There are many department stores out there for shoppers to choose from but one that has strong brand recognition is Kohl’s. Kohl’s has been around since 1927 and has become more popular over the years. This department store has a large customer base both in-store and online, and many suppliers want in on this customer base. However, getting products into Kohl’s stores or on their website is not an easy task. Here we have put together a guide to make this process easier.
How To Become A Kohl’s Supplier
Show Your Interest
The first step in becoming a Kohl’s supplier is simple, show them you are interested in filling out a Supplier Registration Form. This form can be found on Kohl’s Become A Supplier Page on their website. Kohl’s partners with Jagger Network as a database to connect to potential buyers. The registration form you will fill out will create a Jagger account if you don’t already have one. It is important to note that creating a Jagger account does not guarantee you will do business with Kohl’s, but their buying team does review the registered suppliers and reaches out if they are interested.
To create an account, you will be directed to a form asking you for essential information about your company. This will include the following:
- Legal Company Name
- Tax ID
- Duns Number
- Employer Identification Number
- Contact Info
After you have submitted your registration form and created an account, your supplier profile will remain in the directory. Whenever a Kohl’s buyer is searching for new products, they will go through these supplier profiles and reach out to you if they are interested.
Phone
You can also try reaching Kohl’s buying department by phone. Call their corporate office and ask to speak with someone in the appropriate buying department. If you are not able to reach them by phone, you may be able to leave them a detailed voicemail or ask for their name and contact information.
- Phone: 262-703-7000
- Phone: 414- 355-9137
If you were able to get a buyer’s email address from the method above, you can not sit down and put together a well-thought-out email. Craft your email with all of the important information about your company and products. Be sure to include a high-quality product catalog showing off your selection. You can also email Kohl’s at KohlsSuppliers@Kohls.com with your inquiry about becoming a supplier.
Regular Mail
You can also try reaching them the old school way, by mail. Put together a letter introducing yourself and your company; include facts about your selection and capabilities. Print out your product catalog and send this along with your introduction letter. Send this package to the Kohl’s Corporate office addressed to their buying department.
Corporate Headquarters
N56 W17000 Ridgewood Drive
Menomonee Falls, WI 53051
KOHL’S Corporate Office
11300 W Heather Ave
Milwaukee, WI 53224
Once you have tried all of these methods, all you can do is wait to hear back from their buying department.
What Happens Next?
If you do hear back from a buyer, they will first want to know more about your company and the products that you offer. Common topics will include:
- Size of product selection
- Inventory Management System
- Manufacturing
- Integration Capabilities
Integration
After you speak with a buyer, they will decide whether or not they want to move forward with you as a supplier. If they do select to bring you on as a supplier, you will move on to the integration phase. Suppliers can integrate with Kohl’s via EDI or XML document format transfers.
Kohl’s EDI or XML Integration
To create an EDI integration with Kohl’s, you will need to have an existing Kohl’s account and a CommerceHub account. You will first need to configure their settings and then their shipping mapping method. Finally, you can complete the CommerceHub EDI Testing. You can use SellerCloud to help with your integration process to Kohl’s.
Once you have completed the integration process for whichever option you elect to use, you will have to complete some testing to ensure everything will work properly once you go live. After the testing has been completed CommerceHub will move your account to production.
Order Processing
Vendors can make their order processing easier by using SellerCloud. Kohl’s orders automatically download into SellerCloud. This integration runs with scheduled tasks via DSCO API plugins that are generic for any DSCO integration.
Shipping and Inventory
To ensure that all orders are shipped as they should be with the correct shipping method, Kohl’s communicates the required shipping method via codes. Vendors must ensure that all shipping methods are correctly mapped for incoming and outgoing codes. Inventory management with Kohl’s is also automated with SellerCloud. Vendors can update inventory and the Kohl’s prices for the items they sell.
Right On Tech Solutions
After a new vendor has completed all initial setup and integrations, their products will go live on Kohl’s website, and they will begin to receive orders. At Right On Tech, we understand the challenges vendors like yourself deal with, and we’re here to help! We have created solutions to help you stay ahead of your competition on this and other selling platforms. Contact Us for more information.
