Two Motor City Auto Dealers Convert Former Dealerships Into Sears Auto Center Franchises

HOFFMAN ESTATES, Ill., Feb. 23, 2011 /PRNewswire/ -- Sears Authorized Independent Auto Centers LLC has announced the opening of two new franchises with a pair of veteran Detroit-area auto dealers.  The Galeana Auto Group location in Warren, Mich., and the Century Sales location in Taylor, Mich., are the latest additions to the growing Sears Auto Center franchise family. The program was created by Sears Automotive in October 2009 to give dealers a chance to transform their dealerships into automotive service businesses and continue serving their communities.  All Sears Auto Centers franchises are backed by the buying power, distribution network and corporate support of one of America's most iconic brands.

"Carl Galeana and Colleen McDonald exemplify the character and business structure we search for in potential franchisees," said Joe Finney, president of Sears Automotive. "These auto industry veterans have turned negative situations into opportunities for their businesses, former employees and communities. As Sears Auto Center owners, they will continue to deliver quality products and services to customers that trust them and know them by name."

Colleen McDonald, president of Century Sales, opened the doors to her new Sears Auto Center franchise last week at 13500 Telegraph Road in Taylor. The same space was home to McDonald's Century Dodge dealership for 30 years. McDonald has earned several posts and honors including being named the first female president of the Detroit Chevrolet Dealers Association and winning a Crain's "40 under 40" award.

At 7830 Convention Boulevard in Warren, Carl Galeana, president of Galeana Auto Group, hosted grand opening festivities on Feb. 10, just months after he was forced to shut down his Saturn dealership in the same location. Galeana has more than four decades of experience in the auto business and owns additional dealerships in Michigan, Florida and South Carolina. He is the former president of the Detroit Auto Dealers Association and was recently appointed as one of the few Fiat dealers in the United States.

The new Sears Auto Center franchise locations will provide the same products and services for automobiles, light trucks and motorcycles that are currently available at the nearly 850 company-owned Sears Auto Centers. Those products and services include:

• An extensive tire selection, including brands such as Michelin®, Goodyear®, BF Goodrich®,  Bridgestone® and more
• Batteries from DieHard®, America's most preferred automotive battery
• Maintenance and repair services for consumer and commercial fleets, including oil changes, alignments, shocks, brakes, coolant/antifreeze, air conditioning, transmissions, fuel system cleaning and more
• Custom wheels, car care products, truck boxes, fluids, floor mats, DieHard battery chargers, DieHard portable power, XCargo® carriers and more

In addition to traditional products and services, Sears announced a new program last week at the 2011 NADA Convention & Expo that provides even more support for dealer franchisees.  Sears has partnered with CNA National to equip Sears Auto Center franchisees with premier automotive warranty options for their pre-owned vehicle customers. The new program includes two options: Sears Automotive Limited Warranties sold with every certified vehicle and Sears Automotive Protection Plans for extended mechanical breakdown coverage.

About Sears Authorized Independent Auto Centers LLC

Sears Authorized Independent Auto Centers LLC offers automobile dealers the opportunity to operate licensed Sears Auto Centers, bringing the Sears brand, buying power, distribution network, systems and corporate support to automotive aftermarket businesses.  Sears Auto Center franchise locations provide the same products and services for automobiles, light trucks and motorcycles that are currently available at the nearly 850 company-owned Sears Auto Centers.  Sears Authorized Independent Auto Centers LLC, a wholly-owned subsidiary of Sears Holdings Corporation and an affiliate of Sears, Roebuck and Co., has its principal offices at 3333 Beverly Road, Hoffman Estates, Illinois 60179. For more information, visit www.searsautofranchise.com.

About Sears, Roebuck and Co.

Sears, Roebuck and Co., a wholly owned subsidiary of Sears Holdings Corporation (NASDAQ: SHLD), is a leading broadline retailer providing merchandise and related services. Sears, Roebuck offers its wide range of home merchandise, apparel and automotive products and services through more than 2,300 Sears-branded and affiliated stores in the United States and Canada, which includes approximately 929 full-line and approximately 1,200 specialty stores in the U.S.   Sears, Roebuck also offers a variety of merchandise and services through sears.com, landsend.com, and specialty catalogs. Sears, Roebuck offers consumers leading proprietary brands including Kenmore®, Craftsman®, DieHard and Lands' End® -- among the most trusted and preferred brands in the U.S. Sears, Roebuck is the 2010 ENERGY STAR® Retail Partner of the Year. The company is the nation's largest provider of home services, with more than 12 million service calls made annually. For more information, visit the Sears, Roebuck website at www.sears.com or the Sears Holdings Corporation website at www.searsholdings.com.

SOURCE Sears, Roebuck and Co.