Sears set to open mini-stores

NEW YORK ― Sears is poised to open the first three Sears Home & Life stores on the last weekend in May, which is Memorial Day in the U.S. This new smaller-format banner will focus on appliances, mattresses and home services. At 10,000 to 15,000 square feet, the new stores will be about a tenth of a conventional Sears department store. The slimmed-down footprint is part of Eddie Lampert’s turnaround efforts for the brand, following on his successful $5.2 billion bid for control in bankruptcy court. Chief Brand Officer Peter Boutros confirmed the locations of the first three stores (Overland Park, Kan.; Lafayette, La.; and Anchorage, Alaska) but withheld comment about how many more will be forthcoming.