Kohls, as part of a broad effort to distinguish itself from rival department stores, is expected to announce Wednesday a multiyear deal with the publisher of Elle magazine to design and sell an exclusive line of Elle-branded womens clothing.
The clothes, which will be stocked at 300 Kohls stores this spring and will be sold chainwide by 2008, will include jeans, Capri pants, shorts, skirts, dresses, woven and knit tops, and jackets aimed at 25- to 35-year-olds. Prices will generally be in the middle range of what is found in a Kohls department store, with dresses priced at $40 and coats at $30, for example.
The agreement follows exclusive deals that the Menomonee Falls, Wis., retailer has signed with designer Vera Wang to produce midprice clothing and Food Network to sell its branded kitchenware.
Other stores are also working on exclusive lines. Rival J.C. Penney Co. is developing two new proprietary apparel brands with Liz Claiborne Inc., and Macys parent Federated Department Stores Inc. has an exclusive line of Martha Stewart housewares in the works.