Shipment Packaging Requirements

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Shipment Packaging Requirements
This section details Kohl’s shipment packaging requirements, including carton requirements, internal packing
materials, special handling, and e-fulfillment center packing. Detailed explanations are provided for Kohl’s pack types:
Bulk, Prepack, and Pack-by-Store. Master Pack packing technique is also explained.

Table of Contents
Requirement Page Number

Carton Requirements 2

Heavy Carton Labeling Requirements 2

Internal Packaging Requirements 3-4

Special Packing Guidelines 4-6

Pack Type Definitions 6

DC Order Consolidation 6

E-Fulfillment Packing 6-7

Carton Labeling 7

Palletization 7

Shipment Packing Requirements Appendices List

SP-1 Cardboard Bridge for Fine Fabrics
SP-2 GS1-128 Label Requirements
SP-3 Pallet Label Requirements for Live Unload Shipments
SP-4 DC Order Consolidation
SP-5 Landed and Direct Import Carton Marking Requirements
SP-6 Private Brand Special Shipment Packing Requirements
SP-7 Private Brand Leather Garment Packing Requirements
SP-8 Private Brand Bundling and Shipment Pack Types
SP-9 Private Brand Odd Lot Shipment Policy
SP-10 Private Brand Men’s Blazer and Sport Coat Packing Requirements
SP-11 Private Brand GS1-128 Label Ordering
SP-12 E-Commerce Packaging Requirements
SP-12.1 E-Commerce Inner Pack Label Requirements
SP-13 Multiple PO Compound Packs Letter to Vendors
SP-14 Carton Liner Requirements
SP-15 Large Carton Requirements

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CARTON REQUIREMENTS

Carton Weight and Dimensions:

With the exception of single selling units that exceed these measurements, all cartons are required to be within these
parameters:

Carton Weight Maximum: 40 lbs. (equal to 18.1 kilograms)

Minimum: 3 lbs. (equal to 1.4 kilograms)

Carton Dimensions Maximum: 36” Long x 26” Wide x 26” High

92 cm Long x 66 cm Wide x 66 cm High

Minimum: 12” Long x 9” Wide x 3” High

30 cm Long x 23 cm Wide x 8 cm High

General Carton Requirements:

 Cartons must be constructed of corrugated cardboard with a minimum bursting strength of 200 lbs. per square
(14.062 kg/cm2). If you have packaging alternatives to corrugate, contact vendor services for approval. Cartons
can be new or repurposed. Any additional bar codes or print on repurposed cartons must be covered or disabled
so they do not interfere with the scanning of the GS1-128 label or other DC processing activities. All cartons must
adequately protect product during transit and DC processing
 Seal cartons with reinforced security tape that is moisture and temperature resistant
 Do not seal cartons with bands, straps, staples, twine, glue or any closure material other than tape
 Use the correct size carton for the merchandise; do not over- or under-pack cartons
 Cartons must be wide enough to allow apparel and hangers to fit squarely in the carton
 If packing small items, consider master packing in order to use larger cartons
 When applicable, cartons should be marked in BOLD lettering, “Fragile”, “Do Not Freeze”, “Melt Risk,” etc. (i.e.
glassware, cosmetics, candles)
 When stenciling cartons, leave a free space on the lower right quadrant of the longest side for the GS1- 128 label
 See Appendix SP-2: GS1-128 Label Requirements

HEAVY CARTON REQUIREMENTS

Carton Labeling Requirements:

 Cartons that weigh 50 lbs or more must have a yellow 4” x 6” label stating the following:

TEAM LIFT
CAUTION
HEAVY/BULKY FREIGHT
LIFT CAREFULLY

 Place the team lift label in the lower left quadrant of the carton, to the left of the GS1-128 label if applicable
 This label is only suitable for merchandise which is too bulky to meet our maximum weight guidelines
 See Appendix SP-15: Large Carton Requirements for cartons weighing more than 100 lbs

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INTERNAL PACKAGING REQUIREMENTS
Poly Bag and Carton Liner Requirements:
 The below requirements apply to any product shipped in poly bags or carton liners
 Packaging intended for use on the selling floor is not required to meet the poly bag or carton liner requirements
 The use of poly bags is not required; they should only be used if needed to ensure product arrives to Kohl’s in
saleable condition.
 E-Commerce purchase orders should be individually poly bagged and follow the poly bag requirements detailed in
Appendix SP-12 E-Commerce Packaging Requirements
 Child safety warning is still required on all packaging intended for the selling floor

Poly Bag and Carton Liner Requirements

Material Clear polyethylene material (PE) with no BHT
Weight: 0.00075 to .00125 inches or 0.019mm to 0.032mm
This is a recyclable material
Carton Liner A carton liner is a poly material that lines the entire inside of the carton before garments are
Definition packed inside. The liner provides protection for the garments while eliminating the need for
individual poly bags. A carton liner must follow the material requirements listed on this
page. Refer to Appendix SP-14 Carton Liner Requirements for more detail.
Poly bag Definition A poly bag is a poly material that is used as a bag to protect individual hanging and folded
& Requirements garments. All poly bags must be perforated for ease of removal (see diagram pg 5).
 Individual poly bagging must be approved by FloorReady@kohls.com
 One large poly bag may be used to protect all hanging and folded garments packed
within one carton
 A poly bag is the preferred method for packing inner pack quantities transmitted on
Import Bulk orders and Inner Prepack orders
 Poly bags must be 6 to 12 inches longer than the garment(s)
 The large poly bag may be used in place of a carton liner
Sealing A single piece of tape or heat seal may be used; however, sealing is not required for store
purchase orders. Sealing is required on all E-Commerce purchase orders (IE & EC PO
types).
Marking A child safety warning is required on all poly bags and carton liners 9” x 12” or larger
Requirement Recommended verbiage:
"Warning: To avoid danger of suffocation, keep this plastic bag away from babies and
children. Do not use this bag in cribs, beds, carriages or playpens. The plastic bag could
block nose and mouth and prevent breathing. This bag is not a toy."
Exceptions Sweaters: may use single poly bag for heavily embellished, high loft chenille or cashmere
sweaters
Embellished Knit Tops: may use single poly bag and tissue
Delicate Fabrics: may use single poly bag, tissue and cardboard bridge to minimize wrinkles
in sateen, micro fiber, chenille, velvet, leather or suede garments
Hanger The following are hanger packing requirements for hanging garments:
Requirements  Hangers may be anchored if needed to the one or two sides of the carton to prevent
shifting in transit
 When using carton liners, hanger hooks do not need to be exposed
 When using poly bags, hanger hooks need to be exposed
Garment Vendor is responsible for product arriving in saleable condition. Saleable condition is
Presentation defined by Kohl’s as acceptable for floor presentation upon receipt, including but not limited
to wrinkle-free and damage-free. If the below Garment Presentation guidelines may
compromise your garment presentation, contact FloorReady@kohls.com
Supplier Vendors may use poly bag or carton liner supplier of their choice

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Poly Bag and Carton Liner Requirements Continued

Garment Presentation
Shipment Type
Inner Pack of One (1)
If inner pack as defined on
PO transmission is one (1)
Folded Hanging
Bulk Prepacks Bulk Prepacks
Use a carton liner or Use a carton liner or one Use a carton liner or one Use a carton liner or one
one large poly bag for large poly bag for the large poly bag for the entire large poly bag for the entire
the entire carton entire prepack quantity carton quantity prepack quantity
quantity * (see exception below)

Inner Pack of Two (2) Only use one poly Only use one poly bag Use one poly bag per inner Use one poly bag per inner
bag per inner pack; per inner prepack; do pack; do not use a carton prepack; do not use a carton
or More do not use a carton not use a carton liner liner liner
liner
If inner pack as defined on
the PO transmission is two
(2) or more

* In the event that product needs to be separated into multiple poly bags to ensure garment presentation and
cannot be divided evenly, the number of units per poly bag should be kept as even as possible, using as few
poly bags as possible. Any questions about this exception can be directed to FloorReady@Kohls.com

SPECIAL APPAREL PACKING GUIDELINES

Follow the below guidelines when shipping apparel of a fragile nature and/ or apparel that requires special packing to
maintain presentation expectations.

 Carton Packing:
 Lay garments head to toe in the carton, alternating the direction of the garments as needed
 There should be no more than one horizontal fold per garment when packed
 Fold as close to the bottom of the garment as possible
 Vertical folding is acceptable if necessary to accommodate the garment width
 Fold as close to side seams as possible
 Do not place garment into the carton in a wrinkled manner, as the wrinkles will become permanent in transit
 Follow Kohl’s carton dimensions guidelines as stated on p. 2 of this section
 The carton should be only 1” to 1 ½” wider than the size of the hanger
 Hangers must fit squarely in the cartons (not at an angle)
 Adjust your carton length and height according to the size of the pack
 A cardboard bridge may be used in the carton to remove some of the pressure on garments in the bottom half
of the carton
 See Appendix SP-1: Cardboard Bridge for Fine Fabrics

 Hangers:
 Use 584 sweater hangers in place of 484 top hangers when needed to prevent hanger marks
 Only Kohls approved paper loops are an acceptable means to bind / secure hangers together where
necessary – some examples of unacceptable means to bind / secure hangers together are rubber bands,
tape and plastic twist ties, or any means that ties the hangers together – please contact your vendor services
representative for any questions
 Apply Kohl’s designated program hangers
 Hangers may be anchored to the internal sides of the carton when needed to prevent garments from shifting
in transit
 Two-Piece Sets:
 Insert bottoms hanger through the off-set loop on the tops hanger
 Apply crown sizer to the top hanger only
 Three-Piece Sets:
 Follow the above two-piece directive
 Attach third garment hanger to the two-piece set using connector 9916N
 Apply crown sizer to the top hanger only

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Perforations

Figure 1: Garment Bag for Bottoms Figure 2: Garment Bag for Tops, Coats or Dresses

Internal Packaging
Paper loops to secure hangers
Bubble wrap
Acceptable Corrugated cardboard wrap
Cardboard dividers
Dunnage or paper stuffing for books
Using tape or rubber bands on hangers
Tying hangers together
Tissue (unless directed by buyer or product manager)
Pins, plastic clips or tie backs (unless directed by buyer or product manager)
Unacceptable
Packing peanuts
Shredded paper
Strapping on outer cartons
Inserting anything between a garment and a pinch clip hanger (ie: cardboard, fabric)

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SPECIAL PACKAGING GUIDELINES

Shoe Packing:
 Pack shoes with the label end facing the top of the carton
 All boxes must face the same direction
 If packing an empty shoebox to fill space, write “EMPTY” on the shoebox in large print
 Apply suppressed retail price tickets to the same end of the shoebox as the preprinted barcode

Special Handling Freeze/Melt Issues

 Label cartons containing product that may freeze, melt or easily break with a special warning label, i.e.
“Freezable”, “Fragile”, “Melt Risk”

Shipment Packing: DC/All Store Shipments

 Pack each carton with one purchase order only
 Pack shipments to the same level of detail as the purchase order is written
 All shipment types require GS1-128/SSCC-18 carton labels and human readable information stating the contents
of each carton

PACK TYPE DEFINITIONS

Bulk (B) pack type:
 Pack one UPC/SKU (one style, color, size combination) per carton
 Mixed SKU cartons are prohibited on bulk shipments
 Direct import orders must follow inner pack/outer pack instructions transmitted on the PO EDI

Prepack (M) pack type:

 Prepack definition = pre-determined ratio of multiple UPCs/SKUs set by the buyer and transmitted on the EDI
purchase order
 The EDI purchase order directs the number of prepacks to pack in each carton
 The EDI purchase order carries prepack level data and line item data
 Packing information for private brands via Li & Fung is on the objective sheet or PLX information

Pack-by-Store (“PBS”) pack type:

 Units are assigned to a particular store
 Multiple UPCs/SKUs may be packed in the same carton
 Total units per carton may vary per store needs
 PBS does not apply to Kohl’s Direct Imports/Private Brands

DC ORDER CONSOLIDATION
 Bulk and/or Pack by Store (PBS) orders that are too small to meet the minimum size and weight carton
requirements may be consolidated into a larger carton at the PO/DC level
 DC order consolidation may be used in combination with cartons that meet Kohl’s minimum carton requirements
 Master cartons should be labeled with a GS1-128 carton label with the phrase “MASTER PACK” in place of the
SSCC-18 barcode
 Each inner pack within the master carton must be individually GS1-128 labeled
 Store number must be on the GS1-128 label for Pack-by-Store shipments
 Master pack cartons must not exceed Kohl’s maximum carton dimension and weight requirements
 Master packing does not apply to Kohl’s Direct Imports/Private Brands
 See Appendix SP-4: DC Order Consolidation

E-FULFILLMENT PACKING
Shipment Packing: E-Fulfillment Center (DCs 870, 806, 816, and 826)
 Follow all carton requirements and packaging directives in this section and in the Floor Ready section
 Apply retail ticket per Kohl’s preticket guidelines
 Do not apply hangers to apparel
 Pack shipments solid style, solid color and solid size to a carton
 Pack product in individual poly bags with child warning
 Kohl’s logo poly bags are no longer accepted for E-Commerce shipments

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 Place small gum price label in the center of the poly bag
 Carton size parameters for the E-Fulfillment Center:
Maximum Size: 36” x 26” x 26” or 92 cm x 66 cm x 66 cm
Minimum Size: 12” x 9” x 3” or 30.5 cm x 23 cm x 8 cm
 Apply GS1- 128/SSCC-18 ship label to each carton
 See Appendix SP-12: E-Commerce Packaging Requirements

CARTON LABELING
Inner Carton Markings
Inner carton marking must:
 Be PO specific
 List the style number, color and size (if applicable)
 Include the total number of units contained within the inner carton

GS1-128 Label
 Label each carton with a GS1-128 carton label
 See Appendix SP-2: GS1-128 Carton Labeling Requirements, which includes barcode testing information, label
format information and label placement information

CARTON MARKING
 Carton markings are required for all Import and Landed orders
See Appendix SP-05: Landed and Direct Import (Including Private Brand) Carton Marking
Requirements
 Carton markings are not required for Domestic orders. If included, carton markings for Domestic orders must
match GS1-128 label and purchase order detail.

PALLETIZATION
Palletization Guidelines
 Live unload shipments must be palletized
 Drop shipments must be floor-loaded
 Any shipment tendered to a carrier on pallets must be labeled at the carton level and must also follow the
unitization and pallet marking guidelines listed below
 Each pallet should contain only one purchase order
 If the PO quantity is small, additional POs may be placed on the same pallet
 Guidelines for shipping multiple POs on a pallet:
 Use a cardboard divider between layers to separate the POs
 Note that there are multiple POs on the pallet label
 List the PO numbers on the pallet label
 Do not stack the combination of pallets and freight higher than the trailer door
 Use standard 48” x 40” x 4” pallets, with no loose or broken boards

Pallet Markings
 Place a label on all four sides of the pallet on the outside of the shrink wrap
 Do not use a GS1-128/SSCC-18 label to label the pallet
 In bold legible print, list the following information on the label:
 Kohl’s DC number and address
 Kohl’s purchase order number(s)
 Number of cartons on the pallet per purchase order
 Pallet sequence number
 See Appendix SP-3: Pallet Label Requirements for Live Unload Shipments

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Private Brand Vendors: Please review the shipment packing appendices for your channel:
SP-6 Private Brand Special Shipment Packing Requirements
SP-7 Private Brand Leather Garment Packing Requirements
SP-9 Private Brand Odd Lot Shipment Policy
SP-10 Private Brand Men’s Blazer and Sport Coat Packing Requirements
SP-11 Private Brand GS1 - 128 Label Ordering
SP-12 E-Commerce Packaging Requirements
SP-12.1 E-commerce Inner Pack Label Requirements
SP-13 Multiple PO Compound Packs Letter to Vendors
SP-14 Carton Liner Requirements

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