Sears Hometown Stores is Reminding All U.S. Military Veterans of Their Last Chance to Enter the 'Operation Stores & Stripes' Contest

HOFFMAN ESTATES, Ill., June 17 /PRNewswire/ -- There are only nine days left for deserving U.S. military veterans to enter for a chance to win their very own Sears Hometown Store. Applications for Sears Hometown Stores "Operation Stores and Stripes" must be submitted by June 25 at 3 p.m. ET by visiting www.searshometownstores.com/veteran.

"Operation Stores and Stripes" kicked off in early May by Sears Hometown Stores in collaboration with Maytag Brand Appliances. Qualified military veterans from across the country have been invited to enter the contest for the chance win their very own Sears Hometown Store that includes not just the store location and license, but also merchandise, renovation, the first 90-days of the lease as well as 90 days of operating cash flow.

"We are thrilled with the response from our hometown heroes to the contest thus far," said Will Powell, senior vice president, Sears Holdings and president, Hometown Stores. "We hope that in these final days of the contest even more of our nation's service men and women submit their application at www.searshometownstores.com/veteran. We look forward to adding another deserving military veteran to the Sears Hometown Stores family."

Once the recruitment period closes on June 25, all submissions will be subject to a preliminary screening process and qualified candidates will be notified that they will continue on the second phase of competition.

Sears Hometown Stores is a unique retailing concept that combines the value, selection and services associated with larger retail stores but is owned and operated by a member of the local community. Sears Hometown Stores provide exceptional customer service along with a wide assortment of tools, appliances, electronics, fitness equipment and lawn & garden merchandise offered by Sears Holdings' stores. This unique format allows customers in small communities to have access to the great products and brands usually only found in Sears stores.

For more information please visit www.searshometownstores.com.

About Sears Hometown Stores

Sears Hometown Stores were developed sixteen years ago to serve Sears customers in locations outside of major metropolitan cities. There are currently nearly 900 Hometown Stores throughout the United States and Puerto Rico. These stores carry all of the top home appliance brands, consumer electronics, tools and lawn and garden equipment. Sears Hometown Stores, LLC carry proprietary Sears' brands, such as Craftsman, Kenmore and DieHard, as well as a wide assortment of national brands. In addition, Sears Hometown Stores are locally owned and operated by dedicated, hard working individuals that take great pride in serving their communities and representing Sears nationwide. For more information, visit Sears Hometown Stores' website at www.searshometownstores.com.

About Sears Holdings Corporation

Sears Holdings Corporation is the nation's fourth largest broadline retailer with approximately 3,900 full-line and specialty retail stores in the United States and Canada. Sears Holdings is the leading home appliance retailer as well as a leader in tools, lawn and garden, home electronics and automotive repair and maintenance. Sears Holdings is the 2010 ENERGY STAR® Retail Partner of the Year. Key proprietary brands include Kenmore, Craftsman and DieHard, and a broad apparel offering, including such well-known labels as Lands' End, Jaclyn Smith and Joe Boxer, as well as the Apostrophe and Covington brands. It also has the Country Living collection, which is offered by Sears and Kmart. We are the nation's largest provider of home services, with more than 12 million service calls made annually. Sears Holdings Corporation operates through its subsidiaries, including Sears, Roebuck and Co. and Kmart Corporation. For more information, visit Sears Holdings' website at www.searsholdings.com.

About Maytag Brand

For more than a century, Maytag brand appliances have been synonymous with dependability and durability. Through the commitment of Whirlpool Corporation, Maytag brand's enduring tradition of quality production and performance continues to thrive. Exceptionally durable, commercial-grade components are found in many Maytag brand appliances – including Maytag® Performance Series front-load and Maytag® Bravos® top-load washers and dryers. Maytag brand is part of the Whirlpool Corporation, the world's leading manufacturer and marketer of major home appliances, with annual sales of approximately $17 billion in 2009, 67,000 employees, and 67 manufacturing and technology research centers around the world. For more information on any Maytag brand appliance, visit http://www.maytag.com.

SOURCE Sears Holdings Corporation