Sears testing ‘Connected Solutions’ in-store shops in three locations

Hoffman Estates, Ill. -- Sears is testing “Connected Solutions” experiential shops that bring together smart, or connected, home and personal automation products. The 1,700-sq.-ft. shops are being piloted in three Sears locations in the Chicago area, including Woodfield Mall, Schaumburg, Illinois; and Oakbrook Center, Oakbrook, Illinois.



"With a presence in more than 13 million homes annually, dominance across the appliance, fitness and tools categories and knowledgeable associates, Sears is uniquely positioned to lead this category," said Jim Pearse, VP of consumer electronics for Sears Holdings. "We are presenting products 'up and running' enabling our customers and Shop Your Way members to discover and learn how they connect, work and fit into their daily lives. No one else in retail is doing this today."



The Connected Solutions shop brings products and services together in a unique environment, according to Sears. For example parents can learn how to program their connected garage door opener to be notified by text when the door is open and closed, providing peace of mind when children come home from school.



"Many of our members are aware of 'smart' devices or 'home automation' products but don't fully understand how they are used to make their lives better," said Craig LaRosa, DVP in-store experience and design for Sears Holdings. "Connected Solutions offers an entertaining and interactive environment to learn about the products and our dedicated sales team is ready to help customers develop solutions that are relevant to them.”



Members can find a cross-category assortment of smart offerings for automotive, electronics, fitness, home and mobile devices in the shops or online. Products available from Sears Connected Solutions include:



• Home automation (thermostats, smart locks, lighting, switches and sensors, etc.)



• Mobile phones, tablets and other connected devices



• Smart watches



• Fitness products such as treadmills, fitness watches and heart rate monitors



• Home monitoring cameras



• Connected baby monitors, which let parents see, hear and talk with their baby from their mobile device