KB Toys and Sears Extend Relationship
'KB Toys at Sears' Departments in 600 Sears Locations
KB Toys and Sears, Roebuck and Co. (NYSE: S) announced today that they have entered into a new agreement which will extend a relationship initiated in 2001 by expanding the "KB Toys at Sears" concept to 600 select Sears locations throughout the United States and Puerto Rico this holiday season.
The KB Toys "store-within-a-store," at Sears, which debuted as a 29-store test in 2001 and grew to 77 locations in 2002, will continue to offer Sears customers the convenience of one-stop shopping, a large selection of name brand toys and exclusive items, all value-priced. Each KB Toys at Sears will operate from mid-October through early January as part of the Christmas Shop. Additionally, both Sears and KB Toys retail channels will feature an expanded selection of "My First Craftsman鈩�" tool toys and activity kits developed by KB Toys under a trademark license agreement signed last year.
"We are very excited about expanding our Christmas Shop to include toys this holiday season," said Jeff Rothe, vice president, Lawn and Garden for Sears. "Our customer has historically come to us for toys and we will now be able to offer her a broad assortment of popular items."
"We're thrilled to continue and grow our relationship with Sears and to provide Sears customers with an exciting merchandise selection this season," said Sal Vasta, executive vice president, Strategic Business Development for KB Toys. "The growth and success of this alliance is the result of both teams refining the KB Toys at Sears concept to provide customers with the best overall shopping experience."
For the second consecutive year, Sears and KB Toys are working together to present the Sears Wish Book庐 -- online and in its traditional catalog form -- to customers nationwide. The Sears Wish Book庐 now focuses solely on toys and video games, which are supplied and fulfilled exclusively by KB Toys. KB Toys will also continue to supply and fulfill the toy and video game assortments for sears.com.
Forward-Looking Statements
This release contains forward-looking statements based on assumptions about the future that are subject to risks and uncertainties, such as competitive conditions in retail; changes in consumer confidence and spending; anticipated cash flow; general economic conditions and normal business uncertainty. While the company believes in a successful implementation of this relationship with KB Toys, it cautions that actual results may differ materially. The company intends these forward-looking statements to speak only as of the time of this presentation and does not undertake to update or revise them as more information becomes available.
About KB Toys
KB Toys is the nation's largest combined mall-based and online specialty toy retailer, operating more than 1,300 stores in all 50 states, the American Territory of Guam and the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico. KB Toys operates retail stores under the names KB Toys庐, KB Toy Works庐, KB Toy Outlet鈩�, Toy Liquidators庐, KB Toy Express庐 and offers online shopping through KBtoys.com鈩� ( www.kbtoys.com ) and eToys庐 ( www.etoys.com ). KB Toys, Inc., the parent corporation, is a privately held company headquartered in Pittsfield, Massachusetts.
About Sears Roebuck and Co.
Sears, Roebuck and Co. is a broadline retailer with significant service and credit businesses. In 2001, the company's annual revenue was more than $41 billion. The company offers its wide range of apparel, home and automotive products and services to families in the U.S. through Sears stores nationwide, including approximately 870 full-line stores. Sears also offers a variety of merchandise and services through its Web site, www.sears.com . In June 2002, Sears acquired Lands' End, a direct merchant of traditionally styled, classic Lands' End clothing offered to customers around the world through regular mailings of its specialty catalogs and online at www.landsend.com .
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CENTRO CA DOUGLASVILLE GA PLEASANTON CA YUBA CITY CA KENNESAW GA LOS ANGELES CA MERCED CA LITHONIA GA OAKLAND CA EUREKA CA ATLANTA GA PASADENA CA WESTMINSTER CO SAVANNAH GA PALMDALE CA LAKEWOOD CO ATLANTA GA GLENDALE CA AURORA CO MACON GA TEMECULA CA COLORADO SPGS CO MORROW GA VENTURA CA LITTLETON CO DULUTH GA WHITTIER CA FORT COLLINS CO BRUNSWICK GA ROSEVILLE CA LONGMONT CO WAYCROSS GA FAIRFIELD CA GREELEY CO VALDOSTA GA N HOLLYWOOD CA WEST HARTFORD CT DALTON GA SANTA MONICA CA MILFORD CT ATHENS GA CANOGA PARK CA WATERFORD CT ROME GA WEST COVINA CA WATERBURY CT HONOLULU HI SAN MATEO CA DANBURY CT AIEA HI FRESNO CA MANCHESTER CT KANEOHE HI LONG BEACH CA WILMINGTON DE KAHULUI MAUI HI SACRAMENTO CA WILMINGTON DE LIHUE HI MOUNTAIN VIEW CA SEAFORD DE HILO HI HAYWARD CA LAKE WALES FL DES MOINES IA BUENA PARK CA OCALA FL FORT DODGE IA TORRANCE CA BRANDON FL DUBUQUE IA STOCKTON CA VERO BEACH FL CORALVILLE IA RIVERSIDE CA CORAL SPRINGS FL MASON CITY IA DOWNEY CA JACKSONVILLE FL SIOUX CITY IA BAKERSFIELD CA DAYTONA BEACH FL DAVENPORT IA CHULA VISTA CA PENSACOLA FL CHUBBUCK ID CONCORD CA OCOEE FL BOISE ID ORANGE CA MIAMI FL TWIN FALLS ID COSTA MESA CA POMPANO BEACH FL IDAHO FALLS ID SAN BERNARDINO CA ORLANDO FL CHICAGO IL SACRAMENTO CA TAMPA FL CHICAGO IL EL CAJON CA ORLANDO FL CHICAGO IL CUPERTINO CA ST PETERSBURG FL CHICAGO IL SAN BRUNO CA HIALEAH FL BLOOMINGDALE IL SAN JOSE CA ALTAMONTE SPG FL NO RIVERSIDE IL NORTHRIDGE CA MIAMI FL NILES IL CITY ST CITY ST CITY ST CERRITOS CA AUBURN MA JEFFERSON CTY MO OAK BROOK IL BROCKTON MA SAINT JOSEPH MO PEORIA IL HANOVER MA JACKSON MS CHICAGO IL PEABODY MA MCCOMB MS CALUMET CITY IL HOLYOKE MA COLUMBUS MS SCHAUMBURG IL BRAINTREE MA GAUTIER MS VERNON HILLS IL CAMBRIDGE MA GREENVILLE MS FAIRVIEW HTS IL NATICK MA MISSOULA MT AURORA IL HYANNIS MA GREAT FALLS MT JOLIET IL GLEN BURNIE MD CONCORD NC ORLAND PARK IL WALDORF MD ASHEVILLE NC WEST DUNDEE IL SILVER SPRING MD GREENSBORO NC CHICAGO RIDGE IL BEL AIR MD WINSTON SALEM NC MATTESON IL BETHESDA MD FAYETTEVILLE NC ALTON IL LANDOVER MD MONROE NC SAINT CHARLES IL BALTIMORE MD BURLINGTON NC FORSYTH IL ANNAPOLIS MD MOREHEAD CITY NC MT VERNON IL GAITHERSBURG MD GREENVILLE NC QUINCY IL COLUMBIA MD GOLDSBORO NC DANVILLE IL BALTIMORE MD HICKORY NC BLOOMINGTON IL COCKEYSVILLE MD ROCKY MOUNT NC GALESBURG IL BOWIE MD ASHEBORO NC MATTOON IL BALTIMORE MD SHELBY NC CHICAGO IL PRESQUE ISLE ME STATESVILLE NC EVANSVILLE IN AUGUSTA ME WILSON NC GREENWOOD IN LEWISTON ME MINOT ND MERRILLVILLE IN WESTLAND MI BISMARCK ND MISHAWAKA IN FLINT MI GRAND ISLAND NE FORT WAYNE IN GRAND RAPIDS MI SALEM NH COLUMBUS IN LANSING MI NASHUA NH MARION IN WATERFORD MI MANCHESTER NH ELKHART IN LINCOLN PARK MI NEWINGTON NH ANDERSON IN HARPER WOODS MI JERSEY CITY NJ CLARKSVILLE IN ANN ARBOR MI HACKENSACK NJ MICHIGAN CITY IN ROSEVILLE MI FREEHOLD NJ LOGANSPORT IN LIVONIA MI WATCHUNG NJ RICHMOND IN TROY MI NEW BRUNSWICK NJ OVERLAND PARK KS SAGINAW MI WAYNE NJ WICHITA KS DEARBORN MI DEPTFORD NJ WICHITA KS STERLING HTS MI MOORESTOWN NJ SALINA KS NOVI MI MAYS LANDING NJ LAWRENCE KS MONROE MI MIDDLETOWN NJ MANHATTAN KS HOLLAND MI LIVINGSTON NJ HUTCHINSON KS ADRIAN MI PARAMUS NJ LEAVENWORTH KS MIDLAND MI WOODBRIDGE NJ LEXINGTON KY BENTON HARBOR MI LAWRENCEVILLE NJ FLORENCE KY BROOKLYN CTR MN OCEAN NJ LOUISVILLE KY SAINT PAUL MN ROCKAWAY NJ LOUISVILLE KY MINNETONKA MN BURLINGTON NJ ELIZABETHTOWN KY MAPLEWOOD MN TOMS RIVER NJ FRANKFORT KY BURNSVILLE MN ALBUQUERQUE NM ASHLAND KY EDEN PRAIRIE MN ALBUQUERQUE NM MIDDLESBORO KY COON RAPIDS MN ROSWELL NM BATON ROUGE LA BLOOMINGTON MN SANTA FE NM BATON ROUGE LA INDEPENDENCE MO LAS CRUCES NM METAIRIE LA SPRINGFIELD MO FARMINGTON NM GRETNA LA KANSAS CITY MO CLOVIS NM LAFAYETTE LA ST PETERS MO LAS VEGAS NV N ATTLEBORO MA SAINT LOUIS MO LAS VEGAS NV SAUGUS MA SAINT LOUIS MO HENDERSON NV MARLBOROUGH MA ST ANN MO RENO NV DEDHAM MA CAPE GIRARDEAU MO GARDEN CITY NY LEOMINSTER MA KANSAS CITY MO ALBANY NY CITY ST CITY ST CITY ST BURLINGTON MA SHAWNEE OK MORRISTOWN TN BROOKLYN NY BARTLESVILLE OK MARYVILLE TN BAY SHORE NY ENID OK MURFREESBORO TN BROOKLYN NY NORMAN OK CLEVELAND TN AMHERST NY LAWTON OK COLUMBIA TN HICKSVILLE NY PORTLAND OR OAK RIDGE TN MIDDLETOWN NY PORTLAND OR MEMPHIS TN POUGHKEEPSIE NY PORTLAND OR HOUSTON TX LAKE GROVE NY BEND OR EL PASO TX MASSAPEQUA NY ROSEBURG OR DALLAS TX NANUET NY ALBANY OR HOUSTON TX ROCHESTER NY PITTSBURGH PA LEWISVILLE TX REGO PARK NY LANGHORNE PA FRISCO TX VICTOR NY EXTON PA HOUSTON TX CLAY NY PHILADELPHIA PA SAN ANTONIO TX STATEN ISLAND NY WHITEHALL PA HOUSTON TX WHITE PLAINS NY UPPER DARBY PA AUSTIN TX YONKERS NY PITTSBURGH PA SAN ANTONIO TX JOHNSON CITY NY PITTSBURGH PA PASADENA TX E NORTHPORT NY PITTSBURGH PA MESQUITE TX ROCHESTER NY WILLOW GROVE PA HOUSTON TX VALLEY STREAM NY BENSALEM PA CRP CHRSTI TX BUFFALO NY SCRANTON PA HOUSTON TX ROCHESTER NY MONACA PA FRIENDSWOOD TX AUBURN NY LANCASTER PA FORT WORTH TX MASSENA NY MEDIA PA SAN ANTONIO TX PLATTSBURGH NY ERIE PA EL PASO TX ITHACA NY GREENSBURG PA BAYTOWN TX NEWBURGH NY WEST MIFFLIN PA HOUSTON TX NEW HARTFORD NY NORTH WALES PA HUMBLE TX HORSEHEADS NY KING OF PRUSSIA PA SAN ANTONIO TX BRONX NY WASHINGTON PA ARLINGTON TX NEW HYDE PARK NY DU BOIS PA THE WOODLANDS TX STRONGSVILLE OH CHAMBERSBURG PA PARIS TX COLUMBUS OH BLOOMSBURG PA TEXAS CITY TX COLUMBUS OH POTTSTOWN PA LAKE JACKSON TX COLUMBUS OH ALTOONA PA LAREDO TX TOLEDO OH HERMITAGE PA MCALLEN TX SPRINGDALE OH INDIANA PA SAN ANGELO TX ELYRIA OH CRANBERRY PA COLLEGE STA TX MENTOR OH CAGUAS PR LUFKIN TX COLUMBUS OH SAN JUAN PR DENTON TX CANTON OH BAYAMON PR VICTORIA TX MIDDLEBRG HTS OH CAROLINA PR SHERMAN TX AKRON OH MAYAGUEZ PR PORT ARTHUR TX RICHMOND HTS OH PONCE PR MIDLAND TX DAYTON OH HATILLO PR SALT LAKE CTY UT CINCINNATI OH WARWICK RI MURRAY UT NORTH OLMSTED OH WOONSOCKET RI OGDEN UT NORTH RANDALL OH N CHARLESTON SC DULLES VA CINCINNATI OH GREENVILLE SC FALLS CHURCH VA NORTHWOOD OH AIKEN SC VIRGINIA BCH VA CINCINNATI OH ORANGEBURG SC ALEXANDRIA VA NEW PHILA OH FLORENCE SC NEWPORT NEWS VA MARION OH MYRTLE BEACH SC CHESAPEAKE VA ZANESVILLE OH ROCK HILL SC NORFOLK VA LANCASTER OH MEMPHIS TN FAIRFAX VA FINDLAY OH CHATTANOOGA TN ROANOKE VA ASHTABULA OH MEMPHIS TN MARTINSVILLE VA FRANKLIN OH MEMPHIS TN MANASSAS VA TULSA OK CHATTANOOGA TN CHESAPEAKE VA TULSA OK KNOXVILLE TN CHRISTIANSBRG VA CITY ST MUSKOGEE OK S BURLINGTON VT RUTLAND VT SEATTLE WA SPOKANE WA SPOKANE WA SEATTLE WA REDMOND WA FEDERAL WAY WA LYNNWOOD WA TACOMA WA TUKWILA WA EVERETT WA E WENATCHEE WA CHEHALIS WA BELLINGHAM WA ABERDEEN WA KELSO WA WALLA WALLA WA BROOKFIELD WI GREENDALE WI FOND DU LAC WI RACINE WI MILWAUKEE WI SHEBOYGAN WI WAUSAU WI BARBOURSVILLE WV CHARLESTON WV WESTOVER WV BLUEFIELD WV MARTINSBURG WV BRIDGEPORT WV CASPER WY CHEYENNE WY
SOURCE: Sears, Roebuck and Co.
CONTACT: John P. Reilly of KB Toys, +1-413-496-3427,
jreilly@kbtoys.com , or Cory Rutt of Sears, Roebuck and Co., +1-847-286-2883,
crutt@sears.com
Web site: