• Chicago Tribune, Thursday, September 1, 2011 10:45 AM

Sears Holdings Corp. has agreed to sell its Craftsman tool line through Costco clubs nationwide. This is Sears' biggest effort to distribute in-house brands outside its namesake stores.

Costco will sell Craftsman hand tools, power tools and tool storage units starting as early as this weekend. The products will be in Costco's 430 U.S. stores this year, with the assortment varying by location. For Sears, the effort is a way to attract new customers to Craftsman as many Costco shoppers don't shop at Sears or Kmart, said Kris Malkoski, VP and general manager of the Craftsman brand at Sears Holdings.

"As we externalize the brand, we're trying to be thoughtful about reaching shoppers we aren't reaching at Sears today," said Malkoski. "It's an opportunity to bring the equity of this product to households that aren't going to Sears."

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