The Smarter Side of Sears

The benefit to Lands’ End, of course, is that it instantly gets a nationwide, brick-and-mortar presence for its branded products. Sears’ officials said the deal effectively puts Lands’ End’s merchandise within 75 miles of 95 percent of the U.S. population.

But as The Wall Street Journal reported on the day after the deal was announced, the acquisition carries some risks for Lands’ End, notably that the cataloger’s “loftier image could be damaged by association with the more downscale profile of Sears.”