Beginning this spring, customers will enjoy their first taste of Sears Essentials, with the opening of 25 Sears Essential stores. This new mid-sized, off-mall store format, which will leverage the best of Sears along with convenience-inspired items, is a result of the acquisition of 50 Kmart and six Wal-Mart stores finalized in the third quarter of 2004. 

“Sears Essentials will lead the way as we embark on the most aggressive growth initiative in company history,” said Sears Chairman and CEO, Alan Lacy.  “This new store format enables Sears to grow its brand off-mall and better meet the everyday needs of our customers.”

Based on customer response to the merchandise assortments at Sears Grand, Sears Essentials will offer Sears’ product categories that are integral to home and family life, such as appliances, lawn and garden, tools, electronics, apparel, and home fashions along with routinely purchased convenience items, such as health and beauty, pantry, household and paper products, pet supplies, and toys.  The name Sears Essentials, which resonated with customers in research conducted during the name selection process, conveys the important role that Sears plays in homes and families across the country, as well as the everyday solutions the store will provide.

Mid-sized Sears Essentials joins Sears Grand, Sears' large-size off-mall format, to provide more customers a more convenient shopping location and experience.  Like Sears Grand, Sears Essentials will have a one-level, "open racetrack" floor plan with exit cashiering near the door.  The smaller format will deploy the Sears Grand learnings in a way that is closer to the customer and fits in more densely populated markets. Specific product assortments will be tailored to meet the local demographics.