In February, Kohl's executives said they expected $1bn in online sales in 2011, and the retailer's Q1 results indicate it's on track to achieve that goal. E-commerce sales totaled $187m in the quarter that ended April 30, 2011, a 47-percent increase over the same period last year. Overall, Kohl's net sales were $4.2bn for the first quarter, up 3.1 percent from the previous year, with a modest comp store sales increase of 1.3 percent.
A portion of the digital bonanza is coming from a somewhat unlikely location: within Kohl's brick-and-mortar stores. Kiosks installed chainwide in 2010 accounted for $30m in sales during the 2010 fall season, according to CFO Wesley McDonald. Kohl's has thrown significant support behind its online sales efforts, including the planned opening this summer of a third fulfillment center devoted to e-commerce. The Edgewood, Md., facility will join the Monroe, Ohio, and San Bernardino, Calif., center, which opened last year.
