PING Headlines Stable of Premium Equipment Brands Available at All 12 Edwin Watts Golf Shops Located Inside Sears Stores; “Store-Within-A-Store” Retail Model Designed to Reach New Golfers, While Establishing Unique One-Stop-Shopping Experience for Golfing Consumers
FORT WALTON BEACH, Fla., September 28, 2010…Edwin Watts Golf Shops, LLC, one of the world’s largest specialty golf retailers, today announced that the golf industry’s first-ever “store-within-a-store” retail program with Sears Holdings (NASDAQ: SHLD) is now complete, as 12 Edwin Watts Golf Shops have now opened inside of Sears stores in key markets across the country.
The opening of the Edwin Watts Golf Shop located inside the Sears at Pembroke Lakes Mall (12055 Pines Blvd., Pembroke Pines, FL), on Saturday, September 11, completes the list of 12 service-oriented Edwin Watts Golf Shops that have opened inside of existing Sears stores nationwide in 2010. In addition to the Florida store, the other store locations include Columbia and Silver Spring, Md.; Friendswood and Humble, Texas; Garden City, Yonkers and Hicksville, N.Y.; Livingston, N.J.; Vernon Hills, Ill.; Murray, Utah; and Falls Church, Va.
“This collaboration with Sears offers additional retail locations for our core customers, serves to introduce golf to a new audience of consumers, and provides Sears shoppers with the finest golf equipment and accessories available in the industry today,” said John Watson, Chief Executive Officer, Edwin Watts Golf Shops. “It’s exciting to have 12 new Edwin Watts Golf Shops fully operational inside of Sears stores as we continue to expand our national footprint.”
All 12 locations feature select product assortments in golf equipment & apparel, electronics, and related golf accessories, highlighted by such noted brands as PING, Mizuno, Callaway, TaylorMade, Titleist, FootJoy, adidas Golf, Cleveland, Cobra, Adams, Wilson, Champions Tour and others. The shop 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.
Each of the 12 Edwin Watts Golf Shops housed inside a Sears 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. All Edwin Watts Golf Shops are strategically positioned near other major Sears departments (electronics, tools, appliances, sporting goods), and are being staffed by Edwin Watts Golf associates who have 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.
Watson adds, “At a time when the golf retail industry is consolidating, Edwin Watts Golf is committed to enhancing our position as the leader in the golf specialty retail sector.”
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.
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.
Contact:
Michele Kruchkowski (mkruchkowski@mastrocomm.com)
Ari Edelman (aedelman@mastrocomm.com)
Mastro Communications, Inc. @ 732-469-5700
