Sears yesterday unveiled an online marketplace it has been experimenting with for six months that allows third-party vendors to sell goods on its Web site.
Marketplace at Sears.com carries more than 10 million products across hundreds of categories, from furniture to shoes.
Reporter Sandra M. Jones seems a bit miffed that the retailer has been so surreptitious about the project, suggesting in her lede that secrecy is good for hedge fund guys, such as Sears Holding's
chairman Eddie Lampert, but not usually for shop keeps. She also contrasts Sear's aversion to publicity to Wal-Mart's trumpeting its Walmart Marketplace when it launched in August.
Sears also announced yesterday that it will introduce two new online shopping tools -- TvMatchMaker.com and CameraMatchMaker.com, Retailing Today reports. Both ask consumers a series of compatibility questions to help them find their perfect
match.
Sears stock rose 12% to close at a 15-month high of $99 although that may have more to due with strong December sales at Kmart, which will lead to an increase in
fourth-quarter profits, than with its announcements.
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