SEARS TO OPEN NEW FORMAT STORES
By Adnews Staff
Toronto-based Sears Canada plans to open combination furniture/home appliances stores beginning in the summer. The outlets will be approximately 43,000 square-feet in size and carry furniture, accent-decor items and major home appliances. The first outlet will open in Woodbridge, Ont. and the second will open in Barrie, Ont. in the fall. As the new stores open, Sears plans to remove furniture, but not appliances, from its department stores in selected markets. The move will allow Sears to expand its department store selection in other areas. Advertising for Sears is done by Bozell Retail of Toronto. In addition, Sears will spend $60 million this year to renovate 13 stores in the Toronto area as part of a three-year, $300 million plan for its mall-based outlets. It will also open six Whole Home Furniture stores this year, bringing the number to 11, all in Ontario, and it will add 100 catalogue outlets to the over 1,700 operating now.