In Canada, new prototype establishes Sears as the core brand - Company Profile

DSN Retailing Today, Jan 26, 2004 by Mike Duff

As part of the redesign, the Yorkdale store was expanded from 120,000 to 180,000 square feet and from 100,000 to 160,000 square feet of selling floor. The redesign of Sears Yorkdale is part of a multiyear, multimillion dollar makeover program that is rolling out to all Sears locations across Canada but that focuses, at least for now, on the retailer's broadline locations.

Not all stores will be completely renovated, as was the case in Yorkdale. Sears envisions four levels of investment as it rolls out the new prototype. When not fully renovated, stores may still receive a substantial reconfiguration and new merchandising elements, while others will be subject to a more limited re-merchandising. A few stores will simply get a sprucing up, but all will incorporate key elements of the new prototype.

The first new prototype stores Sears unveiled were reopened to the public in August 2003. Those were core stores in Mississauga, Ontario and Winnipeg, Manitoba. Sears locations in Joliette and St. Jerome, Quebec, were included with Yorkdale in the second round of new format openings.

The company's network of 123 broadline units include core stores, standard stores-including Yorkdale--satellite stores in more isolate towns and 12 units Sears calls "small stores" in more rural settings. Sears Canada also operates 44 Home stores, about 2,200 catalogue merchandise pick-up locations, 144 dealer stores, 14 outlet stores, 51 floor covering centers, 50 auto centers, 110 Sears Travel offices and a nationwide maintenance, repair and installation network.