) stewardship. For a list of store locations or to shop online, visit Kohls.com. For more information about Kohl’s impact in the community or how to join our winning team, visit Corporate.Kohls.com or follow @KohlsNews on Twitter.
Contact
Jackie Judkins, jacquelyn.judkins@kohls.com, 262.703.7204
