corporate info

TORONTO, Aug. 8, 2005 (Canada NewsWire via COMTEX) -- Sears Canada is bringing National Geographic's award-winning Home Collection, designed by Lane Home Furnishings to Sears Home stores across Canada. The National Geographic Home Collection, is showing its complete, new South America Collection, as well as select pieces from the Marrakech and West Indies collections. All of the National Geographic Home Collection lines are now available at all Sears Home stores across Canada.

The National Geographic Home Collection is one of the most comprehensive furniture lines available today, with product ranging from furniture and accent pieces to accessories and linens, lighting, tabletop and rugs. Sears Canada provides consumers and decorator/designers with convenient locations to select from the diverse and culturally inspired National Geographic Home Collection lines.

The new, 2005 National Geographic Home Collection comprises two distinct looks and cultures - the South America and the Marrakech collections. Both combine elegant wood carvings and elaborate geometric patterns that are inspired by the craftsmanship of local artisans. Each collection reflects the culturally unique and relevant designs of its historical ancestry.

"Sears is very excited about the new National Geographic Home Collection," said Bruce Watton, National Merchandise Manager, Sears Canada Inc. "We take great pride in providing our customers with a line of furniture that has exceptional quality, style and value."

"This collection from National Geographic Home has, in a short time, created a successful niche in the home market and become one of Lane Home Furnishings' best-selling lines," said Morgan Files, director of advertising for Lane Home Furnishings. "The award-winning designs have set global trends, so it's a given that this will be one of our premier collections as we expand our retail base."

"Introducing these furniture statements to new markets is an exciting step in our efforts to inspire cultural influence in the home," said Krista Newberry, Vice President, Licensing, Soft Lines. "When you combine the quality and credibility behind such names as Sears, Lane Home Furnishings and National Geographic, it is clearly an equation that will lead to success in the Canadian market."

The National Geographic Home Collection is the most successful launch in the history of Lane Home Furnishings. The American Society of Furniture Designers recognized it as an "extensive and diverse collection incorporating many design elements and materials" and awarded it the 2004 Pinnacle Design Achievement Award for Major Collections. The honor was given at the Ninth Annual Pinnacle Design Achievement Awards last October.

All of National Geographic's net proceeds from the sale of the Home Collection go to the Society's World Cultures Fund to support the study and preservation of world cultures. The fund supports the work of archaeologists, cultural anthropologists, artists and other professionals working in cultural areas. For more information, log on to www.nghome.com.

Sears Canada, the retailer with the most extensive multi-channel network in the country, began serving customers in 1953. The Company has 41,000 associates and, in an independent consumer survey, ranks high in customer service, trust, respect, and quality products and services. There is a Sears location within a 10-minute drive of 93% of Canadians, and Sears is dedicated to providing them with quality merchandise and exceptional service coast to coast through its 122 full-line department stores, 217 off-mall stores, 62 home improvement showrooms, over 2,200 catalogue merchandise pick-up locations, 113 Sears Travel offices and a nationwide home maintenance, repair, and installation network. The Company also publishes Canada's most extensive general merchandise catalogue and offers shopping online at www.sears.ca.

Founded in 1888, the National Geographic Society is one of the world's largest nonprofit scientific and educational organizations. Its mission is to increase and diffuse geographic knowledge while promoting the conservation of the world's cultural, historical and natural resources. National Geographic reflects the world through magazines, television programs, films, books, videos, maps, interactive media and merchandise. National Geographic magazine, the Society's official journal, published in English and 27 local-language editions, is read by 40 million people each month in every country in the world. The National Geographic Channel reaches more than 230 million households in 27 languages in 152 countries. Nationalgeographic.com averages around 50 million page views per month. National Geographic has funded nearly 8,000 scientific research projects and supports an education program combating geography illiteracy. For more information, log on to nationalgeographic.com, AOL Keyword: NatGeo.

SOURCE: Sears Canada Inc.

Eliana Cugini, Sears Corporate Communications, (416) 941-4426, ecugini@sears.ca