Sears Store In Murray Is One Of 12 Nationwide To House Edwin Watts Golf “Store-Within-A-Store” Retail Model; New In-Store Golf Experience To Drive New Golfers To The Game
FORT WALTON BEACH, Fla., July 12, 2010…Sears Holdings (NASDAQ: SHLD), one of the nation’s largest broadline retailers, as part of a multi-year agreement with Edwin Watts Golf Shops, LLC, one of the world’s largest specialty golf retailers, has officially opened the first Edwin Watts Golf Shop in the state of Utah – inside a Sears store. The “store-within-a-store” retail model is located inside the Sears at Fashion Place Mall (6161 S. State Street, Murray).
The store in Utah is one of 12 new service-oriented Edwin Watts Golf Shops that will open inside of existing Sears stores nationwide in 2010, and is the first Edwin Watts Golf Shop to open in the Mountain West region. In addition to the Utah store, the other store locations include Friendswood and Humble, Texas; Columbia and Silver Spring, Md.; Garden City, Yonkers and Hicksville, N.Y.; Livingston, N.J.; Falls Church, Va.; Vernon Hills, Ill.; and Pembroke, Fla.
“While we are excited to establish our retail presence in the Mountain West region, this announcement also marks a significant development for the golf industry as we expand the access of service-oriented golf retail to all levels of golfers, while helping to drive new players to the game,” said John Watson, Chief Executive Officer, Edwin Watts Golf Shops. “We chose to work with Sears based on our strategic need for a mall-based retailer with a national footprint, as well as affiliations with leading brands such as Craftsman Tools and Nordic Track, which strongly align with the golfer demographic.”
Each Edwin Watts Golf Shop housed inside a Sears location, including the Murray location, is designed as a specialty store format with footprints ranging from 2,700-3,000 sq. ft., while offering the familiar layout and shopping experience of the Company’s free-standing golf shops. The shops, which will be strategically positioned near other major Sears departments (electronics, tools, appliances, sporting goods), will be staffed by Edwin Watts Golf associates, all with deep experience and training in golf equipment and technologies, the golf industry, professional fitting and customer service – key differentiators for the Edwin Watts Golf brand and the “store-within-a-store” concept.
Each store, including the Murray location, will feature select product assortments in golf equipment & apparel, electronics and related golf accessories from top brands such as Callaway, TaylorMade, Titleist, FootJoy, adidas Golf, Cleveland, Cobra, Adams, Wilson, Champions Tour and others. The shops will present consumers with a service-based, interactive golf experience showcasing product testing, via an in-store putting green and hitting bay, game improvement clinics, expert golf club and golf ball performance fitting, the latest equipment technology, apparel styles, other innovations and much more. In addition, customers who carry the Sears credit card will have the ability to use their credit card for in-store Edwin Watts Golf Shop purchases at the participating locations.
Watson adds, “The agreement between Sears and Edwin Watts Golf Shops presents a major advantage for today’s leading golf equipment companies, offering a new channel of distribution within a retail brand that offers tremendous equity value and global recognition. As the golf industry is seeking opportunities to increase participation and interest across all demographics, this retail model will allow a new audience of consumers to experience golf each time they visit their local Sears store.”
About Sears Holdings Corporation
Sears Holdings Corporation is the nation’s fourth 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. Sears Holdings is the 2010 ENERGY STAR® Retail Partner of the Year. 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 the Country Living collection, which is offered by Sears and 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’ website at www.searsholdings.com.
About Edwin Watts Golf
Edwin Watts Golf Shops, LLC (an affiliated portfolio company of Sun Capital Partners, Inc.), headquartered in Fort Walton Beach, Florida is one of the world’s premier specialty golf retailers. The company operates as an integrated, multi-channel retailer, offering the freshest assortment of brand name golf equipment, apparel, and accessories through its 70+ domestic Retail Locations, eCommerce Internet site (www.edwinwattsgolf.com), Telephone/Catalog/Direct Mail sales (1.800.874.0146) and Digital Catalog (www.edwinwattsgolf.com/catalogs). Edwin Watts Golf touts a team of highly experienced and knowledgeable sales associates who can assist customers of all skill levels with lessons, performance fitting, special orders and repair services. The combination of the highest level of customer service, price match guarantee and reputation as the most trusted retailer in golf for over 42 years has earned the organization the right to be known as America’s Golf Club.
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Michele Kruchkowski (mkruchkowski@mastrocomm.com)
Ari Edelman (aedelman@mastrocomm.com)
Mastro Communications, Inc. @ 732-469-5700
