HOFFMAN ESTATES, Ill., June 2, 2014 /PRNewswire/ -- Sears, a leading integrated retailer focused on making shopping easier, introduces Connected Solutions(SM) powered by Shop Your Way(TM), experiential shops that bring together one of the most authoritative assortments of smart, connected home and personal automation products in the industry.

"With a presence in more than 13 million homes annually, dominance across the appliance, fitness and tools categories and knowledgeable associates, Sears is uniquely positioned to lead this category," said Jim Pearse, vice president of consumer electronics for Sears Holdings. "We are presenting products 'up and running' enabling our customers and Shop Your Way members to discover and learn how they connect, work and fit into their daily lives. No one else in retail is doing this today."

The connected solutions industry is projected to generate hundreds of billions in sales over the next five years(1). Sears recognizes the vital role connectivity will continue to play in peoples' lives and the Connected Solutions shop brings products and services together in a unique environment. For example parents can learn how to program their connected garage door opener, such as the Craftsman Assurelink model, to be notified by text when the door is open and closed, providing peace of mind when children come home from school.

"Many of our members are aware of 'smart' devices or 'home automation' products but don't fully understand how they are used to make their lives better," said Craig LaRosa, DVP in-store experience and design for Sears Holdings. "Connected Solutions offers an entertaining and interactive environment to learn about the products and our dedicated sales team is ready to help customers develop solutions that are relevant to them. Sales associates also ensure that all members and customers leave Sears stores with connected products that are fully functioning and are available to provide ongoing customer support following a purchase."

Members can find a cross-category assortment of smart offerings for automotive, electronics, fitness, home and mobile devices in the 1,700 square foot shops at three Chicago-area pilot locations and online at Sears.com/ConnectedSolutions. Products available from Sears Connected Solutions include:


    --  Home automation (thermostats, smart locks, lighting, switches and
        sensors, etc.)
    --  Mobile phones, tablets and other connected devices
    --  Smart watches
    --  Fitness products such as treadmills, fitness watches and heart rate
        monitors
    --  Home monitoring cameras
    --  Connected baby monitors, which let parents see, hear and talk with their
        baby from their mobile device

The first three Connected Solutions pilot shops recently opened at: the Sears Woodfield Mall store in Schaumburg, Ill.; Sears Vernon Hills, Ill. store and at the Sears Oakbrook Center store in Oakbrook, Ill.

For more information about Connected Solutions, visit Sears.com/ConnectedSolutions.

(1) Source: Gartner, December 2013 "Forecast: The Internet of Things, Worldwide, 2013". The report is available on Gartner's website at http://www.gartner.com/document/2625419?ref=QuickSearch&sthkw=G00259115

About Sears, Roebuck and Co.
 Sears, Roebuck and Co., a wholly owned subsidiary of Sears Holdings Corporation (NASDAQ: SHLD), is a leading integrated retailer providing merchandise and related services and is part of Shop Your Way, a social shopping experience where members have the ability to earn points and receive benefits across a wide variety of physical and digital formats through shopyourway.com. Sears, Roebuck offers its wide range of home merchandise, apparel and automotive products and services through more than 1,320 Sears-branded and affiliated stores in the United States and Canada, which includes more than 790 Full-line and more than 50 specialty stores in the U.S. Sears, Roebuck also offers a variety of merchandise and services through sears.com, landsend.com and specialty catalogs. Sears, Roebuck offers consumers leading proprietary brands including Kenmore, Craftsman, and DieHard -- among the most trusted and preferred brands in the U.S. The company is the nation's largest provider of home services, with more than 14 million service and installation calls made annually. For more information, visit the Sears, Roebuck website at www.sears.com or the Sears Holdings Corporation website at www.searsholdings.com.

Contact Information:
 Larry Costello
Sears Holdings Corp.
(847) 286-9036
Larry.Costello@searshc.com

Kelly Cagney
Zeno Group for Sears
(312) 396-9749
Kelly.Cagney@zenogroup.com

SOURCE Sears, Roebuck and Co.