New Holiday Survey Reveals Party Prep Is The Pits As Hosts Spend More Time In The Kitchen Than With Guests

HOFFMAN ESTATES, Ill., Nov. 14, 2013 /PRNewswire/ -- From holiday cooking disasters to proper party etiquette, holiday events often prove to be a point of stress during what should be the happiest time of the year. Turns out that that hosts tend to spend more time in the kitchen rather than visiting with guests. According to a recent Kenmore brand holiday survey, Americans spend five hours in the kitchen preparing food and drink and cleaning up for their holiday parties.

"Even the most experienced hosts could use a bit of help around the holidays," said Michael Castleman, president, Kenmore, Craftsman and DieHard and SVP of Sears Holdings. "The Kenmore brand offers appliances to maximize efficiency, provide more capacity and deliver the best results to make the holidays not only a little less hectic, but also more enjoyable."

The survey also found that 65 percent of people cite prep activities such as cleaning the house, decorating, cooking or finalizing the holiday menu as the activities they need most help with during the holidays. For holiday help, they can look to double-duty appliances that do more in less time. The Kenmore Elite® 30" Electric Double Oven Free Standing Range offers two large ovens that work independently of each other for greater cooking convenience. With 3.5 cu. ft. space in each oven, two large dishes can be baked at different temperatures simultaneously to prevent overcooking items such as turkeys and roasts.

Guest Stress?
Holiday hosts aren't the only ones with party prep issues. According to the Kenmore survey:

• 85 percent of Americans have struggled to find a unique gift for a holiday party host and often arrive with no gift. Eliminate unnecessary stress with a little sensibility.
• 79 percent of Americans prefer a practical gift that they could use in their home beyond the holidays over a trendy novelty gift.

Think useful gifts that add to the party atmosphere, such as a Kenmore Elite 6-Speed Blender accompanied with a favorite holiday cocktail recipe and a few ingredients. With its multi-speed feature, this blender can be used long after the holidays from springtime soups to icy summer treats. While shopping for the perfect hostess gift, don't forget to treat yourself. Join the Shop Your Way Network for exclusive deals and earn points toward the top items on your wish list.

Eliminate Post-Party Depression
The party may end, but the night is not over for the hostess. Cleaning up after guests is such a hassle that 83 percent of people have entirely avoided making certain foods because of the extensive cleanup. With  the Kenmore Elite 24" Built-In Dishwasher with 360 PowerWash™ Plus Technology designed with Turbozone™ rotating spray jets, one doesn't need to forfeit the favorites as this washer leaves no dish behind and no spot untouched. At 39 decibels, it's the quietest Kenmore dishwasher ever, averting disruptions of sugarplums fairies dancing in sleeping guests' heads.

In addition, the survey also finds that clean up isn't confined to typical places in the home. According to the survey, 61 percent of people have found party leftovers in strange locations including under the couch (35 percent) and under the bed (10 percent). The Kenmore Elite Upright Vacuum Cleaner picks up where guests leave off.  This upright vacuum features a powerful inducer motor which provides most power suction** to pick up dirt, spilled holiday nut mix and crushed holiday cookies.

To find ways to make your holiday a little easier or to find the perfect gift this season visit Kenmore.com. In addition, you can also share your craziest and funniest holiday Tested Tales using the hashtag #TestedTales. Stories of a relative's re-gifting escapades or reaction to a burned turkey and tales in between are welcome.

To put a new spin on your holiday meals visit cookmore.com, the unique Kenmore recipe sharing website. Browse hundreds of recipes or add your own. In addition, anyone who enters a recipe on cookmore.com will automatically become a Shop Your Way member and be able to take advantage of all of the points, perks and privileges of this free membership.

*Methodology: The Kenmore Survey was conducted by Wakefield Research (www.wakefieldresearch.com) among 1,000 representative U.S. adults ages 18+, between October 11^th and October 16^th 2013, using an email invitation and an online survey. Quotas have been set to ensure reliable and accurate representation of the U.S. adult population.  

About Sears Holdings Corporation
Sears Holdings Corporation (NASDAQ: SHLD) is a leading integrated retailer with almost 2,500 full-line and specialty retail stores in the United States and Canada and the home of Shop Your Way, a social shopping experience where members have the ability to earn points and receive benefits across a wide variety of physical and digital formats through ShopYourWay.com. Sears Holdings is the leading home appliance retailer as well as a leader in tools, lawn and garden, fitness equipment and automotive repair and maintenance. Key proprietary brands include Kenmore, Craftsman and DieHard, with a broad apparel offering, including such well-known labels as Lands' End, the Kardashian Kollection, Jaclyn Smith and Joe Boxer, as well as Sofia by Sofia Vergara and The Country Living Home Collection. We are the nation's largest provider of home services, with more than 14 million service and installation calls made annually, and have a long-established commitment to those who serve in the military through initiatives like the Heroes at Home program. We have been named the 2011 Mobile Retailer of the Year, Recipient of the 2013 ENERGY STAR® " Partner of the Year - Sustained Excellence Award" for Product Retailing and Energy Management and was named one of the Top 20 Best Places to Work for Recent Grads. Sears Holdings Corporation operates through its subsidiaries, including Sears, Roebuck and Co. and Kmart Corporation. For more information, visit Sears Holdings' website at www.searsholdings.com. Twitter: @searsholdings || Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/SHCCareers

About the Kenmore Brand
The Kenmore Brand is an industry leader in delivering trusted performance in the home with smart and stylish appliance innovations that help consumers do things quicker, easier and better. Recognized as a top appliance brand for nearly 100 years, the Kenmore Brand continues to give consumers more time, efficiency and better results for better living with industry-leading products across small and large appliance categories. The brand also introduced the Kenmore Craftsman Live Brand Experience -- an interactive space in the heart of Chicago equipped to stream innovative experiences and events live online via the Kenmore brand's Facebook page.  For more information, log on to www.kenmore.com or www.facebook.com/kenmore.

**Among Leading Brands of Upright Vacuum Cleaners.  Rated Based on ASTM F558 measuring air wattage at the end of the hose.

Media Contacts:
Larry Costello
Sears Holdings Corp.
(847) 286-9036
Larry.Costello@searshc.com

Heather Ribeiro
Zeno Group for Sears
(312) 396-9754
Heather.Ribeiro@zenogroup.com

SOURCE Sears Holdings Corporation