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Lifestyle Expert Suggests Ways for Shoppers to Make the Most of Holiday Shopping Experiences

Sears, Laurin Sydney Offer Pointers for Holiday Shoppers

Sears has joined with Laurin Sydney, author, lifestyle expert and host of MSNBC's Entertainment Hot List, to help holiday shoppers minimize stress and maximize efficiency to make this the best holiday shopping season yet.

"At this time of year, there are many more satisfying pursuits we'd rather be enjoying than frantically scrambling for last minute gifts," says Sydney. "The best way to enjoy this holiday season is to be organized and to shop where you receive the best value, variety and quality. Sears puts this theory into practice, especially during the holidays, by offering knowledgeable sales associates and high quality products at competitive prices to make it a snap to cross everyone off your list."

With so much choice and selection, Sears is the one-stop-shopping destination to help holiday shoppers get what they need and have time to spare to relax and enjoy this festive season. Sydney offers tips to help consumers shape their shopping hassle-free holiday season.

  --  Plan ahead and be prepared. Spend a few minutes making lists of the
      gifts you need and group similar items together. The Sony
      worryfreedigitalâ„¢ Camcorder for your father will be right next to
      your brother's new Samsung Portable DVD player in home electronics,
      and the Covington Cashmere Cardigan for your mother is conveniently
      located near the Apostrophe Opera Jacket for your sister in apparel.
      If you shop department by department instead of person by person,
      you'll save time and energy!

  --  Buy people what they really want. This step requires a little more
      effort-on their part! Ask people to make wish lists and take some of
      the guesswork out of holiday shopping. Start by setting an example and

      making a wish list for yourself. Maybe you have your eye on the
      Chocolate Fondue Fountain for your New Year's Eve gathering or a
      fabulous new KitchenAid Artisan Series Mixer. Why not wish big? You
      can set a new family tradition -- everyone gets the gifts they really
      want! Your friends and family will love you for it.

  --  Make their dreams come true. People are easier to please than you
      might expect, just think about their hobbies or their passions. Your
      uncle loves to tinker with his car -- let him tinker like a pro with
      the Craftsman 155-piece Mechanics Tool Set. Is your brother-in-law
      glued to every celebrity poker match? He can feel like a star with the

      Structure Poker Night in a Box.

  --  Don't let traffic and busy stores get you down. It can be
      overwhelming, but just remind yourself that being calm and prepared
      will get you in-and-out in no time. If that doesn't work, take a deep
      breath and treat yourself to something special. (No need to feel
      guilty, a Sears holiday poll found that nearly half of all holiday
      shoppers do a little splurging on themselves, too!)

  --  Enlist some help. Holiday shopping superstars know that one of the
      biggest time wasters and sources of holiday stress is standing in long

      lines. Invite someone along to be your designated "stander." Park them

      in view of the large-screen TVs or nearby the stereo systems so they
      can entertain themselves while you work through your list.

  --  Pamper someone. Maybe your mom's idea of bliss is a new Dyson DC14 All

      Floors Upright Vacuum, or perhaps your teenager would like nothing
      more than to spend the day playing pool and air hockey on the Harvard
      Dual Play 2-in-1 Game Table. Does grandma love coffee? Then she would
      enjoy an easy-to-use Cuisinart 12-cup Programmable Coffee Maker. And
      there is someone on everyone's list who would enjoy a Discovery Heated

      Foot Massager.

  --  Keep all of your receipts. If you accidentally miss the mark or had
      the same idea for mom as everyone else in the family, you'll want her
      to be able to make an easy switch. This is another reason to shop in
      stores like Sears that offer value and convenient locations
      nationwide, so loved ones can get what they really want.

  --  Do your homework at home. That little thing called the Internet can
      help you compare products and look for the best deal -- and once in-

      store you can see and touch your selections on your way to the
      checkout.  If you are really organized or really late, sears.com
      offers you the best shopping shortcut yet -- buy online and pick-up
      in-store. This convenient service is available until December 23 and
      can help you fly through holiday shopping.

  --  Gift cards to the rescue! If you really can't think of anything to get

      your children's teachers, give them the gift of choice. You can't go
      wrong with a Sears gift card -- they never expire and they always fit.

      Available online or in-store, they make holiday shopping a breeze.


  About Sears, Roebuck and Co.

Sears, Roebuck and Co., a wholly owned subsidiary of Sears Holdings Corporation (NASDAQ: SHLD), is a leading broadline retailer providing merchandise and related services. Sears, Roebuck offers its wide range of home merchandise, apparel and automotive products and services through more than 2,400 Sears-branded and affiliated stores in the United States and Canada, which includes approximately 870 full-line and 1,100 specialty stores in the U.S. Sears, Roebuck also offers a variety of merchandise and services through sears.com, landsend.com, and specialty catalogs. Sears, Roebuck offers consumers leading proprietary brands including Kenmore, Craftsman, DieHard and Lands' End -- among the most trusted and preferred brands in the U.S. The company is the nation's largest provider of home services, with more than 14 million service calls made annually. For more information, visit the Sears, Roebuck website at or the Sears Holdings Corporation website at .

SOURCE: Sears, Roebuck and Co.

CONTACT: Sears Media Relations, +1-847-286-8371

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