Kohl's To Open Amazon Shops Inside Illinois Stores

While some brick and mortar stores are closing up shop thanks to competition from online retailers like Amazon, one big-box store is partnering with the internet giant. Kohl's announced on Wednesday that it will open Amazon stores inside locations in the Chicago and Los Angeles areas.

While Kohl's didn't say which locations will be home to the new Amazon boutiques, it did say 10 stores will offer "Amazon smart home spaces" where shoppers can purchase Amazon devices, accessories and smart home services directly from Amazon.

The 1,000-square-foot smart home spaces will sell Amazon Echo, Echo Dot, Amazon Fire TV and Fire tablets. "The experience will showcase how smart home products – many powered by Alexa – can modernize and simplify home management, entertainment, security and more," Kohl's said in a news release. "The Amazon smart home experience at Kohl’s will allow customers to touch, feel and interact with Amazon devices before they buy."

Michelle Gass, Kohl’s chief merchandising and customer officer, said Amazon and Kohl's "share a customer obsession and we’ve joined together to leverage each other’s strengths and deliver a great experience customers can only find at Kohl’s.” (Get Patch real-time email alerts for the latest news for Chicago — or other neighborhoods. And iPhone users: Check out Patch's new app.)

Dave Zimmer, vice president of sales and marketing for Amazon Devices, said the smart home spaces are a way for customers to try out Alexa-enabled devices and buy directly from Amazon. "Teaming up with Kohl’s provides an incredible opportunity to pair world-class customer and shopping experiences," Zimmer said in a statement.

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The new Amazon home spaces will open at 10 Chicago- and Los Angeles-area Kohl's locations starting in October.

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