Getting ready for college is an exciting time, but it can also be an overwhelming affair for students and parents with so many important decisions to make. To help, Sears and Kmart have launched the "Campus 2010" digital program to make the transition a little bit easier and help ensure your first year of college is memorable. This new digital platform is part of Sears' and Kmart's commitment to providing a multi-channel shopping experience to their customers.

Campus 2010 is centered around a Facebook page called "Sears Campus Connection," which provides several features that serve as a resource for teens in preparing for campus life. For instance, participants can take advantage of the wish list, which works similar to a wedding registry, to share graduation gift ideas with friends and family. Teens can even find their soon-to-be dorm roommates online at www.facebook.com/campusconnection and learn more about each other through a profile feature within the application before they meet in person. Plus, they can each create a coordinating dorm room by pulling items into a dream board where they can discuss decorating ideas and shop together online, all via the application.

The Campus Connection page also provides students with a forum to chat with their future classmates and friends online about campus-related topics, such as class schedules, dorm essentials and what to expect. Discussions are led and moderated by college students currently enrolled at Indiana University, for a true-to-life account of experiences and advice.  Students can also use the Campus Connector application to tag high school friends, their future roommate, and new college friends, which can serve as a great tool for making introductions and remaining connected through a broader social network.

"Campus 2010 is designed to empower teens and parents to build their home away from home with quality items that will bring them confidence," said John Goodman, executive vice president, SHC Apparel and Home Fashions. "It is our mission to give moms and teens the help they need while preparing for college, providing them with stylish options that are all within their budgets."

This year, Coexist by Cannon, a new collection of urban-inspired dorm fashions for teens, will be available exclusively at Sears and Kmart stores. The Coexist by Cannon collection consists of bedding and decorative elements that help teens reflect their personal self-image through their dorm essentials. Some of the popular Coexist by Cannon bedding designs include:

• Love Generation
• Sound Wave
• Houndstooth Hearts
• Typography

"We created Coexist by Cannon with a unique insight into the urban lifestyle, keeping in mind the popular symbols and fashions that are relevant to teens today," said Theresa Strickland, chief home design officer for Sears and Kmart. "It is important for us as designers to provide an assortment of dorm decor that is multi-functional, yet trendy and affordable too."

As part of introducing the Coexist by Cannon collection, the Kmart Home Design team conducted a series of four dorm room makeovers and how-to videos hosted on www.kmartdesign.com that showcase the new line. The videos feature the real life adventures of two students who are headed off to college and offer simple tips on turning a typical dorm room into a comfortable home away from home and six must-have items for organizing and decorating a college dorm room.

In addition, Coexist brand ambassadors will be visiting select university campuses across the nation to hand out Coexist backpacks with a catalog of the latest products available. For more information and to shop online, visit www.Sears.com/campus or www.Kmart.com/campus.

To make shopping even easier when you're on the go, students and parents can use the Sears2go and Kmart2go smartphone applications to shop online for millions of back-to-campus products. New enhanced features allow customers to share and tweet their purchases or wish lists with family and friends. For grocery and household items, customers can skip the packing and shop mygofer by visiting www.mygofer.com, and take advantage of campus-ready grocery lists, dorm room essentials and a selection of care packages to cure any homesick students.

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 the Country Living collection, which is offered by Sears and 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 http://www.searsholdings.com.

*Sears.com is recognized as a leader in online and mobile commerce: Sears placed third in Mobile Commerce Daily's ranking of the 2009 Mobile Retailer of the Year and was honored as the number-one rated site by e-Tailing Group's Annual e-Commerce Gauge Top Customer Experience.

SOURCE Sears Holdings Corporation

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Kimball(R) Office recently announced a realignment of leadership in an effort to better serve customers' needs for urgency and flexibility, in today's contract furnishings market. Three key Kimball Office employees have been promoted to further the company's commitment to superior service throughout the customer experience.

"In today's market, business is operating at a new level, and by realigning the leadership in our marketing, sales, and distribution functions, we will be better equipped to serve clients' needs for greater speed, efficiency, and flexibility," said Jeff Fenwick, Vice President and General Manager at Kimball Office.

To lead the company's strategic growth objectives, Allen Parker has been promoted to Vice President of Marketing and Sales. In this role, Parker will be responsible for leading the unified efforts of the sales and marketing functions for the company. He will assume responsibility for maintaining and expanding Select Dealer relationships, generating brand awareness, commercializing relevant new products, and continuing to strengthen relationships within the influential architect and interior designer community. Parker joined Kimball Office in January 2010 with more than 23 years of experience in the interiors industry, in various marketing and sales roles.

In an effort to further Kimball Office's responsiveness to customers, two new positions have been developed. Promotions were given to Drew Andrews as the new Director of Sales East and Brian Gerdes as Director of Sales West. Both positions will oversee profitable growth objectives, strategic accounts, and dealer development within their regions, as they focus on enhancing overall sales effectiveness. Andrews will also be the interim Director of Government Sales.

About Kimball Office

A recognized leader in fine workplace furnishings, Kimball(R) Office has been building its reputation on quality and integrity of design for 40 years. The company is a business unit of Kimball International, Inc., a corporation that provides a variety of products from its two business segments: Furniture and Electronic Manufacturing Services. Based in Jasper, Ind., the publicly traded company (Nasdaq: KBALB) had sales of $1.2 billion in 2009. To learn more, please visit www.kimballoffice.com.

SOURCE Kimball Office

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Willie Gary, senior partner in the Stuart, Florida-based law firm of Gary, Williams, Finney, Lewis, Watson and Sperando, P.L., along with partners CK Hoffler and Manny Socias and associate attorney Paul D. Mark Lucas will begin a two-week trial in Martin County on behalf of their clients Nicholas and Jo-Ann Mariano and their company Treasure Coast Interiors, Inc., against Ethan Allen Interiors, Inc.  Treasure Coast Interiors alleges that Ethan Allen breached its contractual relationship when it acted in bad faith by terminating Treasure Coast Interiors, Inc. after 14 years without reasonable notice. The trial began today, July 19, 2010 at 9:00 a.m. at the Martin County Courthouse, Room A-31 in front of Judge Elizabeth A. Metzger.

Ethan Allen's troubles are just beginning.  Tomorrow, Ethan Allen will be served with a second and completely different lawsuit filed by Nick and Jo-Ann Mariano, individually, in the Brevard County Circuit Court in Melbourne.  The Marianos claim that they were personally destroyed financially by Ethan Allen's improper actions.  Due to Ethan Allen's misconduct, the Mariano's have suffered tremendous financial loss as well as damage to their reputations.  

Treasure Coast Interior, Inc.'s President and CEO, Nicholas Mariano, Jr. and his wife Jo-Ann Mariano have been in the furniture business for over 25 years. Based on their stellar reputation in the industry and hard work, Ethan Allen recruited them to open up 3 stores located in Stuart, Vero Beach and Melbourne, and abruptly terminated them.

"Our clients, Nicholas and Jo-Ann Mariano were dedicated to the building of the Ethan Allen brand in Florida for over 14 years," said Gary.  "Ethan Allen's actions were flat out wrong and they know it.  In fact, Nicholas Mariano and his family faithfully developed markets on the Treasure Coast, serving as Ethan Allen's exclusive retailer in these markets.  For Ethan Allen, a multi-billion dollar company, to trample on local businesspersons who have worked their fingers to the bone to build a strong reputation, is a grave injustice.  Ethan Allen may have a monopoly on the furniture business, but it doesn't have a monopoly on justice," continued Gary.

Gary is no stranger to justice.  He is noted for winning a $240 million jury verdict in Orange County Florida against the Walt Disney Corporation for their clients who alleged Disney stole their idea for a sports theme park.  Also, Gary was awarded $18 million, Florida's largest jury verdict of its kind, against the media conglomerate Gannett Company for the false portrayal of their client in a series of newspaper articles.  In 2001, a jury awarded Gary a $139.6 million verdict for the Maris Distributing Company against Anheuser Busch.  In addition, Gary was given a half-billion dollar verdict in Jackson, Mississippi against the Loewen Group, a large Canadian funeral home chain.  

SOURCE Law Offices of Gary, Williams, Finney, Lewis, Watson & Sperando, P.L.

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http://www.garylaw.com

- Join the Tour and get Ready for the Meal of Your Life!

Tickets are now on sale for an event that will see diners experience, not one, not two, but three of London's finest restaurants in the course of one unforgettable lunch.

To view the multimedia assets associated with this release, please click:

http://www.multivu.com/players/English/45092-Visit-London/

Staged as part of the London Restaurant Festival (October 4th-18th), the Gourmet Odyssey is the ultimate gastronomic road trip.

After a Champagne GH Mumm reception, at the glamorous Met Bar, you'll board an iconic red Routemaster bus and head off on a tour of some of the city's most exclusive restaurants. You'll eat your starter in the first, main course in the second and enjoy pudding at the final stop.

There are four different Gourmet Odyssey routes to choose from. They feature some of London's most acclaimed chefs - Pierre Koffmann, Theo Randall, Richard Corrigan, Claude Bosi - and take in the capital's very finest restaurants, including Hibiscus, Scott's, Corrigan's of Mayfair, Wild Honey and The Greenhouse.

And for Champagne lovers, there's even better news: one of the tours is dedicated to Champagne G.H Mumm - guests will get to sample different varieties on the bus and with each course.

So if you want to experience the meal of a lifetime, book now by clicking here. But hurry, tickets are selling fast.

Chloe Couchman, +44-(0)207-234-5727, ccouchman@visitlondon.com

SOURCE London Restaurant Festival

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Aaron's, Inc. (NYSE: AAN) announced today that it has changed the name of its 11 furniture and bedding manufacturing plants from MacTavish Furniture Industries to Woodhaven Furniture Industries. The name change is synonymous with the Woodhaven brand of products the Company manufactures and accompanies a move toward greater green practices within the manufacturing process. A full rebranding effort including a new logo supports the name change.

(Logo:  http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20090423/CL03821LOGO )

(Logo:  http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20090423/CL03821LOGO )

"Our manufacturing operations have undergone substantial changes over the past few years, namely a movement toward greener practices," said Aaron's President and CEO, Robert C. Loudermilk, Jr. "We also recognized our plants are best known for the Woodhaven product brand, so we believe this is the perfect time to rebrand accordingly. Our new logo of a green tree not only represents our commitment to the environment, but it signifies what Aaron's is all about – strength, stability, growth and community responsibility."

Aaron's has implemented a number of actions in its effort to go green at its manufacturing plants, including the recycling of all scrap materials, the use of sustainable wood products in furniture, the use of raw materials containing at least 25 post-consumer content, skylight panels to reduce the use of light fixtures and energy consumption, the use of wood waste for heating, and the implementation of electronic documentation processes to reduce the amount of paper used. With these efforts in place, Aaron's reduced landfill waste at its Coolidge and Cairo, Georgia locations by approximately eight million pounds and generated a cost savings of nearly $250,000 in 2009.

"We're at the forefront of the green movement in the furniture manufacturing industry," said Mike Jarnigan, Aaron's Vice President, Manufacturing. "Aaron's is proud to make its furniture, upholstery and bedding right here in the U.S., and it's important that we do everything in our power to protect the environment in our own backyard.  As we like to say at Woodhaven, we're saving the world, one sofa at a time."

The Woodhaven Furniture Industries division operates 11 facilities in five states, with a twelfth facility scheduled to open in Phoenix later this year. Most production is shipped to Aaron's Company-operated and franchised stores. The division manufactured approximately $72 million at cost of furniture and bedding in 2009. The ability to control quality, durability, styling, cost and supply through Company-operated manufacturing facilities is a distinct competitive advantage. In addition to producing high quality upholstered furniture and bedding, Woodhaven is a key employer in the communities where plants are located.

About Aaron's, Inc.

Aaron's, Inc. (NYSE: AAN), the nation's leader in the sales and lease ownership and specialty retailing of residential furniture, consumer electronics, home appliances and accessories, has more than 1,730 Company-operated and franchised stores in 48 states and Canada. Founded in 1955 by entrepreneur R. Charles Loudermilk, Sr. and headquartered in Atlanta, Aaron's has been publicly traded since 1982. For more information, visit www.aarons.com.

SOURCE Aaron's, Inc.

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http://www.aarons.com