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

      Galeana and McDonald Continue to Serve Detroit-Area Communities

    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
http://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
http://www.sears.com or the Sears Holdings Corporation website at
http://www.searsholdings.com.


SOURCE Sears, Roebuck and Co.



 

 


 

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

 http://www.searsholdings.com

  

 
Company News On Call: http://www.prnewswire.com/comp/923204.html

  

 
CONTACT: Larry Costello of Sears Holdings, +1-847-286-9036,
 larry.costello@searshc.com