Sears Offers $5,000 for Funniest Holiday Gift Stories
World's Funniest Gift Contest is Centerpiece of Sears Campaign to Help Shoppers Step Out of (the Return) Line
Everyone has at least one funny holiday gift story that gets retold every December. Whether it's inadvertently giving a vegetarian a meat-lover's cookbook or receiving a lawnmower when you live in a high rise, most consumers nationwide have either given or received a humorous gift.
This holiday season, those memorable stories could be worth $5,000. Sears, through the Sears "World's Funniest Gift You Returned" contest, is seeking the funniest gift return tale. The national contest kicks off the Sears Gift Card campaign to help shoppers step out of (the return) line. To add to the kickoff, Sears will donate $1 for every entry received to the American Red Cross.
Step Out Of (the Return) Line Campaign
To help shoppers give better gifts, Sears has teamed with gift-giving expert Lucy Pereda, host of the nationally-acclaimed Hispanic television program "En Casa de Lucy," to create easy gift-giving tips. Pereda's tips include devising a plan to ensure seasonal sanity and creating unconventional cards to personalize whatever you give, be it a present or a gift card.
"No matter if those you love are dreaming of chainsaws, charm bracelets or children's apparel, giving gift cards ensures they'll get just what they want," Pereda said. "Sears Gift Cards also take the hassle out of holiday shopping."
Additionally, starting October 29, customers who use their Sears Card to purchase a Sears Gift Card are automatically entered into the $10,000 Holiday Giveaway Sweepstakes for a chance to win one of ten $1,000 Sears Gift Cards. Sears Gift Cards are convenient, available in $5 increments up to $500, and easy to purchase in stores, online at http://www.sears.com/ or by calling 1-866-MY-SEARS (1-866-697-3277).
Pereda will lead a panel of judges, including a nationally-recognized comedian and a Chicago media personality to determine who has the world's funniest gift return story. The winner will be selected from five finalists, who will showcase their stories in Chicago at Sears on State St. in December. The finalists will be judged on originality, creativity and humor.
How to Enter
Shoppers can enter by visiting www.sears.com/giftcardcontest , by emailing giftcards@sears.com or by dropping a note in the mail to "World's Funniest Gift You Returned" at P.O. Box 1788, Paramus, NJ 70652, by November 28, 2001. Complete with your name, address and daytime phone number, describe the funniest gift you received in 150 words or less.
Background
Sears, Roebuck and Co. is a leading retailer of apparel, home and automotive products and services, with annual revenue of more than $40 billion. The company serves families in the U.S. through Sears stores nationwide, including approximately 860 full-line stores. Sears also offers a wide variety of merchandise and services through its Web site, http://www.sears.com/ .
SOURCE: Sears, Roebuck and Co.
Contact: Tori Jenner of Edelman Worldwide for Sears, Roebuck and Co.,
+1-312-297-7506, victoria.jenner@edelman.com , or Sandy Tiberi Smolenski of
Sears, Roebuck and Co., +1-847-286-9336, stiberi@sears.com
Website: http://www.sears.com/giftcardcontest
Website: http://www.sears.com/