I remember being a kid and loving the heck out of Sears. Why? Because back in the days before Sephora and MAC, Sears meant popcorn, warm nuts and Icees, yum!
Sears may not be the retail powerhouse it was when Reebok high-tops ruled, but they’re hoping to change that with the help of high-margin beauty products. Eight years after getting out of the cosmetics biz, the 115-year-old company is getting back in, hoping that beauty can give their flagging bottom line a boost.
The company plans to open full-service beauty counters at 13 pilot stores in LA, Chicago and New York this week, with hundreds more to open in other Sears locations over the next two years.
The words “beauty” and “Sears” don’t really go together in my mind, but they’ll be carrying big drugstore brands like CoverGirl, L’Oreal and Maybelline, as well as niche brands like Burt’s Bees and Yves Rocher (for which Sears will be the sole US retailer). Who knows, right? Stranger things have happened.
Sears will try to differentiate its beauty business by mixing mass-market prices and displays with department-store service in a mall.
I wonder if they’ll bring back the Icees and warm nuts… 🙂
Loading ...Your friendly neighborhood beauty addict,
Karen
P.S. According to Sears, grand opening celebrations are being held in each of the pilot Sears Beauty locations on Aug. 29-30 and Sept. 5-6, featuring complimentary makeovers and gift baskets (in case you live near one of the stores).
Other offers include a free cosmetic bag and brush set with any $25 cosmetics, fragrance or bath purchase and a $10 Sears reward card with any $50 cosmetics, fragrance or bath purchase.
Smiley says
August 29th, 2009 at 11:51 amI want freebies! ahah. I hope they have some like harder to find brands. That always gets me excited.
Rae says
August 29th, 2009 at 12:13 pmSears is a little different in Canada, I think — they’ve been selling high-end cosmetics all along up here! All the usuals, like Estee Lauder and Clinique, but also brands like Shiseido, Anna Sui, and Make Up For Ever.
Weird, right? 😛
.-= Rae’s last blog post… The concealer hunt is over. =-.
Kristina says
August 29th, 2009 at 12:37 pmI gotta confirm what Rae said, Sears has always sold cosmetics in Canada!
Tiffany says
August 29th, 2009 at 12:42 pmWow, I don’t think we have any Sears here anymore. Maybe this will help them out! Like while hubby is looking for tools, the ladies can buy makeup!
Amanda says
August 29th, 2009 at 1:54 pmAnother canadian here, I never knew that there were Sears stores that didn’t have beauty counters, so this is news to me! I’m curious as to what your Sears stores are like.
shontay says
August 29th, 2009 at 2:19 pmI used to work at sears. It was hell. I don’t want any part of what they have to offer. Ew.
marmar says
August 29th, 2009 at 2:22 pmMan.. if Sears ever carried Anna Sui I’d be all up on that shizzle.
Otherwise I’m not a Sears fan, at all. Everytime I step in there I totally regret it (their clothes.. ehhh…).
.-= marmar’s last blog post… My Top 5 Artists (Week Ending 2009-8-23) =-.
jojoba says
August 29th, 2009 at 3:05 pmsears in the US gives me an impression in fixing car tires… sear in canada is always selling makeup. not sure why the us sears doesn’t do that but now i kind of understand, thanks to your post. 🙂
Kailey says
August 29th, 2009 at 3:47 pmthe only sears i know of are ghetto xD
crappy clothes and such. but i got my beadspread there haha.
I hope they sell some hard to find stuff!
ines + cha cha says
August 29th, 2009 at 4:28 pmwhere i live, in canada, sears does have a cosmetics section. it actually has higher-end brands like clinique, estee lauder, and a couple prestige perfume lines too (but it’s not amazing, and the lighting cheapens everything). i didn’t know the sears in the states didn’t have any… i just assumed it was the same!
happy weekend, karen!
.-= ines + cha cha’s last blog post… Eye of the Day – Fierce Leopard (Inspired by the MAC Style Warrior Collection) =-.
Glosslizard says
August 29th, 2009 at 4:40 pmThe true brilliance of this concept is that the gents can go ogle power tools while the ladies get their Yves Rocher on! Of course the gold standard would be if Sephora and Fry’s opening a line of joined store locations! 😉
Although I have to agree with Kailey that the Sears I know of are pretty ghetto!
Karen says
August 30th, 2009 at 11:22 amHi Glosslizard,
Right?!? Speaking of things to keep the boys occupied, one of these days I’m gonna open a store that sells video games AND makeup. I think it could make a killing!
meimei says
August 29th, 2009 at 4:43 pmDuuuuuuude! Am I so old that I actually remember Sears selling makeup?
Sears @ Ala Moana Center in Honolulu STILL sells cosmetics! Okay, so it’s, like, one Shiseido counter now and a shelf full of fragrances, but I remember when Sears used to sell more than just that. There used to be that Fetish makeup line for teens (Christina Aguilera once had an endorsement deal with them), and a Circle-of-something that was geared more towards the older ladies. There used to be a Revlon counter in there, too.
I can’t wait to see how this turns out, though.
.-= meimei’s last blog post… Face of The Moment: Rough Draft =-.
Karen says
August 30th, 2009 at 11:20 amHi Meimei,
OMG — I’ve gotten LOST in that Sears! El Hub and I couldn’t find the exit and I swear we circled that thing for a good half hour before finding our way out the street, LOL!
Tavia says
August 29th, 2009 at 4:57 pmI never heard about Sears here in Europe…
.-= Tavia’s last blog post… Summer trends 2009 – What did you buy and what can you keep =-.
Karen says
August 30th, 2009 at 11:19 amHi Tavia,
It’s an American chain store!
heyhey says
August 29th, 2009 at 4:58 pmHmm, with all this Canada vs. U.S. Sears talk, I popped over to the sears.ca site.
http://www.sears.ca/gp/browse.html/ref=sc_iw_c_0_1_396407011/191-9317045-9020760?ie=UTF8&node=1296286011&searsBrand=core
Do they have this line in the States? Not too shab!
Back on topic. If the re-introduction of high end makeup is indicative towards a whole brand re-design, I’d actually set foot in a Sears.
DiJaNa says
August 29th, 2009 at 5:53 pmReally?!?!?!?!
Sears in Canada has always had high end make up.. i just bought Estee Lauder products there yesterday..
I always assumed it was the same in the states
Ruth says
August 29th, 2009 at 7:29 pmWOW, this was a shock for me. I live in British Columbia, Canada and Sears has always sold high end cosmetics. My local Sears carries: Anna Sui, Lancome, Estee Lauder, Clinique, Clarins, Elizabeth Arden, Pure, Iman, etc…….. They did discontinue carrying Christian Dior Cosmetics a few years ago though. I always thought Sears carried cosmetics in the U.S.A. too !
Stephie says
August 29th, 2009 at 8:25 pmI love opening promotions. Unfortunately, I’m betting the Sears in my area won’t be party of the renovation yet. Our JCPenney isn’t Sephora yet 🙁
I’m probably too young to know about the Icees and popcorn. I just remember always going there to shop for clothes and shoes with my grandparents.
.-= Stephie’s last blog post… OOTD =-.
ParisB says
August 29th, 2009 at 8:32 pmWe don’t have Sears here but I remember Icee!! The bear mascot used to scare me hehe…
.-= ParisB’s last blog post… Steal a Coach wallet! =-.
Karen says
August 30th, 2009 at 11:18 amHi ParisB,
I’m all about the blue Icees. 🙂 You are probably the first person I’ve known who was afraid of that bear!
Sugar says
August 29th, 2009 at 9:27 pmYves Rocher is nothing to write home about…. I’ve dealt first hand with almost all of their products and they are gross. Their cosmetic lines (they have a few) are over priced and are of the worst quality. Eye shadows, for example, are not well pigmented, chalky and break quite easily, and their body lines are awful. I’ve known many people whom have had allergic reactions. For those who don’t know YR is the equivalent of Avon — but Avon is much, much better.
Archelle says
August 29th, 2009 at 9:51 pmEveryone just look forward to getting all the high end stuff on sale once Sears finally goes out of business.
People that want inexpensive stuff go to Wal-Mart or Target, and people that want high end stuff go to Nordie’s or Macy’s so I’m not sure what niche Sears expects to fill.
JillyB says
August 30th, 2009 at 11:15 amI went to a community college and I had to walk through a Sears to get to the bus stop. I always stopped and bought a little bag of warm cashews to eat on the way home. Thanks for bringing back a great memory!
Karen says
August 30th, 2009 at 11:17 amHi JillyB,
Those were my favorite too. My dad would always buy me a bag whenever we’d visit the store…
Hope you’re having a nice Saturday so far!
Louise Gray says
August 30th, 2009 at 12:01 pmHi there,
I have a soft spot for Sears since I was employed there for 7 or 8 years when I was in college. I worked in the Ladies’ Dress department. Just like you, I loved the scent of those roasted nuts-especially the cashews. It brings back memories. . . . There is a Home Depot now where the Sears used to stand. Yay for Sears. Louise
Madeleine says
August 30th, 2009 at 12:09 pmI’m also Canadian and have got no complaines about Sears.Everything is there including good customer service.
Michelle says
August 30th, 2009 at 12:35 pmDidn’t Sears used to have a big candy counter, too? For some reason, I have memories of being able to walk around and pick whatever candies I wanted. Man, those were the days. My kids would be in heaven if I pumped them full of sugar as we shopped in a department store lol 🙂
Glosslizard says
August 30th, 2009 at 12:44 pmCosmetics and video games… I’m so there! 😉
Jess says
August 30th, 2009 at 6:23 pmI voted as “other” and was planning to explain how Sears in Canada sells cosmetic brands such as Clinique, Lancome, etc… But I see that some of my fellow Canadians have already done so! Actually, in my province we don’t have a Sephora, and the nearest MAC store is 3 hours away – in a different province! So I’ve been loving the service Sears has provided in selling higher-end cosmetics brands, and I’m thinking it could be a hit in the U.S. too. Now, about Sears having a candy counter… really?!?! We’ve never had that!
AndreaMarie says
August 30th, 2009 at 7:39 pmHey, if they will be carrying drugstore brands, does that mean they will also have testers for those at the counters? If so, it will be worth a trip for me!!
AnneMarieB says
August 31st, 2009 at 11:09 amYay! I live on the windward side of Oahu, and all we’ve got for department stores are Sears and Macy’s. I was always bummed years ago when Sears stopped selling cosmetics, so I’m excited about this! I think it’s a good move for them especially in a small location like ours where we don’t have a lot of options. Funny – I had forgotten about the warm nuts and Icees of long ago… but that is so true!
Vera says
August 31st, 2009 at 3:25 pmI know this has been said before, but I was excited when I saw it so I have to share my experience. lol I live in the Bay Area, so Sears and makeup don’t go hand in hand in my mind. But I went to Toronto a few weeks ago and walked around the Eaton Center. I walked passed Sears and saw all the high end cosmetics. I was so surprised. If only my friends were into makeup like I am, I would have spent quite a bit of time there. lol