Sears Hometown and Outlet Stores, Inc. Donates More Than $200,000 to Volunteer First Responders with “Salute to Local Heroes” Campaign

January 27, 2014

National Retailer Concludes 2013 Campaign in Partnership with National Volunteer Fire Council; Supports Volunteer Fire and EMS Departments Across the Nation

With the completion of its charitable holiday campaign, Sears Hometown and Outlet Stores, Inc. (NASDAQ: SHOS) and its subsidiaries are donating over $200,000 to first responders in its stores’ local communities. Administered in partnership with the National Volunteer Fire Council (NVFC), the objective of the “Salute to Local Heroes” campaign was to provide fire and EMS departments across the nation with critical funds to improve resources for training, equipment, and financial support where the local heroes need it most.

During the campaign, Sears Hometown Stores, Sears Home Appliance Showrooms, Sears Appliance & Hardware Stores, and Sears Outlet customers, licensed dealers, franchisees, and company employees were able to donate funds that would go directly to local first responders while making a purchase. In addition, $2 from each Craftsman® Bottle Cap Wrench purchased throughout the campaign was added to the fund for the local departments.

“With the generous donations of Sears Hometown and Outlet Stores, its subsidiaries, and its customers, we are able to support more than 1,000 local fire and EMS departments with funding that can be used to provide necessary training and equipment so local volunteers can more effectively protect their communities,” said Heather Schafer, Executive Director of the NVFC. “Fundraising campaigns such as ‘Salute to Local Heroes’ allow community members to connect with their local departments through both monetary support as well as a greater appreciation for the critical work that they do.”

Funds donated during the campaign at each Sears Hometown and Outlet Stores location directly impacted volunteer first responders, who can use the funds to purchase or provide a variety of necessities for their departments. This includes: protective gear/rescue equipment, certifications and training, assistance and family support for injured responders, building maintenance and refurbishments, recruitment programs, and other needed resources and programs.

“We were overwhelmed by the outpouring of interest from local fire departments across the nation in dire need of support and were happy we had the ability to help so many, but we see there are others that need our help,” stated David Buckley, Chief Marketing Officer of Sears Hometown and Outlet Stores, Inc. “After the success of the first campaign we hope we can gain even more attention nationwide to aid these American heroes.”

Sears Hometown and Outlet Stores plans to partner with local first responders again in 2014 to extend its reach even further in local communities, while supporting new towns as well. Plans for the campaign extension will be released later this year.

About Sears Hometown and Outlet Stores, Inc.
Sears Hometown and Outlet Stores, Inc. (NASDAQ: SHOS) is a national retailer primarily focused on selling home appliances, lawn and garden equipment, tools, and hardware. As of November 3, 2013, Sears Hometown and Outlet Stores, Inc. and its dealers and franchisees operated 1,239 stores across all 50 states as well as in Puerto Rico and Bermuda.

In addition to merchandise, Sears Hometown and Outlet Stores, Inc. provide consumers with access to a full suite of services, including home delivery, installation, and extended service contracts.

Sears Hometown and Outlet Stores, Inc. operates through two segments – the Sears Hometown and Hardware segment and the Sears Outlet segment. The Sears Hometown and Hardware segment’s stores are designed to provide customers with in-store and online access to a wide selection of national brands of home appliances, lawn and garden equipment, tools, sporting goods, and household goods, depending on the particular store. The Sears Outlet stores are designed to provide customers with in-store and online access to purchase new, one-of-a-kind, out-of-carton, discontinued, obsolete, used, reconditioned, overstocked, and scratched and dented products across a broad assortment of merchandise categories, including home appliances, apparel, mattresses, sporting goods, tools, and lawn and garden equipment at prices that are significantly lower than manufacturers’ suggested list prices.

For more information contact: Peter Verniere, Sears Hometown and Outlet Stores, at 847-286-5061 or Peter.Verniere@shos.com or visit the corporate web site at www.shos.com.

About National Volunteer Fire Council
The National Volunteer Fire Council (NVFC) is the leading nonprofit membership association representing the interests of the volunteer fire, EMS, and rescue services. The NVFC serves as the unified voice of the volunteer in the national arena and provides invaluable tools, resources, programs, and advocacy for first responders across the nation. For more information about the NVFC visit www.nvfc.org/.