Lands’ End Stores May Go It Alone

By George Anderson


Sears is considering launching stand-alone specialty shops featuring products from its Lands’ End catalog division. The stores would sell regular merchandise and would not simply serve as factory stores for overstocks and irregular goods.


The retailer, which acquired Lands’ End in 2002, has previously made the move of rolling out Lands’ End apparel and accessories to many of its department store locations. Sears’ web site includes links to Lands’ End but does not sell the product directly to consumers from that location.


The chief executive of Sears, Alan Lacy, told analysts, “We’ve got an airport store in Minneapolis that’s been wildly successful, so we think that’s something that we can perhaps move forward on.”


Moderator’s Comment: What are your thoughts on Sears developing stand-alone Lands’ End specialty shops?


We’re sure stand-alone stores would attract more consumers to Lands’ End. We’re just not sure how many are likely to make a special trip to go there.


Quality products and attention to customer service has always made Lands’ End special. For us, however, that experience has been online or on the phone.
Unless we were already in the area, we doubt a store would change our shopping behavior.
-George
Anderson – Moderator

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saad samatar
saad samatar
15 years ago

Lands’ End has quality products, and I shop at their stores. I just do not care to shop at Sears stores. Their products is simply poor and the stores are unattractive.