Sears is back in toyland

HOFFMAN ESTATES, Ill. Sears is getting back in the toy business, according to reports, opening toy shops at 20 Sears stores next month.

The Los Angeles Times reported that Sears will open six toy shops in Southern California, four in San Francisco, seven in the Chicago area and three in the New York metropolitan area.

Sears had previously hired KB Toys set up temporary shops inside its stores, but the experiment failed, and Sears has been facing increasing competition from Wal-Mart and other chains.