Sears tests program for jobless shoppers
By Monée Fields-White - Chicago Business
June 29, 2009

Sears Holdings Corp. is planning to give customers who lose their jobs a break on appliance purchases, part of an effort to spur sales amid the economic recession.

Sears customers who spend at least $399 on its Citibank-issued credit card for appliances and related merchandise between July 6 and Aug. 1 will receive help on payments if they are out of work 60 days to a year after making the purchase.

One-twelfth of the purchase price will be credited to their accounts for every month they are unemployed. The full debt will be forgiven for customers who find themselves jobless for more than a year, and they will be able to keep the appliance.

The new campaign “was borne out of listening to our customers; and they kept telling us that they were deferring their much-needed appliance purchase because of concerns over their personal situation or the economy in general,” said Kevin Brown, chief marketing officer for home appliances, in an interview.

This will provide shoppers “the confidence to go ahead to make that purchase,” said Mr. Brown, adding that Sears is the only one among appliance retailers to make such an offer.

The campaign, which will be officially announced tomorrow, is being tried out for a month and could be extended further, Mr. Brown said. The program also covers delivery, service and installation costs.