Sears Holdings, the eighth largest online retailer in the US, has relaunched both Kmart.com and Sears.com. New features include a liquid layout for Kmart.com, improved navigation and a sharing feature allowing customers to add products to social networks such as Facebook, MySpace, Twitter and Digg.
“We completely re-architected to take advantage of a liquid layout,” a Sears spokesman has told Internet Retailer. “That means the page display adjusts to the size of the user’s browser window. As the page scales, products and features load into new space as it is created, which gives the customer a better opportunity to view their options.”
Perhaps the most important change, however, is the new sites’ ability to cross-sell to other Sears Holdings brands. Searches on either site now return results from both Sears.com and Kmart.com. And the top of each page also includes tabs that direct shoppers to other group brands including Lands End and the Sears Outlet stores.
The new site was developed with interactive design firm Zemoga, says Internet Retailer.
Earlier this month, the company also announced it had acquired Delver.com, a social search engine company based in Israel, and had established a new technology development center in Herzliya. “The formation of the Israeli development center follows the recent announcement of ServiceLive.com, an online marketplace from Sears Holdings where homeowners and businesses can name their price for a wide variety of services, improvements and repairs,” Sears explained. “The site is designed to improve the often stressful experience of getting projects done around the home for both homeowners and service providers.”
Last week, it also announced the launch of ShopYourWay, a multi-channel branding initiative designed to make it easier for customers to find their way around the company’s ever-growing maze of online, mobile and other channel.
UPDATE: The new Sears site is still in beta; just click the prominent link on the old www.sears.com home page to see the new site.
