Future Bets

By Rachel Miller

2. Sears
Sears is the third largest mass-merchant retailer in the U.S. and growing. Launched in 2009, the Sears marketplace now offers several options for merchants — sell on Sears, sell through Sears and advertise on Sears.  In the tradition of its brick-and-mortar department store, Sears’ marketplace offers a great variety of items to its expanding consumer base. There are 20 categories available to third-party merchants, including electronics, home goods, outdoor products, shoes and apparel, auto accessories, and tools. Sears has a long lead time to get items listed for sale on its site, but once products are published, retailers can benefit from the traffic and exposure of one of the biggest retailers in the country.