Sears Holding Company has launched two new online shopping tools designed to match customers with the ideal electronic product - a move that is part of the retailer's March 2009 promise to expand its global online strategy.

The tools, available at tvmatchmaker.com and cameramatchmaker.com, ask customers a series of compatibility questions to find the products best matching their needs and wants. TvMatchMaker.com users interactively answer questions about their home and viewing habits, while CameraMatchMaker.com users answer questions about the types of pictures they shoot and address such concerns as red-eye reduction and blurred images. Both tools generate tailored product choices Sears says are aligned to the user’s lifestyle (via RetailerDaily).

Both of the tools incorporate tips and demonstrations designed to show Sears shoppers how the products can best fit into their homes and lifestyles. Sears is currently running a gift card sweepstakes to help promote usage of TVMatchMaker.com and CameraMatchMaker.com.

Sears Goes Digital

Since March 2009, Sears has launched a number of customer-facing digital tools and features. August 2009 saw the official launch of the ManageMyHome home improvement site, which allows customers to download online product manuals, receive expert project advice, organize lists of parts and materials needed for projects, calculate estimated project costs, read how-to articles, and also schedule Sears home improvement services and purchase home improvement products and materials.

A team of volunteer homeowners called "Neighborhood Helpers" provide advice through an interactive blog and by posting “tweets” on the Twitter social networking site.

Stepping Stone
Sears' attempt to build an online social network of home improvement customers and experts is similar to its recently launched MySears.com and MyKmart.com community sites. MyKmart.com and MySears.com enable users to write reviews, view polls and blogs, and follow either retailer on Facebook, Twitter, YouTube and LinkedIn. Videos, a "featured reviewer" section and how-tos can also be found on each landing page.

The company hopes the sites serve as a stepping stone to introduce younger customers to Sears, much as ManageMyHome is designed as an entry point for home improvement customers.