They are refusing to sponsor any events.
Kohl’s, a department store giant based in Milwaukee, has announced its decision not to sponsor any events associated with the Republican National Convention (RNC) in the city this summer, where Donald Trump is expected to be officially nominated as the party’s presidential candidate.
A spokeswoman for Kohl’s stated to CNBC that the company does not align itself with any political affiliations or donations and will not be sponsoring or participating in any specific RNC events. Instead, Kohl’s supports the business community through its involvement with the Metropolitan Milwaukee Association of Commerce.
The convention, scheduled to take place from July 15 to 18, is anticipated to draw approximately 50,000 attendees to Milwaukee, culminating in Trump’s anticipated acceptance of the party’s nomination on the final evening.
This announcement comes at a time when both Republicans and Democrats are seeking corporate support for their respective party conventions, amidst a backdrop where many prominent brands are opting to distance themselves from political involvement.
While companies like Fiserv, among Wisconsin’s Fortune 500 entities, are planning direct sponsorship of the convention, others like ManpowerGroup and Kohl’s are not. ManpowerGroup indicated that it is supporting the nonprofit Milwaukee 2024 Host Committee through donations to the Metropolitan Milwaukee Association of Commerce, rather than directly funding the RNC.
Although Kohl’s has not financially supported either the Republican or Democratic conventions for over a decade, its absence from the list of Republican convention sponsors is notable, especially considering the importance convention organizers have placed on Wisconsin-based companies’ involvement.
This decision by Kohl’s coincides with the company’s renewed focus on navigating a competitive retail landscape. While striving for a turnaround, Kohl’s aims to leverage its suburban store locations, particularly amidst the closure of numerous Macy’s stores. However, despite efforts to attract younger consumers by expanding offerings such as Sephora and Babies R Us shops, Kohl’s has faced challenges, with recent stock declines reflecting missed financial targets.
