Oct 13 2016
Evolving to meet changing consumer needs and to embrace its nationwide branding as “America’s Appliance Experts®,” the refresh of seven Sears Hometown and Outlet Stores in Arkansas culminates with a grand reopening celebration October 14-15, 2016 at the locations in Arkadelphia, Ash Flat, Berryville, Clarksville, Forrest City, Monticello and Wynne. Throughout the celebration weekend, consumers are invited to enjoy an additional discount of 10 percent off almost everything in the store.*
The store refresh includes a new product assortment, redesigned merchandising, new fixtures & signage, and comprehensive employee training, among other changes.
“Our recently refreshed and modernized stores in Arkansas provide customers with a much broader assortment of appliances at the same low prices they’ve come to expect,” said David Brown, a district manager of Sears Hometown Stores in Arkansas. “In addition, our sales associates have undergone extensive training to become America’s Appliance Experts. The local communities can rely on them to deliver the most up-to-date information about product lines in our stores.”
In the new store design, appliances will occupy more than half of the sales floor and include more brands with an improved presentation. The stores will also focus its appliances on innovative and value-added products from Whirlpool®, Maytag®, KitchenAid®, Samsung® and Kenmore®.
The new floor plan also includes the ability to showcase complete kitchen packages through the addition of three kitchen vignettes. This allows stores to display an entire four-piece kitchen from multiple brands in a small amount of floor space, making it easier for customers to choose products. Another new feature that simplifies the buying process is a designated laundry innovation area, showcasing multiple brands and innovations that lets customers easily explore the differences between the various product lines.
As part of the refresh, the Arkansas Sears Hometown Stores provide industry leading comprehensive training to store associates, including brand specific selling certification. These brand certified sales associates help ensure customers find the best product for their needs at the best possible price. Arkansas customers also benefit from a new touch-screen kiosk where they can work with a salesperson or browse on their own to explore product options or make purchases. With the touch-screen kiosk, associates and customers can review product features and benefits as well as various models from the entire online database of Sears products – all while browsing models around the sales floor. Among major retailers, the Arkansas Sears Hometown Stores are leading the way for the integration of touch-screen devices into the sales process.
The Arkansas locations are part of a system-wide refresh of all Sears Hometown Store locations. The Company began updating units in 2015 and now has more than 480 “America’s Appliance Experts” locations across the United States.
* Subject to certain exclusions, as detailed in print ad promotions available in the store. Also, not available on price-matched merchandise.