Just when Kohl's has been called out for having little relevance to pop culture compared with other major American retail brands, the queen of mid-range apparel chains strikes back.

Kohl's latest campaign features its best-known designer name, Jennifer Lopez, in a mock music video, "I've Got the Music In Me," that aims to make the department store chain more relevant to younger audiences. And that's not the brand's only high-profile musical duetContinue reading...

Kohl's joined Walmart and a handful of other up-and-coming masters of retailing in spreading bricks-and-mortar stores nationwide during a suburban building boom over the last quarter-century. Now, however, Kohl's real estate ambitions are waning as the mid-priced, discount-savvy soft-goods retailer deals with the effects of online retailing and slower growth overall in its physical stores.

At the same time, the Menomonee Falls, Wis.-based chain, with more than 1,100 stores coast-to-coast, is investing more heavily in its own e-tailing operation, as it faces stiffer competition from Target and the newly revamped JCPenney.

"Online is really the wave of the future, of course, where retail is moving and has been moving — especially for retailers [like Kohl's] that don't have a grocery component," Erika Maschmeyer, retailing analyst for Robert W. Baird & Co., told brandchannel. "They just don't need as many or the same size of stores now with the internet."Continue reading...

In year-end sales figures released today, US automakers post gains (first since the recession) as Toyota lags and Ford moves to second place behind GM. Lexus held off Mercedes-Benz and BMW to hang onto the top US luxury auto brand.

Apple's iPad is being embraced by the educational market for in-school use.

BitTorrent has more users than Netflix and Hulu combined.

BMW's electric hybrid sets $200K price point.

Consumer Reports sees packaging shrinking on US grocers' shelves.

GE unloads $6B worth of debt.Continue reading...

Abbott recalls millions of diabetes testing strips.

Allied Irish Banks is recapitalized by Irish government.

Apple sees acceleration in sales of its set-top TV boxes.

Beiersdorf rationalizes brand and product portfolio.

Chrysler Financial sale may stoke U.S. auto-industry recovery.

Democrats (via Nancy Pelosi) tap director Steven Spielberg to rebrand party.Continue reading...