Layaway a smart financial tool through Recession and Beyond.

According to a recent national survey conducted by Kmart, nearly 70 percent of Americans have changed the way they shop as a result of the recession. Given the current economic climate where banks have sharply reduced consumer credit card limits, one shopping tool, layaway, is re-emerging in popularity with more than 73 percent of consumers stating that they believe using layaway more often is a smart financial solution that can help them better manage their spending.

“Layaway is back – in a big way,” said Susan Ehrlich, president of financial services, Sears Holdings. “This isn’t just a trend created by the recession. Rather, the survey revealed what we’ve believed for some time now – that layaway, a shopping concept that was embraced by Kmart more than 40 years ago, has emerged as a viable and relevant option for cost-conscious consumers. It’s a financial tool that can help families successfully manage their budgets and expenses.”
   
The current economic climate has stimulated consumer interest in layaway, but today’s shoppers have realized layaway is more than a recession-inspired tool. The majority of consumers surveyed confirmed they are interested in learning more about layaway as a year-round financial planning tool (55.5 percent). Consumers are looking for smarter tools in money-management with more than 80 percent agreeing that they would rather forgo the instant gratification of financing their purchases in favor of using layaway (82.2 percent).
   
According to Ehrlich, the Kmart layaway program has experienced double-digit growth since 2008. In fact, the layaway program at Kmart and at its sister company Sears has resulted in more than three million new customer relationships in 2008 and 2009.
   
“From back-to-school and holiday shopping to one-of-a-kind occasions such as baby showers and Father’s Day, we’ve helped families better plan their spending trips through layaway,” she said. “More than ever shoppers are seeking value in everyday purchases, and layaway creates the financial discipline that allows them to make a payment over a finite period of time. It gives shoppers a sense of accomplishment after completing their purchase plan.”