Sears Hispanic Concert Series.

Sears will recognize Hispanic Heritage Month (Sept. 15 – Oct. 15) by sponsoring a concert series aimed at its more than 20 million Hispanic customers to salute them for making the company one of their top shopping destinations among broadline retailers.

The nine-market concert series will feature top names in Latin music, including 2002 Latin Grammy nominees Carlos Vives and Marco Antonio Solis, along with Rocio Durcal, Gilberto Santa Rosa and Jaime Camil. The series kicks off Sept. 28 in Los Angeles and continues in Sears’ other top Hispanic markets, including Chicago, New York, San Diego, Miami, San Antonio, San Jose and Houston. It concludes in San Juan, Puerto Rico on March 9.

Sears operates more than 100 Hispanic-designated stores in its top nine markets, meaning Hispanics represent the largest customer base for each of these stores. In 2002, sales from all 216 Hispanic-designated Sears stores nationwide is expected to exceed $3 billion.

Overall, Hispanics comprise nearly 20 percent of all customers living within the primary shopping area served by Sears’ 870 full-line stores, a number that continues to grow, based on U.S. census figures. As Sears strives to be the preferred resource to outfit today’s evolving home and family, the Hispanic concert series is another way the company is defining its unique position in the marketplace.

“In the midst of Hispanic Heritage Month, as we acknowledge the many contributions Hispanics have made to our society, Sears is pleased to bring these diverse entertainers together to help our customers celebrate their culture,” said Gilbert R. Davila, vice president of multicultural management and partnership marketing.

As part of the concert series, Sears will sponsor a national sweepstakes, giving customers a chance to win a trip for four to see Vives perform in San Juan. The package includes airfare, luxury accommodations, front-row tickets and VIP passes, limousine transportation, $5,000 in cash and autographed compact discs and photos of all series artists.

The sweepstakes runs from Sept. 26-Oct. 31. Entry forms will be available in the September/October issue of Nuestra Gente magazine; and online beginning Aug. 26 at http://www.searsenespanol.com.

Sears also will sponsor sweepstakes in local markets to give customers a chance to win tickets, transportation, a personal compact disc player, home stereo system and a $100 Sears gift card. Entry forms for these prizes will be available at participating Sears stores four weeks prior to each concert.

Sept. 28 – Carlos Vives – Universal Amphitheatre, Los Angeles

Oct. 4 – Carlos Vives and Gilberto Santa Rosa – Rosemont Theatre, Chicago

Oct. 5 – Carlos Vives – MSG Arena, New York

Oct. 18 – Rocio Durcal and Marco Antonio Solis – Cox Arena, San Diego

Oct. 19 – Rocio Durcal and Jaime Camil – Universal Amphitheatre, Los Angeles

Oct. 25 – Rocio Durcal – James L. Knight Center, Miami

Oct. 26 – Gilberto Santa Rosa – Jackie Gleason Theater, Miami

Oct. 26 – Rocio Durcal and Marco Antonio Solis – Reliant Arena, Houston

Oct. 27 – Rocio Durcal – Municipal Auditorium, San Antonio

Nov. 15 – Rocio Durcal and Marco Antonio Solis – Special Events Center, San Jose

Nov. 17 – Rocio Durcal and Marco Antonio Solis – UIC Pavilion, Chicago

March 9 – Carlos Vives – Bellas Artes, San Juan