Kohl's is a lot more than a diamond in the rough. The mid-priced department store chain has carved out a place for itself by aggressively striking deals with designers to sell exclusive lines of merchandise.

Since posting its best quarterly results ever last period, the retailer has announced an agreement with Elle magazine for a clothing line and inked a footwear deal with skateboarding legend Tony Hawk. In the fall, the Menomonee Falls, Wis.-based company will also introduce a line by high-end designer Vera Wang.

Kohl's said it remains committed to bringing new fashions into its stores more quickly, allowing the company to stay trendy, which is good news for customers and investors.

Perhaps that's why same-store sales jumped nearly 9 percent in January and analysts expect double-digit growth in earnings and revenue this year.