Sears Goes Coast to Coast with Tool Territory

This year, Sears will more than double the number of stores with "Tool Territory." In 2001, 155 stores nationwide will open this innovative tool department, which offers Craftsman and 72 other brands, as well as tool experts and interactive displays, in a customer-friendly environment. Introduced in 13 stores in 1999, Tool Territory was added to 136 stores in 2000, principally in the northeast and midwest.

"We're covering a lot of ground with Tool Territory -- in a very short time. And, it's a result of the consumer's acceptance of this format. By the end of this year, Tool Territory will be featured in more than one-third of our 860 full-line stores," said George Kurkowski, Sears national marketing manager for Tool Territory. "We introduced it in Virginia and Connecticut, then we expanded it throughout the Boston area and the Great Lakes region. Now, we're taking Tool Territory cross-country -- from New York to Seattle."

Tool Territory departments average about 10,000 square feet in size and feature a wide variety of well-known brand names, including Craftsman, Stanley, Makita, DeWalt, Delta, Fluke and Estwing -- 18,000 tools in all. Special sections are devoted to carpentry, woodworking, mechanics, and general-purpose tools, as well as specialty power tools for lawn/garden use. Sears tool experts, who are tradespeople and experienced do-it-yourselfers, are available to provide advice, and answer product and project questions. Additional product information is available on the Internet at http://www.sears.com/tool territory .

"Sears goal is to be the tool authority -- America's complete tool store," adds Kurkowski. "But, we also want Tool Territory to be a fun place to shop. Staffed by friendly and knowledgeable associates, we provide a clean, attractive, well-organized shopping environment. Our lighthearted ads, some of which feature Bob Vila, call it a 'playground for men' -- acknowledging that tools are more of a 'guy thing.' Judging by the response from women, however, everyone enjoys shopping at Tool Territory."

Tool Territory, "where tools rule," officially will open in the following markets:

  -- Florida (including Ft. Myers, Jacksonville, Tampa/Sarasota and Orlando
     areas)
  -- New York (including upstate New York, Brooklyn, Rego Park, Staten
     Island, White Plains and Long Island areas)
  -- Pennsylvania (including greater Philadelphia and other areas)
  -- Delaware (including Wilmington area)
  -- New Jersey (including Wayne, Hackensack, Woodbridge and other stores in
     northeastern New Jersey)
  -- Georgia (Brunswick)
  -- Washington (including Seattle area)
  -- Oregon (including Portland area)
  -- Idaho (Boise)
  -- Virginia (including Washington, D.C. area and northern Virginia)
  -- Maryland (including Washington, D.C. area and Baltimore)
  -- West Virginia (Martinsburg)

Sears, Roebuck and Co. is a leading U.S. retailer of apparel, home and automotive products and services, with annual revenue of more than $40 billion. The company serves families throughout the country through approximately 860 department stores, approximately 2,100 specialized retail locations, and a variety of online offerings accessible through the company's Web site, http://www.sears.com/ .

                                FACT SHEET
                         TOOL TERRITORY AT SEARS

  -- Tool Territory is Sears innovative new tool department, which offers
     Craftsman and 72 other brands -- including Stanley, DeWalt, Makita,
     Delta, Fluke and Estwing -- 18,000 tools in all.

  -- Sears goal is to be the tool authority -- America's complete tool
     store.

  -- For customer convenience, Tool Territory offers interactive displays,
     as well as tool experts -- tradespeople and experienced do-it-
     yourselfers -- who can provide advice, and answer product and project
     questions.  It also offers a clean, attractive and well-organized
     shopping environment.

  -- Introduced in 13 Virginia and Connecticut Sears stores in 1999, Tool
     Territory opened in 136 stores in 2000, primarily in the Boston area
     and Great Lakes region.

  -- In 2001, Tool Territory is being introduced to 155 additional Sears
     stores across the country.

  -- By the end of 2001, Tool Territory will be in more than one-third of
     Sears 860 stores nationwide.

  -- 2001 grand-opening markets:
    -- Florida (including Ft. Myers, Jacksonville, Tampa/Sarasota and
       Orlando areas)
    -- New York (including upstate New York, Brooklyn, Rego Park, Staten
       Island, White Plains and Long Island areas)
    -- Pennsylvania (including greater Philadelphia and other areas)
    -- Delaware (including Wilmington area)
    -- New Jersey (including Wayne, Hackensack, Woodbridge and other stores
       in northeastern New Jersey)
    -- Georgia (Brunswick)
    -- Washington (including Seattle area)
    -- Oregon (including Portland area)
    -- Idaho (Boise)
    -- Virginia (including Washington, D.C. area and northern Virginia)
    -- Maryland (including Washington, D.C. area and Baltimore)
    -- West Virginia (Martinsburg)

Tool Territory's ad campaign highlights the fun and interactive features of the new tool department -- calling it a "playground for men." Bob Vila, the popular home-improvement expert and spokesperson for Craftsman tools, is featured in several of the ads.

Additional product information is available on the Internet at http://www.sears.com/tool territory .

SOURCE: Sears, Roebuck and Company

Contact: Carol Simantz, 847-692-6311, or Larry Costello, 847-286-9036,
for Sears, Roebuck and Company

Website: http://www.sears.com/tool territory

Website: http://www.sears.com/