Sears Kicks Off 2003 Holiday Shopping Season

More than 378 million pounds of merchandise -- equivalent to two fully loaded aircraft carriers -- are on their way to Sears stores across the country to stock shelves and racks for the holiday shopping season.

Sears is helping customers celebrate the holidays with exclusive gift items, leading national brands, great values and easy-to-shop stores. From the innovative Craftsman® Laser Trac® Level for home decorators and do-it- yourselfers alike to a wind-stopping, rain-defying Lands' End Marinac™ jacket of soft, warm fleece -- there are great gift ideas down every aisle.

In addition to having great gifts, Sears' "Buy Online, Pick-up In Store" option is a popular way to shop for the holidays -- accounting for more than 40 percent of online orders. And online shopping is easier at a redesigned sears.com with improved navigation and expanded product information. Shoppers coming into the store will have a great experience as well -- 115 Sears' stores have been remodeled over the last 10 months.

From tools to cookware, electronics to apparel, and game tables to appliances, Sears has gift ideas for every member of the family with a broad range of merchandise and exclusive brands, such as Craftsman, Kenmore® and DieHard®.

Sears is stocked to meet customer demand for popular gift categories, such as DVD players. Sears has tripled its inventory of DVD players from last year, including personal player and recordable models at significantly lower prices. Sears also has the hit DVD "Finding Nemo", a gift that pairs well with a Disney portable DVD player complete with carrying bag and two sets of headphones, and is available only at Sears this holiday.

  What else is new at Sears this season?
  -- Lands' End apparel is in all 870 Sears' stores, including the hot-
     selling Marinac™ jacket for $49.50 and the versatile All-Weather
     Moc™ shoes for only $29.50.
  -- Sears' toy section is expanded through a partnership with KB Toys,
     including a growing line of My First Craftsman™ toys and building
     kits, starting at $9.99.
  -- Available only at Sears through the holidays, the Fisher digital
     CameraCorder is only 5 ounces and small enough to fit in the palm of
     your hand.  It performs as both a 3.2 megapixel digital camera as well
     as a real-time DVD recorder for $899.
  -- Sears has enhanced its apparel offering, including exclusive brands
     like Covington® Canyon River Blues®, Apostrophe® and Lucy Pereda
     (in selected stores), as well as national brands such as Levi's, Lee,
     First Issue, Hanes, Dockers, Mudd, l.e.i., Nike, Sketchers and
     HealthTex.
  -- Sears has several exclusive models of electronic gifts for children,
     including the Disney Mini Sew from Mattel at $39.
  -- Sears has doubled the number of Plasma and LCD televisions it carries,
     with prices about half of last year.
  -- Sears, the nation's number one retailer of treadmills, has new models
     of fitness equipment, including the new aromatherapy treadmill from
     NordicTrack at $999.

  About Sears

Sears, Roebuck and Co. (NYSE: S) is a broadline retailer with significant service businesses. In 2002, the company's revenue was $41.4 billion. The company offers a wide range of apparel, home and automotive products and services to families in the U.S. through Sears stores nationwide, including approximately 870 full-line stores. Sears also offers a variety of merchandise and services through its websites, sears.com and landsend.com, and a variety of specialty catalogs.

SOURCE: Sears, Roebuck and Co.

CONTACT: William B. Masterson of Sears, Roebuck and Co.,
+1-847-286-2304

Web site: http://www.sears.com/