Interim Chief Executive Officer & Director, Kohls
Search every verified Michael Bender interview, podcast appearance, and on-the-record quote — each transcript cross-checked by AI and human review to confirm speaker identity. On Kohl's Q1 2025 earnings call, Bender stated that the company's performance was ahead of expectations and that early actions are showing positive impact. He highlighted a 10% increase in jewelry sales driven by Kohl's card customers and described Sephora at Kohl's as a "huge success," noting the launch of over 1,100 shops and a nearly $2 billion beauty business. Bender also announced a private offering of $360 million in senior secured notes, secured by 11 distribution centers, and said that following this refinancing, Kohl's nearest debt maturity is not due until 2029. Bender attributed gross margin improvement to a mix benefit from proprietary brands, stating that for every 100 basis points of penetration improvement, margins improve by 10 to 15 basis points. He emphasized inventory management as a key enabler for margin growth. Regarding tariffs, Bender said the company's global sourcing team has diversified production countries, and based on current actions, Kohl's believes it can achieve its financial guidance for the year. He also noted a phased approach to changes in coupon eligibility, with early reads showing a positive customer response.
“Kohl's has a substantial opportunity to better serve our customers every day, build long-term financial health, and deliver shareholder value.”
“Our first quarter performance was ahead of our expectations and the actions we're taking are making progress with early signs of positive impact.”
“In Q1, we saw a strong response to our jewelry business with jewelry sales up 10% in the quarter driven mainly by our Kohl's card customer.”
“Sephora has been a huge success for Kohl's and in just four years we successfully launched over 1100 Sephora at Kohl's shops and built nearly a 2 billion beauty business.”
KSS Q1 2025 Earnings Report - Michael Bender.
Sign in to search the full transcript archive, filter by topic, and access every quote from Michael Bender.