Sears Brings Bosch Laundry to Its Stores

Sears, Roebuck and Co. and Bosch home appliances have announced the addition of Bosch front-loading Nexxt® Laundry and Axxis® Laundry to Sears' appliance offerings in stores nationwide. ENERGY STAR®-qualified Axxis and Nexxt Laundry complete the eco-friendly Bosch line-up at Sears.

"We are very pleased that Sears, a retailer of Bosch appliances for nearly 10 years, is now offering our award-winning Nexxt Laundry and our compact, stackable Axxis Laundry," said Michael Traub, Bosch president and CEO. "Now Sears has become a one-stop destination for consumers seeking premium Bosch kitchen appliances and the advanced laundry care that front-loading Bosch machines offer."

Nexxt Laundry

Bosch Nexxt Laundry combines efficiency, quietness and gentle care to get clothes cleaner than previously imagined. Through the SENSOTRONIC Plus™ system, Nexxt washers digitally analyze load size, temperature and more, and then adjust levels to gently clean everything from wool to silk. The washers' exclusive Archimedic or "Archie" paddles have a special curved shape to create better, gentler lifting and tumbling for superior garment movement, water distribution and saturation for all fabric types. And the smooth, stainless steel horizontal drum eliminates the agitator that can be so rough on clothes, allowing users to machine wash even delicate items, such as cashmere and lace.

Unlike washers that operate on timers, Nexxt washers have thermostats that monitor and automatically adjust the water to precisely the right temperature for thorough cleaning and superior energy efficiency. To gently dry clothes, Nexxt Dryers blow a high volume of air at lower temperatures to prevent damage from over-drying.

Like the renowned Bosch dishwashers, Nexxt washers and dryers are engineered to be extremely quiet in operation making them perfect to place near bedrooms, second floor laundry closets and other living spaces. For example, Nexxt washers combine a virtually silent brushless motor, low-friction belt drive and special housing for additional sound insulation. In fact, Bosch offers the quietest washer and dryer pair on the market.

"This is the kind of outstanding and innovative product that consumers demand," said Steven Light, vice president and general manager of Home Appliances for Sears Holdings. "Sears is the only place you can find the top eight brands, including Bosch, and we're dedicated to bringing the most innovative products to our stores from each of those brands and manufacturers."

Available at Sears in 300, 500 plus and 800 Series models, Nexxt Laundry offers families advanced clothing care options such as the KIDSCARE™ program, which reaches 150 degrees Fahrenheit to easily remove tough stains. In both the Nexxt 500 plus and 800 washers, the "Jeans" program is specifically designed to care for denim, utilizing cold water to prevent fading and a specialized spin cycle to avoid creases. The 800 Series offers the additional "Comforter" program, which thoroughly soaks and cleans a comforter or down-filled clothing, without causing damage to the articles.

All Nexxt Washers not only exceed the strict 2008 ENERGY STAR requirements, they meet the 2011 requirements, as well. The exclusive ECOACTION™ option on select washers further heightens energy efficiency by up to 20% -- with just the simple push of a button. In addition, the dryer's exclusive ECOSENSOR™ feature uses less energy to dry clothes than conventional dryers, by adjusting the temperature based on the moisture level.

Attesting to their quality, Nexxt Washer and Dryer models are backed by the Good Housekeeping Seal, which offers consumers a 2-year limited warranty in addition to the standard manufacturer's warranty. In addition, Nexxt 500 plus and 800 Series models most recently won the 2008 Gold Excellence in Design Award and 2007 Platinum Award for Design Excellence (ADEX) from Design Journal.

Bosch Nexxt Laundry is available in a variety of color options including silver, white and duo-tone options of silver/white, champagne/white, blue/white and red/white. The MSRP ranges from $799 to $1,299 for washers and $799 to $1,059 for dryers.

Axxis Laundry

Axxis® Laundry is a powerhouse in a compact, stackable and efficient package -- perfect for high-rises or homes looking to save much-needed space as well as energy, water and money. In fact, Bosch's new 24" Axxis washer offers the largest capacity in its class at 3.4 cubic feet, which can accommodate up to 14 pair of jeans. The versatile Axxis Condensation Dryer does not require any ducting or venting, which allows it to be installed in closets or other interior spaces.

The Axxis Laundry system features a uniquely structured drum with steep edges to ensure that the most heavy-duty jobs are handled efficiently. Paired with the new curved and asymmetric agitator paddles in the washer, clothes are treated gently as the water cascades down like rain. Ensuring the most precise and efficient results, the Logixx™ control system automatically determines revolutions per minute, number of rinses, soak time and spin speed for every fabric selection, while the new touch controls make the overall operation easy-to-use. The Axxis line ranges from $949 to $1,349 for the washers and $749 to $1,099 for the dryers.

About Bosch

Bosch home appliances are part of BSH Bosch and Siemens Home Appliance Group, the third largest appliance manufacturer in the world. Inspired by the lifestyle of today's discerning consumers, all Bosch products combine efficiency, quietness, and quality with unrivaled ease of use. Opened in 1997, the company's appliance park in New Bern, North Carolina is comprised of state-of-the-art factories for washers, dryers, dishwashers, ranges, ovens and cooktops. Known worldwide for raising standards in efficiency and quietness, Bosch is the only US manufacturer with entire product lines of ENERGY STAR® qualified dishwashers, washers and refrigeration. Bosch appliances regularly receive industry and consumer awards. In fact, Bosch dishwashers have earned the highest ranking in J.D. Power and Associates' Major Home Appliance Customer Satisfaction Study for two consecutive years. For more information, please visit http://www.boschappliances.com/ or call 800.921.9622 to request a catalog. Nexxt®, Axxis®, ECOACTION™ and ECOSENSOR™ are trademarks of BSH Home Appliances Corporation, all rights reserved.

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 2,400 Sears-branded and affiliated stores in the United States and Canada, which includes approximately 926 full-line and 1,100 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. The company is the nation's largest provider of home services, with more than 13 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/.

First Call Analyst:
FCMN Contact: Megan.Faulkner@eurorscg.com

SOURCE: Sears, Roebuck and Co.

CONTACT: Cira Pittman, +1-310-552-4194, cpittman@rogerspr.com, or
Roberta Silverman, +1-310-552-4133, rsilverman@rogerspr.com, both of The
Rogers Group for Sears, Roebuck and Co.

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