Roanoke Times
                 Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.

DATE: THURSDAY, May 25, 1995                   TAG: 9505250081
SECTION: BUSINESS                    PAGE: B-8   EDITION: METRO 
SOURCE: 
DATELINE:                                 LENGTH: Short

IN BUSINESS

HOFFMAN ESTATES, Ill. - Sears, Roebuck and Co., moving into the next phase of its revitalization program, plans to build its business by getting customers where they live - at home.

Home products and services will drive the retailer's growth in the second half of the decade, Arthur Martinez, chief of the Sears Merchandise Group, told financial analysts Wednesday.

For the past two years, the Chicago-based company has trumpeted its more stylish apparel offerings - ``the softer side of Sears.'' That campaign, which will continue, was designed to restore Sears' credibility with adult female shoppers, who make most household purchasing decisions, Martinez said.

But the real growth will come from selling Homelife furniture, Kenmore dishwashers, Craftsman power tools and Sears home improvement services to aging baby boomers, he said.

Sears will have moved all its furniture departments out of its mall stores and into free-standing Homelife stores by the end of 1998. The company also is building free-standing Sears Hardware stores aimed at do-it-yourselfers.

- Associated Press

Earnings ...

Lechters Inc. reported a net loss of $2.3 million, equal to 13 cents per share, on sales of $80.3 million for its first quarter ended April 29, compared with year-earlier loss of $1.3 million, equal to 7 cents per share, on sales of $73.7 million. The Harrison, N.J., housewares retailer has a store in Roanoke.