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Women across the country helped The Great Indoors® store revolutionize decorating and remodeling by sharing the agonies and ecstasies of their home projects, as well as their vision for the ideal interior decorating and remodeling experience.

Now, through today's launch of thegreatindoors.com , 11 new stores planned in 2001 and the convenience of a new co-branded Gold MasterCard credit card, women can shop The Great Indoors however they choose, whenever they want.

"Women made it clear that they want a decorating and remodeling resource that empowers them," says Bob Rodgers, president of The Great Indoors. "They also let us know that while the importance of creating a beautiful home environment has grown for them, the time they have to spend on the process has significantly diminished."

The Great Indoors consolidates virtually everything needed for the decorating and remodeling process all in one place, at a variety of compelling price points. Whereas customers used to have to hunt through multiple stores to find the right item at the right price when doing an interior home project, at The Great Indoors, they can find everything they need, whatever their price range.

The store offers a broad array of merchandise, as well as inspiration and design and installation services. With thousands of special order options and products ranging from more than 1,000 appliances to the latest tabletop settings or state-of-the-art sound systems and exquisite cabinet knobs for the woman who knows the importance of details, The Great Indoors can bring any dream home to life.

The more than 75 creative room settings or "vignettes" in the store are arranged around the four key rooms of the home -- kitchen, bedroom, bathroom and great room with an additional section dedicated to surfaces such as walls, floors and countertops. The Great Indoors also offers an extensive array of decorative accessories that can become the focal point of the room, or simply add just the right finishing touch.

thegreatindoors.com

The launch of thegreatindoors.com brings this unique shopping experience to life for customers 24 hours-a-day, seven days a week, in the comfort of their own home.

The site features detailed, inspiring lifestyle vignettes, more than 10,000 product options, top quality product images, and a wealth of ideas and solutions that also define the store.

"In our research, women told us that they want a resource that sparks ideas, offers a vast array of products to choose from and the freedom to explore and make their own choices," says John Yung, director of thegreatindoors.com. "Now, they can get that experience both in our stores and in their own home."

Customers shopping at thegreatindoors.com can shop and browse by room or category and view striking photos of products in kitchens, on beds, in bathrooms and in a great room.

Within the vignettes, products can be enlarged for close-up assessment, with high-quality photography depicting the fine details of each merchandise item. Customers who want to find that perfect lamp or rug can go to the "shop by category" feature for selections.

The site also features a design center that offers inspiration and ideas with design tips and an easy-to-use virtual decorating tool. For example, to match up the perfect cabinet finish and decorative knob for their specific look, customers can use the "change my cabinet knob tool" to evaluate thousands of combinations from almost 600 knob options.

  Delivery for thegreatindoors.com is within the Continental United States.

  New Stores

The planned 2001 expansion of The Great Indoors will bring this exciting store to 11 new areas. With the anticipated new stores and the existing four locations, there will be 15 The Great Indoors stores nationwide (see attached store list).

The Great Indoors Gold MasterCard

The Great Indoors Gold MasterCardâ„¢, which can be used everywhere MasterCard is accepted, is scheduled to launch in late April, and give customers convenient financing and an enticing rewards program.

In addition, The Great Indoors Gold MasterCard yields exclusive member privileges such as invitations to special events and preferred customer service. Benefits of the card also include Purchase Assurance, Extended Warranty, Master RoadAssist Roadside Service and Travel Assistance Services.

The Great Indoors Gold MasterCard can be used to purchase everything from groceries and a new wardrobe to a new look for the kitchen or new decor for the bathroom. And, each dollar charged on The Great Indoors Gold MasterCard goes toward enhancing the home because the customer receives rewards points that will be converted into valuable certificates that can be used at The Great Indoors stores. Customers can apply for the card in any The Great Indoors store.

The Great Indoors debuted in 1998, opening its first store in the Denver area. Other stores are located in Scottsdale, Ariz., Detroit and Dallas. The Great Indoors is a unit of Sears, Roebuck and Co. For more information about The Great Indoors, visit .

  The Great Indoors -- 2001 Planned Store Openings

  * Arizona
   Chandler (Scottsdale)
        3460 W. Chandler Boulevard
        Fall 2001

  *California
        Chino Hills (Los Angeles)
        13000 Peyton Drive
        Summer 2001

        Irvine (Los Angeles)
        71 Technology Drive
        Summer 2001

  *Colorado
        Broomfield (Denver)
        231 East Flatiron Circle
        Spring 2001

  *Illinois
        Lombard (Chicago)
        2860 S. Highland
        Spring 2001

        Schaumburg (Chicago)
        1321 E. Golf Road
        Spring 2001

  *Michigan
        Novi (Detroit)
        44075 12 Mile Road
        Fall 2001

  *Ohio
        Columbus
        1510 Polaris Parkway
        Fall 2001

        Springdale (Cincinnati)
        11925 Commons Drive
        Fall 2001

  *Texas
        Houston
        10496 Katy Freeway
        Fall 2001

        Houston
        12605 Gessner Road
        Fall 2001

  Currently Open:

  *Arizona
        Scottsdale
        16275 N. Scottsdale Road
        Since November 1999

  *Colorado
        Lone Tree (Denver)
        8585 S. Yosemite
        Since February 1998

  *Michigan
        Shelby Township (Detroit)
        14453 Hall Road
        Since November 2000

  *Texas
        Farmers Branch (Dallas)
        5000 Alpha Road
        Since August 2000

EDITORS' NOTE: For photos of The Great Indoors Store, thegreatindoors.com
home page, and logos, please contact Kathleen M. Connolly of the Great
Indoors, 847-286-4644

SOURCE: Sears, Roebuck & Co.

Contact: Kathleen M. Connolly of The Great Indoors, 847-286-4644

Website: