BIDDEFORD — The Sears at 420 Alfred St., in the Five Points Shopping Center, has all the charm of a small, local business with the resources of its big-box namesake.
That’s because Sears in Biddeford is part of a line of stores known as Sears Hometown Stores, which are locally owned
and operated.
Rick St. Michel, one of the owners of the Biddeford store, said Saturday that this gives his store some advantages over Sears’ full-line stores, such as the one in the Maine Mall in South Portland.
“We’re a little bit more in touch with our customers,” he said. “We have more personalized service. ”¦ We have all the resources of the big-box store, but with the personal touch of a locally owned and independent store.”
Mayor Alan Casavant said Sunday that he appreciates the store’s staff and enjoys shopping there.
“They are always friendly when I go there, with fast, helpful service,” said Casavant. “They are a national chain with a hometown feel.”
There are, however, some differences between Sears’ full-line and Hometown stores ”“ namely that the latter carry a smaller inventory.
For example, the Biddeford store doesn’t carry clothing, said St. Michel. What it does offer is Sears’ complete inventory of appliances, home goods, hardware and electronics.
You’ll find all of the power tools, refrigerators, washers, dryers and lawn mowers that you’ll find at a corporate Sears location, said St. Michel. And it’s not more expensive to shop at a Hometown store versus a corporately owned location, he added, because Sears controls the pricing.
St. Michel has owned the Biddeford store along with his wife and his brother for more than 20 years, he said. He also has a full-time employee who’s been there for more than 15 years.
“We have the knowledge base. We do all the factory training,” he said of his store’s workforce, adding that they know their products “inside out.”
The store’s Facebook page has 135 likes and an average customer rating of 4.4 out of 5 stars, with 17 reviews.
“I’ve never been disappointed with the service!” Kevin Littlefield of Saco wrote on the page last year. “Very nice people and well stocked store.”
Nationwide there are 900 Sears Hometown Stores, according to the company’s website.
“I like to think that we’re one of Sears’ best-kept secrets,” said St. Michel.
— Staff Writer Angelo J. Verzoni can be contacted at 282-1535 ext. 329, or averzoni@journaltribune.com
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