I'm not feeling the Sears criticism. I went shopping there last weekend with my mom in Richmond Mall. It wasn't any worse than in years past and there were some good holiday discounts. In fact, she and my sisters have regularly shopped there for a number of years, and they've never complained. At the end of the day, Macys, Dillards, Pennys,  and Sears, at least for clothing, are fairly indistinguishable, at least for lay shoppers.

Sears really hasn't kept current at all with styles and trends in clothing, and a lot of it seems very, very cheaply made, with buttons hanging off and crooked seams, even compared to a middle of the road retailer like Macy's. The last time I bought anything there was when I bought some maternity clothes, and they were so, so cheaply made and awful. Colors ran when washed. Seams on 2 identical shirts in different colors were different. Their purchase and sales of Lands End items are the only things that have kept me coming in there on any type of regular basis, and mostly it's to return things (for free shipping) that I bought from the catalog.

I feel they need to position Sears against Target and not to sound critical, position KMart against dollar stores.  I don't think KMart can put itself in the position of fighting against Wal-Mart.  Maybe after the recession.

I would love to have seen Kmart distinguish itself by becoming a heavily "made in the USA" store. That would really hit Wal-Mart below the belt and would actually drive shoppers to them. I was pleasantly surprised to find some made in the US wine glasses at kmart last week. If they dedicated more of their efforts to sourcing from USA vendors, I would shop there ALL THE TIME. I have bought my son hats, slippers, and lots of other things online because that's the only place I could find made in the US products instead of the cheap made in China crap they sell in stores.

^that would be a great sales niche for either brand, and I don't think it would require too much retooling either (well, except for the whole appliance thing....good luck finding a TV or a fridge manufactured in the US.)

Regarding the Sears at Richmond Town Center, does anyone foresee its being one of those 120 Sears' or KMarts that will be closing soon? It's seemed very quiet for years. I was at the mall the day after Thanksgiving; Penney's was totally buzzing, with many extra salespeople on the first floor and lots of customers (and decorations, too). Upstairs - close to the usual. Macy's first floor was pretty busy compared to the usual, too, but less so. Then I went to Sears - very quiet, as usual, all over. Usual number of employees, customers. Limited decorations. I was hoping when the Sears Hardware in Willoughby Hills closed at least some of the hardware categores would come back to Richmond but it seems not.  Still can't buy an ordinary light bulb there, let alone lighting fixtures - all the standard stuff Sears sold for a century-plus.

                                                                                                                           

Its saving grace may be that it is really the only one left in a major market.

Regarding the Sears at Richmond Town Center, does anyone foresee its being one of those 120 Sears' or KMarts that will be closing soon? It's seemed very quiet for years. I was at the mall the day after Thanksgiving; Penney's was totally buzzing, with many extra salespeople on the first floor and lots of customers (and decorations, too). Upstairs - close to the usual. Macy's first floor was pretty busy compared to the usual, too, but less so. Then I went to Sears - very quiet, as usual, all over. Usual number of employees, customers. Limited decorations. I was hoping when the Sears Hardware in Willoughby Hills closed at least some of the hardware categores would come back to Richmond but it seems not.  Still can't buy an ordinary light bulb there, let alone lighting fixtures - all the standard stuff Sears sold for a century-plus.

                                                                                                                           

 

I wandered around Sears last Thursday while Conrad's did some work on my car.  I really have no harbinger for comparing the store to others, but it did seem kind of quiet.  Interesting thing about Richmond Town Center is that while I keep hearing rumors about how it is "dying," it still has three department stores and a collection of other decent stores.  Lots of vacancy too, but overall still hanging on.

I would love to have seen Kmart distinguish itself by becoming a heavily "made in the USA" store. That would really hit Wal-Mart below the belt and would actually drive shoppers to them. I was pleasantly surprised to find some made in the US wine glasses at kmart last week. If they dedicated more of their efforts to sourcing from USA vendors, I would shop there ALL THE TIME. I have bought my son hats, slippers, and lots of other things online because that's the only place I could find made in the US products instead of the cheap made in China crap they sell in stores.

 

I completely agree

I like to shop there for the stronger Made in the USA stock.  Another plus people might not realize is that Sears treats its employees that enter the armed forces about as well as any major private employer.  Most notably, their employment is guaranteed upon their feturn stateside.

I feel they need to position Sears against Target and not to sound critical, position KMart against dollar stores.  I don't think KMart can put itself in the position of fighting against Wal-Mart.  Maybe after the recession.

 

I don't think you will see Sears positioned against Target (which also means positioned against Wal-Mart, as they are really in the same space, though with different focuses/price points/etc.).  Target doesn't really sell things like hardware, appliances, etc. in the way that Sears does.  As many others have commented, those things (and probably Lands' End, too) are the best things going for Sears right now. 

 

KMart in the dollar store category might be an interesting idea, I'd guess.

 

Many of the articles to come out in the wake of this announcement have commented on the company's apparent refusal to invest money in the stores (apparently they don't think the return on investment is there to justify it).  Hard to believe that Sears/K-Mart will do much more than wither if more money isn't directed toward the stores. 

Amazon is starting to really hurt all of these companies' bottom line.

I like buying sneakers at Sears because they're reasonably priced, it's mostly self-serve and the place isn't crawling with teens talking loudly on their cell phones like other places that sell gym shoes.

List of closings http://searsmedia.com/tools/122711_close.pdf

 

Ohio closings listed so far:

 

 

Kmart 17625 Chillicothe Rd Chagrin Falls OH

 

Kmart 2960 Derr Road Springfield - N'land OH 45503

 

Kmart 2244 S Reynolds Rd Toledo - Reynolds Rd OH 43614

 

Kmart 627-701 E Manhattan Blvd Toledo - Manhatn Blv OH 43608

 

Kmart 1105 North Court Street Medina OH 44256

 

Kmart 3100 Hamilton Rd Columbus - Hamltn Rd OH 43227

I should correct what I wrote about a week ago on the "Retail" forum, that got moved here on 12/28. The Richmond Sears was very quiet the day after Thanksgiving, particularly in contrast to Penney's Richmond, but the hardware area in the basement was hopping - particularly the area at the far end, coming from the escalator. I assume there was some sort of special sale going on that the rest of the store wasn't participating in.

 

Also, going to the Great Lakes Mall Sears several times recently, I think I can safely say the Mentor Sears is somewhat larger.

Richmond survives!

Their stocked just turned to junk status.

I went to Sears today. My wife had an appointment with their optical. She was very happy with them. I wandered around waiting for her, and I agree with what a previous poster said - Sears has a few strengths, and a lot of extraneous areas. They're clearly good at appliances, tools, and automotive (and apparently optical). While the age of the massive department store has come and gone, there is definitely a place for a store that focuses on a few of those things, and possibly spins off some other things into a second business.

I've been using Sears Optical for 15 years at Eastland Mall and in Ashland, KY. They've worked out great.

^I am not sure but I believe that the optical department is simply an independent optical firm which uses Sears name and facilities for a fee.

I know the eye doctors pay rent, but I think the retail side is still Sears.

All Sears opticals are owned by Luxottica Optical (Also owns Lenscrafters, Target Vision, Pearl Vision (formerly of Twinsburg OH.) as well as Sunglass Hut etc....)  The company is based in Milan Italy, but their North American retail and Sunglass Hut Headquarters is actually in Mason Ohio. 

^ Oh, those guys. That's no real surprise; they're huge. Most optics, be it prescription or non, are their work.

Kmart Closing All Remaining Ohio Stores

Sarah Taylor - Nov. 12, 2019

https://www.ideastream.org/news/kmart-closing-all-remaining-ohio-stores

 

The following Kmart stores in Ohio are closing:

1. Barberton (241 Wooster Road North)
2. Brunswick (3301 Center Road)
3. Grove City (2400 Stringtown Road)
4. Harrison (10560 Harrison Ave.)
5. Marietta (502 Pike St.)
6. North Canton (1447 N Main St.)
7. Tallmadge (555 South Ave.)