Simplicity, Focus, and High Touch

“Sears Holdings Corp. will reorganize into five business units, as part of a new organizational structure designed to simplify the way its business lines are managed.

“Under the new plan, the five units will be operating businesses, support, brands, online and real estate.

“Operating businesses will consist of the company's current lines of business such as home appliances, electronics, and apparel. The support unit will include functions that provide operational and administrative support to operating businesses, including marketing, store operations, customer strategy and finance. The brand units will be responsible for growing the value of Sears Holdings brand portfolio. The real estate business unit and an online business unit will focus on increasing the sales productivity of the company's physical and virtual real estate.

“The Hoffman Estates, Ill. holding company said each unit will have a designated leader and an advisory group of senior Sears Holdings executives.

“‘By creating smaller focused teams that are clearly responsible for their units, we increase autonomy and accountability, create greater ownership and enable faster, better decisions,’ said Sears Holdings Chairman Edward S. Lampert.

“Sears shares were trading Tuesday up $9.01, or 10%, at $98.44.”

(“Sears Holdings To Introduce Revised Internal Management And Organizational Structure.” Adam Edelman. Dow Jones News Service. January 22, 2008)

GET OUT of the way, and sell what the customer wants!