Sears Sets Sights On International Fashion

Sears is planning to sell European and Latin American fashions at five of its locations.

While the popular refrain of ‘if it ain’t broke, don’t fix it’ stands the test of time, the opposite connotation holds true for many retailers, especially some of the former industry bellwethers that are facing troubled times. For Sears, that means expanding its horizons in terms of its offerings. As NJ.com reports, those expanded horizons include opening its eyes to international fashion. 

Sears is planning to sell European and Latin American fashions at five of its locations in New York and New Jersey, which will include boutiques sections known as “Showcase at Sears.” All told, 11 international brands spanning all of the different apparel segments will be offered. For a company that’s not exactly known as a hotspot for fashion, it’s a pretty bold move. 

“These curated collections are a perfect complement to our existing apparel assortment and offer exposure to brands you’d otherwise have to travel internationally to try on,” according to Joelle Maher, Sears president and chief member officer. 

The boutique shops within a store will span between 10,000 and 15,000 square feet, and feature brands such as Biography, Fiorentina, Mango, MaryPaz and Zatchels. It’s unclear if this is part of larger test program for Sears as a whole, or simply a means of targeting consumers in the specific region in which the boutique concepts will be opening. Either way, it’s an encouraging sign for a retailer that has been knocked for its antiquated ways and offerings. 

“These brands, each so successful internationally, were eager to launch in America and the Showcase at Sears is the perfect platform for them to do so,” shares Sever Garcia, the founder of SGN Group, which is a European fashion group that partnered up with Sears to showcase the new international offerings. 

Showcase at Sears will be offered at the following locations: Newport Centre Mall in Jersey City, Woodbridge Center in Woodbridge, Cross County Shopping Center in Yonkers, N.Y., The Galleria at White Plains in White Plains, N.Y., and Green Acres Mall in Valley Stream, N.Y.

We’ll have to wait and see whether the new offerings translate into increased foot traffic at these Sears locations, but it just may be a sign that more changes could be on the horizon for the once-venerable retail giant.