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Sears Seeking Dealer for Appliance StoreBy Tammy Daniels
01:09AM / Tuesday, February 12, 2008
 | | A Kenmore washer and dryer set. |
NORTH ADAMS - It's been nearly two decades since the city's had a Sears downtown.
Now the nationwide chain is seeking the right person to bring a branch of the historic retailer back to North Adams.
Arthur Burke, regional development manager for Sears Dealer stores, said the company is looking for a local entrepreneur to operate the store, which will carry a wide array of appliances and electronics.
The right dealer will complete the package - the area has the demographic numbers and the city several good locations that could contain a store.
"It's about finding the right location," said Burke last week. "This is a targeted market and a good site for situating a Sears store."
It also means finding the right dealer-store owner, who'll have to be customer-service oriented and willing to provide the framework to make the store successful. That person will have to ante up $10,000; another $50,000 to $70,000 is needed for the initial investment.
Sears Authorized Retail Dealer Store program was established in the early 1990s as a way to keep the Sears name in rural areas. A number of the 860 dealer stores across the nation were former catalog stores (nearly 2,000 were closed in 1993); some were purchased by longtime employees.
While the store owner is responsible for rent, payroll, taxes and related expenses, Sears supplies the merchandise. The owner takes a commission, the size of which is dependent on the merchandise and other factors.
"The Sears Dealer Store program is not considered a franchise program because Sears does not require an individual to purchase inventory or pay an annual licensing fee," Burke explained in a press release. The retail giant provides network support for inventory control, advertisement and delivery.
Stores range in size from 6,000 square feet to 10,000 square feet. There are several good locations, said Burke, and one of the best candidates is the former Kmart Garden Shop next to the North Adams Cinema.
Burke said there have been good discussions with Neil Ellis of First Hartford Realty, which owns the former Kmart building. He also said Mayor John Barrett III has been extremely helpful in providing contacts and information.
Sears is planning to sell a wide range of electronics by GE, Sony, RCA and others; Crafstmen tools; lawn and garden equipment; car and boat batteries, and, of course, a line of Kenmore appliances. Repair and installation services will also be offered.
The store will feature an online version of Sears' famed catalog. Customers will be able to order through the store and have their merchandise delivered there. "You wouldn't have to have it shipped to your home," said Burke.
"We want the new Sears Dealer store to be the appliance and electronics superstore in North Adams," said Steve Titus, vice president and general manager of the Sears Dealer Stores, in the press release.
The new store would be an expanded version of the Sears catalog store on Main Street that used to sell select appliances and lawn and garden equipment, and other specials.
Burke described the dealer stores as among "the hottest growth opportunities." There are now dealer stores in 48 states; the store in North Adams will be the third in Massachusetts. There are stores in Great Barrington and Ware, and across the border in Bennington, Vt.
Another Bennington name is also coming to North Adams; Label Shopper, a discount brand chain of Peter Harris Clothes, is expected to open in the former Fashion Bug location in the L-Shaped Mall. Label Shopper also has a store near J.C. Penney's in Bennington.
For additional information on becoming a Sears dealer, contact Burke at 603-548-0408. A open house for interested dealers has been tentatively scheduled for Wednesday, Feb. 20, from 4 to 7 at the Holiday Inn; look for the ad. |
Your Comments
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If you think for one minute that the program will protect you, or your investment, then I suggest you read the formal contract BEFORE signing it.
You get lulled into a sense of "dang how can I go wrong with this", then IF Sears gets an opportunity to build other smaller appliance stores anywhere near you, (including within your own zip-code) known as HA stores (and corporate ran and owned)they will take that advantage regardless of what you are orally informed of.
We, for one, were promised no other stores would be built near us or anywhere within close proximity to us, but alas several HA type stores were built within a 20 mile base of our store, effectively wiping us out. Sears had to come in and regain the store.
The one thing that led us to buy into the program, the fact that Steve Titus, former Vice President of the Sears Dealer Store program, was his statement to us that Sears was NOT building or even planning to build anywhere close to us.
He did show us, on a map he produced, that one store was being built approximately 26 miles from us and we accepted that as not being able to interfere with our sales. Then within 4 months of his stating no other stores were being built, or even planned near us, we watched sales drop and then found out that Sears built not just one store close to us BUT 3 other stores, all within 22 miles of our store. We did not last much longer after they opened.
Being lied to and fraudulently enticed into buying a Dealer Store is something that should be more researched and thought about, let alone frowned upon. Where are the ethics?
Remember this when you consider buying into Sears American Dream. | | from: Disillusioned | on: 11-12-2008 12:00AM
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what part of the country are u located in?
Editor: Western Massachusetts | | from: txdealer | on: 12-16-2008 12:00AM
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I feel your pain. I got hired as an employee in a Sears owned dealer store in the Atlanta market and was promised the world in August 08. They said they would open 18 more stores in the metro region so I believe you. They pack em in. It hasn't worked out though.
None of the dealer stores in Atlanta are making a profit as far as I can tell. Our store has lost money from day one!!! Maybe one store in a high end area might be showing a profit.
They just fired the district manager as if he was the problem. (I am not him and wasn't his friend) Just after Christmas with no notice!! Happy New Year Mark!!
One major problem is they are trying to sell high end products in a low end economy. And they just don't get it. They think the shopping experience is what matters!! They don't have a clue that it's all about price now!!
Now we have a new district manager from Texas who is covering and doesn't seem to have a clue. He has no power anyway as the corporate big wigs in Chicago call all the shots. All he does is make excuses to us and try to back track. The managers are gullible if they believe his crap.
Most everyone in the store including my manager are looking for a new job. It's a joke. Nobody gives a crap.
| | from: Equityhunter | on: 01-12-2009 12:00AM
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run a good business w/ great customer service and it will work. no matter what economy we are in.
sears sells high end AND low end appliances/mowers.
plus appliances/mowers go out constantly.. it's an item most people need. | | from: ja | on: 04-19-2009 12:00AM
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