Sears Kenmore® Genuine Parts Make Sweet Music in Nashville Launch

Sears, Roebuck and Co. (NYSE: S) announced Tuesday the launch of Kenmore® Genuine Parts, providing do-it-yourselfers with quality parts for repairing and maintaining home appliances.

(Photo: http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20000920/CGW065 )

"Kenmore is the No. 1 - selling appliance brand in America so it makes perfect sense to establish branded parts for our products," said Kevin J. Callahan, vice president, sales for Sears Product Repair Services. "Now customers can be confident they are getting the same trusted name on replacement parts while simplifying the selection process."

Sears made the announcement Tuesday at Sears Dealerfest 2000 - an annual convention that brings together dealer store-owners to focus on key merchandising issues, strategies and developmental training - in Nashville with its own Country & Western group "Ken More and the All Parts Band." The band performed four original songs while "playing" actual Kenmore parts. More than 1,000 Sears dealer store owners tapped their feet to the sounds of fan motors, icemakers, lint screens and drip pans as the band performed such tunes as "I May Be Hurtin' But My Stove Is Cookin' For You," and "Fixin' Up Some Good Times For My Dryer And Me."

"Kenmore parts make for beautiful music, but more important, they will keep America's appliances humming," said Callahan. "For more than 70 years Kenmore has meant quality and now consumers can be assured they have that same quality inside their appliances."

A wide range of Kenmore Genuine Parts are available for every type of appliance. Kenmore parts currently are available at approximately 40 to 60 dealer stores. Consumers can find out the dealer store nearest them by calling 1-800-4-MY-HOME and can purchase the parts using their Sears card. Kenmore Genuine Parts are expected to be available at all Sears dealer stores by early 2001 as well as at Sears Parts & Repair centers and through their web site at http://www.sears.com/partsdirect .

Beginning this month, Kenmore Genuine Parts will be available in Sears select dealer stores across the country. Sears dealer stores are unique from full-line stores in that they are independently owned in mostly rural American communities. At present, there are nearly 760 dealer stores throughout the country.

Through Sears PartsDirect(SM) and online partnerships, sears.com continues to lead the way in providing consumers with key information and web users are responding. In a July report by Media Metrix, Inc., the leader and pioneer in Internet and Digital Media measurement worldwide, sears.com led clicks and bricks department stores based on the number of unique visitors to the site, which has grown steadily for Sears this year. Sears recently relaunched sears.com with expansions that include: home electronics, home office equipment, small appliances, lawn tractors, baby products and school uniforms.

Sears, Roebuck and Co. is a leading U.S. retailer of apparel, home and automotive products and services, with annual revenue of nearly $40 billion. The company serves families across the country through approximately 860 department stores, more than 2,100 specialized retail locations, and a variety of online offerings accessible through the company's Web site, http://www.sears.com/ .

This press release contains forward-looking statements that involve risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially including, but not limited to, adverse changes in general economic conditions, lack of acceptance of new products, pricing pressures and other factors.

SOURCE: Sears, Roebuck and Co.

Contact: Media, Edgar P. McDougal of Sears, Roebuck and Co.,
847-286-9669

Website: http://www.sears.com/

Website: http://www.sears.com/partsdirect