corporate info

TORONTO, Jan. 19, 2006 (Canada NewsWire via COMTEX News Network) -- Retail industry leaders, Sears Canada and ROOTS, have teamed up to offer a new collection of ROOTS furniture and home fashions that offer innovation, quality and value. The exclusive-to-Sears ROOTS Home collection, which boasts timeless ROOTS styling and rich, inviting fabrics and textures, was developed with the Sears customer in mind. It was created by a highly-talented design team lead by Diane Bald, Creative Director, Roots Canada.

ROOTS Home will be available in all Sears department stores and online at www.sears.ca as of February 2006. A selection of the home fashions will debut in the Sears 2006 Spring & Summer catalogue, and the ROOTS Home furniture pieces will be available in all 49 Sears Home stores.

The new ROOTS Home collection is a classic balance of function, form, style and comfort. High-quality materials and designs that are equally at home in urban or rustic settings, make this line visually stunning yet practical for everyday use. The collection includes dinnerware, table linens, bed and bath linens, lighting, sofas, chairs, occasional tables, rugs, dining and bedroom furniture.

"The ROOTS name is a Canadian icon and we're proud to introduce the new exclusive ROOTS Home collection of products to our current assortment of furniture and home fashions," said Rick Brown, Senior Vice-President, Merchandising and Marketing. "We're taking a brand that consumers have connected with for years and offering a unique collection of home fashion merchandise to Canadian consumers everywhere, through our stores, catalogue and website."

"This is a very exciting venture for us," said Marshall Myles, President and CEO, ROOTS. "It allows us to offer a distinctly unique selection of ROOTS furniture and home merchandise to a whole new customer base. Sears is a well respected retailer and a partnership we value. And like ROOTS, they are committed to offering their customers an unmatched merchandise assortment backed by exceptional customer service."

About Sears Canada Ltd.

Sears Canada is a multi-channel retailer with a network of 191 corporate stores, 177 dealer stores, 62 home improvement showrooms, over 2,100 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

About Roots Canada Ltd.

Roots is Canada's leading lifestyle brand known around the world for its wide range of quality leather goods, apparel and accessories. Starting in 1973 as a tiny store in Toronto selling the Roots Negative Heel Shoe, Roots now has more than 130 stores in Canada and the United States along with 20 locations in Asia. In addition, Roots has a state-of-the-art leather goods factory and design centre in Toronto.

Please note that images are available upon request.

SOURCE: Sears Canada Inc.

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