Sears Takes the Guesswork Out of Getting Campus Ready

Heading off to college is never easy, even for the children of the millennium. Today, to help ensure that the newest crop of college students - and their parents - have a seamless transition, Sears is launching the "Campus Ready" digital program that builds on the retailer's commitment to improving each stage of Americans' lives by providing quality services, products and solutions.

The Campus Ready platform leverages the company's robust online capabilities through three integrated tools, all available on Facebook: Campus Gift Getter, Roommate Matchup, and the Dorm Room Designer. All of the tools are available at http://www.facebook.com/campusready or www.sears.com/campus and are designed to help college students with everything from planning and preparing their new dorm room with the latest "must haves" and college essentials.

"Our Campus Ready program allows Sears to connect directly with students as they plan to go off to college," said Don Hamblen, chief marketing officer, Sears. "We began by developing the Campus Gift Getter and transitioned into our Roommate Matchup and Dorm Room Designer applications. These applications allow students to get to know their new roommates and furnish their dorm room with their collective style in an affordable manner. The combination of these tools will help to prepare students as they enter the next stage of their life."

Sears' Campus Gift Getter is set up in a similar fashion to a bridal or baby registry. Graduates can log on to Facebook to register and select their wish list, whether for dormitory or day-to-day living. Once registered, family and friends of the graduates can access the registry online, review selections and purchase items on the graduate's wish lists. Users have the option to purchase individual items from the registry or contribute to a larger ticket item via "GiveTogether," Sears' newly-launched group gift-giving concept. "GiveTogether" connects gift givers and recipients by pooling the resources of a group enabling them to make special, "big ticket" purchases.

"The Campus Gift Getter allows Sears to connect with graduates on a personal level and enables their families and friends to help fulfill their wishes and takes the uncertainty out of selecting the right graduation gift for the dorm room," said Hamblen. "This registry is a great way to ensure that after four years of hard work, the graduates can get exactly what they want and need in an easy, efficient and affordable way."

When entering college, students are also challenged by the transition from bedroom to dorm room. Thanks to Sears' new Dorm Room Designer tool, transitioning to smaller spaces does not have to be as daunting. This unique tool connects roommates and provides a forum for them to collaborate on the design of their new home, purchase items online and pick them up at the store nearest school.

Sears is also teaming up with Ty Pennington, the television home makeover authority, to weigh-in with his tips for optimal dorm room design. Starting in July, through the Dorm Room Designer tool, Ty will share his ideas on how to create the ideal dorm setting with a three-dimensional dorm room design. Whether new roommates design their room independently or utilize Ty's tips, they will have an opportunity to create a room that reflects their combined personal styles.

Being campus ready extends beyond having a great dorm room design. To ensure that all aspects of collegiate life are covered, Sears has also incorporated easy-to-navigate tools on their Web site, including:

  --  Shop by dorm room: Complete dorm rooms for design inspiration.
  --  Interactive checklist: The authoritative list on college essentials.
      The interactive checklist allows students and parents to plan for
      their college needs and ease any anxiety about leaving home for the
      first time.
  --  Shop by need: Brings all relevant categories into one place for easy
      shopping based on user needs. For instance, shop "sleeping" and find
      everything you need from bedding to alarm clocks.  This section also
      includes everything from quick dorm room recipes to studying and
      cleaning tips.
  --  Money sense: Helps ensure college students have information on how to
      budget, sensible credit card use and dealing with the unexpected.

  --  Fill my closet: With a wardrobe checklist, top trends and clothes
      storage at their fingertips, students can have wardrobes as put
      together as their dorm rooms.

Additionally, the Roommate Matchup tool helps introduce students to one another before college begins. After identifying their new roommates at campus orientation, the students can use the Facebook tools to gain insight into their new living situation. An interactive survey helps take the guesswork out of living with their new roommate by providing personal compatibility results and visual product suggestions. All product suggestions are automatically added to the virtual dorm room for consideration. Then, roommates can see what their ultimate dorm room looks like and they can prepare for the big move to campus.

To find out more about Sears Campus Ready program, visit www.sears.com/campus.

About Sears Holdings Corporation

Sears Holdings Corporation is the nation's fifth largest broadline retailer with approximately 3,900 full-line and specialty retail stores in the United States and Canada. Sears Holdings is the leading home appliance retailer as well as a leader in tools, lawn and garden, home electronics and automotive repair and maintenance. Key proprietary brands include Kenmore, Craftsman and DieHard, and a broad apparel offering, including such well-known labels as Lands' End, Jaclyn Smith and Joe Boxer, as well as the Apostrophe and Covington brands. It also has Martha Stewart Everyday products, which are offered exclusively in the U.S. by Kmart. We are the nation's largest provider of home services, with more than 12 million service calls made annually. Sears Holdings Corporation operates through its subsidiaries, including Sears, Roebuck and Co. and Kmart Corporation. For more information, visit Sears Holdings' Web site at www.searsholdings.com.

First Call Analyst:
FCMN Contact:

SOURCE: Sears Holdings Corporation

CONTACT: Shannelle Armstrong of Sears Holdings, +1-847-286-0715,
shannelle.armstrong@searshc.com; or Carolyn Goldberg of Euro RSCG Worldwide
PR, +1-212-367-6947, carolyn.goldberg@eurorscg.com

Web Site: http://www.searsholdings.com/
http://www.sears.com/campus
http://www.facebook.com/campusready