Sears gets new owner, new location

DAVE MOSIER/independent editor

Big things are about to happen to the local Sears store, with a new owner announcing plans for a larger store and an aggressive sales campaign.

Kirk Berryman, owner of Computer & Networking Technologies (CNT), announced Friday that he has purchased the local Sears franchise from Bernie Haines and plans to relocate the business to the former Fashion Bug store in the Shannon Station Shopping Center, next to Fricker’s.

Berryman said he would take over ownership officially on Sunday and will make the move to the vacant Fashion Bug store on Thursday, November 1. “We will have double the sales floor and will be adding Sealy Mattresses,” Berryman said of his plans for the store.

The new and bigger Sears store also has some aggressive marketing plans under the management of Berryman’s wife, Erica. While the store is still not big enough to display all the items sold in a regular Sears department store, Berryman said it can sell everything a full-line store can, with free shipping to a customer’s home for items that weigh less than 75 pounds.

He also noted that Sears will also match competitors’ prices on items, plus 10 percent of the difference between the two prices.

The store would also offer local delivery and installation, Berryman said. Plans are to retain the store’s current three associates, while Berryman added that additional job growth was a definite possibility if the store’s business grows.

Berryman said he is hoping the community will support his new store like it has CNT.

“I would like to thank Van Wert and the surrounding area for supporting me at Computer & Networking Technologies for 15 years and I look forward to working with the community in my new venture at Sears,” he said.

Berryman also noted that Sears would be conducting a holiday food drive for the local Salvation Army Food Bank. Sears will offer $5 off a $50 purchase to customers who bring in a donation of non-perishable goods. The promotion will run from November 6 to December 29.

The new Sears owner said he is pleased to own a store that has gotten a lot of his own business over the years. “I have always been a huge fan of Sears and I own a bunch of Sears products,” Berryman said.

He added that the community would give the store the kind of local support he believes in. “I always try to buy local to support small businesses like myself.”