The mass merchant said its active brands returned to growth in the second quarter, led by low-double-digit gains from its FLX and Tek Gear owned brands, and improving sales from Nike, Skechers, Columbia and Eddie Bauer. Back-to-school categories also got a call out, with backpacks, kids’ footwear and boys’ and girls’ apparel said to be well-positioned. Work remains to be done, however, as KSS hasn’t yet turned the corner on its active business, though it believes the category is helping out in other areas, for example in junior women’s.

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