Product
Cooper Tire to Supply Sears with New Products This Fall
FINDLAY, OHIO, SEPTEMBER 3, 2009 — COOPER TIRE & RUBBER COMPANY (NYSE: CTB) announced today that it has recently finalized an agreement with Sears Holdings to supply Sears Auto Center facilities nationwide with two full lines of passenger tires. This agreement involves the manufacturing and sale of the Sears Guardsman Plus and the Cooper Response Touring passenger tire lines.
The Guardsman Plus is being offered in 18 sizes, while the Cooper Response Touring includes 16 sizes, and both offer sizes ranging from 13 to 16 inch. These Cooper products are expected to launch within Sears Auto Centers this fall. Sears currently operates more than 850 Sears Auto Centers.
"Over the years, Cooper and Sears have enjoyed a very successful business relationship and we are excited about introducing our brand at Sears retail stores,'' said Phil Caris, vice president of sales and marketing for the North American Tire Division at Cooper Tire. "This relationship is an important component of our strategic initiatives in providing top line growth through increasing Cooper brand presence and market share in the National Retailer channel."
Sears Auto Centers provide an established resource for vehicle maintenance and tire sales for those consumers that are loyal to the Sears brand. By positioning select Cooper products with the Sears Auto Centers, Cooper now has an opportunity to present its brand to consumers that have chosen the Auto Center as their preferred vehicle maintenance destination.
About Cooper Tire & Rubber Company
Cooper Tire & Rubber Company is a global company that specializes in the design, manufacture, marketing and sales of passenger car and light truck tires and subsidiaries that specialize in medium truck, motorcycle and racing tires. With headquarters in Findlay, Ohio, Cooper Tire has manufacturing, sales, distribution, technical and design facilities within its family of companies located in 10 countries around the world. For more information, visit Cooper Tire's web site at: www.coopertire.com.
About Sears Holdings Corporation
Sears Holdings Corporation is the nation's fourth largest broadline retailer with approximately 3,900 full-line and specialty retail stores in the United States and Canada. Sears Holdings is the leading home appliance retailer as well as a leader in tools, lawn and garden, home electronics and automotive repair and maintenance. Key proprietary brands include Kenmore, Craftsman and DieHard, and a broad apparel offering, including such well-known labels as Lands' End, Jaclyn Smith and Joe Boxer, as well as the Apostrophe and Covington brands. It also has Martha Stewart Everyday products, which are offered exclusively in the U.S. by Kmart. We are the nation's largest provider of home services, with more than 12 million service calls made annually. Sears Holdings Corporation operates through its subsidiaries, including Sears, Roebuck and Co. and Kmart Corporation. For more information, visit Sears Holdings' website at www.searsholdings.com.
Cooper Tire & Rubber Company Contact: Michelle Zeisloft, 419-423-1321
Sears Contact: Larry Costello, 847-286-9036